This homeowner is proud of her Norwegian heritage, and it informs every aspect of her design style. But don't expect to find a white palette and minimal furnishings when you step into her charming Cape Cod just outside Chicago.
"I've always wanted my home to reflect warmth and comfort," says Kirsten Tangeros. Growing up, her Norwegian-born mom would say, "'You have to make it cozy,' and I feel like that has been the driving influence of my style," she says. And how, exactly, does Kirsten define cosy? She aims for a collectedover-time look, citing country homes in Europe as inspiration. "Anywhere that features old rugs, paintings, textiles, books and 'settle-in' furniture is perfect!" she explains.
When Kirsten and her husband, Chris Thomas, moved into their 1940s hideaway 23 years ago, they were only the second family to live there, so they knew changes had to be made. But Kirsten had grown up in a Cape Cod and loved the nooks and crannies inherent in that architectural style. "The rooms are a bit small, but I love that it forces togetherness as a family," she says. In keeping, Kirsten teases that what initially drew her to embrace not all brand-new style was having a husband, kids and dogs. "I want to use the things in my home that I've surrounded myself with. Those things that are old and used and imperfect are often the most beautiful of all."
But arriving at that "lived-in" attitude was an evolution. Kirsten says she and a friend always laugh together about the "style checklist" they used to have: a rose painting, a McCoy pot, white ironstone, a chandelier ... "All of those things are wonderful and interesting," she notes. "But I've come to realise that my house doesn't need to be all Shabby Chic or Boho. My house can have elements of everything I love, and that's what will make it interesting and [reflect] me. I don't need to fall into a category; that's why I love the styles that look like they've evolved over time," she explains.
That said, Kirsten enjoys mixing in new items alongside old treasures. Sometimes new just makes sense in terms of functionality and practicality, she says. "And sometimes you need to think about other family members. Just because I love old things doesn't mean my kids want to be surrounded by them all the time!"
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Hopefully her kids (and her husband, and their three rescue dogs, and two turtles) love dog paraphernalia, though, because Kirsten's biggest collections are canine :figurines and paintings, and they can be found in almost every room.
Try though she might, Kirsten has a tough time editing herself. "It's hard," she notes, "because they all make the cut with their sweet faces."
But she's just staying true to her own decorating advice: "If it speaks to you, grab it. Trust your gut. All that matters is that you like it. Your home will only truly feel like home when it reflects you. When you follow a trend, you just look and feel like everyone else."
