Turn to Colorado history for inspiration

We like to look at houses and buildings. Even when we are on vacation we’ll stop to tour an open house. If you are a regular reader of this blog, then you’ll have seen our photos from our visit to CityCenter in Las Vegas.
   Some other places we turn to find architectural and design inspiration are web sites, shelter magazines, and our friends’ and neighbors’ houses. We watch the decorating shows on TV as well as the comedies and dramas. If there is a living space, we’re takin’ notes on the design. We like to tour model homes, too. (You do know that we furnish model homes for builders here in Summit County, don’t you?)

Lula Myers Ranch House

And then there is one more place: historical homes and buildings. The Summit Historical Society maintains historical houses and other buildings in Breckenridge, Dillon, Montezuma and Silverthorne. A family outing to these places yields at least three benefits: 1.) you might pick up some design ideas for your own home, 2.) you might learn a fact or two about the early days in Colorado, and 3.) you get away from the TV, video games and the computer for a day.
   Here is a summary of some of the buildings. The descriptions are courtesy of the Summit Historical Society. See its website for more information and directions. After you take a tour, stop in and tell us what you saw, what you liked, and how home furnishings have changed in 100 years or so. Have fun!
   William Harrison Briggle House, Breckenridge. In 1898, William and Kathleen Briggle bought a one-room log cabin and enlarged it by six rooms downstairs and three rooms upstairs, and then put clapboard over the entire structure. The dark-green trim represents dollar bills. Large windows in the dining room and front parlor resemble bank windows.
   At a time when closets were taxed as rooms, the Briggles had a dressing room that contained three closets. You’ll see dresses, suits, shoes and hats that still fill the closets. You’ll also see what Katie’s neighbors envied most–her cold pantry. Really two rooms, the inner room has a gravity-pull sink and well-stocked shelves of kitchenware; the outer room served as a refrigerator. 
   Lula Myers Ranch House, Dillon. This two-story, 16-foot by 24-foot log house was built in 1885 by Charles Delker under the Federal Homestead Act. The logs are hand hewn with an ax and chinked with sticks, rocks, clay and rags, with flattened cans nailed over the chinking on the outside. The house was occupied by two well-known Summit County families: the Delkers and the Myers. Both men made most of their money in mining-related businesses. Many parties and social events were held in this house. A cookstove, kitchen utensils, housekeeping tools, china, and other household items are on display.
   Slate Creek Hall, Silverthorne. In 1936, ranching families built a community hall.  The men, employed by the Work Project of America, used wood from nearby forests to build the 30-foot by 60-foot structure. (The floor is made of imported tongue-in-groove jointed oak.) Wooden folding chairs and benches were the only furniture in the hall. Every other weekend, the chairs were pushed against the walls so people from all over the county could dance to the strains of local bands and square-dance callers. The dances were followed by midnight suppers.

Decorating your child’s room

School’s out for summer and the kids have some free time on their hands. (That is, unless they are totally scheduled with vacation Bible school, camp, swim lessons, horseback riding, Little League, and who knows what else.)
Regardless, summer is a good time to ask your children if they want to redecorate their rooms. A little home improvement can allow a child to express her/him self, and it is an activity you can share. Chances are that if your child has input and involvement in the makeover, he or she will take pride in the space and take really good care of it.
You can find a lot of ideas in the decorating magazines at the bookstore and home improvement center. The web is also a source for inspiration. To help start the ball rolling, here are some ideas (big and little) we like:

• Paint children’s rooms in pale colors and use white storage pieces. Designer Wendy Alterman tells BHG.com, “That way, you can update a room easily in a few years by letting the kids choose new furniture and new accessories.”
• Instead of painting a whole room, use wall stickers to add a spot of color. The stickers are easy to apply (and remove). Stickers are easy enough for even young children to apply.
• Let your child personalize a small chair or footstool you find at a garage sale or flea market. This idea is really two-for-one. First, plan a day of shopping. Then, with your new purchase, paint the find in your child’s favorite color.
• Speaking of painting, use a stencil and fabric paint to make a design on a duvet cover.
• Create a reading space with a comfy chair, light, shelves or a bookcase. A little stand just for a dictionary can encourage your child to look up unfamiliar words.
• Hang a bulletin board for displaying artwork, vacation postcards and school awards.
• Turn the bed into a secret playroom with the use of a curtain or material you find in a discount bin. Hem the fabric and create a pocket. Slide in an embroidery hoop, then hang the canopy from a ceiling hook. Spread the curtain so it surrounds the bed.
• Add a fun area rug. Surya has a line just for children (photos, below).

Read “Kids’ Bedroom Decorating Ideas,” from TLC.
The HGTV site has photos and videos of kids’ bedrooms, including those with eco-friendly ideas.
BHG.com has photos, videos and articles.
See “7 Easy Décor Updates For Kids Rooms” at Woman’s Day

Want some more ideas? Try these online resources:

Use area rugs for an instant home makeover

Abby's Garden collection

If you think it’s time to freshen up the old homestead, don’t reach for a paint can or wallpaper book. Buy a new area rug instead.
“A new area rug is an easy way to freshen up any space almost instantly,” says Lou Webster, the director of design and product development for Capel Rugs.
With vacation season upon us, houseguests and other visitors will soon be coming to Summit County. Take a look at your living room, guest rooms and outdoor spaces. Are they up to snuff (design-wise, that is)? A new area rug is just the thing for an instant home makeover.
You can find summer styles to fit any space in your home, indoors and out. Summertime decorating is all about celebrating the outdoors. You want to bring the comfort of the indoors to outdoor spaces, like decks, porches and patios. At the same time, you can bring the natural patterns and textures of the outdoors inside.
Capel’s line of Anywhere rugs are a great option for both indoor and outdoor spaces. The rugs combine indoor softness with year-round outdoor durability. These versatile rugs are virtually maintenance-free and come in colors and styles to match every taste.
Capel Inc. is based in Troy, North Carolina, where the company still does the spinning, dyeing, weaving, braiding and sewing for Capel’s “American Original” braided rugs. We carry this line. Come visit us. We can show you more rugs from Capel as well as from other manufacturers.

Palm Shade, from the Seabreeze collection

Capel's South Beach rug is available in 12 fabrics