A Peek Inside with Tracey Tilley

It’s been quite a long time since I’ve shared A Peek Inside: indie home tour—back in April actually. So, when I was approached by photographer Tracey Tilley (Etsy Shop) to share her home, I said, “Hellas yes!”

Tracey’s home is definitely mid-century modern with a mix of vintage pieces and plenty of indie art and LOTS of yellow. I love it! In fact, I had a bureau just like the one pictured below when I was kid (it was my mom’s from the 60’s) and after seeing one in Trcaye’s home, I wished that I had kept mine!

You can read more about Tracey’s home adventures on her blog…now onto the tour!

Tell us about your home. Do you live in an apartment, townhouse, rancher or a castle?

I live in a 1950’s brick ranch in the suburbs of Detroit, with my husband Mike.  We bought the home 7 years ago from its original owners who had lived in the house for 47 years!  When the owner handed over the keys, she hugged me and said she hoped we would love the house as much as her family did.  The home had been well cared for but needed a lot of cosmetic updates.  I always think of the original owners when we make improvements and I believe they would be very happy to know we adore it as much as they did.

How would you describe your designing style?

I’m drawn to an eclectic mix of styles—boho, vintage, mid-century modern and a dash of kitsch.  With furniture, I tend to choose pieces with clean modern lines and then add in some punch with colorful accessories, vintage pieces, books and artwork to make everything feel cozy and collected.  I enjoy hunting for second-hand pieces and gussying them up into something fresh and new, which I just recently started blogging about. It’s great to have unique objects in your home that nobody else has.

What’s your favorite room and why?

I’d have to say the living room.  It’s where we spend most of our time whether it be relaxing, reading, entertaining, or watching movies.   I’m not gonna lie, some of my favorite Saturday nights are spent cuddled up with Mike on the sofa, in our pajamas, with a pint of ice-cream and Netflix.

Who is that adorable furry roommate of yours?

Her name is Celia, and she’s a pretty big deal around here.   She is 9 years old, super cuddly and loves to drink from the faucet.  I’m pretty sure my husband and I love her an unhealthy amount.

Is that a record player I spy and does it work? What kind of albums do you have in your collection?

It is!  I totally dig the old-timey sound that you can only get from a record player.  I’ve got a pretty badass collection—The Beatles, T Rex, Bowie, 60’s girl groups, Motown, blues and some 80’s pop.

Do you like to entertain and was that a consideration in your creating the look and feel of your home?

Yes! Tea parties with my hussies are my fave.  I like to place conversation pieces around the house, such as the portrait of my cat as Marie Antoinette, the suit of armor, vintage cameras and old books.  I love when friends start wandering around my house, picking up all my treasures.  One of my favorite design tricks is to place a stack of loose photographs in a decorative bowl on the coffee table for guests to flip through.   Way more inviting than a photo album.

Obviously you like yellow, would that be safe to say?

Haha!   It has been my favorite color since I can remember.   When I was a little girl, I had a doll from the Strawberry Shortcake series named Daffodil, who had yellow hair, wore a fancy yellow dress and a big yellow hat made of petals. She was my favorite and I wanted to live in her world.  I guess I’m livin’ the dream now!  Besides, it is certifiably impossible to feel gloomy when you’re surrounded by yellow.  Trust.

Share a favorite treasure of yours.

I’d have to say my record collection is definitely a favorite.  Almost all of my albums were handed down from my parents, who have amazing taste in music, and remind me of my childhood.  I love throwing on a record and picturing my parents listening to that exact same album decades earlier.

I also really cherish my art collection.  Almost every piece in our home was made by a local artist and/or friend.  Detroit has a sick art scene, and I feel so lucky to be surrounded by such amazing artwork on a daily basis.  It’s hella inspiring!