If Tyson and I had to come up with a label for the style of our home, I would have to say we put our own twist on traditional. We looooooove classic molding and tailored furnishings with great detail, but we like to mix it up with bold color (purple, anyone?) and fun patterns.
However, if we were to ever have a second home or to start over from scratch, we would dive straight into midcentury modern. There wouldn’t even be a question. Several years ago, we even met with a realtor and spent a week seriously considering making the leap… selling ALL of our furnishings and purchasing a midcentury modern home that we stumbled upon and fell in love with. Cooler, more fiscally responsible heads prevailed, but it’s definitely a dream we still talk about.
So you can imagine my excitement when I came across Stacey’s blog: A Goode House. Not only is she one of the coolest chicks I’ve “met” while blogging, she also has and writes about the mid-century modern house that she and her husband, Richie, own. I’ve recommended her blog before, but I’m featuring it today because her place has the best story!
I first read a bit of their history on Stacey’s “About” page when I original discovered her blog. However, a few weeks back, she shared in even greater detail about the cool history of her home and it’s significance to her and Richie.
When Stacey met Richie, he was an art student in Texas and happened to be friends with the son of one of his college instructors. The instructor is the amazingly talented Robert Madden.
In the mid 60′s, Mr. Madden met a local architect, Rex Goode. Although they met at a dinner party of a mutual friend, the two men began discussing a mural that Rex was interested in for his living room that would cover eight sliding panels. Over several years, that discussion would result in Robert painting this stunning mural for the Goode House.
How does all this lead back to Stacey and Richie? Well, they married and because of their ongoing friendship with the Madden Family as well as their passion for modern design, art and architecture, they eventually met Rex Goode and his wife, Ruth.
They had a great time meeting the couple, but never dreamed that they might one day own the Goode House. But that’s exactly what happened. Many years later when they were told that Rex Goode had passed away and that the Goode House would be for sale, Stacey and Richie made the decision to purchase it and preserve the original vision of the Goodes.
My favorite part of the Goode House is not the beautiful design and decor, but it’s the story. Anyone could have bought this home and enjoyed, made improvements to, and even done huge renovations to it. History could’ve been lost. Details, like the large mural (the largest piece Robert Madden has ever painted) could’ve been thoughtlessly painted over because of the lack of connection to the space. Instead, two people who know and truly appreciate the home have taken on the challenge of continuing that legacy.
Stacey & Richie have put their own spin on things, made upgrades to the home all the while beautifully maintaining the original design. Also, because of their friendship with Mr. Madden, they’ve been able to add several additional pieces of his art that compliment the mural and have special meaning to them. This one in their dining room is one of my favorites!
I want to say a huge thank you to Stacey (and Richie) for letting me share a part of their story. I hope I did it justice. I know I have not… I’ve only given you a peek. So for the full scoop, check out her post on Robert Madden and for their complete adventures in midcentury modern madness head on over to A Goode House. They might even invite you to sign their door which is another cool chapter.
