He describes the allure of the Sunshine State, with near perfect weather; so ideal that you’re never really aware of any discomfort—your body becomes one with the air, the sun, the breeze—the environment.He describes the allure of the Sunshine State, with near perfect weather; so ideal that you’re never really aware of any discomfort—your body becomes one with the air, the sun, the breeze—the environment.
For former Long Beach, California residents, Hillary and Pat Rondero, the California lifestyle is so much a part of their being, that even though they’re transplants in North Carolina now, their home remains decidedly so California in style.
Hillary, a closeted decorator at heart, was nearly beside herself when they saw the character and vibe of their new neighborhood and its classic bungalows. Ironically, their former home in Long Beach was also built in the early 1920s, yet the difference in living in a two bedroom, 900-square-foot home, compared to what their “new” old home offered was as different as….well, winter in California compared to winter in North Dakota.
“I have a passion for decorating,” said Hillary. “Moving from such a small home in California to nearly 3,000-square feet here, presented a world of possibilities, but at the same time, with our California roots, we wanted a home that had lots of natural light and an open floor plan with lots of character. We found that in our Dutch Colonial home.”
The Dutch Colonial style is distinguished by its gambrel roof, with or without flared eaves, and the frequent use of dormers. It was built from about 1890 to 1930 in various forms.
Hillary’s style is eclectic and chic, to say the least. Having owned a retail store in the historic part of Long Beach, she has a keen eye for staging and style and knows how to group items together to create contrast.
“My store in California, PRISSY LOU, was a great creative outlet for me,” said Hillary. “But when I left, my home became the focus of my creative energies. I have to create beauty. I love to decorate and I guess my style is more Bohemian than anything.”
The open living room is painted soft pink with antique white accents. The main part of the home features an open dining room / living room concept and a sunroom/ sitting room that is bathed in natural light. The house is full of a wonderful collection of antiques and re-purposed pieces all interlaced with modern accents.
“There’s not a decorating style that I don’t like,” said Hillary. “I could never live in a house that was entirely traditional or entirely modern, but there are elements of each style that are beautiful. I have tried to gather the best attributes from many styles and blend them into one fun mix.”
Repeating patterns exist in nearly every room: something natural, something shiny and something with a matte finish, something modern, something classic. The repetition of pattern is balanced with contrasts that draw you in.
“If there is one constant in my style, it has to be the use of natural products and finding ways to bring the outdoors inside, in every room,” explains Hillary. “One of my favorite parts of the day is venturing outdoors to look for cuttings to decorate with. It could be a Camellia bloom, a Forsythia bloom, branches from a Pine tree, or branches from a Dogwood—it doesn’t matter, as long as there is something from the outdoors inside my home, every day.”