Treasure UNCOVERING A
Step inside a formerly neglected home in Kansas that finds new life at the deft hands of an interior designer whose style merges the best of primitive, Colonial and American farmhouse with a dash of old-world European.
CCindy Mack Taggart and her husband, Joel, were living in a modestly sized ranch home when they became empty nesters. While many people might downsize at that point in their lives, Cindy was ready for a new kind of adventure. “One would think a smaller home would be perfect, but I missed having more space,” she says. “I longed for a project—a fixer-upper of sorts.”
It wasn’t long until Joel and Cindy, an interior designer and former home-decor shop proprietor, found the house in Abilene, Kansas, they wanted: an 1875 fourbedroom, two-bath dwelling with loads of potential. “I had never seen a home like it,” Cindy notes. “It was built during the Second Empire architectural period and appears to be prairie box, or American foursquare, although the home officially predates this style.”
The house was abandoned and neglected when the Taggarts put in their offer. “There were a lot of hurdles to overcome in order to acquire the home,” Cindy recalls. After a tense waiting process, the couple formally closed on the house in December 2018. They had much to do before they could actually live there, however. They rolled up their sleeves and got to work on the renovation, which included myriad repairs, fresh paint throughout and installing a variety of modern conveniences.
Fortunately, many of the home’s original features were intact. “We spent endless hours scraping, soaking and bringing interior doorknobs, hinges and hardware back to their original grandeur,” Cindy explains. “From the countertops, shelving and custom-built pieces, most things have been salvaged or repurposed.”
By May 2019, the house was ready for occupants. Cindy christened their home Alley House and set to work on the interior design. In her childhood, she spent time in two places that made a lasting impact: in Germany and on a farm. To this day, she credits those experiences with helping cultivate her aesthetic.
“I love a mix of many styles and textures,” she says. “My go-to inspirations over the years have always been primitive, old-world European, country, traditional American farmhouse, historical Colonial and Early American.” To that end, the design scheme, furnishings and decorative artifacts are as unique as the house itself. “I also love touches of whimsy and folk art,” she adds.
Antique stoneware, crocks, baskets, vintage rolling pins and cookbooks are among Cindy’s favorite collectibles. But her most treasured pieces are those that hold sentimental value, including vintage milk glass and Fire King dishware passed down from family as well as handstitched quilts, crocheted afghans, and hand-embroidered pillowcases crafted by her aunt, grandmother and mother. For Cindy, a home’s interior design has but one primary purpose: to “make your heart sing.” For this empty nester, continuing to feather the nest remains a source of true joy.
This traditional dining room set—one of Cindy’s more recent acquisitions—lends itself beautifully to her multidimensional design aesthetic. “There’s something about traditional stained oak dining sets that speaks to me,” she says. “Of course, I like weathered pieces, but quality Early American furniture never goes out of style. Stained oak grounds a space and offers a bit of balance.”
Shades of sienna set the tone for this country-themed Thanksgiving tabletop. Taper candles pick up the hues of pretty fall foliage, while warm-colored linens, pinecones, decorative pumpkins and fowl figurines tie the look together.