The Foxcroft Estate Kitchen Renovation

For many designers, historical preservation is key to their design styles. For Emily Vallely-Pertzborn, keeping the mid-century flair of her fiance’s grandparents’ home intact was a must. This California-based stylist, interior designer, and production designer worked alongside husband Brandon and his extended family to restore the 1948 vacation home, located in Des Moines, Iowa to its original era. Listed on Airbnb as a rental property, the home is open to the public and showcases the updated art deco meets country cottage meets mid-century renovations.

Deemed the Foxcroft Estate—a nod to Emily’s two biggest design inspirations, Bunny Mellon and Sister Parish, both of whom attended Foxcroft School—the three-bedroom, three-bathroom, and two-half-bathroom vacation home sits on four acres of open land.

One of the main restorations took place in the kitchen, now flaunting traditional colors and curves from the 1950s. From the printed wallpaper and checkerboard floor, to the Big Chill appliances (bigchill.com) and the rooster adornments, the newly designed space achieves that old-school, rustic charm appearance.