The passion Anna Weiss and Luby Kelley feel for Midcentury Modern art and design spills over from their shop and estate sale business into their 1957 ranch house in Crestwood’s Sturdy Estates. The pair bought the home in 2008 in as-is condition with all of its contents included. A one-owner “time capsule” home, it featured such original details as lighted soffits and walls of wood paneling. Aside from updates of the bathrooms, most of the renovation consisted of painting and refinishing the floors. Weiss and Kelley left the layout unchanged.
About five years ago, the two relocated MoModerne from Cherokee Street to its current location, just a couple miles up Watson Road from their home. For Weiss, dealing Midcentury Modern pieces began simply as a way to make money in college, but eventually it became her full-time job. “I just couldn’t stop selling,” she says.
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Photography by Carmen Troesser
Weiss stands next to a George Nelson for Herman Miller credenza, situated in the hallway leading to the bedrooms. The ceramic table lamp is by Gordon and Jane Martz of Veedersburg, Indiana, of which she is a collector. There are four additional Martz lamps throughout the house. The painting is by William Mohr, an illustrator for Edison Brothers’ advertising agency in the 1950s and ’60s.
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Photography by Carmen Troesser
In the living room, a painting by Spanish abstract artist Miquel Ibarz pops against the perfectly preserved original wood paneling, one of Weiss’ and Kelley’s favorite features of the house. The couple had the long Midcentury sofa reupholstered in white Knoll fabric. The low marble coffee table is both stylish and durable—a useful attribute, because the couple has two children. “We don’t agree a lot when it comes to the house,” says Weiss, “so when we get things in that we agree on, they tend to stay for a while.” Weiss and Kelley often rotate new chairs from the shop into this space. Right now it’s occupied by a reupholstered Hans Wegner rocker and an Eames rocker with its original base and fiberglass shell. “I love rockers so much,” Weiss says. Floor-to-ceiling windows fill the room with light.
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Photography by Carmen Troesser
The couple painted the brick fireplace surround white to lighten the room and balance the wood paneling and dark floors. A Jonathan Adler lamp sits on the hearth. Nearby is a vintage stool upholstered in groovy fabric by noted textile designer Jack Lenor Larsen.
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Photography by Carmen Troesser
The kitchen features the home’s original 1950s Geneva metal cabinets, which the couple had refinished in cobalt and white auto paint at Maaco. The vintage wall oven, which still works, was painted a sunny yellow.
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Photography by Carmen Troesser
Seven-year-old Harper’s room is bright and fun. The George Nelson for Herman Miller twin bed came as a pair and purchased at an estate sale. Harper’s 10-year-old brother, Samson, has its match in his room. A kilim area rug from Target brings in soft shades of pink, yellow, gray, and white. The IKEA Maskros pendant lamp adds a touch of whimsy. The red-and-white writing desk is also from IKEA. “We just go crazy there,” Weiss says. Also in Harper’s room is a set of refinished Midcentury Modern dressers that provide loads of storage for her clothes and belongings. The red Eames elephant by Vitra is a recent addition to the room.
