This 1940s Charming Iowa House Looks Like Living in “A Fairytale”
Cullen Ormond
·11-min read
Nicole Vegel, who runs an online vintage store and provides interior design services, moved from the South and into this three-bedroom Iowa City home with her husband and two daughters a year-and-a-half ago. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
What makes Nicole's family's move unique is that they purchased the 1940s home after only seeing it online. "A bit unnerving for a first home purchase," Nicole explains. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
"I got a call from our real estate agent one day telling us that she had the perfect house for us," she continues. "It exuded the warmth I hoped for and had the right amount of projects to satisfy my designer brain but not too many to make us regret our purchase." Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
When guests visit Nicole's home, the expansive bookshelves always spark conversations. The gallery wall, which is full of meaningful pieces, is also eye-catching. "Any art in our home has meaning or a story behind it," Nicole says. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
Nicole's children play the day away and then relax in the evenings in the living room. Because the daughters are young, everything has to be practical and easy to clean. "Yes, the space is functional and lived-in, but it is also a reflection of who we are," she says. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
It wasn't just the interior charm that enchanted Nicole and her family — the home's local history was also special. The house was built by Howard Moffitt, who is a well-known builder in Iowa City. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
According to Nicole, Moffitt pioneered sustainable construction and used unconventional materials to craft unique homes. "Our home is built in a Dutch colonial style with an impressive gambrel roof with curved eaves," she explains. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
Their home is magical inside and out. In the summer, lush trees and flowers blossom outside, and there are classic details inside, like original floors, doorknobs, and arches, that add charm. "It sometimes feels like we live in a fairytale," Nicole shares. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
A lot of the pieces in their home have stories, too. For example, most of the artwork (and a lot of furniture!) came from Nicole's grandma. However, their kitchen table was a Facebook Marketplace find that Nicole refinished. It now hosts lots of cozy dinners, homeschooling, and crafting. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
Nicole admits that their lack of space forces her to be aware of what's coming in and out of their home. "We feel the impact of anything new. This forces us to be aware of how we use what we have and how we decorate," she explains. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
Nicole describes the interior style of their house as warm, organic, vintage, and European-feeling. "My home is a direct reflection of our family values. We want our place to be warm and inviting to all," she explains. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
"We might not have a lot of space, but it is cozy," she continues. "At my core, I want each room to feel peaceful, organic, and beautiful, but also serve the practical purposes we need it to." Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
One of the first projects Nicole and her husband tackled after moving in was making the kitchen feel more connected to the rest of the home. The cabinets were oak and looked more mid-century modern, so they made a change. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
Nicole painted the cabinets a crisp shade of white and swapped the existing hardware for an unlaquered brass pick. "Our kitchen is small, and I feel like this color drenching helped bring cohesion and openness," she says. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
"We spend our days playing in the fenced-in backyard under the shade of a century-old walnut tree, growing our own vegetables, baking cookies in our light-filled kitchen, and gathering with friends around our refinished kitchen table," Nicole says. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
Although the walls in their home were purposefully painted white to create an airy and relaxing feeling, their stairs are a striking black because Nicole says the color "pulls in the dark veining of the original hardwood floors." Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
Another one of the first projects Nicole completed in her home was installing a Murphy bed in their den, which allowed them to host more guests. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
Sliding glass doors open to their lush backyard. And, of course, another full bookshelf anchors the space similarly to their living room. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
"Our primary bedroom is by far my favorite room. I love retreating here," Nicole shares. "It has taken time to bring the room together, and I've accumulated pieces over time, but this process has allowed me to create a space that I feel so at home in." Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
"It is a neutral space with soft white bedding, layered quilts, vintage accents, organic textiles, and light-colored wood furniture," she continues. "I think because it has taken me so long to land on this space being 'finished,' I love it so much." Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
"Each piece has a story and meaning, and the neutral palette feels serene," Nicole says. "Because things are both old and new, the blending feels finished." Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
The cozy "chair corner" in Nicole's primary bedroom was recently adorned with framed Royal Copenhagen "Four Seasons" bisque porcelain plaques from Harlowe James. (Nicole studied abroad in Copenhagen, so these are extra sentimental.) Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
"This is our 3-year-old daughter's room. I loved pulling patterns, shapes, and color into her space," Nicole says. "I was inspired by the floral quilt on the bed and worked hard to shop our home before buying something new. I was surprised by how much we had already, and with a little creative energy it all came together." Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
One of the things Nicole loves most about her home is the abundant natural light that drenches all of the rooms; it can be seen in her daughter's room, too. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
"The best decorating advice I have is to choose things you love and allow yourself time to create your space," Nicole shares. "Your home is an extension of you and what you like." Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
"You will be the one spending the most time in it, so allow your unique interests and taste to shine! Find things you love in your home first that have meaning to you, and build from there," she continues. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
Their youngest daughter's nursery maintains the white, neutral, cozy color scheme of the rest of the home. "There is cohesion and flow throughout the home, but each room has its own character," Nicole says. "I want things to have a story, similar to how our home is." Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
"I can feel overwhelmed by clutter and chaos — ironic for being a stay-at-home mom to two young children. But our home feels serene because we have consciously designed, organized, and thought out our decor," she continues. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
Achieving the right lighting was essential to the family. So, shortly after moving in, they replaced the overhead lighting, and their space now has a warm glow. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
Nicole and her husband also refinished the original hardwood after moving in. The warm wood floors complement the white, crisp walls, which help the home feel both spacious and cozy. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
When decorating her home, Nicole was mindful not to buy into trends and instead wanted to fill her space with sentimental objects that felt like her and her family. Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
"The pieces I've been the most patient with and worked towards over time are the ones I've held onto and moved from home to home," Nicole says. "Home takes time." Credit: Torey RohdeCredit: Torey Rohde
A year and a half ago, when Nicole Vegel, who runs an online vintage store and offers interior design services, and her family (which includes her husband and two children) were living across the country, they took a chance on a charming three-bedroom home in Iowa City, Iowa.
“I got a call from our real estate agent one day telling us that she had the perfect house for us. It exuded the warmth I hoped for and had the right amount of projects to satisfy my designer brain but not too many to make us regret our purchase,” Nicole says. “I was also drawn to the character of the home and how unique each home in the neighborhood was.”
While Nicole admits that buying their first home after only seeing it online was a “bit unnerving,” their risk led to a wonderful reward. Their 1940s house is not only gorgeous — with ample windows that drench the interior rooms in warm light, a lush backyard shaded by a 100-year-old walnut tree, and original details like hardwood floors and plated doorknobs — it’s rich in local history.
Howard Moffitt was a local builder who, Nicole says, used sustainable materials like railroad ties for support beams or river rock on exterior walls, and each of his homes is unique.
“Our home is built in a Dutch colonial style with an impressive gambrel roof with curved eaves,” Nicole explains. “During the summer, we have magnolia trees, peonies, and hydrangeas in full bloom. There are lovely arches throughout the home and original plated doorknobs, and our staircase is painted a charcoal black, which pulls in the dark veining of the original hardwood floors. It sometimes feels like we live in a fairytale.”
As an outsider looking in, it’s understandable that Nicole’s family’s life seems so idyllic. Their neutral color scheme throughout feels cozy, inviting, and welcoming of fond memories that the family has made while living in the house.
“We spend our days playing in the fenced-in backyard under the shade of a century-old walnut tree, growing our own vegetables, baking cookies in our light-filled kitchen, and gathering with friends around our refinished kitchen table,” Nicole shares.
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