Tucked on a quiet cul de sac in Pewaukee, the Hopkins family’s home combines the crispness of coastal style, rustic touches of a vintage farmhouse and a little bit of Milwaukee edge. And it works beautifully.
Amy and Tony bought the house six years ago and have since worked to make it a fresh but comfortable space for their family, which includes their two kids, seven-year-old Greyson and two-and-a-half-year-old Harper.
“My home décor has always had a coastal feel,” Amy says. “And making a newer home look old is my constant goal.”
The key, says Amy, is striking a balance. In her home, that means a coastal piece or two placed thoughtfully in most rooms, but alongside a mix of other elements to keep the look from feeling one-note. So a weathered “beach house” sign coexists with tailored cream furniture in the living room, warm wood countertops meet white subway tile in the kitchen and a shiplap ceiling pops against deep navy walls in the master bathroom.
Shopping vintage and indie shops helps ensure a unique style, too. Amy loves scouring the Elkhorn Antique Flea Market for one-of-a-kind finds, and stops in regularly at Roost Mercantile, Vintage Barn Chicks and Harvest Home in Pewaukee.
Amy and Tony both dislike clutter, which can be a challenge in a house shared with kids. But you won’t see a lot of toys scattered about in the Hopkins home.
“The biggest thing I do is find pieces — like an armoire or sofa tables or chests — that have drawers that are hidden,” Amy says. “And I’ve always made the kids clean up when they’re done playing.”
Amy also keeps a wooden basket by the fireplace to hold books that she changes up throughout the year, whether with stories about apples, Christmas, summer activities or the first day of school.
“The kids always get excited about a new season of books,” she says.
And fun continues in the kids’ rooms. Harper’s space is a more feminine take on the house’s breezy style, with a striped wall, gray floral-print comforter and a few gold mermaids.
Greyson’s room boasts a desk, a Lego table and — his latest favorite — a bunk bed. Amy lets Greyson rearrange the furniture whenever inspiration strikes, which makes him feel like he has a brand-new place to play.
Others have taken note of Amy’s keen design eye. She’s guided a handful of clients through projects and has helped a real estate agent friend with staging and consulting. She enjoys helping find a focal point in spaces.
“Find something you love and build from that,” she says.
A special place for Amy and Tony — who work as a part-time dental hygienist and vice president of sales for an insurance company, respectively — is a nook where they start their days. In two chairs by a bay window, they take time to connect before their days lead them in different busy directions.
“When we wake up in the morning, we have coffee together,” Amy says. “Even if it’s five minutes, we go over our day or just sit and talk.”
Photos by Beth Skogen.