A Cozy, Traditional California Home Filled With Antiques, Pattern, and Patina

When interior decorator Chloe Kalk first walked into her Marin, California, home, she recognized something familiar. The shingled house was built in 1911—the same year as the home where she grew up in Montclair, New Jersey—and its age immediately resonated with her. “I love everything old, I love old homes, and I love shingled homes,” she says. After seeing the house, Chloe knew she wanted to make it her own. Today, the home is a warm, colorful family retreat that balances traditional style with the relaxed spirit of Northern California.

Chloe’s love of old things is hardly accidental. Early in her career, she worked at Ralph Lauren, eventually becoming a vintage buyer and traveling to antique shows and shops. That experience shaped the way she approaches her own home: rather than furnishing everything at once, she prefers to hunt for pieces with character, whether they come from an antique mall, estate sale, Etsy, or Facebook Marketplace. A 19th-century antique enfilade, a weathered leather chair, an old cricket table, and a 1930s ceramic dog are among the pieces she has collected over the years.

The result is a house that feels traditional without feeling overly formal. Chloe describes her style as “charming, traditional, lots of vintage,” with an emphasis on patina and comfort. She gravitates toward roll-arm furniture, antique dressers, casters, chipped paint, and anything that looks as though it has lived a life before arriving at her house. She also isn't afraid of color—or pattern. Stripes, florals, block prints, checks, and wallpaper appear throughout the home, giving each room its own personality while creating a sense of continuity from one space to the next.

The living room is a perfect example. A soothing blue-green wall color sets the backdrop for everyday family life. Chloe built the room around a Pierre Frey indigo print, then layered in different stripes, florals, and block prints in her favorite red, white, and blue palette. The effect is richly patterned but still relaxed and inviting.

In the dining room, Haig Blue walls dramatically transform the space, pairing with high wainscoting, original built-ins, seascape paintings, and Danish furniture. Chloe says the room is especially suited to evenings when the lights are dimmed, cocktails are poured, and friends gather around the bar.

The kitchen takes a lighter approach. Chloe inherited much of the space from the previous owner, including its unusual Jerusalem marble countertops, which give the room a warm yellow tone. Rather than replacing everything, she embraced what was already there and added her own touches, including bamboo shades and a built-in breakfast nook. It has become the heart of the house, where the family eats, colors, cooks, and spends much of their time.

Outside, the house takes on an unmistakably Californian quality. French doors open toward a lush garden, a pool, and a pergola covered in willow branches. A cobblestone fireplace provides a spot for summer s’mores, while the family eats outside beneath hanging lanterns.

For Chloe, the beauty of the house ultimately comes from its imperfections. Creaky floors, muddy paws, toothpaste marks, and the dents left by children and pets are all part of what makes it feel like home. “I think the wear and tear is what I love,” she says. In a world of brand-new interiors, Chloe’s 1911 house makes a compelling case for rooms that become better, more comfortable, and more personal with time.