This well-preserved 1965 home gets an era-appropriate refresh combining restoration and thoughtful replacements.

By Devlin Smith

THIS BOISE HOME WAS CUSTOM BUILT IN 1965. AFTER PURCHASING THE HOME FROM THE FAMILY OF ITS ORIGINAL OWNERS, HOMEOWNERS MARCIA AND STEVE WELKER FRESHENED UP THE EXTERIOR WITH NEW PAINT, LANDSCAPING, LIGHTING AND A MAILBOX.

Photography by Cy Gilbert Styling by Jessica Luque

DESIGNER JESSICA LUQUE PRESERVED THE GOLD WALLPAPER, FLAGSTONE FLOORING AND IRONWORK STAIR RAILINGS IN THIS OPULENT ENTRYWAY. THE ORIGINAL LACY LIGHT FIXTURE WAS REPLACED WITH SOMETHING SLEEKER IN KEEPING WITH THE HOMEOWNERS’ VISION FOR THE HOME UPDATE.

THIS ENTIRE WALL WAS ONCE COVERED IN MIRRORS. THEY BROUGHT IN THE LIGHT AND THE VIEWS BUT, ACCORDING TO DESIGNER JESSICA LUQUE, FELT A BIT COLD. THE SPACE HAS BEEN WARMED UP IN A VERY MID CENTURY MODERN WAY, WITH THE ADDITION OF WOOD PANELING AND CUSTOM SHELVING.

The online listing for the 1965 custom-built home overlooking Boise, Idaho, hadn’t sold Marcia Welker. She thought the home, still in its original condition and still owned by the original family, was a bit too original. Seeing the home in person, though, was a whole different experience. “Several weeks later when we had moved to Boise, Steve convinced me to just look at it,” Marcia recalls. “I wasn’t that impressed with the outside, but when we opened the original double doors, wow, I couldn’t believe what we had just walked into.”