Couple’s Home Features Antiques, Contemporary Pieces

On a corner lot in Shreveport’s Apple Tree gated subdivision, Michael and Richea Corbin built their family’s custom home in 1995 and have updated the 2,200 square-foot home to fit their modern day evolving style.

Just beyond the beautifully maintained flowerbeds of roses, the front door opens to a large living and dining area with 28-foot ceilings.

“We originally used this entire area as living space with a conversation area in the front and a couch and seating for viewing the big screen television in the back half of the space,” Michael said. “When we became empty-nesters, we no longer need the television space and made it more of a traditional dining space.”

The dining table, from Ethan Allen’s Radius collection, has four Heywood Wakefield Dog Bone chairs from the early 1950s the family purchased on eBay. They re-upholstered the chairs with bright floral fabric which adds the perfect amount of color next to the natural wood finish of the chairs.

The Corbins collect antique Depression glass and serving pieces.

“We use our pieces quite often for entertaining and holiday dinners,” Michael said. “It is interesting to note that plate sizes have almost doubled since the 1930s and ’40s. On our dining table currently is Russell Wright dinnerware. Another modern clean style from the ’50s. We are always look for additional pieces of this collection.”

This room features five large windows with transoms as well as two glass doors leading to the screened-in patio. Refreshing natural light floods the space and is a perfect balance to the Morning Fog paint color on the walls.

Dark gray velvet panel curtains and two charcoal gray FLOR rugs sit atop the light pecan wood flooring.

Michael said with FLOR rugs, “You purchase carpet squares of different colors, textures, patterns and put them together to suit your mood and style. Tired of how it looks? Rearrange the tiles and you have a new rug.”

The living room’s upholstered pieces are covered in a white on white print with two turquoise print accent chairs. The furniture pieces are a mix of Ethan Allen Radius (end table, coffee table, dining table and chairs, curio and China cabinet) along with antique pieces the family has purchased over the years.

“We have a buffet that sat for years in T.S. Station Restaurant, which is filled with antique pieces,” Michael said.

T.S. Station and Steak & Ale were sister restaurants located on Shreveport-Barksdale pre-casino.

One of the owner/managers also operated Caboose Antiques out of an old caboose next door to T. S. Station. The restaurant was filled with English and European antiques. Roy Cage still operates Caboose Antiques currently located in Town Oak Center at Line and Southfield.

The first floor of the home also includes the kitchen, master bedroom, laundry and powder room. Large porcelain tile floors are featured in the kitchen, breakfast area, laundry and powder room.

Gray quartz with silver flecks tops the kitchen counters and island. The backsplash is a mosaic tile of glass, stone and stainless pieces, and the cabinets are a natural ash finish with brushed nickel hardware. A row of glass blocks between the counter top and cabinets allow additional light to enter the space and provide an interesting design element. An antique floor radio purchased at a local estate sale anchors the area between the master bedroom and the laundry room.

“The floor radio is always a conversation piece,” Michael said. “Everyone in our age group remembers a family member who had one in their home and our younger friends are just intrigued that a radio needs to be so large. It still works and the smell of dust burning off the old vacuum tubes bring back fond memories.”

The powder room has a freestanding vanity set into a nook covered with glass mosaic tiles and sealed with a shimmer grout. Two tall pencil lamps sit on the vanity framing an elegant, oval mirror.

Just around the corner, the master bedroom has light pecan hardwood floors with another FLOR rug under the bed. The exquisitely designed bed, television cabinet and chest are all Ethan Allen Radius.

“We have a happy, eclectic mix of contemporary furnishings, antiques, depression era glassware and other things we just like when we see it,” he said. “With the exception of a few antique pieces, all the furniture is from Ethan Allen. Purchasing quality furniture has given us the opportunity to have items reupholstered multiple times as our color pallets have changed.”

A sofa completes the room providing a quiet place to relax, read or watch television.

Two glass doors off of the master bedroom provide plenty of light and access to the screened in patio from the bedroom.

The master bathroom has a large walk-in closet, jetted tub, shower, water closet and large vanity covered in mosaic, glass tile. Two glass, block windows allow slanted light to enter the room.