Cowboy Modern Cottage

Hardy Home

More than 100 years ago, a railroad company built a group of Sears kit houses for workers laying the tracks. Since buying her kit home in 2005, Carole Cardenhas had to do very little to it.

Ranch Kitchen

Old ranch houses are known for having large kitchens. Rather than using built-in cabinets, Carole has an old cupboard, rolling metal shelves, and a freestanding 1920s range.

"The metal chairs, polished wood table, and industrial shelving cart mix with the original wood floors, screened door, and 1920s range for a look I call 'cowboy modern,'" she says.

Porch Dining

Almost every meal is eaten on the porch around the old Mennonite table. The vintage cafe chairs can stay out year-round.

Living Room

Western-themed pictures by Texas artists hang in the living room.

"The cowboy modern theme infuses this room, with the sleek cowhide rug softening the original flooring," Carole says. "I don't have TV or Internet in the house, so we amuse ourselves with great conversation, books, music, and the view."

Vintage Collection

A vintage Mexican table displays items collected over the years.

Carole's favorite shops for items old and new are Uncommon Objects (Austin), Lucchese Factory Outlet Store (El Paso, 915/778-8060), and SoLo (Solana Beach, California).

Fire Pit

Most evenings end at the fire pit—especially when friends such as Marathon artist Mary Baxter (right) and her husband, Neil Chavigny, visit.

"Night falls quickly onto the desert," Carole says. "We usually get the fire going in the outdoor pit and start the grill. As the food cooks, we keep an eye out for shooting stars that seem to span the horizon in this dark, clear sky."

Tranquil Bedroom

Carole hung sheer curtains in the bedroom so she could see the stars and the sunrise.

Carole says: "I never painted the old beaded-board ceiling, opting to stick with the natural look of raw wood, but I did clean and stain the original flooring. I found the Mexican tin mirror at an antiques show."