About Me

The Story Behind Rosewood & Garden

Welcome. I’m so glad you’ve found your way to this corner of the internet.

If you find yourself drawn to the amber glow of an original fireplace, the unmistakable scent of old-growth wood floors, or the romantic chaos of a classic cottage garden, you are in the right place.

My love affair with old spaces and the land beneath them didn’t start in a design studio. It started in the dirt. Raised on an Iowa farm, I learned early on to appreciate the rhythm of the seasons, the value of slow craftsmanship, and what it truly means to watch a seed turn into a landscape. Over the decades, a journey across the American heartland evolved into a deep, unshakeable passion: breathing soul back into homes whose history had been forgotten, obscured, or ignored.

A History of Character & Restoration

I have never been drawn to sterile, new construction. I have owned brand-new houses, but they never felt  like home; I crave architectural character. Over the years, I have taken on historic properties that would have made less stubborn people turn and run, including:

• • • A Century-Old Historical Puzzle: A home that had been flipped and physically moved out into the dead center of a Nebraska field.
    • A Queen Anne Victorian: A stunning historic structure that had fallen victim to a loud, unapologetic 1980s remodel—complete with a mirrored wet bar right in the middle of the kitchen.

With every property, the mission remains identical: strip away transient modern trends, respect the original architecture, and inject warmth, comfort, and timeless beauty back into the walls.

From a 1941 Cucumber Farm to a Blank Canvas

Today, my canvas is a home built in 1941. Long before the surrounding neighborhood grew, this property was part of a historic cucumber farm. It’s a house with deep roots and incredible structural bones.

However, when I acquired it, the house had been aggressively “flipped.” While the original built-ins remained intact, nearly every single surface had been covered in a stark, cold, sterile corporate white. Elegant historic lighting had been replaced with trendy, disposable fixtures completely foreign to the home’s era.

Slowly, carefully, and intentionally, I am bringing the warmth back. I am replacing cold finishes with the rich textures of oak, rosewood, brick, unlacquered brass, and inviting textiles that make a house feel like an heirloom. Just beyond the back door, I am cultivating a cottage garden that honors the agricultural history of this land—anchored by custom window boxes, heirloom roses, and structural landscaping that blends seamlessly into the environment, all while allowing for modern comforts.

Why I Started Rosewood & Garden

In today’s design culture, everything feels fast. Houses are transformed in 48 hours using cheap, disposable materials designed to last five years before ending up in a landfill.

Rosewood & Garden is the anti-trend.

I created this publication not only to document the restorative journey of my own property, but to provide a deeply researched, honest resource for homeowners who want to cultivate timeless spaces of their own.

Whether you are searching for the perfect historic mortise lock, trying to determine which luxury greenhouse can withstand a brutal winter, or looking for ways to add architectural warmth to a modern “white box” flip, I’m here to share what actually works.

I don’t believe in cutting corners, and I don’t believe in cheap finishes. I believe in original craftsmanship, slow living, and homes that grow more beautiful with age.

Thank you for walking this path with me. Grab a cup of coffee, stay a while, and let’s bring the warmth back to our homes and gardens together.