Travel Talk

Ron and Lynn Haigh, owners of Adams Tile & Stone in Marion, have transformed their Midcentury Modern home in southeast Cedar Rapids into a vibrant, light-filled space reflecting their artistic and eclectic tastes. Ron initially discovered the house about 20 years ago while installing tile and expressed interest in purchasing it if it ever went on the market. In 2000, they received the call, and despite Lynn's initial reservations about the home's dark interior, they decided to buy it. The Haighs embarked on extensive renovations to brighten and open up the space. A key change involved removing the wall between the dining room and kitchen, which significantly improved the home's flow and brought in more natural light. They also enlarged the opening to the sunroom. Recognizing the original house's lack of light fixtures, they added lighting to every room and repainted the entire interior. Furthermore, they replaced all the flooring and remodeled both the kitchen and bathrooms. Lynn emphasized their approach of living in the house for a period to understand how they would best utilize each space before committing to major renovations. The kitchen remodel, completed 17 years ago, showcases forward-thinking design choices that remain contemporary. These include a glass tile backsplash, a galvanized tin light fixture above the sink, and interior barn-door hardware. The barn doors were an innovative solution to a tight network of doors in the kitchen, with the hardware sourced unconventionally from a tractor supply store. This store also provided corrugated tin, which they creatively incorporated as trim details in doorways and as the ceiling finish in the sunroom, highlighting their preference for a mix of materials. Lynn, with a background in commercial art, infused the home with bold colors and designs. She painted the white-brick fireplace a burnt orange to make it a focal point. Her philosophy is to decorate based on personal preference rather than resale value, encouraging homeowners to choose what they love. This approach is evident in the home's colorful palette, which harmonizes with layered materials and textures, including various tiles from their business, Adams Tile & Stone. Both bathrooms and the master bedroom underwent dramatic tile transformations. The master bedroom features a quartz tile accent wall, creating a new ambiance, complemented by all-white bedding with texture to mirror the wall. In a smaller bathroom, Ron custom-framed the walk-in shower to accommodate large 2-by-4-foot porcelain tiles with a metallic finish, while dark marble cut to resemble pebbles grounds the floor. The main bath incorporates highly textured split marble on an exterior wall and plank marble tile on the floor, with the plank pattern extending up the wall above the bathtub in a smaller scale for an accent. The couple's love for art and travel is reflected throughout their home. They met in Washington, D.C., lived in Australia for nine years, and settled in Cedar Rapids in 1993. The house is well-suited for entertaining, especially when family from Australia visits, accommodating up to 20 people. Their home is filled with framed artwork by their daughters, Lynn's own creations, purchased pieces, and unique display items collected from their travels, such as a towering palm tree Lynn acquired from a furniture store display. #HomeRenovation #MidcenturyModern #InteriorDesign #TileDesign #ColorfulDecor #HomeDecor #OpenConcept #DIYHomeProjects #WorldTravelers

Meagan Cignoli, an LA-based sculptor, has found a unique way to travel extensively and affordably by leveraging home-swapping networks. Her journey into home swapping began in 2005 through Craigslist, driven by her desire for a change of scenery and to accommodate her dogs. While her first experience involved swapping her Venice Beach home with someone in New York, the process was somewhat precarious due to the lack of a formal platform. Her experience improved significantly with the advent of dedicated home-swapping platforms. Initially, she used Love Home Swap, then transitioned to Thirdhome, and currently utilizes Kindred, a members-only network. Kindred, unlike some other platforms, does not involve direct exchanges but instead uses a credit system. Members earn credits by hosting others in their homes, which they can then use to stay in other members' properties worldwide. This system provides flexibility, as there's no need for a direct, simultaneous swap. Cignoli's one-bedroom apartment in Los Angeles earns her sufficient credits to travel frequently. Her membership with Kindred costs $300 a year, plus a $300 service fee per stay. This fee covers insurance, a concierge service, and professional cleaning. The properties available through Kindred are typically high-end, often valuing over $2 million, and include amenities like private chefs, saunas, and swimming pools. Guests are expected to treat the properties with respect, as they would their own. Over the years, Cignoli has traveled to numerous destinations through home swapping, including Lake Tahoe, Hawaii, Colorado, Turks and Caicos, and Italy. Her stays range from a few days to several weeks. She highlights the significant cost savings, estimating that a trip to Italy that would normally cost $20,000 was reduced to just $3,000 through home swapping. The financial advantages are a major draw, allowing her to experience luxury travel without the exorbitant price tag of hotels or rental services. Beyond the financial benefits, Cignoli emphasizes the sense of community within these networks. Guests and hosts are often in communication, exchanging tips and local recommendations, which enhances the travel experience. She also appreciates the flexibility of being able to bring her dogs, a luxury not always available in traditional accommodations. While home swapping requires trust and open communication, Cignoli sees it as a valuable method for frequent, high-quality travel. She plans to continue using Kindred and explores new destinations, proving that a modest home can open doors to a world of luxury travel opportunities. #HomeSwapping #TravelHack #AffordableTravel #LuxuryTravel #KindredNetwork #MeaganCignoli #TravelCommunity #BudgetTravel