KELEE KATILLAC

HISTORIC STYLE: A New Reel with Vivienne Westwood Punk Plaid, Adelphi Paper Hangings, a Missouri Scottish Farmstead & Music by Big Country At the Bingham Farmstead in Arrow Rock, Missouri, I envisioned a punk plaid spin on the 1860 farmhouse. Resident? A “tatted-up” farm-to-table grower with a penchant for kilts and the Scottish band “Big Country.” As always, we started by honoring the original structure and restored that which had been torn asunder (including windows, doors) like a Vivienne Westwood shredded plaid number held together by safety pins. I designed several original tartans that were used for curtains, upholstery, and banners to tie to the family origin near Edinburgh, Scotland. Then, we deepened the design story by paying homage to the Black artisans who settled near the Arrow Rock village post-Civil War. I selected a Thomas Day-like pattern called Dundurn Castle Ashlar from Adelphi Paper Hangings, recoloring it with neon rebellion. It glows like a graffiti backdrop for the Sex Pistols at CBGB. A deconstructed Federal “rope bed” with spool knobs reads like the odd fasteners and studs on punk jackets and strap pants. Mixed in are 19th-century pedigree antiques, including a Scottish Georgian era hall chair, hand-colored depictions of Highland Guard uniforms, and more. The decorative arts platform 1stDibs made sourcing the world easy. @1stdibs Thank-you to Preservation North Carolina and photographer Tim Buchman for the use of the Thomas Day images, in the reel and in my book HISTORIC STYLE: Honoring the Past with Design for Today www.historicstyle.com Photographer Aaron Leimkuehler Reel Editor: Kilgore Shattuck Reel Coproducer: Jani Duncan Smith MUSIC: “In a Big Country” 1983 WATCH the video on YouTube Other images: Punk plaid FW18 Courtesy of Versace.com Photographer: Domen Van De Velde

HISTORIC STYLE: The Walter Gropius House Combines Bauhaus and New England Aesthetics & the Music of Portishead In our feature today, it comes as a surprise to see sharp Modernist lines among the traditional properties held by Historic New England. For his 1938 home, Walter Gropius, founder of the German Bauhaus movement and proponent of the International Style, did not entirely ignore American regional aspects when designing the home in Lincolnshire, Massachusetts. “As to my practice, when I built my first house in the U.S.A.—which was my own—I made it a point to absorb into my own conception those features of the New England architectural tradition that I found still alive and adequate. This fusion of the regional spirit with a contemporary approach to design produced a house that I would never have built in Europe with its entirely different climatic, technical, and psychological background.” — Walter Gropius, Scope of Total Architecture (1956) Gropius immigrated to America (after three years in London), avoiding the Nazi occupation. While Gropius was not Jewish, modern art in Nazi Germany was considered to be “degenerate” and subversive. Under the guise of work travel to Italy, he was able to escape. He later accepted a teaching position with Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design. MUSIC: When speaking of subversive art and design, I think of Portishead, my favorite Triphop band that came out of the Bristol, England scene. Like Gropius’ unlikely combinations, the Triphop scene brought together EDM, broken hip-hop beats, psychedelia, and cinematic storytelling. Our track today, the original music video, has a cool Berlin film noir look to it. Check it out. @portishead Photos from HISTORIC STYLE: Honoring the Past with Design for Today Photographed by Eric Roth Beth Gibbons, Portishead, image from Almay Thank-you to Historic New England. Please visit the Gropius House and all the other of these important National Register of Historic Places. @historicnewengland www.historicnewengland.org

HISTORIC STYLE: The Decemberists, Manifesting Your Dreams 101, & The Inspiring Life of Architect John Gaw Meem So many great souls overcome adversity to manifest their life purpose and dreams. New Mexico architect John Gaw Meem is such a story and is featured in today’s reel. We’ll explore more of Meem’s work in part 2. We all deal with stuff. My “dealing” came in college. Despite having a privileged upbringing, including country clubs, horse shows, and my grandmother’s weekly date with personal shoppers at iconic department stores, I found myself with a lot of angst. “You had so very much to be upset about…” I can hear you say. But depression does not discriminate. There is a record amount of high school and college-age people from all socio-economic groups with life-threatening mental and emotional challenges right now. To this I can relate and have spoken about in the recent post called Healing by Design. In college, rather than a campus apartment, we decided to live in a mobile home. Seemed kind of “retro cool” like a mid-century Palm Springs jam. Out from under the guilt-hammering religion of my childhood, I had a crisis of existential questions. Concerns about racial injustice and the environment obsessed me. My depression increased. At the end of my street, people piled their cast-offs. One day, I grabbed a chair that was chipped, broken, and unwanted. In an act of DIY mercy, I started sanding, gluing, and repainting the thing. As I fixed it, I felt more hopeful. I then redesigned everything in sight. My first design job came because of the evidence of my skills in that tin can studio of belief. I had created my way back to health and a future. Within a year, I had my first photo shoot for “House Beautiful”. Now, media and reprint stories on my design work are over 1,000 globally – not including the books I have written. The day Oprah’s producers called was another big milestone. If I can do this, ANYONE can. Just start one gentle step at a time. But START. See the dream as accomplished. Ask the white light that powers the planet to enter your body and spirit. It will also bring your inner world to outer manifestation. We got this. Reel Credits: Film Editor Kilgore Shattuck, Editor Jani Duncan Smith Images: Alamy Photo Licensing, University of New Mexico Music: Here I Dreamt I was An Architect, by The Decemberists

HISTORIC STYLE: Joshua Bassett’s “BLUE” & Kelee Katillac’s Message for the New Year I was on a book tour, heading to Cleveland for a television appearance. Before the airport—still in Kansas City—I drove to Loose Park, the green jewel at the center of our historic district, for a walk. Admittedly, I was wound tight and hyper-focused on delivering a good interview. I had intended to do my “walking meditation” the day before, but I got sidetracked. It had rained overnight. Rambling through the rose garden, I looked south as the clouds parted, revealing the most vibrant blue sky. That’s when I noticed something on a bench overlooking a grove of oak trees. Lying there was Dr. Wayne Dyer’s book, The Sky Is the Limit. The vinyl library cover was speckled with raindrops—meaning it had been there all night. Remember, I was supposed to have taken the walk the day before. I picked it up and opened it to what felt like a prophetic page. It read, in essence: “Don’t forget the power of joy… of taking a break to play. It will inspire your work to new levels.” When I arrived at the hotel, there was a knock at my door. The concierge said, “Ms. Katillac, we have a complimentary ticket for you to tonight’s Cleveland baseball game right behind home plate.” First thought: I can’t possibly accept. I need to rehearse for the show. The book now in my suitcase spoke up: Take the break. It will be your show prep. I went to the game. Cleveland beat the White Sox in the 11th. The next day, I sauntered onto the LIVE show, curled up on the couch, legs folded behind me, looked the host in the eye, and asked, “How can I help you release your creativity and manifest your dreams?” Afterward, the producer came running up to me and asked me back. In this new year, I’ll be here for you, asking the same question: How can I help you manifest your creativity and design dreams? TIP: By now, you know that music runs through my head day and night, informing my design work. Turn your music on. It will trip your creative DNA. Joshua Bassett’s latest, “Blue” (watch the video on our reel), reminds us to play, be crazy in love, and remember that the color blue means: THE SKY IS THE LIMIT. Thank-you to Steve Carillo, Film Editor TEAM: Edgar Levine, Karen Swope, Jani Duncan Smith Image: Joshua Bassett licensed Alamy editorial

HISTORIC STYLE: AMERICAN PICKERS’ MIKE WOLFE REVIEW Thank you to History Channel star of the hit series American Pickers, Mike Wolfe, for his kind words about HISTORIC STYLE: Honoring the Past with Design for Today. @mikewolfeamericanpicker One of the highest-rated shows on cable, American Pickers has now become an American institution and cultural phenomenon, bringing together viewers from diverse backgrounds around collections of antiques, vintage items, and the material stuff of our lives. The stories that unfold as Mike, Danielle, Robbie, and Jersey John travel the backroads are the true “rusty gold” that is the treasure of the show. The takeaway: We have a story to tell, and whether you are a hipster motorcycle collector or a farm-country dabbler in all things Americana, we all cherish our homes, families, communities, and country. As we peek behind the doors of our neighbors, we feel not so alone and somehow connect with folks we never thought possible. I recommend making the pilgrimage to LeClaire, Iowa, to Mike’s shop, Antique Archaeology, and see the historic preservation happening along the charming Mississippi River banks. @antiquearchaeology BREAKING NEWS: Mike Wolfe has a new series debuting on the History Channel on February 22, 2026, called History’s Greatest Picks. @mikewolfeamericanpicker

DESIGN GIVES BACK: Help Kelee Katillac Make a Healing Room for Someone in Need Decades ago, in college, I faced a life-threatening depression. The thing that saved me was using whatever I could find— from curb furniture to tree branches—to creatively remake my home. Design magazines like Metropolitan Home and House & Garden stacked my thrifted table. Designer Mario Buatta, the “Prince of Chintz,” was my guiding light (whom I later met in NYC at a design residency) as I upholstered over dismal paneling, making bow sashes à la English Country to suspend my grandmother’s plates. Hope entered, and I visualized a career in design. I had the power of change, confidence, and success. I found my calling. For 30 years, I've worked with diverse groups, including the rich, famous, middle-class, and those struggling for the American Dream. My book, "House of Belief,” features 10 case studies, including Habitat for Humanity. Oprah featured the book and urged me to create another for families, "Kid’s Rooms for Believing & Belonging,' addressing issues like bullying, divorce, and illness through thoughtful design. Intentional design transforms lives. My interior design company funds rooms for those in need via Design Gives Back. Our reel shows recipients of healing makeovers. Volunteers, teams, and sponsors create miracles through room transformations. DM us for info. Would your company like to partner with us? Marriott, Sherwin-Williams, Lowe’s, and many others deserve thanks for their support. House Beautiful magazine visited and filmed a reel sharing the message. The Associated Press, CNN, USA Today, and many others have also featured us. YOU CAN HELP: Until Dec. 31, 2025, buy my book, *HISTORIC STYLE*, for yourself or as a gift. ALL PROFITS will fund a healing room for someone in need. Order at amazon.com or, if you buy from a local bookstore, DM us to confirm your purchase. Links are available at www.historicstyle.com. Thank you for being part of the Design Gives Back mission. Welcome to the team. XO Kelee REEL: Steve Carillo & Kelee Katillac, Sam Sullivant PHOTOS: Aaron Leimkuehler CORE TEAM: Sherry Mirador, Steve Heiffus, Lisa Pelofsky FUNDRAISING: Pelofsky & Associates OTHER KEY PARTNERS: Home Delivery, Marriott Courtyard, Lowe’s, Sherwin-Williams Paint, Guideposts Magazine, Thomas Design Build PRODUCTION SUPPORT: Karen Swope, Jani Duncan Smith, Edgar Levine

HISTORIC STYLE REEL: Artist William Blake, Civil War Ghosts, Nottoway Plantation Fire & Chris Isaak’s Wicked Game A few years back, in a Civil War-era Missouri town, an 1840s Italianate mansion burst into flames. As the story goes a candle was lit and a match dropped on the floor. What? Allowed to burn down? Strange. I had previously toured the house and was shown an unmarked plot in which tiny, swaddled creatures had been found buried. In April 2025, the 1859 Nottoway Plantation near Baton Rouge, Louisiana, also mysteriously ignited. The masterpiece was handmade by 150 enslaved people of mostly West African origin. There were 200 windows and 165 crafted doors that testified to talent and tears. However, recently used as an event space there was no mention of those families that sacrificed their lives. No one is left out of William Blake’s metaverse of film, sculpture, and paintings. The Civil War reenactor uses many forms to interrogate history – see reel. Compared by museum curators to the painter Winslow Homer himself, Blake’s current exhibition is called BROTHERS’ BONES BESIDE @galleryvictorchicago @william_blake_studio The National Park Service and preservationists strive to tell a more complete story. In my book, Historic Style, we highlight Montpelier, President James Madison's home, focusing on the Descendent Community: relatives of the enslaved who built it. This group co-manages the site and celebrates the monument. In Historic Style, see Experiment #1: I altered Dolley Madison’s salon wallpaper to also represent the enslaved women who co-created Montpelier. By reimagining history through art and designing spaces that are inclusive, are we creating metaphysical pathways that can change things? Perhaps we are opening a door the forgotten are stepping through…demanding to be seen if we fail them. No cause of the Nottoway Plantation fire has yet been found. Reel: Steve Carillo & Kelee Katillac Art & Film Images: WilliamBlakeArt.com Directors Warren Lipka & William Blake Historic Style Images: @AaronLeimkuehler Others: Alamy, Library of Congress, Lincoln Library, AP Music: “Wicked Game” by Chris Isaak @chrisisaak WWW.HISTORICSTYLE.COM