About
For a short period in my life I was obsessed with the project known as Rhodes Ranch. Isolated in the Texas hill country in a lifestyle of almost complete solitude living in an RV trailer, I lost my mind a little. There was a time whenever I can remember not caring much about anything other than tile choices… Whenever I felt like I had explored every color of green imaginable on a wall, until I found a new one whenever I mixed two cans together that was perfect. Whenever finding a random pile of bricks buried in the ground from the 1970’s sent me into a laughing madness of joy… I spent hours every night scrolling YouTube tutorials, Pinterest, anything that would help me remodel…A time whenever my heart literally jumped at the thought of a reclaimed glass door falling to the ground and shattering (it didn’t thankfully).
I know the struggle and the beauty in design and restoration better than I should. I know the painful process it takes to care for something old, something that needs lots of tenderness to reclaim, to rebuild, to remake.
My heart is with the antiquated things, the forgotten things, the disposed of things. The weeds that others cut down, the insects others spray to kill, the mice that end up in glue traps in attics. I find all things that are truly removed from our sight in modern society are some of the most beautiful, important specimens of our planet…But most importantly, with a little care, they are emotionally moving, they are unique, and they are wonderful things to have in your home or life to bring you closer to the natural world. They tell stories others often do not know how to read.
But if you’re reading this far, you’ve probably felt empathy for the swatted moths and wasps, you’ve most likely picked up an old piece of furniture that was going to be destroyed and given it a new home… you believe in the importances of preserving and the beauty in the forgotten or bothersome.
This collection of antiques, set pieces, reclaimed building materials, and decor is the culmination of my time spent restoring and remodeling my grandparent’s ranch in Bandera, Texas. You can read more about my journey into remodeling and restoration in my articles on this site. After years of spending most of my time looking through junkyards and creating art out of forgotten or odd objects, I’m sharing it with the world and hoping that it inspires and delights someone to give these pieces a home.
Inspired by my grandmother Helen, welcome to my online vintage store based out of Austin, Texas…. Haus Von Helene. I hope you enjoy my curated collection, and reach out with any thoughts or questions you may have.
Thank you for visiting