Calli has created a hodgepodge of vintage that she best describes as a mix of industrial French and colonial-meets-ornate old Greece. “The rooms in my home are all very different, so I like searching for all kinds of diverse vintage items,” Calli explained. “I value a vintage piece for what it is, and if it fits in any of my spaces, then it is a bonus. If I can restore it and make it fit in, then it’s even better.” Calli was a small town girl, raised in Higginsville, MO. But the city beckoned and she now lives in Kansas City, MO, and rocks out the fashion shoots (among other duties) as VintageKC ’s editorial/fashion assistant. Though she’s a city girl now, she hasn’t lost any of the values she learned growing up. “My mother has taken me ‘junking’ ever since I can remember,” Calli said. “I fell in love with vintage years before I knew it would ever be a trend. I was a little girl being taken in and out of antique shops and thrift stores out of necessity — with a house full of six people, secondhand became second nature. There’s no way I would’ve made it through college without ‘junking.’ It’s always been a way to get what I’ve wanted cost-effectively and know that it’s unique. It’s a connection I have with my mother and my past that brings me joy.” Calli didn’t inherit or start with much. She did, however, inherit her 200-year-old din- ing table from her great-great-grandparents. She was also given the cedar chest that sits at the foot of her bed, originally owned by her great-great-aunt. Aside from some other items like her old wooden crate boxes and an old picnic basket given to her by her mother, she started from scratch.
Above left: Large windows draw lots of tenants to loft living in Kansas City. Calli’s Craigslist chair and ottoman let her bask comfortably. Top and above: A narrow entryway didn’t stop Calli from welcoming guests with style. It also serves as a library.
VintageKC / Fall 2013 29
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