Several years of renovations followed. The most recent project was the casita, which is connected to the main house yet features its own private entrance, a comfortable living space and small bathroom. “We wanted to design a simple yet functional space for a single individual,” says Hinterleitner, a Cirque du Soleil sales account executive. “Clean lines, minimal details and floor-to-ceiling mirrors were used to give the illusion of a larger space.” But the true gem of the guesthouse was already there: a mint-condition 1965 Magic Chef stove in the kitchenette. One of their earliest renovations was to the home’s façade. “The exterior was simple concept, a threecolor pattern,” Howard says. “The front of the house is mainly brick, so pure white paint was a given choice for that Old Vegas look. The leaf-acorn iron pattern, [and] the wood trim was finished in a dark chocolate brown. Completing the
look, the front doors were covered in a bold red paint, which is often recommended because in feng shui it’s the color of success and prosperity.” The couple is constantly shopping for new items and rearranging existing ones. Avid vintage furniture collectors, Howard and Hinterleitner found several treasures at Retro Vegas and are regulars at US Furniture & Upholstery, also on Main. Each piece has a story to tell. “Rumor has it that the wing chairs belonged to Dean Martin’s cousin, who lived in the downtown area,” Howard says. “Our white fractured glass-pattern side table was picked up at a local charity event.” And in a city like Las Vegas, where it’s not uncommon to discover that your neighbor’s dentist’s cousin’s grandmother once dated a member of the Rat Pack, having Martin’s wingback chairs in your guesthouse is all too fitting.
Classic cooking: A 1965 Magic Chef stove combines chic style with everyday function.
Retro vision: The vintage Victor TV (above) was a gift from Howard’s sister-in-law, Shari Howard, who runs an antique shop in Visalia, Calif. She immediately knew the piece belonged in the house when she saw it. Meanwhile, the “Max’s Bar” sign was rescued from a Texas warehouse and adds a vintage Vegas feel. Modern living: Even the wingback chairs (right) have a Las Vegas story to tell, thanks to a possible Rat Pack connection.
February 11-17, 2010 Vegas Seven 27