1929 Revival
It was a privilege to revive this French Normandy beauty with a full makeover, revealing original historic details at every turn. To name just a few charming features: arched entryways and windows, original white oak wood floors, tray ceilings, a plaster fireplace surround, and an incredibly special front door.
Photos by Joy Coakley
to the rescue
There’s nothing more satisfying than bringing a neglected historic home back to life, especially when it’s brimming with beautiful architectural features. Here, we created a whole-home design plan and worked with the owners to preserve the home’s history while integrating modern updates and furnishings.
fresh entry
I love an entryway with a strong focal point! We closed up a doorway on the main entry wall to create this welcoming drop spot for keys and mail. The small bedroom opposite the wall also benefitted from the change, with a drastically improved floor plan.
let the sunshine in
Let’s talk about this window...floor to ceiling, amazing trim, sunlight pouring in…it’s spectacular. Our clients wanted a light and bright feel, but I also wanted to draw attention to all the beautiful trim work throughout the house. The answer? Cream walls with taupe trim throughout. It’s a subtle detail that really brings these spaces to life.
marble hearth
The plaster fireplace was in decent shape, save for the badly painted trim and damaged hearth tiles. A fresh marble slab gives the historic facade a clean update without drawing too much attention to itself, allowing the arched niche to shine.
elegant botanicals
Our clients have a special love for the forest, and they adore the color green in all its different forms. When we discovered this custom wallpaper mural, we knew it was perfect for the breakfast nook - which became a jumping off point for the kitchen. The sky in the mural is a very pale aqua, which paired perfectly with the handmade Fireclay tile backsplash in the kitchen.
added charm
Grey veined marble countertops, an apron front sink, and brass accents add depth and timeless detail to the otherwise clean and bright color scheme.
best in show
Just off the kitchen, with a Dutch door leading to the backyard, is a magical little breakfast room which might be everyone’s favorite spot in the house. Cognac velvet upholstery and a marble-topped table invite the family for breakfast, homework sessions, or game night.
coffee or cocktails?
Mornings, evenings, and everything in between…with a backdrop this good, the breakfast room won’t often be empty.
classic, but a mood
As the only bathroom on the upper floor near the two main bedrooms, we needed this room to work hard. We upgraded from a low pedestal sink with no counter space to a large double vanity with tons of storage.
no peeking
Our clients’ love for green continues here, in a shade of olive with strong brown undertones. The rich color feels expansive - dipping the walls, doors, trim, and ceiling in this color helped make the room feel larger.
The original tile in this room was a mix of green, gray, and black - a sweet art deco style. We made every attempt to salvage it, but there was too much damage and the placements proved unworkable. In the end, we chose a classic white subway with dark grout to recapture that vintage feeling, while adding radiant heated marble floors for a dose of modern luxury.
rescue efforts
In every project, there’s extensive talk (sometimes civilized, sometimes not) about “the TV” - where to put it, how many, how big. The formal living room in this house, while drop dead gorgeous, did not have a good place to put a TV. Enter the media room, tucked away on the lower level adjacent to the patio: an ideal TV wall and a blank wall opposite that was perfect for built-in bookshelves. We carried the arches and the green theme, this time in a happier classic collegiate shade.