Restoring a Vintage Modernist House at the Sea Ranch (Published 2023)

This article details the comprehensive renovation of a historic 1894 officer's quarters on Sullivan's Island, South Carolina, undertaken by Donivon and Anne Glassburn. The project aimed to retain the home's historic aesthetic while integrating modern amenities and design. A significant aspect of the renovation involved carefully dismantling and then reusing 200-year-old oak boards from the original structure, which were milled into floorboards for the second level, creating a sense of continuity with the ground floor's reclaimed wood. This approach contributed to the home's perceived 'soul,' as noted by interior designer Allison Elebash. Architect Beau Clowney was instrumental in designing a 900-square-foot addition that harmonized with the original structure's scale and details. This addition primarily created an open living space at the back of the house, featuring steel doors that open to a pool area, envisioned by the Glassburns as a private resort. Elebash's interior design strategy focused on bridging the old and new elements through classic finishes, sculptural furniture, durable fabrics suitable for a coastal environment, and the strategic display of the family's modern art collection. The renovation emphasized creating a sense of spaciousness. The addition of a wall of steel windows and doors in the living area, despite its moderate size, makes the room feel significantly larger. Careful planning by Clowney and Elebash regarding interior doorways, kitchen layout, and furniture placement contributes to the illusion of a much larger home, with visitors often estimating it to be 3,600 square feet, when it is actually 2,950 square feet. The front room serves a dual purpose as an everyday entry and a special-occasion dining room, facilitated by clever furniture choices like a round dining table that allows for ample foot traffic. The design incorporates a mix of high-end and inexpensive items, such as antique dining chairs paired with an acrylic table and a durable seagrass rug, ensuring both elegance and practicality for daily life with pets. The kitchen, where the addition meets the original structure, features marble used in contemporary ways, such as a waterfall island and slab backsplash, creating a focal point on the range wall. Transom windows above the doorways enhance light flow and character. Shaker cabinets, painted in a diluted Benjamin Moore's Collingwood (OC-28) to match the original window and door trim's thin bead detail, and walls painted in Benjamin Moore's Simply White (OC-117) complete the cohesive look. A pass-through area, originally intended as a sitting room, was converted into a cabinet-lined butler's pantry, easing traffic flow during entertaining and complementing the petite kitchen. The cabinetry in this area is painted Farrow & Ball's Stone Blue (No. 86) as a nod to the coastal setting, and polished nickel hardware was predominantly used, with brass accents in the butler's pantry. Upstairs, a bedroom was transformed into a den, initially appearing bland with white walls. Elebash introduced Thibaut's Kasai wallpaper to add a significant visual impact. The renovation budget was managed by limiting the home's size to 2,950 square feet, allowing for investment in high-end materials and features like a vaulted ceiling with early 20th-century style beams and shiplap walls that visually distinguish the new addition from the original drywall. The main bathroom includes carved storage nooks to address an awkward bump-out and a wall-to-wall mirror to enhance the sense of space. The daughter's bedroom features a cheerful Quadrille's Sigourney Small Scale fabric for the headboard, bed skirt, and Roman shades, complemented by a bright white palette, rattan accents, and colorful woven baskets as wall decor. Externally, Clowney restored the exterior to its original 1890s appearance while adding modern touches, such as a 10-foot-deep porch, substantial shutters, and dramatic rooflines with replicated trusses. Contemporary elements like ipe decking, oversized pool pavers, and modern landscaping by Sheila Wertimer contrast with the historic facade. This blend of historical preservation and modern convenience has created a home that the Glassburns cherish, with their daughter already expressing a desire to inherit it. #HistoricRenovation #CoastalHomeDesign #InteriorDesign #ArchitecturalAddition #ReclaimedMaterials #LuxuryRenovation #SullivanIsland #TraditionalMeetsModern #HomeTransformation

Ben and Josh Collins undertook an extensive renovation of a 1950s ranch-style house in Dallas, a project they hadn't initially sought but embraced due to the prevailing housing market. Their transformation focused on modernizing the traditional ranch structure while preserving its inherent charm. Key modifications included the installation of a vaulted ceiling in the dining room, which significantly expanded the vertical space and introduced an airy feel, contrasting with the typically lower ceilings of mid-century ranch homes. The dining area also saw the addition of bay windows, designed to enhance natural light and offer expansive views of the outdoor landscape, thereby integrating the interior with the exterior. The renovation efforts extended beyond purely aesthetic changes to address functional and structural aspects, bringing the home up to contemporary standards of living. This included an overhaul of the kitchen and bathrooms, introducing modern fixtures, energy-efficient appliances, and updated finishes that blend seamlessly with the home's revitalized aesthetic. The exterior of the house also received considerable attention, with updates to landscaping and the facade to improve curb appeal and complement the interior's modern transformation. The goal was to create a cohesive design that honors the home's original character while injecting it with fresh, modern appeal. The project demonstrates how strategic architectural interventions can dramatically alter the perception and functionality of an older home. By introducing elements like vaulted ceilings and bay windows, the Collinses not only enhanced the visual appeal but also improved the living experience by creating brighter, more open spaces. This renovation serves as an example of how mid-century ranch homes can be adapted to meet the demands of modern families without losing their distinctive historical essence. The transformation reflects a growing trend in real estate where older properties are revitalized to offer contemporary comforts and styles, thereby extending their lifespan and appeal in competitive housing markets. #DallasRenovation #RanchHouseRemodel #MidCenturyModern #HomeTransformation #VaultedCeiling #BayWindows #HousingMarketImpact #ArchitecturalRenovation

Interior designer Kelly Taylor transformed a family’s summer retreat in Narragansett, Rhode Island, into a year-round modern residence. The clients desired an exterior that harmonized with the coastal surroundings while demanding a distinctly modern interior. The home's unique “upside-down” layout positions the primary living spaces on the second floor, offering expansive ocean views that evoke the sensation of being on a boat. A prominent feature of the living room is an ocean blue quartzite stone fireplace, which serves as a central point against the glistening ocean backdrop. To maintain an open flow and unobstructed views, a custom-made cream sectional with a central gap was selected, complemented by small, pebble-like tables in metallic and wood tones that introduce a vibrant touch. The kitchen, a crucial area for the clients who enjoy cooking, features sleek, hardware-free cabinetry in blue and a custom-stained white birch. Taylor ingeniously incorporated high cabinetry to create a mirage, effectively concealing a slanted roofline and enhancing the kitchen's streamlined aesthetic. The second floor also accommodates a second bedroom and an ADA-compliant bathroom, designed for the client’s 95-year-old mother, yet styled to function as an elegant powder room for guests. On the first level, the primary bedroom continues the modern theme with a low-framed bed and subtle dusty purple accents. The primary bathroom is a notable design element, featuring 'his and her' sections accessible from separate closets. Artistic Tile Bianco Dolomiti tiles are used throughout, creating a cohesive look, with different patterns employed to give each section a unique identity while maintaining overall consistency. The large walk-in shower serves as the central point where the two sides of the bathroom reunite. The renovation successfully blended subtle coastal references with a timeless, contemporary interior, exceeding the clients' expectations. They expressed satisfaction with Taylor's ability to deliver a modern interior that eschewed a typical coastal aesthetic, seamlessly integrating the design with the natural beauty of the views. Taylor’s meticulous attention to detail and creative solutions were instrumental in achieving their vision of a sophisticated, year-round coastal home. #NarragansettHome #InteriorDesign #CoastalModern #KellyTaylor #HomeRenovation #ModernInterior #RhodeIslandHomes #LuxuryDesign

This article offers comprehensive renovation strategies for outdated ranch houses, presented by Nashville designer and builder Ridley Wills. Ranch homes, often perceived as anachronistic, possess inherent structural advantages and ample plot sizes, making them prime candidates for modern transformation. The article highlights that utilizing a design/build firm can streamline the renovation process and help manage costs effectively, as a single entity handles all stages from initial design to construction, often with a fixed price. The article outlines three distinct renovation plans, each tailored to a different budget, starting with a typical 1950s- or 1960s-era Southern ranch house exterior. The first option, the lowest-cost approach, focuses on cosmetic changes while embracing the original ranch style. Key suggestions include retaining decorative ironwork, creating a sweeping curved driveway to redirect guests to the front door, removing shutters, painting window trim a darker color, and enhancing landscaping with substantial trees like magnolias or oaks. Extending the front walkway with attractive materials like crab orchard stone or brick is also recommended to improve accessibility and aesthetic appeal. The mid-cost renovation plan builds upon the lowest-cost option's driveway and landscaping improvements while aiming for a contemporary look that respects the mid-century origins of the house. This plan suggests painting the brick a crisp white and accentuating windows and doors with a dark, almost black color. A notable architectural change involves pulling the entry hall forward and vaulting the ceiling to create a gable, allowing the front door to be accessed from the side under an overhang or porch, without altering the roofline. Removing the decorative ironwork and wrapping steps to create a cantilever design adds a modern flair. Additionally, considering the replacement of large living room windows with steel ones and vaulting interior ceilings are suggested to introduce contemporary sophistication and alleviate the typically low ceilings. For the highest-cost option, the article proposes a complete transformation, moving away from the traditional ranch style to achieve a contemporary yet traditional feel. This plan incorporates all the landscaping and driveway enhancements from the previous options. Significant structural changes include raising the center section of the house to allow for higher ceilings on the lower level and a full second floor, while retaining the side wings. A master suite addition on the left side of the house, featuring wrap-around steel windows, is suggested to introduce architectural interest and abundant natural light. Other high-end details include replacing the large living room window with a steel one, adding oversized gas lanterns above the entry for dramatic effect, and upgrading aluminum gutters to copper with leader boxes for a refined finish. The exterior brick is painted crisp white with dark window and door accents, culminating in a sophisticated, modern home that maintains a sense of tradition. Each plan emphasizes strategic interventions to maximize impact relative to the investment. #RanchHouseRenovation #HomeDesign #BudgetRenovation #MidCenturyModern #ExteriorDesign #LandscapeDesign #ContemporaryHome #HomeImprovement #ArchitecturalDesign