A distinctive turn

The article details the extensive renovation of a 1998 colonial-style home in Vermont, transforming it into a modern, light-filled post-and-beam residence. Situated on a private road off Edson Hill Road with spectacular views and an alpine garden, the property was purchased by Richard Cherney and Ronda Diamond. While they appreciated the location and surroundings, the outdated colonial style, compartmentalized rooms, and varied flooring did not align with their preferences. Tania Kratt, an interior architecture and design expert, was enlisted to lead the transformation, working with a team from Gristmill Builders. The six-month renovation, completed late last year, focused on opening up the 4,000-square-foot space and infusing it with a contemporary country aesthetic. Kratt's design philosophy aimed for a balance between rustic and modern, avoiding both kitsch and coldness. The homeowners, who reside in Montreal, desired a contemporary feel for their country retreat. The renovation involved removing interior walls to create an open floor plan, with fir beams introduced to provide a rustic yet modern structural element. The previous mix of wood and tile flooring was replaced throughout the home with French oak, contributing to a cohesive and elegant foundation. Fireplaces were updated, with one receiving a granite surround and another a wooden beam mantel. Shaker-inspired elements, characterized by clean and simple lines, were incorporated into the design, evident in the replacement of all interior doors with solid wood versions and the use of flat-surface moldings. Custom details were integrated to enhance the home's unique character. A sliding barn door with black metal hardware was installed to conceal the mudroom closet. The dining area became a focal point with a custom-built table, skylights, and iron pendant lights suspended from the walls. Upstairs, mundane ceiling fans were replaced with industrial-style steel ones, further reinforcing the contemporary feel. Artwork by homeowner Ronda Diamond, a painter, was strategically displayed throughout the home, reflecting the client's personal style and collaborative input during the design process. Kratt commended Diamond's discerning eye and active participation, noting the significant client influence on the final design. While Diamond initially considered a complete kitchen overhaul, Kratt suggested more immediate, minor renovations. These included updating cabinet hardware with black metal and installing a black ventilation hood over the kitchen island, which provided a significant aesthetic update. A unique and functional touch was added to the breakfast nook, where a wall was painted with chalkboard paint for grandchildren to draw and write messages. The powder room underwent a full renovation, featuring a custom-built vanity crafted from Vermont-quarried Danby marble and reclaimed barn wood. Its floor was adorned with handmade white and black encaustic cement tiles. The color palette primarily consisted of shades of white, punctuated by occasional bursts of color, such as a charcoal-gray accent wall in the study, which served to highlight the home's architectural details, particularly its dormers and angles, preventing a 'boxy' feel. The original wooden staircase was replaced with a more contemporary version featuring metal railings. On the second floor, the master bedroom includes a fireplace, a conversation area, and access to a deck. A custom walk-in closet was designed to the owners' specific requirements, complete with bespoke built-ins. The master bathroom is slated for renovation in a future construction phase. This project demonstrates how a well-executed design vision can transform a structurally sound but stylistically mismatched house into a personalized dream home that perfectly suits its owners' modern preferences while embracing a country setting. #HomeRenovation #InteriorDesign #PostAndBeam #ModernFarmhouse #ColonialRevival #VermontHome #CustomDesign #ArchitecturalTransformation #GristmillBuilders

The article explores the growing trend of utilizing statement stone in home design in 2023, moving beyond traditional choices like Calcutta and Carrara marble to embrace bolder and more texturally rich options. This trend incorporates less commonly used marbles such as Viola and Rosso Levanto, known for their deep, colorful veining, as well as stones with significant texture like travertine. The impact of these stones is observed across various applications, from full furniture pieces to decorative display objects. Examples of statement stone applications highlighted in the article include furniture items that showcase the natural beauty and unique characteristics of these materials. The Donatello Side Table, for instance, features marbles like Viola or Rosso Levanto, emphasizing their distinct veining. Travertine, another key material in this trend, is seen in pieces such as a Travertine Coffee Table, where its inherent texture adds a tactile dimension to the design. The trend also extends to smaller decorative items, where even commonly used stones are re-imagined in new configurations, such as the chunky ball feet of the Posie Marble Bowl. The integration of statement stone is not limited to large-scale installations but also appears in more accessible home accessories. Examples provided include the Marble Tic-Tac-Toe Board and Duo Marble Stone Links, which demonstrate how natural stone can be incorporated into playful and artistic elements within a living space. Lighting fixtures also feature statement stone, as seen in the Somerset Chandelier, Melange Pill Form Sconce, and Melange Desk Lamp, where stone elements contribute to the overall aesthetic and impact. The article references an Antique Marble Fireplace from 1stDibs, indicating that the trend also encompasses the use of statement stone in architectural features, adding a sense of history and grandeur to interiors. Various other pieces from McGee & Co., such as the Dobbin End Table in ebony marble, Masa Dining Table, Crawford Chair, Chance Accent Table, Orla Dining Table, Serena Wood Lounge Chair, Tito Table Lamp, Linu Woven Sideboard, and Perrin Marble Taper Holders, are mentioned as examples that embody this design direction. Overall, the article suggests a shift towards embracing the unique qualities of natural stone, including its diverse colors, veining, and textures, to create visually striking and impactful design moments within contemporary homes. This trend allows for both significant furniture pieces and subtle decorative accents to contribute to a sophisticated and layered aesthetic, moving beyond conventional white and gray marble to explore a broader spectrum of geological beauty. #DesignTrends #StatementStone #InteriorDesign #Marble #Travertine #HomeDecor #FurnitureDesign #MaterialTrends #LuxuryInteriors

This blog post details the transformation of a new, five-bedroom, 5,200-square-foot Toll Brothers colonial home in the North Star Chase subdivision, showcasing how a plain vanilla property was elevated to a sumptuous space through strategic design choices. The owner, Linda Mulvihill, a mother of three, took on the formidable task of personalizing the new construction. Her first significant decision was to halt the builders from installing standard wooden spindles on her two-story staircase, insisting on wrought iron instead. This preference for wrought iron not only redefined the interior staircase but was also extended to the exterior, distinguishing the home from others in the neighborhood. Wrought-iron gates now encircle a garden of roses and wildflowers, leading a curved path to the columned portico entrance. The integration of this element from the garden into the foyer’s staircase creates a cohesive visual flow upon entering the home. Mulvihill's design aspiration was to blend Asian and Italian influences to achieve a casually elegant atmosphere. To realize this vision, she enlisted Joyce Keeney, senior designer and founder of Interior Concepts in Hockessin. Together, they meticulously integrated these diverse cultural aesthetics through thoughtful selections of color and texture. Mulvihill's fondness for red was incorporated by Keeney, who harmonized strong hues with more subdued colors found in carpets, throw pillows, and drapes. The majority of the furniture was sourced from EJ Victor Upholstery in North Carolina, while lighting fixtures predominantly came from Fine Art Lamps in Florida, ensuring a consistent design language throughout the home. Mulvihill noted her tendency to create formal spaces, and Keeney's expertise helped her strike a balance between formality and comfort. The living room immediately captures attention with a jeweled chandelier suspended above a black Yamaha grand player piano, establishing a formal yet inviting space suitable for both entertaining and casual family moments. An all-wool, custom-colored Oriental carpet anchors the room, reflecting the hues of Oriental tables, hutches, and an olive silk sofa. Rich embroidered silk draperies from Kravet Couture, in green, gracefully puddle on the floor, while family photos and paintings are encased in antique gold frames. A notable piece is a 24-karat gold leaf coffee table, representing chinoiserie—an 18th-century Western European and English decorative fashion that incorporates Chinese ornamentation and structural elements. Keeney highlighted the versatility of chinoiserie, explaining its compatibility with various furniture styles, making it ideal for Mulvihill's desired blend of Italian and Asian influences. The formal dining room features a mahogany table with a burled piano finish and a china cabinet from EJ Victor’s Newport Mansion collection, filled with Lenox dishes. An Italian crystal chandelier with antique gold accents serves as a central focal point, complemented by custom-finished antique gold sconces. The room is distinctively wallpapered with Scalamandre silk paper, a sophisticated choice that, despite its challenging installation process, provides a luxurious, textured paint-like appearance. Dark wood floors and Oriental runners guide the transition from the dining room to the family room, where columns similar to those at the portico entrance mark the space. A striking 11-foot Maitland Smith console table with a stone top, weighing 1,000 pounds, dominates the family room, above which hangs a large painting of Venice framed in antique bronze. The walls, faux-finished by local artist Gary Paiement to resemble Tuscan plaster, feature a soft neutral sage with copper undertones, creating a serene yet invigorating ambiance. In the family room, black-and-white family photos offer a visual contrast to the rich greens, reds, golds, and rusts of the oversized sofas, throw pillows, and heavy velour drapes. Thick walnut curtain rods frame a floor-to-ceiling fireplace and walnut mantel. French doors open to an expansive double deck, leading to a pool and fire pit, offering breathtaking views of the Pike Creek Valley. The gourmet kitchen, which adjoins the family room, includes builder upgrades and is further enhanced by furnishings such as a Guy Chaddock table and chairs beside a second fireplace, creating a cozy area for family meals and homework. The kitchen is illuminated by chandeliers: a large crystal and gold fixture above the table and several smaller, dark bronze chandeliers above the granite island. An original landscape oil painting and embroidered drapery panels by Beacon Hill incorporate Tuscan colors. The office, however, diverges from the main Italian and Oriental motif, dedicated instead to Dr. Mulvihill’s golf hobby. Delaware artist Tracy Berger created a wall-length mural of Pebble Beach, the doctor’s favorite golf course, as a birthday gift from Linda. The room is sparingly furnished with a mahogany desk, a black wall unit, and chairs, allowing the large bay window with its valley view to take prominence. Linda Mulvihill acknowledges that decorating is an ongoing process, continually adding pieces and relying on Keeney's guidance to refine her home's aesthetic, a testament to her keen taste and clear vision for her living space. #HomeDesign #InteriorDecorating #WroughtIron #AsianItalianFusion #LuxuryInteriors #CustomDesign #HomeRenovation #DesignConsultant #DecorativeElements