This ‘Wild’ Colonial Makeover Proves Taking Risks Pays Off Big Time

The article details the redesign of an 18th-century farmhouse in Lumberton, transforming it to accommodate modern living while honoring its historical roots. The project was undertaken by Michelle Gage of Philadelphia-based Michelle Gage Interiors, who notes the home's significant age, dating back to the Revolutionary era. This particular residence presented a unique challenge due to its extensive history and the accumulated alterations made by previous inhabitants over centuries. The homeowner's openness to Gage's suggestions was a crucial factor in the redesign's success, allowing for a creative yet respectful approach. Gage identified an inherent 'English vibe' in the home and aimed to align the interior design with both this aesthetic and the client's 'quirky and eccentric' personality. The English influence is evident throughout the house, starting from the entry where antique boot racks hold wellies. The primary bedroom showcases a vibrant display of color and pattern, featuring layered florals on the walls, headboard, and bedding. The chosen wallpaper designs evoke a British country house style, characterized by rich patterns that contribute depth and character to the space. The redesign also incorporated unique elements like a moody, jungle-themed wall covering in the breakfast nook. This wallpaper, featuring hidden animal motifs, thoughtfully frames the home's original built-in cabinetry, adding an element of surprise and whimsy. In contrast, the laundry room adopts a more serene ambiance with a subdued sage-green and white botanical wall covering, designed to create a fresh and crisp atmosphere reminiscent of newly laundered linens. The project successfully merged historical integrity with contemporary comfort and personal style, creating a home that respects its past while providing a vibrant and unique living environment for its current owner. The collaboration between the designer and homeowner resulted in a space that is both historically conscious and reflective of modern eclectic tastes, demonstrating how an antique structure can be adapted for current lifestyles without sacrificing its inherent charm. #LumbertonFarmhouse #HistoricalHome #HomeRedesign #EclecticDecor #InteriorDesign #MichelleGageInteriors #EnglishVibe #RevolutionaryEraHome

British Colonial style emerged between the 16th and 18th centuries, during the height of the British Empire's global expansion. This interior design aesthetic is a blend of traditional Victorian design principles and influences from the materials and traditions of colonized regions in Africa, India, and the Caribbean. While the style is celebrated for its eclectic appeal, it's important to acknowledge its historical context, which involved the subjugation and exploitation of native populations and resources by the British crown. This historical backdrop is a crucial aspect to consider when appreciating the aesthetic. The core elements of British Colonial decor are characterized by a striking contrast between light and dark tones. Whitewashed walls, typically painted in soft white, and sheer, billowy fabrics for windows are used to create an airy, cool atmosphere, mimicking a tropical oasis. These light elements are balanced with dark accents, such as stained timber floors and furniture crafted from native woods like teak or mahogany. Plantation shutters and classic four-poster beds are quintessential features that enhance this contrasting aesthetic. Materials such as rattan and bamboo are frequently incorporated, adding texture and reflecting the use of local resources from the colonies. Portable furniture, like collapsible writing tables, also became popular due to the transient nature of colonial life. The style further integrates global influences through unique accessories, distinctive prints, and eclectic fabrics gathered from world travels, which often included patterns and motifs inspired by Asian, Caribbean, and African cultures. Natural elements play a significant role, with an emphasis on palms, ferns, and other plant life to bring a sense of the tropical environment indoors. Contemporary decorating trends, such as the use of botanical prints and abundant greenery, align well with the British Colonial approach, further emphasizing the blend of natural and refined elements. The enduring popularity of this style is attributed to its sophisticated yet versatile nature, offering a less formal alternative to purely Victorian designs. However, embracing this style also means acknowledging the complex and often harsh realities of the British Empire's colonial past, including instances of famine and violence in colonized territories. Understanding this history enriches the appreciation of the style, allowing for a more informed and mindful approach to its adoption. #BritishColonialStyle #HomeDecor #InteriorDesign #ColonialismHistory #EclecticDecor #TropicalDesign #VictorianInfluence #GlobalInspiredDecor

Wendy and Cleve Meredith, drawing inspiration from their New England background, undertook a significant renovation of their 1930s Cape Cod-style home in Atlanta. The house, which had remained largely unaltered for decades, presented a unique opportunity for an update without expanding its original footprint. Wendy, an interior designer, collaborated with Atlanta architect Brad Heppner to refresh the property, beginning with its curb appeal. Subtle yet impactful changes were made to the exterior, including repainting the brick a warm light brown to blend with the surrounding trees. A new cedar-shingled roof, a flared awning over the front door, and black shutters on the dormer windows were added, enhancing the home's architectural definition. Inside, the objective was to improve living spaces without increasing the home's size. The kitchen, despite retaining its original square footage, now appears more expansive. Much of the kitchen, along with an adjacent pantry and breakfast area, was reconfigured to maximize space planning. Existing scalloped-niche and Shaker-style cabinetry was ingeniously adapted to conceal a refrigerator and pantry. Custom cabinets throughout the kitchen were designed to be slightly oversized, with upper cabinets deepened by 2 to 3 inches to accommodate larger items, and lower cabinets equipped with drawers for easier access. A wooden plank backsplash was chosen over tile to maintain a seamless, old-fashioned cottage aesthetic. A central, space-saving pocket door now connects the kitchen to the dining room. The dining room itself was updated to evoke a sense of history without feeling overly formal. The upper walls were painted the same gray as the kitchen island, creating continuity between the adjacent spaces, while creamy horizontal wood planks were installed below the chair rail. The original hardwood floors were refinished to their former beauty. Wendy selected a round table and antique chairs, upholstered in simple linen and checked fabrics with a delicate scalloped edge, to foster a welcoming atmosphere. A family heirloom, a 13-arm meeting-house chandelier, serves as a distinctive focal point. The former back porch, previously housing a washer and dryer, was transformed into an essential butler's pantry, extending the kitchen's functionality. This area features wood-plank walls, a quaint and practical brick floor, a walnut countertop for added patina, and open shelving to display bar items. A former bedroom was converted into a sitting room, now offering direct access to the newly designed courtyard through French doors. The backyard, originally with a small brick patio, was re-envisioned as a lush courtyard to provide more living space and a garden retreat for the Merediths and their two corgis. A new garage/carriage house anchors the back of the yard. The hardscape includes a picket fence, bluestone tiles, and a pea gravel drive and path, softened by a green-and-white-themed garden. This garden is thoughtfully planted with camellias, a tea olive hedge, hostas, hydrangeas, and ferns, ensuring year-round greenery and blooms. A unique personal touch was added with a quarterboard displaying the name "Glory Cottage," a nod to Nantucket tradition and a symbol of adoration, praise, and thanksgiving. #CapeCodCottage #HomeRenovation #InteriorDesign #ExteriorMakeover #KitchenRemodel #CourtyardDesign #TraditionalHome #ArchitecturalDetails #GardenLandscaping

The article explores the modern Colonial interior design style, a contemporary interpretation of traditional Colonial aesthetics. This trending style was identified as the second most searched design style in the previous year, according to Google's data. Modern Colonial design effectively merges classic architectural components with modern functionalities and amenities, while upholding the fundamental character of the Colonial style. Historically, original Colonial homes, particularly from the 17th and 18th centuries in the American colonies, were characterized by their simplicity, lack of elaborate fittings, and rustic charm. Later, in the 19th century, the Colonial Revival movement introduced more formal and highly adorned interiors, a stark contrast to their predecessors. The current resurgence of modern Colonial style is seen as a response to a shift away from overly sleek interior designs towards more traditional styles, yet it is adapted to suit contemporary lifestyles. It is described as a refined and functional design that incorporates traditional home elements, making it less formal and more comfortable than earlier Colonial styles. This transitional style emphasizes warm color palettes and layered textures, providing visual interest without being overly decorative. Key elements distinguish modern Colonial from its traditional counterparts. The style is defined by a blend of traditional Colonial elegance with a modern, minimalist touch, influencing everything from decor and furnishings to floor plans. However, it is crucial to avoid an excessively modern approach, such as all-white rooms, contemporary trim work, boxy designs, or overly neutral palettes, as the style aims to maintain charm and sophistication with a timeless and comfortable feel. Furnishings in modern Colonial design are notably pared-back, reflecting the simplicity of early Colonial homes rather than the ornate designs of the Colonial Revival. Furniture typically features clean lines, an elegant appearance, and a lack of intricate details. Symmetry, a foundational aspect of Colonial architecture, remains important in modern Colonial interiors, applied to furniture arrangements and artwork alike. For soft furnishings, modern Colonial incorporates lighter upholstery, rich leather elements, and updated traditional patterns. Billowy and embellished accents are minimized, favoring cleaner lines in window treatments with less fullness and simpler pinch pleat styles. Rugs, which traditionally add warmth and pattern, are chosen for their traditional essence but with bolder colors or burnout patterns. Similarly, wallpapers can feature classic patterns in contemporary colors and scales. The style also encourages mixing simple and luxurious fabrics like linen and velvet, with stripes or subtle florals being acceptable. Color palettes in modern Colonial spaces gravitate towards warm, neutral, natural, and earthy tones, a departure from the deep blues, greens, golds, and reds prevalent in traditional Colonial palettes. Suggested colors include whites, grays, and soft blues, balanced with natural wood tones such as walnut or mahogany. Wood accents are a signature component, appearing in furnishings and floors. While early Colonial interiors utilized rustic woods and beams, the modern Colonial style maintains a refined use of wood, primarily for millwork and accents rather than extensive use in furniture. Trimwork, including baseboards, window casings, crown molding, and chair rails, is an essential feature that connects the home to the Colonial aesthetic. Modern Colonial casework and trim are characterized by cleaner, simpler lines and lighter finishes and colors. Structurally, modern Colonial homes prioritize natural light and more open interior spaces, a significant evolution from historic styles with smaller windows and more enclosed rooms. This focus on natural light and open floor plans bridges the gap between traditional Colonial architecture and contemporary functional needs, enhancing the overall comfort and appeal of the style. #ModernColonialStyle #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #ColonialRevival #TransitionalStyle #HomeTrends #ArchitecturalElements #DecorStyles #HomeInteriors

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