Mid Century Modern in a Traditional Colonial
Most often the rule of thumb is that you should not fight architecture when designing a space but when I met my youthful, newly married and savvy clients the brick center hall colonial did not match their personal style at all. They wanted a contemporary home furnished with clean lines and a color scheme that brought their favorite shade of red into play. I was fortunate to have met with them before they had done any shopping so we were starting with a perfectly blank canvas and empty rooms.
Once we had assessed their functionality requirements, I suggested that a Midcentury Modern design would create a classic and timeless look. It also allowed us to go on the hunt for vintage pieces that would be long term furnishing investments that they could begin to accumulate. We established a color palette of camel, off white, red and black and walked it throughout the whole first floor.
The Living Room was kept very clean and open. Two Barcelona chair reproductions and the matching bench in off white Italian aniline leather pay homage to Mies Vander Rohe and the small lamp and end table are vintage finds. The custom made bar is perfect for entertaining and can be hidden behind doors stored behind piano hinged side panels. Window treatments were kept simple with off white lined silk panels and metallic hardware. Because of 2 young puppies in the home, we decided to keep the beautiful hardwood floors exposed vs the use of area rugs.
The Dining Room is visible from the Living Room and we really turned up the drama for this space. An oversized trestle table in dark wood and a sleek buffet in the same finish ground the space and balance the deep red leather look wall covering above the wainscot panels. The simple framed mirror doubles the impact of the custom made chandelier and the off white leather and wood dining chairs creates a rhythm with the Living Room furnishings.
The Master Bedroom on the second floor is revealed through double doors in painted wood and frosted glass. Creating two distinct areas within the room allowed us to utilize the space efficiently. The seating area with the leather love seat is perfect for relaxing, reading or watching TV. The sleeping area features a custom made bed wall that offers both display and storage space. A double dresser and storage bench in matching finish completes the look. The custom metal sculpture piece is lit from within for maximum impact and the low side tables can slide along the platform bed base or totally retract into the wall piece. To give the contemporary but serene feel my clients wanted for their bedroom, I chose neutral colors but created interest with fabrics that had texture and shine. The light and airy drapery panels cover room darkening shades for both privacy and light control.
This home offers a classic and timeless style that will suit this young family’s needs for years to come.
