We are finally rolling out the project reveal for our Helena Residence! A two-part renovation, where we started with the basement and then over the last year, moved into the construction of the incredible main floor! Between the two phases, I spent many months dreaming of the day where we’d get to come back and design the main floor. The house features incredible architectural details such as divided windows, planked walls and ceilings, and more. It had so much potential hiding under an outdated contemporary kitchen and bathrooms that just didn’t fit the true style of the home. Read on to check out all that we did to bring this midcentury gem to life!
cleaning up the kitchen
We had great square footage to work with for the redesign of the kitchen! We made some modifications to the layout but more than anything, it needed simpler lines and updated finishes. New custom cabinets from Old Hat Workshop included a custom stained white oak design. Some of my favorite features was the flat panels (and naked upper cabinets sans hardware!) and the hidden pantry behind doors matching the cabinet style. If you look extra close at the first image on this post, you may also see the little brass line detail on the side panel of the island. This was a super creative solution that came from our clients and putting our heads together when the panels were not wide enough to span the whole island!
the unforgettable ceiling
Before the mob comes after me for painting a wood planked ceiling, let’s make something clear. The ceiling in the kitchen and family room was NOT the same as the beautiful ceiling in the formal dining and living room! Unfortunately, the ceiling in here had been slightly whitewashed. It felt so disjointed from the rest of the paneling throughout the home. Sanding and staining was not an option, so we went the route of a solid stain in an ebony color.
Throughout my career, there’s been an ongoing theme of gaining trust. This was one of those scenarios where the clients maybe thought I had lost my mind! They explored many other color options before coming to terms with my idea of the dark charcoal. I’d say they’re pretty happy with the end result, and it’s definitely a favorite part of the house for me! With all the wood tones throughout the home, I think the ceiling adds contrast and highlights the architecture!
rooms with a view
A few rooms throughout the home felt perfect as they were. But with some slight refreshes and additions, they turned out even better, which I didn’t think was possible! In the breakfast nook, we designed a custom bench to match the angles of the room and tie into the cabinetry. In the sunken living room near the front of the home, new custom upholstery and curtains were added for a new look while honoring the unique parts of this home’s history.
bring in the funk
With midcentury homes, I really prefer to let the architecture stand out while creating a warm, organic vibe with natural tones and textures. Bold bright colors just aren’t my style, but I can definitely get down with some earthy tones, textures, and patterns! We wanted to bring up some of the green tones from the basement renovation. We had a few perfect spots around the main floor to create some peekaboo moments! Near the sunken living room is a “closet” bar that was existing to the original layout and just needed a refresh. A deep green oversized round tile was just the thing to bring some fun(k) in!
bathrooms, galore!
We had several bathrooms to design throughout this home. But powder rooms can be the most fun to work with, and this one was no exception! The clients were looking for something dark and moody, but still pulling in color and style. We brought in the same green tones with just a vertical stack full wall of tile. A veined hexagon tile floor plays off the hexagon tiles in the basement. But it’s a little something new with the added picket detail. And finally, brass on brass details here that bring a level of elegance and warmth that I absolutely love! You may also notice the mix of walnut and white oak cabinetry throughout the home. It is a favorite combo of mine when used in a meaningful way!
The guest suite’s bathroom was another area with color and pattern! Still playing on green tones, we went a little lighter here and with a level of variation that I absolutely love! In this room, the floor was a light-colored terrazzo tile. It is such a perfect fit for this age of home, but it feels so fresh and spa-like in this space! Brass fixtures carried throughout this room also bring in a flow from the rest of the home.
primary suite deets
We had so much fun dreaming up the details of this room with the clients! They have incredible style but still needed help with execution and flow. It was such a fun time dreaming and scheming room by room with them. And yet, we still accomplished the main goal of honoring the home’s roots while bringing it into modern day.
Laying out the design for the tile backsplash was a challenge, but well worth the extra planning to ensure perfection! Every size, shape, color, and pattern were looked over to strike that balance of movement and negative space. The walnut vanity, surround, and built-ins outside the bathroom totally bring in the built-in vibes known in older homes and maximize storage AND style!
final surprises
With a renovation of this scale, you are bound to have some surprises along the way. Whether they are good or bad, well, that’s the unpredictable part of it! One of my favorite (happy) surprises on this renovation was the fireplace. We had a full design to take the contemporary drywalled/mirrored fireplace to something new. But as demo began, we uncovered something wonderful! The original basalt fireplace was hiding behind a contemporary facade! So with a little elbow grease to clean it up, and a charcoal concrete surround and hearth added on, this beauty was restored.
That’s all, friends! I’m so grateful to have known these clients for the majority of my career. From nearly my beginning years to where I’m at now, I’ve had the pleasure of overseeing this home’s entire renovation come to life! I couldn’t be more happy with the results!
And seriously, go look at those before pictures!!!
