Living Rooms With Meredith Swinehart
The winner of the Remodelista Considered Design Awards Best Amateur-Designed Living/Dining Space is Brigitte Gfeller of Hudson, New York.
Her project was chosen as a finalist by Remodelista editor in chief Julie Carlson, who said, "Rustic and tranquil without veering into quaint territory. The placid palette and repeating wooden elements play a lovely duet."
N.B.: This is the third of six posts spotlighting the winners of the 2015 Remodelista Considered Design Awards. Go to this year's Considered Design Awards page to see all the entries, finalists, and winners, and have a look at Gardenista's Considered Design Awards, too.
Brigitte Gfeller's Design Statement: "This 1800s Italianate Victorian was carefully renovated with harmony, tranquillity, and balance in mind. Old details include beautiful woodwork and a functional pocket door. New additions include waxed oak floors, new ceilings, and a Morso woodstove on an inlaid tempered glass plate. New wooden windows keep the old charm and add insulation."
Q: Where do you live?
A: My home is the Rivertown Guest House. I live in the first floor apartment and rent out the second floor apartment as a vacation/Airbnb rental. When traveling, I rent my personal apartment out as well. My gorgeous old Italianate Victorian house is located in the beautiful Hudson River Valley. I have traveled and lived in many different parts of the world and Hudson is by far my favorite place. We are surrounded by the soft rolling hills of lush Columbia County, with its multitude of farms—many of them organic. You can feel the connectedness to the earth, the grassroots movements of "back to" natural, simple, and healthy living, and the appreciation of good craftsmanship and art.
Hudson has a wealth to offer, from historic homes, antiques, art dealers, and galleries, to a fabulous food scene with gourmet restaurants, food stores, and a hopping farmers' market. Across the river are the Catskills, offering many outdoor activities like fishing, biking, hiking, and skiing. The Berkshires, Great Barrington, and Rhinebeck are only a short drive away. And my home is a five-minute walk from the train station, which is only a two-hour ride from NYC.
I bought the two-story, two-family, mid-1800s home in March of 2014. It took me several weeks and the encouragement of my kids to decide to buy it—the house was in desperate need of restoring. Even though I'm very hands-on myself, I didn't have any experience in renovating such an old home and had to hire a contracting/managing firm. To micro-manage the project, I moved into the apartment that wasn't being worked on, then switched to the other apartment halfway through.
Q: What were your practical goals for the project?
A: My goal was to create a peaceful, healthy environment—a soothing, uncluttered place with soft colors and natural, good quality materials. But first, the house needed a lot more than just interior design; it needed almost everything. There was no central heating, the roof leaked, the plumbing was outdated, the electrical was insufficient, and the basement was like a scene from a scary movie. The windows were mostly rotten, and the outside of the house needed lots of skilled repair.
Today the house has two efficient HVAC systems, a new roof, basement floor, plumbing, bathrooms, kitchen, electrical, wood windows, a new waxed hardwood floor, a water filter system, and much more, including a garden. Yes, it was a bit scary when I moved in after the closing, but oddly enough I immediately felt like the house was welcoming and embracing me.
Q: What solutions did you find to your design problems?
A: One of the challenges was to keep as much of the old as possible while updating for functionality. For example, we took all the old trim down very carefully in order to reuse it—some had to be reproduced though because the windows ended up being a tiny bit bigger than before. I myself stripped and refinished all the window and door corners (rosettes), as well as an old kitchen cabinet that was built into the downstairs kitchen and found its new home in the upstairs kitchen. The new first floor kitchen also kept its old wainscoting. Another challenge was that it ended up costing much more money than anticipated—some things could not be foreseen, since it's an old house, and others were additions, such as a new hardwood floor for my personal apartment.
Q: What are your favorite features of the project?
A: One of my favorite features is my Morso woodstove, sitting on a glass plate inlaid into the floor. I didn't want to use a traditional glass or stone plate laid on top of the floor; it would have made the room look smaller and would have created a tripping hazard. It was something the carpenters had never done before; I had shown them a picture and everyone was really pleased with the outcome.
Q: What were the hardest lessons you learned along the way?
A: It was challenging to work with a contracting/managing firm. Next time I would work with a small builder/contractor, who works with his own crew on the job every day.
Q: What was your biggest splurge?
A: The biggest splurge was my Morso stove on the inlaid glass plate. It wasn't a necessity, but it indulged my dream of a cozy winter evening fire.
Q: What projects would you tackle if you had an unlimited budget?
A: My next project would be to add an art studio/guest apartment in the back of my house.
Q: What is your favorite local shop?
A: My favorite local shop is my friend's 2 Note Perfumery, an all-natural skin care and perfume store on Warren Street in Hudson.
Q: Which architects or designers do you admire?
A: The design firm I admire the most is, of course, Workstead. Not only are they my design source but, in fact, Stefanie [Brechbuehler] is my daughter and Robert [Highsmith] is my son-in-law.
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Architecture & Interiors With Margot Guralnick
Admired on UK real estate site The Modern House: a 17th-century barn in the North Norfolk village of Thursford, converted by Lynch Architects of London into an idyllic, clean-lined-meets-crumbly country escape. Asking price: £254,959 ($399,228), furnishings also available "as a single lot by separate negotiation"—and, in the meantime, it's available for rent.
Photography via The Modern House, unless noted.
Above: The barn has been put to many uses over the years, including as a bike repair shop. Lynch Architects removed the ground-floor interior walls to create an open kitchen/living space, but restored and preserved the exterior walls of brick and flint. The new oak floor is finished with a Danish oil; it was laid over a new slab concrete base and outfitted with radiant floor heating. The kitchen, complete with Aga, has butcher block counters stained to match the floorboards.
Above: To keep the barn-like quality of the interior, the architects introduced an ingenious wall of tongue-and-groove paneling detailed with hidden doors and cupboards. "We built a new independent timber structure inside the old walls of the barn, insulating the ceiling and the floor, which enabled us to expose the old rubble walls internally," architect Patrick Lynch told Dezeen. "Everything, old and new, is painted white in order to emphasize the singular volume and to unify the space, which means that the rhythm of joints and tiny shadows is the predominant feature."
Above: The doors lead to a bedroom, bathroom, and stairs.
Above: The designers opened the room to the outdoors by inserting a floor-to-ceiling slatted window (with concealed shutters that close for privacy).
Above: Two exterior steps—of hinged tongue-and-groove-boarding that double as storage—connect to a concealed stairway of birch plywood.
Above L: The design, known as a Norfolk winder stair, is detailed with a rope banister. Above R: Paneled in birch ply, the upstairs bedroom is exactly the size of a king-size bed and intended to be "a hidden niche-like timber retreat." Photographs via Humble Homes.
Above: The window has a deep plywood frame that serves as a bedside ledge. The small hatch overlooks downstairs.
Above: The first floor bedroom has inset birch ply shelving and exposed rafters. The wall light is Original BTC's Hector design.
Above: The barn adjoins a historic cottage that Lynch Architects also overhauled.
Above: The vertical windows integrate well with the weathered brick and flint. The existing roof had to be removed but was replaced with reclaimed terracotta tiles in the style of the original.
Above: The structure sits on the village green. Go to The Modern House for more details, including the possibility of renting the barn before it sells.
Here are some more barns that stopped us in our tracks.
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Dining Rooms With Margot Guralnick
Julie and I recently discovered that for the past two years, we've been collecting the same handblown bottles and bud vases that look unearthed from another era. And cost surprisingly little. I found mine at John Derian in NYC; she found hers at John Derian in Provincetown, Massachusetts. When I spotted Julie's lineup on her living room shelf, she decided to do some sleuthing.
Mexico? Morocco? It turns out the designs are the work of Paris glass studio La Soufflerie (translation: The Blower), which takes inspiration from ancient wares and uses recycled glass.
Above: Julie's collection of La Soufflerie vases.
Husband-and-wife team Sébastian and Valentina Nobile—he's a glassblower, she's an artist—founded La Soufflerie in 2007. "We are a group of artisans now," says Valentina. "We use ancien forms and techniques—we blow mainly sitting down using a clay oven—to make utilitarian everyday objects."
Shown here, a 7.5-inch-tall Blown-Glass Mendian, $55, from K Colette in Portland, Maine. La Soufflerie's designs are sold worldwide. In the US, they're also at John Derian stores (visit or write to inquire), HPF in New York City, and Patch NYC in Boston.
Above: La Soufflerie makes a series of blown-glass candlestick holders that also work as vases; go to the La Soufflerie vendor map to find retailers. In London, the glassware is carried by Ben Pentreath and the Conran shop, among others; Paris shops include Merci, Thalia, Stanislas Draber, and Winter Dreams.
Above: Blown Glass Florida Bottle, $35, from K Colette. "We're able to keep prices low because we only create our collections when we have enough orders," says Valentina.
Above: Blown Glass Piccola Bottle, $20, from K Colette.
Above: From the archives, a blown-glass and tinware candle lantern from La Soufflerie's Déesse (Goddess) collection.
To see the company's new milk bottle design, go to 10 Favorites from the French Scullery.
For US glass companies we have our eye on, take a look at Malfatti Glass and Deborah Ehrlich, both in upstate New York and Nate Cotterman in LA.
Go to 10 Easy Pieces for Our Favorite Everyday Drinking Glasses.
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Bedrooms With Alexa Hotz
If you can't have your own Modernist house on the East End of Long Island or on the Outer Cape, you can re-create similar interiors with storage furniture that is as appealing as is it efficient at hiding things away. To solve your bedroom storage woes, here are our 10 recent favorite modern wood dressers.
Above: The McQueen Large Chest with dovetail joinery shown here in Danish-oiled walnut is by Matthew Hilton for De la Espada; $7,495 at the Future Perfect.
Above: The Joyce Chest of Drawers is £3,990 ($6,248) from Pinch Design in England.
Above: The pale maple American Modern 5-Drawer Dresser is made by the Design Within Reach team for $2,985.
Above: The Cerrillos Dresser by Sawkille is built from bleached ash and hand-painted steel. Contact Sawkille for more information.
Above: Crate & Barrel's Tate 5-Drawer Chest in walnut is $999.
Above: Ethnicraft's Oak Azur Chest of Drawers is $2,300 at Lekker Home. For more on the company, see our post Simple Wood Furniture from Ethnicraft in Belgium.
Above: The Oppland 6-Drawer Dresser is a budget option at $249 from Ikea.
Above: The Elaine Four Drawer is from Phloem Studio's Ben Klebba in Portland, Oregon. Contact Phloem Studio for pricing and availability.
Above: The Delano Dresser (shown in maple) from Room & Board is $1,699.
Above: The Nash Teak 5-Drawer Dresser is elevated off the floor with a metal base; $1,199 at West Elm.
Finish your collection of wood bedroom furniture with our posts:
And see our original edit of wood dressers in 10 Easy Pieces: Simple Wood Dressers for more options.
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Bathrooms With Meredith Swinehart
The winner of the Remodelista Considered Design Awards Best Amateur-Designed Bath is Zachary Leung of Toronto, Ontario.
His project was chosen as a finalist by Remodelista editor in chief Julie Carlson, who commented: "The gray and white tub on a tile carpet is such a winning combo. It's a cleanly linear setup that also has a subtle soft touch."
N.B.: This is the second of six posts spotlighting the winners of the 2015 Remodelista Considered Design Awards. Go to this year's Considered Design Awards page to see all the entries, finalists, and winners, and have a look at Gardenista's Considered Design Awards, too.
Zachary Leung's Design Statement: "For this remodel of a typical Toronto row house bathroom on a budget, we visually opened up the tight space through the use of glass, natural light, mirror, and white walls. A mix of modern and traditional elements updates the bathroom while honoring the history of the home."
Q: Where do you live?
A: I live in downtown Toronto, Ontario, in a typical-style row house that was built in 1890. It's a humble space, but conveniently situated right in the middle of a few amazing neighborhoods: Trinity Bellwoods, Little Italy, and Kensington Market. It's a lively area, filled with a diverse and ever-changing demographic consisting of people from all different backgrounds and walks of life. There's a great dynamic energy that comes from this eclectic mix, which I believe encourages some of the best restaurants, shops, and cafes to open up on this side of the city.
A: What were your practical goals for the project?
Q: The old bathroom was quite dated, and the tiles were worn and starting to fall off. The shower was small and completely walled in, making it dark and claustrophobic. My goal was to modernize and open up the space while keeping some design references that would relate to the history of the home. Initially, the renovation process was intended to be tackled one room at a time, but as things unfolded, the scope quickly escalated to become a much larger project involving most of the house. Since I was forced to allocate funds elsewhere, I needed to get creative to design a unique bathroom on a limited budget.
Q: What solutions did you find to your design problems?
A: I decided to maintain the existing footprint of the previous bathroom and not move any plumbing to save on costs. The solid walls enclosing the shower were opened up and replaced with frameless glass panels, providing the visual illusion of extra space, as well as taking advantage of the windows and natural light. The existing clawfoot tub was kept and reglazed. By reusing the tub, I kept a historic design element, and also the smaller scale of the tub (compared to a modern one) allowed both a tub and shower to comfortably fit within the confines of the small bathroom.
Another cost-saving measure was limiting the use of tile to basic subway tile in the shower and solid porcelain on the floor, but elevating the overall look with a small portion of imported patterned tile under the tub itself. Finally, due to the settling of the house over the years, the floors needed to be leveled, which resulted in slightly askew angles in the ceiling. Painting the ceiling and walls in the same shade of white took the emphasis away from the awkward angles, and artwork on the walls created a new focal point to detract from the existing bulkheads.
Q: What are your favorite features of the project?
A: I love the natural light that floods the room. I'm lucky that the house is situated at the end of a row, allowing for the possibility of having two large windows in the bathroom, which feels like a small luxury in this space.
Q: What projects would you tackle if you had an unlimited budget?
A: With an unlimited budget, I would love to start a company that builds and designs custom laneway homes. They would be affordable, efficient, functional, and modern, making usable space out of Toronto's hidden backstreets and turning them into beautiful, livable homes. On a more immediate/practical level, I would love to do a complete renovation of my basement and restore the exterior of my house.
Q: What is your best secret design source?
A: It's not really a secret source, but I always try to analyze and make mental notes when I experience other well-designed spaces. I've been lucky to have traveled a bit, and there are always clever ideas to take away from the hotels and apartments I've stayed in, especially from a functional standpoint as they are usually quite efficient at maximizing smaller spaces. The interiors of coffee shops and restaurants are also great from a design perspective as they are usually cozy and comfortable environments with elements that you can easily emulate at home.
Q: What is your favorite local shop?
A: Some of my favorites to (window) shop at include: Mjolk, Klaus, Kiosk, and Avenue Road. Smash is great for unique found objects; Made is full of inspiring local talent; and Muji is amazing for clean and simple household items. Finally, scouring Kijiji and Craigslist, combined with a bit of creativity, can't be beat.
Q: Which architects or designers do you admire?
A: Architects: Frank Gehry, Daniel Libeskind, Joseph Dirand. Industrial Designers: Naoto Fukasawa, Oki Sato (Nendo), Tom Dixon. Interior Designers: Commute Home, Mazen Studio.
Q: What is your day job?
A: I'm the director of design at iNTERFACEWARE, where I am responsible for the creation of the overall design strategy across multiple departments, including development, marketing, and sales. It's a unique and fluid role, which involves all aspects of visual identity as well as functional design. I love the broad mix, which keeps things interesting. Beyond my day job, my personal interests include photography, architecture, and interior design.
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Domestic Science With Justine Hand
This past winter in New England, there was only one topic of discussion at any party or gathering: ice dams ("accumulated snow on a sloping roof that melts and flows down the roof, then refreezes, preventing snow from properly draining and resulting in roof leaks," according to Wikipedia). Specifically the extensive and expensive interior water damage they caused. (As I write, my insurance check is in hand and the contractors are poised to begin repairs.)
All fine for my painted walls. But what about those with wallpaper? Especially vintage wallpaper that cannot be replaced. Here I turned to the Internet. The consensus from several articles: Use bleach. I decided to give it a try.
Above: One of my favorite features in the guest bedroom of my summer cottage is the antique cream and gold wallpaper. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home.
Above: A closeup of my beloved wallpaper shows the effects of age, including water stains near the baseboards. Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista: A Manual for the Considered Home.
Above: This winter's water damage tipped the balance from "charming patina" and just plain "delerict." Something had to be done.
Materials:
- Bleach
- Distilled water
- Several rags and/or sponges
- Measuring cup
- Bowl
- Dish detergent
Most "water stains" are not actually caused by the water itself but from the tannins in the wood behind the paper, which dissolve when they come into contact with the water. Often these can be eliminated with a little bleach mixed with distilled water. (For oil and grease stains, try a white eraser.)
One note: Because my wallpaper is so old, contacting the manufacturer was not an option. But the first step in any wallpaper cleaning DIY would typically be to ask the maker for recommended treatments.
Step 1: If your walls are dirty, use a little dish soap mixed with water to gently clean the walls. Be sure to thoroughly squeeze any excess liquid from the cloth so as not to create more stains.
Step 2: Mix one part bleach with two parts water.
Step 3: Warning! Before you start wiping down a whole area, be sure to test a small spot that's not in plain view. Dip the edge of your sponge into the bleach solution (you may want to wear gloves). Using the edge of the bowl, squeeze out any extra liquid. Then gently dab the stained areas. You can also use a cotton ball or, for small areas, a Q-Tip.
Step 4: Be careful not to apply too much water; you want the stain to disappear, not get worse. After applying the solution, dab with a dry cloth to prevent further staining.
Step 5: Let the bleach solution rest for 5 minutes, then "rinse" or blot again with a wetted rag. Allow your paper to dry thoroughly before applying a second coat on any stubborn stains. (I had to apply the bleach solution twice on those dark stains toward the bottom.)
Above: The results. Still not perfect, especially around the gold areas, where I was loathe to try bleach. But I think we're back in the realm of a charming patina. Next time I might try some OxiClean.
Want more DIY cleaning solutions? Try:
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Architecture & Interiors With Julie Carlson
In the late 1930s, a group of émigré European modernists—Marcel Breuer, Serge Chermayeff, Walter Gropius, and Eero Saarinen—began to build summer homes on Outer Cape Cod, mostly in Wellfleet.
"Though humble in budget, materials, and environmental impact, the Outer Cape's Modern houses manage to be manifestos of their designers' philosophy and way of living, close to nature, immersed in art, and seeking community," according to the Cape Cod Modern House Trust. Painter James Lechay (1907–2001) moved in the same circles; his house remains one of the best examples of modest Bauhaus architecture in town (it's also for rent seasonally; go to We Need a Vacation for information). For more photos, see Architect Visit: Midcentury Modern in Wellfleet by Hayden Walling; to read more about Walling, go to the CCMHT.
Create the low-key, modernist Outer Cape look with the following elements.
The House
Above: Photograph by Raimund Koch for the Cape Cod Modern House Trust.
Above: Photograph by Raimund Koch for the Cape Cod Modern House Trust.
Above: Photograph via Salt Cellar Shop.
The Elements
Above: Day Bed Two is made of ash with a slatted wooden base; $2,950 from Another Country.
Above: The Brommo Chaise from Ikea is $59.99.
Above: Land of Nod's 5-foot Round Flokati Fluff Rug is $299; other sizes are also available (it's currently on back order until early September).
Above: Ikea's Hektar Floor Lamp has an oversized shade and is made from steel and aluminum and has an epoxy powder coating for $69.99.
Above: The Midcentury Modern Inspired Coffee Table has a walnut plywood top and steel hairpin legs; $349 via Comod on Etsy.
Above: The classic midcentury coated-steel Krenit Bowl was recently reissued by Normann Copenhagen and is available from Design Within Reach; prices start at $18 for the smallest size and go up to $145 for the largest size (available in several colors, including light blue).
Above: Driftwood Birds by Osamu Harihara; contact Niagara House directly for information.
Above: The Baton Table Lamp is $385 from Design Within Reach.
N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on August 17, 2010, as part of our Marine Life issue.
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