New Life
This Victorian twin home had traces of its Arts and Crafts roots but it was covered up by a bad redo. The new homeowners wanted to restore their dinning room to its original grandeur, but desired a unique way of opening it up to the kitchen. For this transformation to be successful it would take a delicate balance of old and new.
There were two major problems with this space, the color and the makeshift closet. Both helped to close the room in and made it uninviting. The Arts and Crafts style is all about colors found in nature and handcrafted details, so a sky blue and a sandy cream color were added to the walls. The chair rail, which was invented to prevent the back of the chair from scraping or denting the wall, provides the division of these two colors.
The closet was a big obstacle in the room, removing it and adding a 5 part pass-thru to the kitchen opened the space up. The homeowners have a love of wine, so this provided the perfect opportunity to get creative with wine and glass racks as well as the pass-thru. This is a great alternative to the traditional opening and countertop version of the pass-thru that one is used to seeing.
Botanicals were very popular in the Arts and Crafts era. The floral print curtains and window bench cushion, made for the custom window bench, provide the depth of color and texture needed in the room without overpowering it. The curtains that hang on both sides of the bay window area provide a division of space without making the room feel too heavy or stuffy. Simple sheer curtains on tension rods provide the right amount of privacy and highlights the original woodwork.
Asian inspired Chrysanthemums were very popular in this era. Hanging two oversized pictures on the far wall provides balance with the floor to ceiling curtains. The dining table and chairs have a classic handcrafted look that highlights the grain in the wood. A modern version of a gaslight fixture helps to bridge the gap between the old and the new.
Bottles of wine, a simple ivy centerpiece and several votive candles put the final touches on this space. With authentic touches and a modern twist the homeowners got the best of both worlds.
