Transforming a house involves lots of big things – changes that immediately shift one’s perception of the entire space. Exterior paint. Windows. Those kinds of things. But it’s the smaller things that add the flavor. Some, you might not even notice unless they were pointed out. The cap of moss and lichen stains on the […]
Those of you who followed the transformation of the mid-century modern may recall how Debra and I love dedicating some space to books and reading – a library, a spot to relax without electronic distraction (e-books excepted, of course). In the SoMoToHo, we knew immediately which space that would be. This room is to the […]
Our next project is a house that doesn’t fit neatly into any standard category. Debra calls it a “soft modern townhouse,” and that’s about as accurate as anything. SoMoToHo for short. Built in 1985, here is what it looked like when we found it: The 80s was a strange decade. Big hair. Shoulder pads. Bizarre […]
They say to start with a hook, right? What’s a cuter hook than puppy dogs and little boys? Actually, this is an “after” pic of the master bedroom at the mid-century ranch. As you’ll see later, I stenciled the wall between the bedroom and the en suite with a French poem that Debra found somewhere. […]
The kitchen is the heart of almost any modern American home – and by “modern,” I mean built since the dawn of the 20th century. Even in those houses where it is tucked off to the side, out of the way and seemingly disconnected from the intended living spaces, the kitchen is where folks tend […]
So. The problem was the low-hanging eave that stretched the entire length of the house, making an already-below-street-level structure appear fit for hobbits. How to raise the roofline? Here’s a reminder: Not only is your eye drawn downward by the roof, but the entry looks like a cave rather than a doorway. Nothing says “Come […]
