Many have succumbed to the
siren calls of buying an older home. As Sirens are apt to do, they sing a
beautiful song of living amongst architectural treasures, walking on original
hardwood floors and enchanting future homeowners with ideas of bringing the
home back to it’s original glory. Homer’s sailors cannot be ensnared by this
melodic cry, instead it only reaches the ears of a number of homebuyers who are
lured by this haunting call. Unfortunately, these new victims may find
themselves in the turbulent, uncharted waters of remodeling an older home. What
is the best way to navigate through this forbidding adventure, and is there a
chart to follow?
According to Harvard University
Joint Center for Housing it was estimated that in 2016 “spending on remodeling and repairs
climbed 8.6 percent that year to $310 billion.” It appears that numerous
homeowners were beckoned by Call of the Remodeling
Sirens. In 2009, this odyssey began for designer Diana Bryant of db Interiors, LLC. While
transforming her area for the 2009 Decorators Show House and Gardens , Diana
noticed a distressed home next door. The “Remodelling Songstresses” call was
followed and on December 30th 2010 Diana and her husband purchased an English
Tudor style home well past its prime. The following is a personal account of
how Diana Bryant renovated and customized the kitchen to meet her and her
family’s modern needs.
As an interior
designer and homeowner of this historical home, my goal was to keep as much of
the historical elements but infuse modern functionality and use.
This
Was a Lofty Goal!
We removed a
small half bath behind the stove, relocating the bath to a hallway closet that
expanded it into the oversized dining room. That small footprint change in the
formal dining room is truly unnoticeable to anyone entering the home. This allowed for the half bath to be
centrally located on the first floor and gave additional room to the kitchen and
considerably supported the new kitchen design. It is still a small kitchen by most standards but it
continues to reflect the historical aspect of the home and is exceedingly functional.
We had the trim
made to match the original to the home and went with dark pecan stained
cabinets along with full height granite backsplash for less maintenance. The flooring in the kitchen was peel and stick tile placed on a
terrazzo floor. We actually wanted
to save the original terrazzo floor under the tile but it was so badly damaged
it could not be salvaged. We added wood floor to match the rest of the
house. Modernizing required full
electrical upgrades for code, function, and installation of high end
appliances. Outlets and lighting
were hidden under the upper cabinets eliminating the need to have receptacles
cut in the back splash. The odyssey was was a challenge from demolition to the finishing
touches but well worth it.
Today, my
husband and I enjoy entertaining family and friends in our home and the most common
gathering place is in the kitchen as we prepare meals together and socialize.
By Diana Bryant, Allied ASID, RID, AKBD
db Interiors, LLC
Using the Original Door of the Home Provides an Architectural Treasure for the Kitchen
Hidden Outlets, Provided a Clean Look for the Backsplash
The New Hardwood Flooring Looks
Original to the Home!
As you can
see answering the call of the Remodeling
Sirens does not always have to end in mythological proportions of mistakes,
cost and frustrations it can instead can lead to a beautifully restored home!
Some of the best ways to navigate through the choppy waters of renovation is to
use a qualified designer and have a clear idea of your needs and wants for a particular space.
Please see Diana Bryant’s total
renovation of the master bath and closet at this year’s 2017 Decorators Show
House and Gardens, April 29th- May 14th. She has beautifully updated the rooms
to have both elements of “form and function” while staying true to the historic
look and value of the Vonnegut home, located at 4401 N Illinois. For further
information please visit our website at Indyshowhouse.org
