How This Home Went From Dated 1970s to Transitional Beauty

Aiming to transform the space into an elevated and functional home, Jessica and her husband, Tom, moved from room to room, designing and doing most of the hands-on work independently. Complete with plenty of kid-friendly details and beautiful custom oak features throughout, the result is a stunning design that reflects a true labor of love.

Design: Jessica Dolan | Photography: Joseph Bradshaw Photography

A Custom & Warm Living Room

Previously, the living room had a large manufactured stone fireplace on the south wall, carpet, and two small windows. Jessica opened the space and brought more light inside by adding a site-finished white oak fireplace and removing the existing fireplace. Luckily, they could turn the previous fireplace around and use it on the screened-in porch behind it — a win-win! They designed the new fireplace with Polycor natural limestone on the west wall, creating a beautiful focal point to set the tone.

While window replacements are a significant investment, they can go a long way in elevating a space. Jessica had casement windows on her project wishlist early on and replaced the two small windows in the living room with triple casements to bring more natural light and interest.

Jessica’s and Tom’s local hardwood flooring company, The Hardwood Co., designed custom white oak cabinetry flanking the fireplace adding warmth and interest to the room.

An English-Inspired Kitchen

Jessica completely transformed the kitchen by removing the inefficient peninsula that divided the space and replacing it with a more functional island. They reconfigured two small kitchen closets to house a panel-ready fridge and a hidden walk-in pantry, closing off the coat closet to create even more storage.

A triple casement window above the sink creates abundant natural light and a stunning limestone range alcove featuring an ILVE Nostalgie range acts as a statement piece. The custom inset cabinetry painted by Benjamin Moore Natural Cream and the white oak island, finished by The Hardwood Co., complete the beautifully refreshed space.

A Dining Room for Gathering

After removing the glossy prefinished maple flooring, Jessica added site-finished white oak herringbone floors. White oak incorporated into the ceiling creates even more warmth and draws the eye up. While the floor plan had a great flow originally, the design called for more openness in a few areas. Jessica designed a larger case opening between the dining table and the kitchen to create a more expansive gathering space, allowing the rooms to flow naturally.

A Moody Secret Room

We love few things more than a secret room in a home, and this moody space is no exception. Jessica created this moody seating room to be the lounge space in the house, carefully designing the doors leading into the space to look like a part of the wall cabinetry in the foyer. Green color-drenched walls, a plaster fireplace, and cozy seating greet you when you enter. To create more function in the room, Jessica removed a small, simple built-in and replaced it with doors to a closet previously accessed through the hallway. A Belgian vintage cabinet adds warmth and dimension, bringing a piece of history to the space.

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