Fun Meets Function in This Louisville Victorian

By refinishing the floors with a lighter, matte stain, keeping the walls light, and playing off of the diamond leaded glass in the front door, Bethany expertly kept the newly incorporated aspects of the design from feeling detached from the original. Complete with an ottoman that doubles as an indoor trampoline, colorful stools designed to store magna tiles, and a pink mirrored acrylic hood surround in the kitchen; this home is a true joy. Scroll on to step inside this vibrant, history-filled space.

Design: Bethany Adams Interiors | Photography: J.L. Jordan Photography

Setting The Tone in The Foyer

When designer Bethany Adams purchased her Historic Victorian home in Louisville, Kentucky, she was eager to face the space’s unique challenges. The 1897 home was historic and strikingly modern in its layout, lack of feminine ornament, and unusual fireplace locations. The lack of symmetry and dark wood paneling called for creative solutions, and rather than fighting against these aspects, Bethany chose to balance them.

Fun Meets Function in The Living Room

This space takes on the true meaning of a family room, with something for everyone of all ages. A vintage Dromedaire sofa by Hans Hopfer for Roche Bobois centers the space in its original upholstery. Each sofa piece is moveable, perfect for customizing the room. Bethany designed the ottoman in the middle with Pierre Frey’s Pagopago fabric in “cactus,” custom-made to fit her girls’ indoor trampoline. Remove the lid to start bouncing! A custom Stewart Studio green resin games table by the fireplace adds another level of color and playfulness. Prince Aha stools by Philipe Starck for Kartell double as storage for Magnatiles, building blocks, and other toys.

A Bold Library Moment

Bethany chose the blue of the library from a highlight in the original tile of the fireplace surround in the family room directly opposite. The bold look of the painted bookcases extends to the top of the walls and compliments the color-drenched room. A mid-century modern “boomerang” desk found by Bethany at the charity shop a decade ago adds warmth and a piece of history to the design.

Slow Design in a Joyful Kitchen

A truly joyful kitchen centers the home, reflecting years of a slow and intentional design process. Bethany began the design in 2017, installing the Carrara and Bardiglio harlequin patterned floor tile. In 2023, she added the pink mirrored acrylic hood surround and most recently added the Murano glass lollipop lights and vintage stools powder-coated and re-covered in an easy-care faux leather by Kravet. The breakfast nook features a vintage Danish settee covered in a Crypton fabric, a 1970s Italian brass and smoked glass adjustable height table, and stools by Dirk van der Kooij.

A Color-filled Dining Room

When your room has six openings, eleven sides, and one fireplace, you have to get creative with integrating the space into the rest of the home. Bethany leaned into the open-plan modernism in this dining room, carrying the color scheme from the adjacent living room. Vintage light pink and brass dining chairs, a burgundy rug, and petrol velvet drapes tie into the palette of the living and entry spaces, while carefully sourced lighting brings a unique shapely element.

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