This Colonial Reno Upgraded the Layout but Preserved All the Charm

The renovation process began by opening up the kitchen to add counter space and ample pantry storage. Next, it was on to the living room, which was broken up into functional zones for multipurpose use. The most unexpected hero, however, became the home office directly off the primary suite—a nook affectionally called the mom den. It’s a testament to the power of design and how clever space planning can maximize every square foot of a nearly 100-year-old home.

An East Coast Colonial Reimagined for Modern Living

THE OVERVIEW:

Location: Larchmont, New York

Architecture Style: 1927 Colonial

House Facts: 2,700 square feet 3 beds/3.5 baths

Project Timeline: 1 year

Scope of Work: Entire home renovation

Tell us more about this project, and the scope of work involved.

The client is a growing family who moved from the city to Larchmont, New York during the pandemic. They want this to be their forever home while considering resale value. 

The family, which includes two young children, loves to entertain. They hired us because the house had a choppy layout and they felt overwhelmed by the design process. Another consideration is that both parents needed home offices. Most importantly, they wanted their house to stand up to family living.

“Our client receives compliments on the dining room’s Phillip Jeffries watercolor wallpaper every time a guest comes over!“

Talk to us about the initial inspiration and the process of honing your vision?

We had to find a way to marry two different styles together. The husband loves a mid-century style with leather and bold color. However, the wife prefers a modern, neutral, and airy look. We found common ground by incorporating a few of the husband’s masculine touches in pops of earth tones and leather. The couple loves traveling, so also we incorporated photography from the places they have been together.

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Any pain points? And how did you problem-solve?

It was also really important for the family to have a formal yet inviting dining room to host holiday meals. They wanted the kitchen to be bright and airy, with more counter space and more storage. 

We also needed to make the living room function like a great room, so we created zones—a place to eat, a place to cozy up near the fireplace, and a big sectional for movie nights! With two kids and toys galore, a dedicated kids’ area was a must, and of course, hidden storage!

“In the living area, we added a lot of concealed storage and created a dedicated playroom that’s close enough for adults to keep an eye out.”

Will you walk us through the main rooms of the home and speak to your design process?

We had to find a way to bring function and resale value to a home with a preexisting choppy layout. To start, we took the kitchen from dark and closed in to open, bright, and functional, with additional storage and a larger prep area. Not only did we add more counter space, but also three new large pantries. We also added enough seating in the family and dining rooms to comfortably host at least six adults and three kids. 

Another task was reworking a wonky layout in the primary bedroom, updating the primary bath, and transforming the attached bonus room into a suite slash home office. The added mom zone/office space off the primary became one of the home’s best features.

In the living area, we added a lot of concealed storage and created a dedicated playroom that’s close enough for adults to keep an eye out.

Any favorite details to share?

The dining room had a low ceiling with little architectural detail, so we decided to add interest to the walls. Our client receives compliments on the dining room’s Phillip Jeffries watercolor wallpaper every time a guest comes over! We also had tons of fun picking out the artwork since the client was open to playful art pieces throughout the house. 

PROJECT CREDITS

Design: Curated Nest Interiors

Photography: Jacob Snavely

Contractor: TJK Home Improvement

Wallpaper Install: Daniel Rivera of Wall Gurus

Dining Room Wallpaper: Phillip Jeffries