With the vintage rage still roaring like a flapper in the 1920s, it’s no wonder people salvage historical details whenever they remodel. In this Featured Customer’s 1,500-square-foot apartment in the Park Slope neighborhood of Brooklyn, there were many pre-war details the homeowners wished to save.
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The lively city of Antwerp, located on the eastern banks of the river Scheldt in Belgium, is rich in art, architecture, and culture. Though famous for its diamond trade and the fifth largest port in the world, there are centuries worth of nooks and crannies to explore along its cobblestone streets. One of these hidden gems is the Boulevard Leopold, a quaint bed-and-breakfast located in a 19th century home that features a mix of vintage and modern. Here in the kitchen, we find floor-to-ceiling tile including a decorative blue pattern along the top of the walls that flows onto the ceiling. This treatment draws the eye upward, expanding the narrow space. And taking center stage — a delicate glass shade pendant that adds another vintage touch.
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Some home styles are very flexible when it comes to dècor and fixtures. You can dress up an older home with sleek finishes and geometric shapes for a more modern touch or use industrial dècor to give a dated space an edgy new look. It all depends on your taste and, of course, your budget. A log home, however, almost begs for a rustic touch. When Colleen started building her log home on the Red Cedar River in Chetek, Wisconsin, she knew barn lighting would come into play.
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Family heirlooms can take many forms. Grandma’s favorite brooch is nice; Uncle Eddie’s collection of 1940s Popular Mechanic, not so much. Today’s Featured Customers, Diane and Jim of Washington, Vermont, hit the jackpot when it comes to family heirlooms. They recently took ownership of the family farmhouse which was built in 1850. Like most old homes, this treasure needed some updating.
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When you live in a place that saw settlers as early as the 1600s and your own home is more than 100 years old, you feel a sense of responsibility to respect the history and vernacular of the place. Especially when remodeling! Our friends at the design firm of Schappacher White Ltd., in Lower Manhatten, recently undertook the full renovation of a 1904 farmhouse on Shelter Island located at the eastern end of Long Island. The renovation included an addition, swimming pool, and site planning. The goal was to use as many reclaimed materials as possible along with modern pieces that would layer the history of the space with today’s amenities. The kitchen boasts a traditional farmhouse feel with open shelving, white beadboard cabinetry, wood floors, and two delicate barn pendants highlighting the center island.
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You never know what you’ll find when you visit a second-hand store or junk yard. If you have a keen eye for potential, you might spot an old, discarded pendant that only needs cleaning, rewiring, and a new shade to become a spiffed-up version of its former self.
