Down to Earth

Keeping the integrity and character of this century-old home while making it more functional and unique—all within the home’s original footprint—was paramount to this project. The design team needed to change the floor plan to make the kitchen, dining room and upstairs bathrooms more useful for the family. The vision was to mix eclectic, organic and modern design with touches of the original characteristics—new and old, aging beautifully together. 

They utilized the home’s existing woodwork and antique hardware, and mixed wood stains helped to provide a unique, warm contrast throughout the home. A sculptural-like fireplace became the central feature of the living room, surrounded by carefully curated fixtures and furnishings. 

Many of the challenges they faced were simply because of the age of the home. The second floor didn’t have enough bathrooms, and the kitchen was very small. 

They modified the floor plan to enlarge the kitchen and provide access to the backyard. This required removing a wall and turning the hallway into a pantry and powder bathroom. They used natural materials including white oak, quartzite and unlacquered brass, and all the accessories lend character and give the space a “lived-in” feel.

For the powder bath, they sourced a perfectly sized garden trough and designed a custom metal bracket to house the 200-pound stone. The brass faucet was originally just a garden hose spigot; Cicada installed plumbing in the wall to warm the water for hand washing.

To make the floor plan work better for the clients, Cicada also added a Jack-and-Jill bathroom to the second floor. Because the home was more than 100 years old, they also updated all the plumbing and electrical to be as functional and efficient as possible.