Remaking a Classic Georgian Style House

There is no house style that has been more consistently a favorite of mine than the classic "Five Over Four and a Door" Georgian. Timeless, elegant, and just speaks of "home" to me. So I was very excited to be part of the wonderful team that remade this house.

The owners built the house in the mid-eighties, when stained wood trim was in, and open floor plans were just starting to be the norm.

Let's take a look at a few of the "before" pictures:

The front of the house lacked a covered entry and just generally felt a little tired.

The original family room had a massive brick fireplace and felt dark.

The original kitchen was spacious, but the heavy wood cabinets and brick floor made it feel small.

The original floor plan was a traditional arrangement of separate rooms.

The landscaping had become somewhat overgrown, as the clients spent several years planning the renovation.  This side of the house would become the site of the new master suite.

The original dining room was elegant, but felt small and closed off.

The original rear of the house had a small screened porch and didn't maximize the wonderful backyard.

After the trees were removed, this side of the house gets ready for an addition.

With their children now grown and beginning families of their own, the clients felt it was time to not only give the house a new look, but make it work better for the way they lived. Top of the list was a first floor master suite and expanded outdoor living. Their architect, who I have worked with in one capacity or another since the beginning of my career, drew up a plan that knocked down walls, opened up ceilings, and created a spacious master suite and gracious screened porch.

I stepped in to refine the details and assist with the interior design. We created a neutral backdrop and recovered many of their upholstered pieces in plain linen or monochromatic textured fabrics and layered seagrass rugs over the hardwoods to bring a more casual feel to the spaces. It is quite a transformation, but retains the original elegance and style.

Ready for the afters? Here they are: (warning, TONS of pictures, but be patient, they are worth waiting for!)

The new master suite is light-filled and features a small patio, which has become a favorite spot for morning coffee.

The new screened porch carries across much of the rear of the house, allowing for three separate furniture groupings.

We painted the interior doors Benjamin Moore "Graphite" and put these on barn door tracks for a fun accent.

We painted the back of the dining room built ins the same graphite as the doors to allow the blue and white collection to really pop.

A wide shot of the dining room, which used to be the kitchen.

Another view of the dining room. The built in banquette has a gorgeous nailhead design.

The new front of the house. The landscape architect suggested the stone courtyard wall with gas lamps, which softens the formality of the facade and creates a sense of arrival.

Another view of the front, with the master addition on the right.

The great room was brightened up with Benjamin Moore "Revere Pewter" paint, a Stark seagrass rug, and new upholstery in light tones.

The original brick fireplace and raised hearth were demolished for a flush fireplace with an elegant painted mantel.

The kitchen was moved to the back of the house, where a set of sliding doors opens it to the new screened porch. Distressed cabinetry, a copper farm sink, and classic antiqued subway tile backsplash make it a timeless space.

The new master bath is soothing in soft blues and white marble.

At the back door, we created a built in drop zone with bench, shelves, cubbies and hooks, to catch the clutter we all carry in with us!

The new outdoor kitchen is seeing a lot of use. Reclaimed barnwood cabinets hide a built in cooler.

The original dining room was opened to the foyer to create a reception room.

The statement making powder room!

The nearly 40' long screened porch has a brick floor, painted beadboard ceiling, and billowing outdoor drapery. We recovered the old family room furniture in durable outdoor fabrics to make this a truly comfortable outdoor room.

The study features a pair of demilunes where stacked books are ready to leaf through.

Part of the new open floor plan is this TV room, where four chairs surround a tufted ottoman.

Crisp white cabinetry in the master bath is punctuated by black shaded sconces.

Out back, a bluestone path connects the various outdoor living areas.

The abundance of light in the new master bedroom made the dark indigo walls possible.

The new master closet features marble-topped built-ins, highly specialized shelving, and this fun Lily Pulitzer rug!

Overlooking the refreshed tennis court, this brick firepit is a favorite spot on cool evenings.

In the great room, we created a small wetbar and used wine corks as the backsplash!

 

 

We hope you enjoyed looking at this transformation as much as I enjoyed working on it! Be sure to like our Facebook page to keep up with more before and afters!