Architecture SIMPLY PRETTY

Deciding where to add architectural elements doesn’t have to be hard. Here are designer Nicole Salceda’s tried and true strategies to transform your space into a simple, modern farmhouse.

• NOD TO NATURE. Nicole gravitates towards furniture and materials that are natural and sustainable. “Reclaimed and recycled wood, clay brick and natural stone are all materials that are good for the earth,” she says.

• MIX IT UP. To add texture, mix rustic finishes with modern elements. For example, in her house, Nicole opted for exposed beams and wood floors while keeping lines simple and modern. “Tumbled travertine and chunky stone pair well with sleek metal finishes and streamlined design elements,” she says.

• FOCUS ON CRAFTSMANSHIP. Add millwork into the design. To create a storied interior, Nicole added classicallyfarmhouse elements such as tongue and groove ceilings, crisp door and window casings and shiplap wall paneling. “Decide the look of which molding or wall treatment you want, and have a skilled carpenter install it,” Nicole says.

• CREATE VISUAL INTEREST. This can be in the architecture or décor. During her home’s renovation, Nicole added an arched doorway to break up the large white wall in the primary bedroom. “With an expansive white wall opposite the bed, I knew I needed something large to offset it,” she says. • LIGHTEN IT UP. Whenever possible, add natural lighting with windows and consider how light fixtures may enhance the feel of the space. “Statement lighting can be found at a very reasonable price and still make a big impact,” says Nicole.

• FINE TUNE THE DETAILS. A curated feel comes together when the details—everything from hardware and tile to throw blankets and pillows—enhance the overall design. “Beautiful hardware can also be found on sites like Etsy or Build.com, and a simple brick or subway tile is always safe for a backsplash,” says Nicole.

Once work was underway, the house got a second breath. The finished remodel is 2,400 square feet. To increase natural light, the remodel added windows and skylights, as well as airy and light finishes. Nicole painted the walls a creamy off-white. Light oak flooring, white cabinetry and soft furnishings complete the look. “To me, the term modern farmhouse means bringing together the relaxed and comfortable nature of a farmhouse with modern touches like clean lines, natural materials and neutral finishes,” she says. “It doesn’t mean you have to live on a farm!”

RETREAT HAVEN

To create a much-needed retreat in the primary suite, Nicole selected materials for the design. “The primary bathroom had not been touched in over twenty years and was falling apart by the time of the remodel,” she says. Reworking the layout allowed for a separate bathroom, and a new window brings in natural light. “I never like to over design a room,” Nicole says. “To me, a well-designed space leaves room to breathe and opportunities for the eye to rest. A home reflects what you are feeling internally, and I want a quiet, calm mind as well as a home.”

(above, right) The existing home didn’t have a laundry room, so Nicole created one from some unused square footage next door in her daughter’s bedroom. “We’d never had a laundry room by the bedrooms, much less even in the house, so it was quite the upgrade,” she says. They didn’t stop at making it functional, but also added beautiful details that make it an enjoyable space. A new window brings in natural light, and a large farmhouse sink works for handwashing.

(above, left) You don’t have to be a gourmet chef to have a fabulous kitchen. Nicole often suggests that her clients splurge in this hardworking space. She feels spoiled every day in her own gorgeous kitchen, with its French La Cornue range, which takes center stage under a custom farmhouse style tongue and groove hood.

The primary bedroom underwent a total transformation. Nicole replaced the outdated brown carpet with the same white oak floors in the rest of the home. Substantial oak beams with millwork are now on the ceiling to create a focal point in the room. A new window on each side of the bed allows for more natural light to stream in. “The inspiration was a favorite boutique hotel you might find in Napa or Sonoma,” Nicole says.

Children’s rooms are an opportunity have fun with design. The kids’ bathroom’s whimsical charm comes together with the patterned floors and vanity. “I wanted to make it young and fresh but not a space they would grow out of too quickly,” Nicole says. The board and batten wall paneling, soapstone tub siding and delicate lighting fixtures are favorite elements in this bathroom.

The bed steals the show in the primary bedroom. The neutral linen fabric, standing seam detail and chunky frame is a dreamy place to land at the end of a long day. “Our life is busy: working full-time, pre-teen kids and a dog,” Nicole says. “So when we are home, a comfortable and calm space is very important to us.”

(above, left) The vanity was important to Nicole’s design plan for the primary suite, as it spans the length of the entire wall. To create the bespoke look, she enlisted a local cabinet maker to craft custom reeded doors. Paired with a six-inch mitered detail on the vanity marble, the piece is a showstopper.

(below) For a luxury feel in her spa-like primary bathroom shower, Nicole splurged on Carrara marble tiles. In Nicole’s opinion, nothing replaces real marble, and the look is timeless. She chose oversized 12x24 wall tiles and paired them with chevron marble mosaic tiles on the floor. The warm brass tone of the shower system and wood accents warms up the space.