Achieving a Respectful Redesign

Jennifer Eanes Foster shares her insights about updating a historic home.

Look at the elements that tell the story of the home—the trim work, tile or mantels. If it is original to the home and enhances its design, rather than detracts from it, I love to use it.

Not everything has to be gutted. See if the configuration makes sense and, if it does, use it.

Review the architectural elements original to the home. See what works in the room and is in good condition. If it enhances the design, then keep it and build off it.

If something does need to be gutted or replaced, make design choices that complement the architectural style and time of the home.

Combine the old and the new—you don’t have to have a home that looks like a replica of the time in which it was built. Add a mix of modern design elements in with the historic ones: lighting, wallpaper, art, upholstery and fabrics can update the look of a historic home.

Jennifer found an inspiration piece from the homeowners for her color palette. “The rug in the family room/den, which they had in their previous home, was a starting point,” she says. “I pulled from the blues in that rug for the rest of the room and then carried the blue over to the dining room and living room.”

HOUSE OF MANY MANTELS

“There are six fireplace mantels in this home!” Jennifer says. “Hanging original art above them gives each one its own personality. Also, having some art pieces that are matted and framed, others that are gallery wrapped and some that are traditional while others are more modern helps to make each one look unique. In the bedrooms, we repainted the fireplace mantels. When the mantels were stripped down in the sunroom, living room and original dining room, we loved the story they told with the remaining layers of paint and patina of the wood, so we decided to leave them stripped and seal them.”

OUTDOOR ENTERTAINING

The bungalow’s front porch is now a perfect outdoor area to entertain guests. “The front porch is so wide and welcoming, and since my clients enjoy entertaining, I wanted to create a spot that is functional as well as attractive,” Jennifer says. “The four chairs allow for great conversational seating and are comfortable.”

Working on this historic home’s renovations and redesign was a labor of love for all involved. “I love that the finished project is so unique but in keeping with the architecture and age of the home,” Jennifer says. “The rooms look fresh and sophisticated, but still keep the lovely elements of a historic home without looking dated.”

SERENE DREAMS. Jennifer used a darker neutral wall color for the master bedroom. “The blues relate back to the original blue accent tile in the adjoining master bathroom,” she says. “I used off-white linen cafe curtains in the bedrooms and bathrooms.”

|ABOVE LEFT| WARM WELCOME. Jennifer wanted the colors in the guest bedroom to be soft and inviting, so she kept the tones muted. The homeowners love birds, so the contemporary art over the fireplace has birds in it. Jennifer says, “I like to play with traditional/modern, so I wanted to use a contemporary piece of art with the client’s heirloom quilt folded at the bottom of the bed.” |ABOVE RIGHT| ROOM TO STORE. A marble-top vanity in the master bathroom replaced the original small pedestal sink to allow for more storage. |RIGHT| TEXTURAL MIX. In the master bathroom, Jennifer replaced a small tub with a walk-in shower. “We used seamless glass panels, a mosaic marble floor and a gray glass accent tile for the original gray-and-white ceramic floor tile,” she says.