“farmhouse" on the left in dining room .. contemporary office on the right ... old world beam and details ahead.

Visual Comfort lighting in foyer, Thibaut grass cloth wallpaper in piano room classes things up and removes the “farmhouse” feel .. dark doors add architectural warmth and light paint on shelving in office removes the contemporary vibe.

Dark gloss painted shelving & slick painted beams overhead emphasize strong contemporary lines .. which is great but not so great combined with “farmhouse” details in the room across the foyer. The window panels were recycled and used upstairs in a boys bedroom .. “grommets” are out of place in the main level of this home.

Shelving & beams now match the trim color .. window treatments now fuller and slightly richer color .. all of these changes help give a softer look that now aliens with the rest of the home.

the contemporary details needed some warming up

Painted window mullions & interior doors .. fabulous Legacy Linen window treatments and new custom “French return” Helser Brothers hardware.

Shelving or Bookcases offer great opportunities to showcase personal items and collections.

Painted interior doors create subtle details but big impact.

The powder room was contemporary and cold .. but we found a new home for the sink & vanity when we finished the basement and styled it completely different with surrounding tile, mirror & lighting!

The powder room received a complete makeover … color drenched SW “eventide” paint, new vanity, marble countertop, backsplash, mirror and great-grandmothers chandelier that has found new life in the last four homes

This home had an identity crisis .. contemporary? farmhouse? traditional old world? This dining room was trying to be farmhouse with the “barndoor” and whatever that panel detail on the walls had to go .. vanilla panels were .. well … vanilla … chandy finds a new home in the basement bedroom.

Do not let a home dictate how you use the space. You can determine what is best for your family. Family heirloom piano now takes center stage. New Visual Comfort chandy, Thibaut grass cloth wallpaper replaces bad paneling.

The stark white paneling with odd vertical lines paired with the “barndoor” across from the contemporary office felt odd and out of place. Chandy finds a new home in the basement bedroom.

Goodbye unnecessary barndoor .. hello grass cloth & new Visual Comfort chandy. The piano has top billing with Henredon cabinet and original artwork by South Carolina artist April Huguenin.

The dark wood cabinets flanking the fireplace were just too heavy with the dark wood floors.

Cabinets now match the trim and allow the fireplace to shine along with stacking wood doors to the patio. Notice new hardware on center of cabinet doors .. it’s the jewelry!

Dark island and wine bar cabinet … pendants are interesting but not the right fit for incoming polished nickel faucet and new cabinet hardware.

Kitchen island now same white as perimeter cabinets .. wine bar given a facelift with sophisticated “greige” paint and gold hardware. Polished nickel pendants from estate sale in Palm Beach FL

Dark heavy celing .. chandy finds a new home in basement. Doors and window mullions fade into the background.

Ceiling is now light & bright … chandy is an oldy but goody discovered at an antique sale. Window mullions & doors now add architectural depth without overwhelming the space.

Dark wood island .. Visually “heavy” pulls on upper cabinets .. pendants are uninspiring and predictable.

Island now plays nice with the dark wood floors and dark ceiling overhead .. polished nickel pendants -discovered at an estate sale- are equally beautiful and add a touch of whimsy

This master was not commanding or inspiring .. the custom wall design was interesting but did not play well with “farmhouse” or traditional .. it was contemporary and felt like an afterthought. Details like this need to have other items in the room that “talk” to it .. relate to it .. then it feels much more intentional.

Now the focal wall has some friends to play with .. the new Visual Comfort lighting offers geometric cues as well as the newly painted window mullions that offer subtle rectangles creating right angles to talk to the feature wall. Custom Helser Brothers window hardware and full window panels soften the hard edges in this space.

This wall has a TV .. personally I am not a fan of .. however - to each there own.

The TV was replaced with a gallery wall that offers loads of character with genrational family photos .. so much better than the cold TV.

The basement was raw concrete .. Now it is a finished space with cozy bar, family room, office, playroom, dining area, full bath and an additional bedroom. Notice the lighter LVP flooring .. quartz countertops and custom cabinetry. See the old breakfast nook chandy now has a new home in the dining area thats perfect in the basement.

Wood beams, dark painted doors & mullions talk to the main level of the home .. this helps it feel as if it has always been here .. family room fan is now in this basement area.

Another view of the basement family room.

This room never feels like a basement with light filled windows and a cozy fireplace!

Basement does not have to equal boring.

Visual Comfort lighting & mirrors always add depth & light to a basement. The dark antique chest relates to the main level dark hardwood floors .. helping to tie the spaces together.

Brick walls talk to the second floor of this home .. Vintage bucket turned into a light fixture adds character & charm.

The bedroom comes with a full bath and huge closet .. as well as a hidden door (shhhhh..its the bookcase) that opens up to additional storage!

Formerly in the main level powder room, the vanity finds a second home in the basement .. entire wall of tile, old crusty gold mirror mixed with new contemporary lighting makes this bathroom anything but boring!

The wall of tile continues all throughout the shower .. functional and so pretty.

the windows, trim and shutters were too dark & dreary.

The house now feels like a breath of fresh air with lighter trim color & shutters