Our house is a 1970s colonial, and from the get-go we knew we wanted to stay true to the home’s original style. Although dated, the house still has many of the features true to homes that trace back to the U.S. Colonial Era.
Rectangular shape? Check. Gabled roof? Check. Brick exterior with multi-paned windows? Check and check. And while not perfectly symmetrical as many colonials are, it’s pretty darn close.
Inside, it has a true colonial layout as well: an entry foyer with a central staircase. The foyer gives access to large rooms on either side, there’s a fireplace in the center of the home, and an upstairs hallway that bisects the floor and connects the four bedrooms.
However, due to the 1970s fixtures and finishes, there are many signature colonial elements missing. Instead of hardwood floors, we purchased a plethora of colored carpet. And instead of natural materials like stone and iron, the house has lots of laminate and vinyl. We’re also missing the signature millwork, soft colors, and timeless metals like copper and brass.
While we want to stay true to colonial style in our renovation, we don’t want the house to feel too formal. We want our friends and family to feel like they can come in, kick their shoes off and make themselves at home. We’re going for timeless and traditional meets contemporary cozy.
I’ve obviously been scouring the internet for inspiration, and I’m gravitating towards many of the designs by Chris Loves Julia, Studio McGee, and Jean Stoffer Design. We plan to stick with a fairly neutral color palette, leaning on moody blues and greens for drama. I’m also planning to incorporate lots of wood, wicker, leather and linen for texture, create functional storage with custom millwork, and combine contemporary furniture with antique pieces I recently inherited from my late grandmother.
Check out the photos below I’ve saved for inspiration and let me know what you think!
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