The New Traditional Home
Our client was downsizing in a big way. She no longer needed the large home she and her husband had enjoyed filling with fine art & objects, collected as they travelled the world. She needed a designer’s eye to help sort through what to keep and what would fit within the confines of this new smaller space. For the new home, we also had to walk a line between a space that wasn’t too stark or two fussy for her beloved collection of art & antiques to stand on their own. Each piece has a story, and each should be enjoyed individually, and as part of a whole. Our client’s collection is reflection of who she is, and the experiences that have shaped her. We needed to respect her past, while designing a space to fit her current lifestyle needs. A space where she could start fresh, making new memories with family & friends, while surrounded by cherished objects collected over time.
We settled on neutral backgrounds of white and taupe with accents of deep espresso stained woods. In the main areas, walls, trim & ceilings are painted out in a single color to provide an elegant backdrop for her collection. Antique dining chairs were reupholstered in a nubby linen fabric, while custom taupe draperies frame the arched dining room window. Custom stained built ins house art & objects while the framed mirror above the fireplace is actually a cleverly disguised TV.
The Kitchen was customized for the homeowners needs, with slightly higher countertops. We took advantage of the extra inches for a thick countertop throughout the kitchen. The island doubles as a server when entertaining, but is also a perfect perch for a solitary meal. The U shaped kitchen provides space for Refrigeration, cooking, as well as a coffee & wine bar.
Off the kitchen is the space she spends most of her days…the custom home office. The desk is built under a window, with views to the green space beyond. It’s also accessible to small deck space as well as the laundry, garage, and kitchen. A trip to Africa provided the rug, and the art is new, while the umbrella stand is an antique. Taupe walls provide a perfect backdrop to the white cabinetry, a color palette we flipped from the adjacent kitchen.
The Master provides ample space for a king bed, antique table for one nightstand, and an antique desk with ghost chair on the other side. In the bathroom, we used the same color palette as the office, with taupe walls grounding the white cabinetry and white countertops.
In the end, our client enjoys her new space, whether working alone or entertaining her family or her many friends. They love to visit now that they enjoy their very own space on the lower level, complete with a living & dining area and mini kitchen, two bedrooms each with their own bath, and a lovely patio with views of the forest and walking trails behind the home.
The home is a perfect balance of old and new. It’s a place to make new memories while surrounded by those already forged. It is the New Traditional, where past and present mingle while enhancing one another, neither complete without the other.
“Exceeded expectations! A glowing recommendation from a friend led me to Allard + Roberts when facing the daunting task of downsizing and building a new house. From the first meeting Talli and Sharon listened and truly understood that while I wanted a cleaner more contemporary background; I had a life time of art, antiques and treasures from many travels that were important to be incorporated into the design. With an unerring eye for design, they made it happen…beautifully!
It has been a pleasure to work with the very organized and professional Allard + Roberts team. No detail is too small or overlooked. With complete confidence, I can highly recommend their services.”
—J MacNeill