Colonial Meets Modern
The tired colonial home in Myers Park was a collection of small rooms and needed a touch of flair. What this home did have was a great palette–hardwood floors, a stately staircase, original fireplaces, and a classic facade. Hopedale Builders was brought onto the project to bring some color and a contemporary edge to this Myers park canvas. To start, the small rooms needed to be opened up into a space that flowed effortlessly.
Let’s start in the kitchen. The newly open-concept kitchen now features a large island, shaker cabinet fronts, a commercial-grade range and hood, and eight-inch subway tile that’s carried all the way up to the ceiling. To add a dose of undulating color to the kitchen, the island is topped with gleaming granite. Even more interesting? The parameter cabinets feature leathered granite countertops–meaning they’ve been treated with a certain finish that leaves the granite with a dimpled texture that’s far more muted than its polished counterpart.
Blending the original colonial style of the home with contemporary elements was a natural fit. The linear characteristics of both styles meant that the designer could lean into what makes colonial style typically feel stiff and traditional, and loosen it up with bright paint choices and lots of natural light.
The team also shook up tradition by replacing the windows with a balanced mix of casement, picture box, storm, single-hung, and a 30-pane warehouse-style window in the dining room–all framed in sleek black fiberglass. The stark contrast of the white walls and black window frames offers a high-end contemporary industrial feel. It’s an unexpected style combination that really works.
The incredible pouring in of natural light shows off the bold woodgrain of the hardwood floors that are found throughout the entire home. To pull out the darker tones in the grain, the homeowners wanted to counter the lighter tone of the hardwood with rich dark built-ins in the sitting area off of the kitchen and the impressive centerpiece of the home, the library. The library’s floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall built-in shelves bring a bit of drama to the space.
You’ll also find deeper tones in the bathrooms, which feature more contemporary elements, like floating underlit vanities, large tile, geometric tile, deep blue-gray, and dark wood.
In the living room, the homeowners grappled over what to do with an oddly-placed closet original to the home. The solution is a wine closet that holds dozens and dozens of their favorite vintages right within reach. Also in the living room are large panoramic doors that lead out to a stylishly manicured outdoor seating area and backyard, encased in a contemporary fence.
Finally, the main entry also received a contemporary upgrade with a steel awning suspended from and anchored to the facade of the home. The underside is clad in hardwood and to let the awning shine on its own, is outfitted with a pair of out-of-the-way recessed lights.
The challenges were few but significant in this project. As with many older homes, asbestos abatement was the primary hurdle to overcome right at the start. The building team also needed to navigate the under-slab plumbing and HVAC systems. In the end, each of these challenges were overcome and made way for a superb remodel that brought this colonial home into current times with well-executed contemporary modifications.
This home is an excellent case for contemporary living in a traditional home. You don’t have to feel stuck with your classic home’s current architectural style. When you hire Hopedale Builders, you’re hiring a team of experienced builders that can take a traditional home and create a space that feels more authentically yours while still paying homage to its heritage. Contact Hopedale Builders to schedule a consultation about your whole home remodel.
