21 Aug Indianapolis 1950s Home Gets a Light and Bright Remodel
One thing I love about being an interior designer is the relationships I create with my clients. Helping them design their homes means I get to know them very well, and they, me. Fortunately, I find this intense working relationship leads to a long-lasting friendship that follows my clients through all stages of life and many houses. The owners of this beautiful Indianapolis 1950s home are one of those long-term clients. I had worked on this home with them previously and also designed their lake house. For this project, my clients felt it was time to lighten and brighten the whole first floor.
The original space was dark – heavy furniture with deep red and navy colors. Also, the home’s age meant it had small, disconnected spaces. One of our goals was to make the home feel more open, so we chose one simple, light color and used it in every room, making them feel more cohesive. We then extended the color palette by using shades of blue as a reoccurring color. The focus of the project was on the kitchen, dining room and living area, while also giving the study a facelift.
Kitchen Remodel
This first floor remodel was an opportunity to reconfigure the kitchen footprint to support how my clients wanted to use the space. A lot of thought went into the layout of the kitchen, designing a work triangle so all prep and cooking could be done in one area. So, we added a second refrigerator in the island for quick access to ingredients they would be using that day. The couple also liked the versatility and look of the column refrigerators, allowing them to dictate the size of each separate unit.
The island was expanded to serve three functions: cooking prep, workspace, and seating. The room had more width than length, so we designed the island to have a right angle that would serve as the seating and work area. We placed the chairs at this end and a pop-up electrical outlet in the quartz countertop. My clients wanted a timeless, classic look with a touch of modern, so went with white cabinets for the periphery and blue cabinets for the island to add to the eclectic feel. Stainless steel appliances, contrasting quartz countertops of the perimeter, elongated subway tile with an accent tile over the range for the backsplash, and modern light fixtures completed the design.
Bar Area Remodel
My clients had me design a fabulous bar area in their lake home (link), and they wanted the same idea in their main home too. A corner in the kitchen adjacent to the island was dedicated to this use, providing display space for the husband’s extensive bourbon collection as well as an icemaker, dishwasher, sink and prep area.
Dining Room Remodel
The dining room design began with opening the doorway from the kitchen to the dining space by a foot. This small adjustment made a huge difference in making those two spaces feel connected. From there, the goal was to remove a large, heavy sideboard and add light and bright cabinetry storage that would also highlight an art piece. My clients knew they wanted eight chairs in the relatively small space, so I chose an oval table with silver table bases and had the top made out of the marble-look quartz we had used in the kitchen. The low ceilings and boxy design of older homes meant some curves were necessary to balance the straight lines. The oval table and rounded chairs and rug help soften the space. Then I added a spiky light fixture to bring that hard edge back over the table. Grasscloth on the walls added texture and set the room apart from the rest of the house.
Study Remodel
The light and bright look for the rest of the home was to be continued in the study too while keeping the original wood paneling. The original dark reds and greens along with the wood flooring that matched the walls made the space feel heavy. We wanted to lighten the room but keep the comfort and masculine vibe. The huge window that looked out over their beautiful back yard became the focal point, bringing light and the outdoor feel inside.
The doorway into the room consisted of two small French doors which added to the closed feel. We widened it and installed a sliding barn door so he could close it for privacy while creating another feature in the room when it was open. Again, this little change made a huge difference, making the office feel more connected to the rest of the home.
Living Room Remodel
The challenge of this room was to create a comfortable, open space with two separate seating areas. Originally, the sunroom was divided from the living room by a wall of glass windows and doors. We removed them, integrating the sunroom into the home. This change allowed us to expand the furniture layout, creating independent gathering spaces while also allowing room for a large crowd. New built-in cabinetry surrounded the newly painted fireplace. The furniture, accessories, fabrics and rug patterns were chosen to soften the hard lines in the space.
My clients were pleased with the end result of their first floor remodel, and so was I. Bringing a lighter, eclectic look with modern touches to an older home is challenging yet quite fun. If you are considering refreshing your home to reflect your updated tastes and lifestyle, I’d love to help. Send me an email or give me a call at (317) 507-9358.
No Comments