Merrimack Valley Magazine

Forever Home – G.M. Roth

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G.M. Roth Updates a Classic ‘80s Home for Today’s Entertaining.  (sponsored)

Our clients built their classic New England home in the ‘80s on a beautifully wooded lot in a great neighborhood in Bedford, N.H. They were looking to enhance the flow of the space and make it more current for this new stage of their life. They love their home and neighborhood, so resolving the issues would enable them to live there forever.

They love to entertain, but couldn’t have people over. The space felt dark and cramped, and not being able to use their three-season porch in the colder months meant having to close it off, removing the natural light from the dining room and kitchen area. Their goal with the project was to have a light open space, and for it to be the focal point of the home. They were looking for an elegant country feel that would highlight their exposed beams and charming fireplace while opening up the space to the beautiful backyard.

Above: The kitchen addition after remodeling. Below: The small, cramped kitchen before the process began. Photos courtesy G.M. Roth Design Remodeling.

Removing the three-season porch and building a kitchen addition with large floor-to-ceiling windows provided the open atmosphere they were craving, along with space they could use year-round. The kitchen remodel included bright, white cabinets and a large, gray island in the center of the room — the perfect place to host guests. With quartz countertops and new appliances, the remodeled kitchen was given a newer, more current feel, while honoring the clients’ request to maintain the integrity of the original structure. In addition to the kitchen area, the clients remodeled their powder room, updating it with a gray vanity and stacked countertop that extended the overall transitional design.

All the changes the clients implemented, combined with new windows, siding and roofing, gave their home the warm, inviting feeling they were looking for to keep them happily entertaining for years to come.

G.M. Roth Design Remodeling
Nashua, N.H.
(603) 880-3761
GMRoth.com

A Taste For Modern

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Stephanie Sipley has modern tastes, evident in the clean lines and no-frills attitude found in her fashion boutique SoleAmour in Andover. However, finding a modern house in the same town, which is known for its quaint colonials and McMansions, is challenging. 

“Everyone here wants new houses, and I’m not so much about that,” Sipley says, recalling the struggles she and her husband, Richard, faced when they moved here from Chicago in 2008. 

Designed by Marcel Breuer, this home looks almost exactly as it did in 1956 except for this updated kitchen. The built-in bookshelf (right) separates the home’s entryway from the living room/dining room/kitchen area.

Unable to find a modern house, the couple had just about settled on a shingle-style house when their real estate agent took them to a home built by Bauhaus designer Marcel Breuer. Constructed in 1956, this house offers a European take on modernism known as the International Style. Its design is simple, functional and open, and its distinctive features include a flat roof, radiant heat and natural construction materials such as cement, stone and glass. 

 

Homeowners Stephanie and Richard Sipley prefer the clean, simple lines of these table and chairs, consistent with the home’s minimalist design.

The open family room/dining room/kitchen, measuring 30 by 40 feet, immediately impressed Sipley. Narrow cedar boards line the ceiling, so it looks almost like the hull of a wooden ship — warm and sleek. At one end of the room is a painted-white rock wall and fireplace. At the other is an updated kitchen with a stainless steel backsplash and appliances with gray cabinets. A floor-to-ceiling built-in bookcase separates this space from the entryway. Floor-to-ceiling glass allows natural light to fill the room and bring the outside in. During the summer, the Sipleys open the sliders and a cool breeze flows through the home. 

“[Breuer] created these great areas where everyone can gather,” Sipley says. As the mother of three young children, she sought a home with multifunctional communal space. While this house has four well-designed bedrooms with ample storage, they are small. Thus, everyone gathers in the great room to eat, watch television, read, use the computer, play and work on projects. 

Left: The master bedroom offers a view of the koi pond and fountain, renovated a few years ago. Right Midge, a rescue dog, loves to sit on the bed and keep watch over the property.

Richard’s attention turned more toward the property: 2-plus rolling acres landscaped by noted architect Daniel Kiley. Beyond the backyard is conservation land, including Baker’s Meadow and woods with well-marked hiking trails. Deer, groundhogs, foxes and turkeys travel through here. It is hard to believe that Andover High School is on the other side of these woods and that downtown is a mere mile and a half away.  

Breuer, the home’s architect and builder, studied and taught at the famous Bauhaus school of design in Germany, which was founded by architect Walter Gropius in 1919. Both men fled Germany as Adolf Hitler rose in power, and both joined the faculty at Harvard Graduate School of Design. In the United States, Breuer continued designing private homes and commercial buildings, including The Met Breuer (formerly home to the Whitney Museum of American Art) in New York City. 

Homeowner Stephanie Sipley buys what she likes, mixing patterns and textures as seen in these zebra-upholstered modern chairs from The Taylor’d Room Interiors set against this white-painted rock wall.

Breuer is perhaps best known for a chair he designed in 1925, while still head of the Bauhaus cabinetmaking department. In keeping with Bauhaus’s mission to meld art with industry, Breuer created a portable, lightweight tubular-steel chair with four simple strips of fabric for the arms, seat and back. Produced first in Germany, the Wassily chair, as it’s now known, became an international sensation. 

When the Sipleys finally moved into their new home, they discovered a little present left behind by previous owner Keith Vangeison, who collected midcentury modern furniture. It was a Breuer B35 armchair. Now, it sits in the living room amid all the great features Breuer designed for this space 62 years ago. 

Left: A glass wall, seen off to the right, fills the great room with natural light. Comfortable seating is a necessity where this family gathers and spends most of their time. On the left is a Marcel Breuer B35 armchair — a gift of the previous homeowner Keith Vangeison. Right: Marcel Breuer is seen pictured in the tubular steel Wassily chair he designed when he led the cabinetmaking department at Bauhaus in Dessau, Germany. The chair would become an international sensation and is still produced today.

“People keep asking me, when are you going to put on an addition?” Sipley says, shaking her head and smiling. She likes the house just the way it is.                           

 

style editor and set design
Lysa Pelletier – Anchor Artists

photography
Emily O’Brien – Boston, Mass.

text
Debbie Hagan

accessories and furnishings
Acorn Design Center
Andover, Mass.
(978) 273-9717
AcornDesignCenter.com

The Taylor’d Room Interiors
Andover, Mass.
(978) 239-0386
TheTaylordRoom.com

Rose & Dove Specialty Gift Shop
North Andover, Mass.
(978) 689-4141
RoseAndDove.com

Sole Amour
Andover, Mass.
(978) 409-1541
Winchester, Mass.
(781) 721-5300
SoleAmour.com

Helen Thomas Simply Smashing
Andover, Mass.
(978) 475-7981
Facebook.com/HelenThomasSimplySmashing

landscaping and water gardens
Dana Landscaping
Andover, Mass.
(978) 682-9267
DanaLandscaping.com

 

Encore: One Remodel by Jackson Kitchen Designs Leads To Another

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— Sponsored —

Even a beautiful 6-year-old colonial can require some customizing to meet the needs of a growing family. David and Michele Gaudin soon discovered that after relocating to Boxford several years ago. The first project on the list was to add a larger island with more seating to the kitchen. The Gaudins knew what they wanted to accomplish but didn’t know where to begin. “That’s when we discovered Jackson Kitchen Designs,” said David. “Our designer, Lucy Ross gave us great advice and ideas on how we could accomplish what we wanted.” At that point, the Gaudins decided to redo their entire kitchen to create a more open concept. After fine-tuning and refining the plans, the finished kitchen gave them the family-friendly design and functionality they wanted. In the process, Ross worked with the Gaudins on the first floor bath redesign and kid’s bathroom redesign as well. 

Pool cabana kitchen with textured laminate cabinets by Cabico. Wall cabinets feature Soho finish and base cabinets are in Frappe finish. Photo by Kevin Harkins.

So, when it was time to complete their backyard with a pool cabana, it was no surprise that the Gaudins again turned to Jackson Kitchen Designs and Ross. Once they put in the pool, Michele and David quickly realized that with one flight of stairs up to the kitchen and bathroom in the house, a cabana would be a very logical and welcome addition. The idea was to create an easy outside area for playing and entertaining. 

With a 14’ x 24’ footprint and cathedral ceilings, the poolside cabana now boasts a kitchen, full bath, bar, and a large-screen TV. Although it is heated and air-conditioned, the oversized 16’ x 8’ sliders facing the pool can be opened to create an outdoor feeling when desired. Ross and Jackson Kitchen Designs rose to the challenge to create a functional space with cabinetry that compliments and conceals appliances with a flush, seamless design. This required customizing every drawer and cabinet. “They did a great job. We are very pleased!” said Michele. “We are very detail oriented, and Lucy was amazing to work with. She was very patient, always prepared, and very accommodating to our busy schedules.”

Left: The inside kitchen features Brookhaven cabinets with Vintage finish on the main perimeter and cherry wood with Candlelight finish on the island. Right: This view of the pool cabana kitchen island highlights the flush seamless design of the cabinetry and the two-tiered countertop. Photos by Kevin Harkins.

The finished cabana is now a space where the Gaudin family can kick back and relax or entertain large groups. David acted as general contractor for all of the home remodeling projects they have done so far. He is proud of the great team of local professionals in every trade who helped him get the job done, but he particularly appreciates the guidance and technical expertise provided by the Jackson Kitchen Design team.  

 

 


1093 Osgood Street, Route 125
North Andover, MA
978-685-7770

67 Haverhill Road, Route 110
Amesbury, MA
978-689-1016

JacksonKitchenDesigns.com

Seven Trends from the Spring 2018 High Point Market

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This past April, I made my annual trip to North Carolina and the High Point Market, the world’s largest home furnishings and decor show. Designers from all over the world flock to this market to shop for clients, see the latest trends, attend educational seminars and reconnect with faraway friends and colleagues. Visiting High Point Market is an invaluable experience for a designer who wants to stay on top of what is happening in the design world. Here is my summary of seven trends I observed for 2018 and 2019.

This vibrant blue wall with matching chairs represents a major trend for 2018 — saturated and bold colors. Statement rugs were also on trend. Photo by Linda Holt.

1. Color: Black and white continue to be big color stories for 2018. White was popular for sofas, and black-and-white accessories and furniture were spotted in almost every showroom. White walls dominated this market, complemented by bright pops of color on pillows, artwork and accessories. Gray is still trending for furniture and as a wall color, but I feel we are nearing the end of the all-gray tendency. Deep blues and acid greens also made a strong showing, along with jewel tones. Blush pink, nicknamed “millennial pink,” has evolved into a deeper, richer tone after being so dominant in 2017. Gold and brass are still trending in metal finishes and lighting. 

2. Texture: It was hard to miss this trend. Everything from rough, nubby pillows to soft, velvety sofas were the norm this spring. Wooden case goods such as bookshelves and cabinets were shown with sculptural and textured fronts, and many dining tables featured a textured raw wood finish. I spotted one dining table with a decorative wood element applied directly to the legs and one of its corners. Rattan, wicker and even rope were popular materials for many of the 2018 lighting introductions. New upholstery pieces were shown with heavily-textured fabrics, embossed leather (yes, leather is back), fuzzy shearling and soft, sumptuous velvets. Carpets were sporting a mix of materials, such as animal skin combined with wool or jute to create a textured high-low pile carpet.

Left: Texture on everything from wood furniture to pillows was one of the biggest trends. A cable knit pattern on this bedside chest of drawers was a showroom favorite. Right: Another trend included African-inspired decor. Baskets from Africa were spotted in several showrooms. Photos by Linda Holt.

3. Global influence: Tribal motifs, particularity African-inspired, were again heavily represented in the showrooms. Guatemalan textiles and other indigenous patterns on fabrics and carpets appeal to the global traveler. Rattan, wicker, jute and lush tropical plants in the popular boho style were strongly represented in many showrooms. Every year I spot one flower or botanical that seems to be the chosen star of the market. Last year it was the ginkgo plant; this year more showrooms than not displayed the African protea in their floral arrangements.

4. Performance: Fabrics and carpets that resist staining have exploded in popularity and availability. Today’s lifestyle is all about low maintenance and comfortable living. No longer limited in style and color, stain-proof nanotechnology has advanced so far over the past few years that the choices today are abundant. Sunbrella and Crypton are options now with most furniture manufactures, and the fabrics look and feel great. Consumers no longer need to worry about the dog on the sofa or pizza dropped on the carpet. Every showroom was proud to highlight performance fabric options.

5. Craftsmanship: Maker-crafted, artisan-made and bespoke items, whatever you want to call them, were a huge trend in home interiors. The made in America movement has strongly influenced today’s consumer, including those in the market for home furnishings. The resulting trend is a move away from cheap and poorly made foreign furniture and accessories. Consumers are seeking American-made handcrafted goods at reasonable price points. They want something that speaks to them and is unique in style and design. Many furniture manufacturers are meeting this demand with easily customized choices for fabrics, and stain colors for arms and legs. An entire building at High Point Market showcased artists and makers displaying their custom creations, photography, pottery, lighting, fabrics and wallpaper. 

Modern curves, as seen on this pink sofa, were another top trend in upholstery pieces. Look for rounded edges, curves and more feminine lines on sofas and chairs heading into 2019. Photo by Linda Holt.

6. Feminine lines: Curves, rounded edges and soft fabrics for sofas and chairs were all trending this spring. Maybe it’s a swing away from the hard-edged and heavy industrial look that has been so popular for a few years. Many new furniture introductions were sporting soft, rounded edges. Even case goods had softened or rounded corners. Round nesting tables and tiny round drink tables were very prevalent, as well as barrel-shaped chairs.

7. Patterns: Big bold patterns in fabrics and wallpaper continue to be hot. Pattern on pattern, florals, and watercolor fabric prints are all extremely popular. Pillows layered on sofas or beds in contrasting colors and mixed patterns are trending. Many of the showrooms featured statement walls with oversize patterns on wallpaper or giant murals. Carpets have taken on a bold statement role, and many were vibrant, with wild patterns and bright colors. This trend is not something I would suggest for the long term, but it could be perfect as the focal point of a lackluster room.

It’s always fun to discover and report on the trends from High Point Market. Many of the things I saw in April will be showing up soon in local stores and on Houzz and Pinterest boards as designers and decorators jump on board with the latest products and colors. In all honesty, I mostly steer clear of all trends in my client work. Trends come and go, and often very quickly. It is much more important to fill your home with colors and furnishings that speak to you, whether they are “hot” or not. 

Open House: Making a Chelmsford Home Look Light, Bright and Updated

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When the Hardy family needed someone to remodel their Chelmsford home, they knew who to call.

After all, they had been working with designer Debbe Daley on other projects for a decade, and her eye for integrating old and new, and for invigorating classic looks with pops of color, was perfect for them. The Hardys wanted to transform the dated decor into a luxurious space that was BIG. Big dinners. Space for visitors. Room for their two young children to run and play and learn. Plus, they wanted it to subtly evoke their Greek heritage with splashes of Aegean blue.

Photo by Emily O’Brien.

“They wanted it to be light and bright and updated,” Daley says. “Lighting was a huge factor. They have 10-foot ceilings, and with the large island, we needed substantial light.”

To solve the lighting dilemma, Daley recommended mercury glass lights from Currey & Co. These feature individual panels of glass with antique-style etchings.
“The electrician had to insert each one separately,” Daley says of the glass for the twin wrought iron chandeliers. The bold lighting emphasizes the kitchen’s large and open ambiance. It feels inviting and easy to move around in, even when friends gather.

Speaking of size, the island’s cristallo countertop is made of the exotic stone quartzite. According to Daley, quartzite has a translucent quality and looks like marble. Unlike quartz, this man-made material is hard and temperature resistant. “It’s a polished stone,” she adds. “It’s very elegant.” The surface is patterned with an array of webs, veins and icy speckles.

These Bartlett pears are a great example of how smart design can be both decorative and practical. In a home with young children, it’s useful to have lots of healthy snacks near at hand. Photo by Emily O’Brien.

When it came to other accessories, Daley suggested that the homeowners fill glass canisters with things they use every day, such as snacks for the children. Open, uncluttered countertops mean healthy snacks and fresh produce double as decor. This brings a casual element, while retaining a sense of elegance.

The white cabinets were replaced with new ones featuring contrasting cherry with a creamy, off-white bisque finish. Although it is difficult to capture in pictures, this finish gives the wood a lightly textured feel and deepens the complexity of the color.

So, what about the blue?

Making the most of the open design concept means using cabinetry strategically. With the lack of clutter, elements such as urns, mirrors and flowers are more striking. Photo by Emily O’Brien.

“All of the accessories included pops of blue,” Daley says. A pillow, the ceramics, even the chairs add a touch of blue to the rooms.

The furniture in the dining area next to the kitchen is a two-tone whitewash with a cherry top and cherry finished seat from Hooker Furniture.

“The whole idea was to incorporate dark pieces with light pieces,” Daley says. “We wanted a traditional feel and a traditional style, but with added lightness.” The lighting fixture here is more formal than its neighbors in the kitchen. “It has some crystals on it,” Daley explains, “but it works very well with the kitchen because of the iron metalwork.”

This casual dining area serves as an extension to the kitchen. Note the subtle touches of blue in the glassware and art. The use of crystals in the lighting is more traditional than what is used in the kitchen, but the metalwork makes it feel modern. Photo by Emily O’Brien.

As for the family room, the built-in cabinet wall adds both refinement and functionality. Storage is important for families with young children.

The house reflects a contemporary and popular open concept design. The kitchen opens to the living room, which opens to the dining area. In this case, the results are as practical as they are beautiful.

style editor and set design
Lysa Pelletier, Anchor Artists

photography
Emily O’Brien – Boston, Mass.

interior design
Debbe Daley Designs, LLC – Lowell, Mass.

floral, accessories
Les Fleurs – Andover, Mass.

accessories and furnishings
Acorn Design Center
Andover, Mass.
(978) 273-9717
AcornDesignCenter.com

Debbe Daley Designs, LLC
Lowell, Mass.
(978) 710-4563
DaleyDesigns.com

Les Fleurs
Andover, Mass.
(978) 475-9669
LesFleurs.com

Rose & Dove Specialty Gift Shop
North Andover, Mass.
(978) 689-4141
RoseAndDove.com

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