Houzz Tour: Easygoing and Elegant in White, Cream and Gray
The renovation of an 1860s Massachusetts home creates a sophisticated, serene and comfortable living space
This article is from our Most Popular stories file.
“When I realized the house my clients had bought was the one in town I always called the Old Gray Lady, I was so excited,” interior designer Lisa Tharp recalls. The Second Empire-style home with mansard roof and lovely high windows occupied a prominent spot in town, but it had become “tired-looking,” Tharp says. Her clients were moving in from a more rural setting and were ready to make some changes that included paring down their things in pursuit of calm surroundings. The renovation preserved the beautiful 1860s architecture while creating spare yet comfortable living spaces, giving the Old Gray Lady a whole new attitude.
“When I realized the house my clients had bought was the one in town I always called the Old Gray Lady, I was so excited,” interior designer Lisa Tharp recalls. The Second Empire-style home with mansard roof and lovely high windows occupied a prominent spot in town, but it had become “tired-looking,” Tharp says. Her clients were moving in from a more rural setting and were ready to make some changes that included paring down their things in pursuit of calm surroundings. The renovation preserved the beautiful 1860s architecture while creating spare yet comfortable living spaces, giving the Old Gray Lady a whole new attitude.
“We began the project with just a few structural changes,” Tharp says. They didn’t want to take away from the gracious original interior architecture, but they did open up the family room to the kitchen by enlarging the space between the two. (This photo was taken from that area.) The designer removed a wood stove that had seen better days and replaced it with a fireplace surrounded by bookshelves and cabinets. “We kept a simple Shaker surround around the fireplace, as the living and dining rooms have more formal marble mantels,” she says.
“The first floor has wonderfully high ceilings and really tall, somewhat narrow pairs of windows. They make the ceilings feel even higher than 10 feet,” Tharp says. She cozied up the bay window with long curtains on three sides that accentuate the height, and she installed a comfortable custom daybed rather than a window seat.
“They didn’t want a sectional sofa in here as that would not have been classic,” Tharp says. Instead, the daybed, two comfortable wingback chairs with an ottoman and the library chair compose the seating arrangement. The small TV is hidden in the new cabinetry. The library chair in the foreground is easy to move and turn toward the screen for movie night.
Wall color: Skimming Stone by Farrow & Ball; still life paintings: Marshall Henrichs, Powers Gallery; chair: Lee Industries
“The first floor has wonderfully high ceilings and really tall, somewhat narrow pairs of windows. They make the ceilings feel even higher than 10 feet,” Tharp says. She cozied up the bay window with long curtains on three sides that accentuate the height, and she installed a comfortable custom daybed rather than a window seat.
“They didn’t want a sectional sofa in here as that would not have been classic,” Tharp says. Instead, the daybed, two comfortable wingback chairs with an ottoman and the library chair compose the seating arrangement. The small TV is hidden in the new cabinetry. The library chair in the foreground is easy to move and turn toward the screen for movie night.
Wall color: Skimming Stone by Farrow & Ball; still life paintings: Marshall Henrichs, Powers Gallery; chair: Lee Industries
Tharp gutted the kitchen, which had an unfortunate 1970s orange and brown Brady Bunch vibe. “We wanted to make it look like a classic kitchen that had evolved over the years but kept true to its roots,” she says.
She decided the kitchen story could include a remodel completed during the Edwardian era. “That time period allowed the kitchen to feel fresher and newer than an 1860s kitchen,” she says.
Honed Jet Mist granite that resembles soapstone but is more durable, simple Shaker-style cabinets with latch hardware, cabinets with a furniture feel and the two-over-one windows surrounded by beautiful casings all lend history and classic style to the kitchen.
Tharp also designed with the view in mind. Now that the kitchen is open to the family room, the two areas needed to be cohesive. (The windows and sink are directly across from the family room’s daybed.) The cabinetry, hardware and feet on the bottoms of the cabinets have a furniture feel. Concealing the dishwasher and refrigerator behind cabinetry panels not only helps the kitchen look more period-appropriate but also fits into the family room feeling. The cabinets and trim in both rooms are painted the same color. “The views across the two spaces are long. It feels more spacious yet still graceful,” the designer says.
Cabinets: custom, Crown Point Cabinetry; cabinet and trim paint: Skimming Stone by Farrow & Ball; pendant lights: Thomas O’Brien Goodman 1 Lights, Circa Lighting
She decided the kitchen story could include a remodel completed during the Edwardian era. “That time period allowed the kitchen to feel fresher and newer than an 1860s kitchen,” she says.
Honed Jet Mist granite that resembles soapstone but is more durable, simple Shaker-style cabinets with latch hardware, cabinets with a furniture feel and the two-over-one windows surrounded by beautiful casings all lend history and classic style to the kitchen.
Tharp also designed with the view in mind. Now that the kitchen is open to the family room, the two areas needed to be cohesive. (The windows and sink are directly across from the family room’s daybed.) The cabinetry, hardware and feet on the bottoms of the cabinets have a furniture feel. Concealing the dishwasher and refrigerator behind cabinetry panels not only helps the kitchen look more period-appropriate but also fits into the family room feeling. The cabinets and trim in both rooms are painted the same color. “The views across the two spaces are long. It feels more spacious yet still graceful,” the designer says.
Cabinets: custom, Crown Point Cabinetry; cabinet and trim paint: Skimming Stone by Farrow & Ball; pendant lights: Thomas O’Brien Goodman 1 Lights, Circa Lighting
In the more formal living room, the original marble fireplace provides a focal point. The bay window provides light for two oversized white planters. A seagrass rug and pendant light composed of folded paper poppies keep things from feeling too formal.
“While the homeowners wanted a serene palette, they are really fun, warm, welcoming and active, and I wanted the home to reflect them,” Tharp says. Unexpected and playful details like the poppy pendant add personality. “They tell me that their favorite place to sit at night is in here under the glow of the poppy light.”
Framed real estate deeds from the era provide symmetry around the tall window. The way they are arranged stands up to the height of the window. Seating arranged around a round cocktail table encourages conversation.
Poppy light fixture: Hive; planters: Restoration Hardware; drapes: Acorn Design Center (Concord)
“While the homeowners wanted a serene palette, they are really fun, warm, welcoming and active, and I wanted the home to reflect them,” Tharp says. Unexpected and playful details like the poppy pendant add personality. “They tell me that their favorite place to sit at night is in here under the glow of the poppy light.”
Framed real estate deeds from the era provide symmetry around the tall window. The way they are arranged stands up to the height of the window. Seating arranged around a round cocktail table encourages conversation.
Poppy light fixture: Hive; planters: Restoration Hardware; drapes: Acorn Design Center (Concord)
The dining room is directly across from the living room. Both rooms have the same cabinets next to their fireplaces.
Tharp’s design for the dining room balances old and new and formal and casual. The fireplace surround and antique mirror and sconces lend a sense of history, while woven chairs, linen pendant lights and a contemporary table freshen up the space.
Table: Restoration Hardware; chairs: Crate and Barrel; rug: Steven King; pendants: Restoration Hardware; centerpiece: Winston Flowers
Tharp’s design for the dining room balances old and new and formal and casual. The fireplace surround and antique mirror and sconces lend a sense of history, while woven chairs, linen pendant lights and a contemporary table freshen up the space.
Table: Restoration Hardware; chairs: Crate and Barrel; rug: Steven King; pendants: Restoration Hardware; centerpiece: Winston Flowers
Here is a grand gesture toward the clients’ love of plants and trees. Oversize leaf prints stand up to the high ceilings and bring in another botanical element. Their dimensions mimic the tall Second Empire windows seen throughout the first floor.
Botanical prints: Joaquin Herbs 1 and Joaquin Herbs 2, Natural Curiosities; Libations bar cart: Crate and Barrel
Botanical prints: Joaquin Herbs 1 and Joaquin Herbs 2, Natural Curiosities; Libations bar cart: Crate and Barrel
In the master bedroom, the designer added elements that accentuated and stood up to the high ceilings. “She really wanted to feel connected to nature,” Tharp says. “We went with so much solid downstairs that I wanted to integrate pattern up here.”
A hand-blocked paisley tapestry adds a wonderful bit of pattern on the headboard, a high wingback style that holds its own against those high ceilings. The lamps bring in a glass element, as well as dark brown from the shades.
Lampshades: Hudson
A hand-blocked paisley tapestry adds a wonderful bit of pattern on the headboard, a high wingback style that holds its own against those high ceilings. The lamps bring in a glass element, as well as dark brown from the shades.
Lampshades: Hudson
Many houses from this era lack the type of master suites and larger bathrooms we’re used to today. Two small bedrooms were sacrificed in the home to create a larger master bath and dressing room.
Danby marble countertops and wall-mounted faucets add sophistication, while other items are more playful. “My clients already had the mirror-matted mermaid prints — this was the perfect place for them,” Tharp says. And the unexpected capiz chandelier “adds a little sparkle.”
Capiz chandelier: West Elm; faucets: Hansgrohe; bench: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams; counter: Danby marble
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Danby marble countertops and wall-mounted faucets add sophistication, while other items are more playful. “My clients already had the mirror-matted mermaid prints — this was the perfect place for them,” Tharp says. And the unexpected capiz chandelier “adds a little sparkle.”
Capiz chandelier: West Elm; faucets: Hansgrohe; bench: Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams; counter: Danby marble
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with three teenagers, one in college and two at home
Location: Concord, Massachusetts
Size: 4,800 square feet (446 square meters); five bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms
Year built: 1864
Designer: Lisa Tharp Design
Lisa Tharp’s clients were gearing up for the empty-nest phase but still had two teens at home. “They wanted a place that was completely calm and spare, without so much stuff around,” the designer says. “While they wanted sophisticated and simple style, they also wanted the home to feel casual and comfortable” and be a place “where they could relax as a family and with their friends.”
To create a serene and cohesive feeling, Tharp used a palette of white, cream and soft gray throughout the first floor. She paid homage to nature with textures and botanical touches, as the homeowners love the outdoors. “She loves gardening and creates the most beautiful flower arrangements,” Tharp says. The flow from one room to the next is easy. Each room has its own feel thanks to furniture layout, textiles, art and accessories.