Composing A Masterpiece
Finding and Purchasing a Home is a Process Marked by Anxiety and Luck.
In this case, the homeowners were handed a winning ticket. When debating whether to move from the city to the suburbs, they drew up their ideal floor plan, even for a custom build.
“When we saw this house as a listing, we were intrigued,” the homeowner recalls. “When we went into it, it was basically the layout that we drew up … living quarters on one side, family space in the middle, and guest space on the other side.”
But a home is more than a floor plan. It’s a feeling, a style, an aura … and this one, according to the homeowners, felt happy. It was also an authentic specimen of mid-century design. A supermurgitroid pad, to use the vernacular of the time.
“I’m pretty sure the home only ever had one owner, and it had not been touched since it was built,” says Raelyn Capozzi, owner of West End Interiors. “It was pretty much a perfect time capsule.”
Made Modern
Linoleum floors, wall-to-wall carpet, traffic circle, brick fireplace wall, stacked stone wall with integrated planter, flagstone foyer, sunken family room, vaulted ceiling with floor-to-ceiling gable-end windows — this house had it all. As exciting as the mid-mod style was, the homeowners weren’t interested in living in a museum. They turned to West End Interiors to bring the vintage home into the 2020s, while retaining its original charisma.
Entering through the seriously stylish double front doors, the sunken family room is immediately to the right. West End kept the flagstone floor and stacked stone wall, inset with an elongated, rectangular fireplace. One would be tempted to think the on-point, very vogue concrete mantle, hearth, and accent shelves were added, but all were original. Raelyn felt that the wall-to-wall carpet in this space was a cozy application, but swapped out the shaggier version for a low-profile wool.
cAcross the sunken family room is an eye-catching, delicious space of spiced honey; a fitting vibe for the dining room. Seating includes a white-oak banquette with sage cushions and comfy yet contemporary chairs upholstered in white. Geometric shapes are a key feature of mid-century modern decor, and their use was deployed tastefully, avoiding thematic visuals that typically accompany the genre. The dining room artwork — a series of colorful, block rectangular prints — is one example, brightening the space with cheerful energy.
“You see this white family room and then this really colorful dining room,” the homeowner says. “It’s one of my favorite, favorite things.”
The dining room opens up to a snazzy, mid-mod riff on the great room, which is also accessible through the foyer. Charcoal gray tile in alternating oversized squares and smaller rectangles extends across the kitchen and living areas. West End consolidated the original, expansive wall of cream and white bricks to establish a fireplace focal point. Sublime curvature in the sofa, chairs, and scalloped coffee table, together with unexpected color combinations, cultivates a distinct designer flourish. Overhead beams on the vaulted ceiling are original millwork.
Striking moody chords with its walnut cupboards, dark lower cabinets, wood island, and mustard chairs, the kitchen resonates with hearty warmth.
A lowered ceiling defines this cozier space. West End installed a large, counter-level window framed with walnut cupboards that looks out to the pool. Carrara marble is used for the hood and island base.
Private Retreats
After long days, the primary suite is a suave destination. A wood separation wall brings a restful demeanor to the sleep zone. In a departure from mid-century modern’s flat tile colors, handglazed bathroom tile in goldenrod has depth and variance, “like a watercolor painting,” according to Raelyn. Exposed, dovetail joinery in the wood vanity pops against the black and white cement tile. Add a sophisticated black and white soaking tub, and it’s a vision of genius.
In the children’s bathroom, colors burst with sunshine tiles and the confetti Terrazzo vanity top. Geometric shapes and bold hues step forward in the laundry room, transforming this workhorse space into a stylish spot.
Indoors and out, this home is a paragon of retro allure and creative execution, and the joyful vibe that originally captivated the homeowners is thriving.