a simply mid-century renovation
You know those old 50's houses with the white stone, semi-clean lines, awkward non-traditional yet non-edgy characteristics that have had their interiors covered in drywall, weird pink or blue carpeting, brass light fixtures, and older-than-my-grandma vibes? Hate to break it to you homeowners, but the 70's and 80's have long past. It sometimes seems hopeless, these not-so-trendy-vintage and out-dated interiors that no one has invested time in transforming usually have a lot of potential, if only one had the eyes to see what's underneath. Interestingly enough, these old homes usually have skeletons full of character: rustic wood ceilings, genuine stone, concrete, or wood flooring, stone walls with great texture, and simplistic design perfect for mid-century modern renovation. We all know that retro-antique-vintage design has returned with a bang, but how many people have truly harnessed the beauty of restoring these retro-modern homes to their original appeal?
Before
After
Leave it to Savannah-based designer Celestino Piralla of CSCP Consult Design and Cornelia Stumpf to find the perfect home to demonstrate this concept. "Midcentury modern architecture is often overlooked," says Cornelia. "Nevertheless, these buildings are historic and deserve their place in architectural history. They represent one of the best periods in design." These two found a rancher with an open concept, large windows, and 1,852 square feet of disregarded space. "The home looked like it had been neglected for about 20 years," says Celestino. "We had to peel back a few layers from the '70s, but overall, the structure had great bones and had maintained its authenticity." This is a very important concept to keep in mind. You can find the oldest house you want to try out your renovation skills, but if the original architectural elements have been changed, destroyed, or otherwise messed with, you've missed out on the whole point of capturing these charming historic elements.
"The goal was to return the house to its original architectural language and allow the modernist concepts of comfortable, rational and practical to dictate the feel," says Celestino. In every renovation step, the goal was to use modern techniques and principles to return the home to its original iconic state. This means that form and function were of primary importance, with the famous modernist mantra "form follows function" being completely obvious in the final product. In everything the couple did, they executed with sustainable practices by reusing whatever they could, installing eco-friendly appliances, and using eco-friendly paint.
Original Stone Wall Unearthed to Provide Texture to A Simple Space
Note: One design characteristic I think is particularly genius of the mid-century modern architectural time period is the marriage of natural, earth-toned elements with clean lines and open floor plans. Neutrals, whites, and more whites, mixed with bright, retro pops of color that couldn't be labeled 'modern' otherwise.
Scope of Project
- Create a level foundation by adding a 5" lift.
- Remove wall-to-wall worn shag carpeting to reveal the original concrete floors.
- Remove a wall in order to integrate the living room with the adjacent space.
- Relocate dual sets of sliding-glass doors to the exterior facade.
- Remove acoustical "popcorn" ceilings to expose the home's original wood framework.
- Paint ceilings white to create a modern, open, airy feel.
Original Concrete Flooring
Original Wood Ceiling
The kitchen and dining area still had the existing modular, earth-toned slate flooring, which Celestino and Cornelia thoroughly cleaned and left in place. They kept the soffit lighting and gave its original orange shade a fresh coat of paint. "The kitchen hadn't received upgrades or any substantial maintenance over the years and needed major attention," says Cornelia. "The cabinetry maintains the same clean, unobtrusive vocabulary as the rest of the house," says Celestino. They removed the existing cabinetry that had been damaged in a flood, and upgraded to flush-mounted glass cabinet faces mounted on stainless steel for a sleek, modern look. Base cabinets were added in a warm taupe color, and white uppers void of pulls for an ultimate clean look.
Original Slate Dining Room Flooring
Cabinetry
As for the appliances, Cornelia decided to keep the 1954 GE wall oven along with it's beautiful turquoise hue, which was a genius decision. This oven quickly became the focal point from all points of view, and the ultimate tesimony to their dedication to sustainable practices. "Preservation and reuse are the ultimate forms of recycling," she says. As for the other appliances, they chose energy-efficent, low-key stainless steel, as to not detract from the home's overall minimalist personality.
You could probably guess by now how the couple decided to furnish and decorate the home. Since the house itself is an understated blank canvas with whites and neutrals, they chose to make a big impact with few colorful iconic pieces from different eras of modernity that create a unified collection. Can't help but throw in the other famous modern mantra, "Less is more!" here, and it definitely shows. Whether it's the bright red iconic Saarinen womb chair and the George Nelson cigar wall pendant or the genuine Harry Bertoia bench, every detail pays respect to midcentury modern design. "Not one single piece of furniture or artwork was selected to 'match,'" says Celestino. Contrasting colors used in the dining room create enlivenment in an otherwise simplified space.
Retro-Modern Milkglass Pendant
"Restoring and saving these wonderful midcentury homes achieves not only a rewarding design result, it also preserves history," says Cornelia. "I hope this renovation inspires people to look beyond dated carpet and ugly wallpaper and do the same."
A Retro-Modern Pattern Hung With Metal Pins Used As an Unobtrusive Divider That Still Allows For Light and Visibility.
Original Article: http://www.hgtvremodels.com/interiors/mid-century-rancher-makes-a-comeback/index.html?nl=HGRM_082112_featimg_midcentury-rwap