The Brick Colonial
We got the keys to the Brick Colonial in late July, and it's been a work in progress ever since. I've always had a soft spot for older homes, especially those with good bones and lots of character behind them. This one has plenty of both. There are a lot of things I want to do here, but I'm also trying to enjoy the process of bringing it back to life, one project at a time.
We started outside, mostly because the landscaping had gotten a bit out of hand. We spent the first few weeks clearing overgrown beds, trimming trees, and figuring out what was worth keeping. Since then, we've planted hydrangeas, junipers, arctic willow, and Silver Gumdrops, along with a handful of bulbs that we'll get to enjoy next spring. It's already made such a difference, even though I know the landscaping will take a few seasons to really reach its desired effect.
The shutters also got a fresh coat of Benjamin Moore's Black Beauty, which immediately gave the house a little more presence. Next on the exterior list is removing the existing front portico and designing a new entry, along with replacing the front door. It's one of the changes I'm most looking forward to, and one I think will make a big difference in how the house feels from the street.
Inside, most of our attention has been on the upstairs. Working with our favorite contractor Architekton, we removed the wallpaper from the bedrooms and hall bathroom, which turned into quite the project. After plenty of wall prep and skim coating, things are finally starting to feel like a blank canvas.
We landed on a mid-toned oak engineered hardwood for the bedrooms, closets, and hallway. I wanted something warm and classic that felt appropriate for the age and style of the house. For the walls, I chose Benjamin Moore's Grant Beige in a matte finish, carrying that same color onto the trim and casing in semi-gloss. I've really come to love this kind of tone-on-tone treatment. It's quiet, but gives a room so much depth.
One of my favorite details so far has been painting the original wood windows a deep bronze. I love that we're able to keep them, and the darker finish gives them a contrast that feels right at home with the rest of the palette.
Once the floors are finished, we'll replace all of the upstairs baseboards, swap out the door hardware, add some millwork details to the hallway, and start installing new light fixtures throughout. These are the parts I'm especially excited for—the layers that take a space from freshly renovated to feeling like a home.
It's wild how different it feels working on your own house. I spend so much of my time making design decisions for other people, but here I have the freedom to experiment and change my mind (LOTS of changing my mind). Of course, that also means my list of ideas seems to get longer every time I walk through the house.
We're still very much in the messy beginning of it all. There are unfinished rooms, plenty of dust, and more projects on the list than we've crossed off. But I'm already seeing glimpses of what this place will become, and that's been the fun part!
Stay tuned for more updates on the Brick Colonial Project!