When interior designer Lisa Staton of Lisa Staton Design, and Architect Paul Whitney of Whitney Architects, met their clients, the young parents of two were in somewhat of a renovation crisis. The clients had already been through one phase of renovations and were gearing up for the second.
“When we started, the house was fairly dysfunctional. The kitchen, dining room, and living room all shared a space, which made it too small for any one of those rooms,” Whitney explained. “My vision was to open up the house to the backyard and give the kitchen and dining room their own space.”
“Everything just kind of gelled together when Staton also joined the team. After just a couple of meetings, Staton got a feel for both Whitney’s vision as well as the clients’. She showed them options and she really paid attention to their design style. The couple wasn’t always on the same page, but she was able to find a really strong middle ground. That’s how we ended up with Scandinavian style inside and out.” Whitney recalled.
Whitney and Staton’s collaboration resulted in a plan to remodel a portion of the existing house and add to it, giving the kitchen, dining room, and family room their own distinct space and feel. Since the couple loved entertaining, giving them a standout living room was a priority.
“The client had a really clear directive of wanting the fresh simplicity of the Scandinavian design aesthetic, but were mindful of having a house that’s busy with kids and dogs, as well as desiring to preserve a homey feeling,” Staton said. “She wanted a home that’s light, bright, airy, open, and modern, yet still warm and livable.” With that vision in mind, Whitney and Staton got to work on phase two of the remodel, which involved a complete gut of the kitchen, dining room, and family room. A well-designed addition gave the kitchen sufficient space for a major upgrade; and while it remained open to the new dining room, the two spaces had plenty of room, and separate, distinct feels. Another significant project was vaulting the ceiling in the kitchen and dining room which infused the spaces with a sense of volume and helped bring more light into the rooms. Additionally, a new front entry that underscored the home’s architectural style was added onto the house.
Once the construction portion was complete, Staton got to work creating an interior that reflected her client’s vision and lifestyle.
“We worked really hard with the palettes in the house to have a very deliberate repetition of materials. So there’s a real harmonious use of blacks and blonde woods, and warm woods and textures,” Staton explained, “You intially see this in the entry where there’s a black herringbone floor and cabinetry in taupey tones which is repeated in the island. The ceiling of the entry has a little bit of that warm wood that is also repeated in the furnishings.”
The interior furnishings, in particular, were chosen with the modern Scandinavian aesthetic in mind. Staton and her clients chose new pieces, that were in the style of classic mid-century modern.
“For the furnishings it was really about texture rather than having lots of patterns. We let the texture in the material be the pattern,” Staton described. “Sculptural wood shapes, natural bowls, an old Moroccan rug, real Turkish textiles for pillows, a big Italian modern sofa but in a chunky gray live-in form.”
The sleek, and somewhat subdued interior is broken up with some fun touches.
“There are a few little glammy moments like the butterfly print when you walk in, and the pendants in the kitchen have that kind of brassy look to them.” Staton notes.
Staton, Whitney, and their clients’ collaborative vision and hard work, resulted in a home that is absolutely stunning. The design worked with the home’s forested natural surroundings to create a space that’s both private, and filled with light. What was once a dark, cramped living space, was transformed into an open and welcoming home, with light pouring in from every direction.
PROJECT SOURCES
CONTRACTOR Whelbilt Homes
www.whelbilthomes.com
ARCHITECT
Whitney Architecture
www.whitneyarchitecture.com
INTERIOR DESIGN
Lisa Staton Design
www.lisastaton.com
WINDOWS + DOORS
Pella Window & Door
www.pella.com
Appliances: Sub-Zero, Wolf
