A freak winter accident caused a transformer to blow, lighting a 100-year-old tree lining the historic Portland street on fire. Although fire fighters quickly extinguished that fire, nearby neighbors later saw flames bursting from a neighbor’s third floor windows and were horrified, knowing the vacationing family was 3,000 miles away.

Upon the family’s return, they discovered their newly remodeled 1911 Craftsman home reduced to a water-soaked shell. Heartbroken and frankly overwhelmed by the task that lay ahead, they were buoyed when neighbor and interior designer Jasmine Vaughan called to ask if they needed help.

“I broke down in tears,” recalls Stacey, the homeowner. “I didn’t know where to start, but Jasmine was the right neighbor at the right time – and I respect her designer’s eye.” With everything needing to be replaced including the tiniest details, from door hinges to doorknobs, plumbing fixtures and lighting, it was an overwhelming task. “Collaborating with Jasmine was a joy. She understood what we wanted – something timeless, yet homey, where you can put your feet up on the couch - not stark and solely based on design.”

They began by sharing a Pinterest board to give Vaughan a sense of what her neighbor felt drawn to. In the process, Vaughan also discovered what the homeowner didn’t like and was able to introduce some colors that were not historically “correct” but added some punch. “Once we signed off on a conceptual design deck, using images, material palettes, a mixture of metals, natural stones that accentuate the original oak we managed to save, that’s when the foundation for the elevations and vibe of the kitchen and bath and powder were created,” says Vaughan.

“Jasmine went deep, talking about our sense of style and design aesthetic, and what felt like home and how we used it. She even asked whether we liked glass in our cabinets, and if so, what kind?” adds Stacey.

“With the tall, grand ceilings and Craftsman style woodwork,” continues Vaughan, “I wanted to mix in something a little more feminine, soft and lighter in the living room, thus the curve of the swivel chairs alongside the fireplace, creating the ying and yang with all the dark wood.” Even the natural stone coffee table has rounded edges to echo the accompanying sofa and Sputnikillumination chandeliers.

When the restoration crew wanted to tear out the water damaged original woodwork, the homeowners nixed the plan. “It took a while to dry out, but that was one of our favorite things about the house which wasn’t something you could ever recreate,” said the homeowners. Vaughan, in turn, magnified the presence of the magnificent woodwork by replicating its warmth elsewhere, including using it to ground the newly designed kitchen island, an area which previously had lacked that tonality. Elsewhere, she replicated the original wainscoting in the powder room where she delivers a punch of color in the eye-catching Calacatta Viola marble sink.

The layout of the previously remodeled kitchen suffered from several awkward juxtapositions. For instance, the former oven was located next to the refrigerator, which prevented anyone seated at the island from having the space needed to move freely around. “It was also awkward for conversations,” recalls the woman, “and hard to move things off the hot stove without injuring someone.” When the homeowners eliminated the original staircase that led to the basement, which wasn’t code, Vaughan enclosed the area into a handy pantry.

Although Stacey’s preference for lighting in the kitchen was primarily for lampshades, Vaughan introduced a pair of conical mid-century style lights, featuring handmade plaster pendants from France with black chain hardware, all of which added a unique element to the new island.

Vaughan also wisely reconfigured the original, overly expansive dining room for additional family of four fun. “You needed a bullhorn to communicate in that room,” says the homeowner. “It always felt massive and never warm.” By shifting the formal dining table to one side, adding a casual seating area at a bar alongside a handsome buffet replete with handy wine fridge, Vaughan allotted not only for the family, but also for charitable events which the couple frequently host.

Vaughan also worked closely with Stacey’s husband, an electrical contractor working in commercial and real estate development, about the importance of proper lighting. “He was very attuned to how much light a fixture puts out in the room – not too dark, but should rise to whatever occasion is needed,” she says.

“The family was fantastic,” continues Vaughan. “They love having a good time and wanted their house to be a place to relax and do that. They put a lot of trust in my direction and as a result, they got a new house that felt different from what they had before…a nice restart.”

“We lost our house but not our home,” adds Stacey, which is possibly the highest praise she and her family could give Jasmine Vaughan and her attention to detail and excellent, caring guidance.

PROJECT SOURCES

INTERIOR DESIGN
Maxwell Gray Interiors
maxwellgray.co

APPLIANCES
Eastbank Contractor Appliances
eastbankappliance.com

COUNTERTOPS
Galaxy Stone Works Inc.
galaxystoneworks.com