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My Houzz: Antiques Mingle With Modern Style in a 1920s Tudor
See how careful curating and a strong vision turned an empty New England home into an eclectic sight to behold
Houzz Contributor. I'm a wife, elementary educator, and collector. As a photographer who's always taken an interest in aesthetics and interiors, I'm excited to be a contributing writer and photographer for Houzz. With a fervor for early 20th century architecture and design, I'm endlessly seeking homes that retain or have been restored to their original beauty. I prefer accumulating pieces that reflect personality and hold a story. You'll find me rummaging at the flea market or estate sales every weekend, looking for those one-of-a-kind pieces at a bargain.
Houzz Contributor. I'm a wife, elementary educator, and collector. As a... More »
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“It always kind of felt like ours," says fashion and lifestyle blogger Noelani Zervas of her 1928 brick Tudor. After a patient three-year search for a home with her husband, Michael, Zervas almost gave up until they found this house in Milton, Massachusetts, a town just south of Boston. "The house was empty but had good bones," Zervas says. Rumored to be built by the New England family behind Eddy Refrigerators, a 19th-century icebox producer, the house has a complete steel frame and ceiling beams throughout. "The house just needed some TLC, paint and someone with a little vision to pull it all together," she says.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Noelani and Michael Zervas and their chihuahua, Ty
Location: Milton, Massachusetts
Size: 2,600 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
That's interesting: All of the doors, knobs and cabinets were custom made for a left-handed person.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Noelani and Michael Zervas and their chihuahua, Ty
Location: Milton, Massachusetts
Size: 2,600 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms
That's interesting: All of the doors, knobs and cabinets were custom made for a left-handed person.
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| "I let the house guide me. It has a lot of great wood features: crown molding, framed arched doorways, beamed ceilings," says Zervas. Since dark color on the walls could've felt overwhelming with the dark wood trim, she stuck with a flat cream color downstairs. This inviting living room is to the left of the entry staircase. The ceiling is painted a deep orange, adding depth. Paint: Buttered Yam AF-230 and Mascarpone AF-20, both by Benjamin Moore |
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| "I looked for months for a vintage chesterfield for our living room," says Zervas. "I confess, I threw in the towel and caved when Restoration Hardware had 20 percent off." After having buyer's remorse from spontaneously splurging on an Arco lamp, Zervas fatefully stumbled upon a more budget-friendly vintage one at Abodeon in Cambridge. Sofa: Kensington, Restoration Hardware |
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"I know what I like, but it doesn't necessarily have a rhyme or reason, or cohesive design plan behind it," Zervas says. "I appreciate a healthy mix and combining pieces from multiple periods — antiques with modern."
Chairs: Overstock.com; coffee table: CB2; pillows: Home Goods; painting: antique, Skinner Auction House
Chairs: Overstock.com; coffee table: CB2; pillows: Home Goods; painting: antique, Skinner Auction House
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An Oriental carpet runner is fitted to the original staircase, visible from the front door. Aside from adding visual interest, it was originally installed to help the couple's pet chihuahua use the stairs.
Carpet: Landry & Arcari
Carpet: Landry & Arcari
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The arched framed doorways, including this charming front door, are one of the many original and unique features of the home.
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The turquoise and yellow living room drapes were handmade by Zervis' mother-in-law, using ikat-patterned fabric from JoAnn Fabrics.
A framed 16th-century map, purchased at Skinner Auction House, hangs above the large fireplace mantel.
A framed 16th-century map, purchased at Skinner Auction House, hangs above the large fireplace mantel.
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Ty sits at his post on the living room sofa, wearing a gentlemanly sweater.
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The home office sits just beyond the living room. A 1940s desk, a Ghost Chair and a cowhide rug reflect Zervas' self-described eclectic and spontaneous style. Switching out the original curtains is next on her to-do list.
Chair: Louis Ghost Chair, Design Within Reach; rug: Natural, Fab
Chair: Louis Ghost Chair, Design Within Reach; rug: Natural, Fab
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A library-like nook connects the home office to the kitchen. The shelves are filled with antique books and treasures from her family's New Hampshire farmhouse.
Rug: Terra Kilim, Pottery Barn
Rug: Terra Kilim, Pottery Barn
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"My greatest design inspiration has to be my grandfather. The man was an antiquer, farmer, history buff, and took me to my first auctions way before [the show] Storage Wars was cool," says Zervas. "One of my favorite memories is of the day he drove up to our family farm, truck nearly to the ground, filled with hundreds of pounds of brass objects. He had scored big at a storage auction."
Paint: Dark Teal 2053-20 and Dinner Party AF-300, both by Benjamin Moore
Paint: Dark Teal 2053-20 and Dinner Party AF-300, both by Benjamin Moore
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The kitchen is the only room that was completely gutted and updated. Porcelain tiles designed to look like the grains of a sequoia tree mimic the look of a hardwood floor.
Kitchen island: Restoration Hardware; cabinets and soapstone countertops: Metropolitan; porcelain tile floors: Sequoia Coal, MS International; stools: CB2
Kitchen island: Restoration Hardware; cabinets and soapstone countertops: Metropolitan; porcelain tile floors: Sequoia Coal, MS International; stools: CB2
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The space is neutral and sleek but warms up with old-fashioned elements like bin pull handles and a salvaged-wood kitchen island.
"The kitchen needed an update, so we focused our energy there and created our own dream space after years of cooking in a small-apartment galley kitchen," Zervas says.
Pendant light: West Elm; paint: Pashmina AF-100, Benjamin Moore
"The kitchen needed an update, so we focused our energy there and created our own dream space after years of cooking in a small-apartment galley kitchen," Zervas says.
Pendant light: West Elm; paint: Pashmina AF-100, Benjamin Moore
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Antique silver contrasts with new silver over the sink.
Sponge holder: HomeGoods; stag cocktail picks: Williams-Sonoma
Sponge holder: HomeGoods; stag cocktail picks: Williams-Sonoma
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An original 1920s bathroom sits just off the kitchen, complete with art deco subway tile. Greek key wallpaper by Jonathan Adler sets the backdrop for an ornately carved mirror.
Zervas admits she is a bit of a "steamroller," in her words, when it comes to decorating their home, so she likes to add Greek elements to incorporate her husband's Greek heritage into the design details.
Zervas admits she is a bit of a "steamroller," in her words, when it comes to decorating their home, so she likes to add Greek elements to incorporate her husband's Greek heritage into the design details.
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Funky patterned orange chairs surround a silver tree-like table with a 600-pound glass top in the formal dining room.
Table: Sequoia Dining Table, Z Gallerie; lighting fixture: Cluster Glass Pendant Light, West Elm
Table: Sequoia Dining Table, Z Gallerie; lighting fixture: Cluster Glass Pendant Light, West Elm
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Old paintings purchased at auctions hang throughout to reflect Zervas' love of mixing modern with vintage style. "I prefer something with history," she says.
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A small grouping of antique art from Zervas' New Hampshire family farm hangs above the minibar.
Bar: Lucite, Brimfield Antiques Show; curtains: West Elm
Bar: Lucite, Brimfield Antiques Show; curtains: West Elm
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| There's another original art deco–style bathroom upstairs, tiled in a serene blue and updated with modern fixtures. |
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| The upstairs master bedroom boasts dramatic deep blue nautical wallpaper decorated with squid, octopuses and jellyfish. A French gold screen adds a feminine touch. Wallpaper: Captain Smith, Grow House Grow; headboard: Diamond Tufted Headboard, West Elm |
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A cabinet holding Zervas' prized shoes and bags combined with two French-style chairs completes the sitting area of the master bedroom.
Cabinet, chairs: Skinner Auction House
Cabinet, chairs: Skinner Auction House
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| A coral-inspired bedside lamp accents the theme and color of the wallpaper. |
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In the guest bedroom, a cream-colored Eames chair creates a little reading nook next to arched built-in shelving.
Chair: Abodeon; paint: Del Mar Blue 704, Benjamin Moore; curtains: Pottery Barn
Chair: Abodeon; paint: Del Mar Blue 704, Benjamin Moore; curtains: Pottery Barn
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Zervas scores a lot of her home furnishings from budget-friendly stores like HomeGoods, including this writing desk and chair in the guest bedroom.
Print: Stacie Bloomfield, Etsy
Print: Stacie Bloomfield, Etsy
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| The couple was initially drawn to Milton for its proximity to the city and for the wonderful neighborhood. "We know all our neighbors. They have block parties. People walk everywhere, have lived here for years and look to buy in the same neighborhood if they want to change things up," Zervas says. |
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Noelani Zervas, shown here, offers this advice to those looking for their dream home: "Be patient. The right house will come along. Research your neighborhood. And, I repeat, be patient. You can't do everything at once. Your budget and sanity will thank you."
Share your creative home with us!
Share your creative home with us!
Ideabook updated on Jan. 26, 2013.
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By the way, what's going on with vee22? Must have gotten up on the wrong side today.
Your kitchen was just added to my idea book--it is really done to perfection. I like the fact that you used a wood-look porcelain tile. I've been told that I shouldn't do that since I have hardwood floors on the rooms on either side of the kitchen. But it looks fabulous!
Vee22, why the diss on Milton, Massachusetts? Not nice and certainly not necessary.
(Pls pay no attention to Vee2 who seems to be suffering from terminal dyspepsia. and should be an honorary member of Houzz's "Mean Girls'" club.)
P.S. The unkind comment comes from someone who habitually posts inappropriate comments. My guess is that she/he finds it amusing.
And absolutely stunning kitchen re-do! (Down the road, maybe, I could even see an area rug somewhere in here similar to the library or entrance way. Love the warmth & interest you've brought to your house with them. But having wood floors myself, I do realize floors are sooo nice to have & easier to keep clean without them)
If the homeowner had asked for advice, as in the Discussions area, then it is appropriate for you to give it. No advice was requested, especially from someone with no expertise to offer.
As the old saying goes, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all."
neishahorn the curtains were made with fabric from Jo-Ann, by my mother in law
I've had the unnecessary comment about Milton/Massachusetts removed.