Houzz Tour: Farmhouse Style With an Unusual Inspiration
Comfort and sophistication are no surprise inside this Colorado home, but the exterior has an unexpected backstory
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected."
I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
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A trip back in time aided in the design of this new home in Denver's Washington Park area. A family was quickly outgrowing their bungalow in the neighborhood and had found a great lot a few blocks away. They had more or less nailed down the new home's layout with architect John Mattingly of Chalet, but the whole group was a bit stumped as to what the exterior would look like.
"Our client took a trip to Central Illinois, where he took a picture of his grandmother Esther's late-1800s Italianate/Greek revival farmhouse," Mattingly says. "It turned out to be the perfect inspiration."
The home's style and gables worked in concert with the rooflines Mattingly's layout dictated; a wraparound porch connects the front yard to the backyard. They dubbed the project Esther's House. Construction commenced not a moment too soon — a few months after moving in, the family welcomed a fourth child.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of 6
Location: Denver
Size: 3,700 square feet plus a basement about 2,000 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 5 full bathrooms, 3 half baths (includes a guest suite in the basement)
"Our client took a trip to Central Illinois, where he took a picture of his grandmother Esther's late-1800s Italianate/Greek revival farmhouse," Mattingly says. "It turned out to be the perfect inspiration."
The home's style and gables worked in concert with the rooflines Mattingly's layout dictated; a wraparound porch connects the front yard to the backyard. They dubbed the project Esther's House. Construction commenced not a moment too soon — a few months after moving in, the family welcomed a fourth child.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of 6
Location: Denver
Size: 3,700 square feet plus a basement about 2,000 square feet; 5 bedrooms, 5 full bathrooms, 3 half baths (includes a guest suite in the basement)
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| The lintels and large piece above the front door are Colorado sandstone. The large piece weighs about 3,000 pounds; the team used a boom truck to place it. "The stone comes from a local quarry and feels at home," Mattingly says. "It has a gray, almost pinkish, cast that works very well." The bricks are also local. "This house has a quiet presence, and because of the style, it looks like it was one of the original homes that predated the neighborhood," he says. |
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This study is at the front of the house. The husband, Jeff, wanted something dramatic and different for the fireplace, and Mattingly knew that prefab mantels on the market were not going to cut it. He sourced this mantel via Chesney's; it was reclaimed from a castle in Scotland.
The artwork over the mantel is by local artist Duke Beardsley, who rides out on the range with real cowboys. "Jeff is not really a Western guy, but once I took him to Duke's studio, he had to have this," Mattingly says. The marble-topped side table came from Grandma Esther's inspirational Illinois farmhouse.
The artwork over the mantel is by local artist Duke Beardsley, who rides out on the range with real cowboys. "Jeff is not really a Western guy, but once I took him to Duke's studio, he had to have this," Mattingly says. The marble-topped side table came from Grandma Esther's inspirational Illinois farmhouse.
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| Jeff wanted a separate Viking refrigerator and freezer, which afforded Mattingly the opportunity to set up a symmetrical kitchen with unique workstations. A wet pantry is just off the kitchen to the left, near the refrigerator; a dry pantry is to the right, near the freezer. "There are three or four unique work triangles formed by this configuration; we planned it out so that people would not get in each other's way while working in the kitchen," the architect says. Countertops: Calacatta Gold marble; pendant lights: Meurice, Jonathan Adler; backsplash tile: 3-by-6 in pumice, Architectonics |
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The artwork shown here on the left is also by Beardsley; each figure is a different hand-drawn cowboy.
Beyond the artwork is the butler's pantry, which connects the more public front areas of the home to the more private areas in the back. "Any kind of beverage anyone needs and every type of glass is in this wet pantry," says Mattingly. This means that guests can serve themselves at parties without invading the more private kitchen.
Pendant light: Clemson Classic, Restoration Hardware; dishwasher: Viking; cabinet paint: Dove White, Benjamin Moore; sink: Verity, Kohler; artwork: Duke Beardsley
Beyond the artwork is the butler's pantry, which connects the more public front areas of the home to the more private areas in the back. "Any kind of beverage anyone needs and every type of glass is in this wet pantry," says Mattingly. This means that guests can serve themselves at parties without invading the more private kitchen.
Pendant light: Clemson Classic, Restoration Hardware; dishwasher: Viking; cabinet paint: Dove White, Benjamin Moore; sink: Verity, Kohler; artwork: Duke Beardsley
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| The open layout creates a dining space that can be used for casual or formal dining. French doors lead to a patio. Chandelier: Marigot Eight Light Chandelier With Wood Beads, Visual Comfort; wall paint: Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore; French doors: Pella |
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The open layout also allows for lots of fresh air — the windows behind the vent hood crank open and allow the breeze to flow in from the French doors.
Trestle table, dining bench, dining chairs: Noir
Trestle table, dining bench, dining chairs: Noir
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| The dining area opens to this living area, delineated by a beautiful coffered ceiling. Leather furniture and a mirror/TV over the mantel keep things low-key, comfortable and family friendly. |
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The floors throughout the home are engineered wood.
Rug: custom, Coventry Carpets; table: Contrary, Noir; wall paint: Ballet White, Benjamin Moore
Rug: custom, Coventry Carpets; table: Contrary, Noir; wall paint: Ballet White, Benjamin Moore
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| Upstairs the main hallway opens to this second-story den. Just outside of this shot on either side of the room are homework tables for the kids. The hand-crafted tile fireplace surround lends a more casual Arts and Crafts feeling. The mirror over the mantel is a plasma TV. Sofas: leather, Town |
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A farmhouse sink in the kids' bath is sized right for bathing the little ones.
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The master bedroom is a serene retreat.
Wall paint: Clay Beige OC-11, Benjamin Moore; chandelier: Camilla, Pottery Barn; rug: Brookhaven in 515 mushroom, Godfrey Hirst
Wall paint: Clay Beige OC-11, Benjamin Moore; chandelier: Camilla, Pottery Barn; rug: Brookhaven in 515 mushroom, Godfrey Hirst
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The master bath was begging for this millwork, Mattingly says. The gray walls pick up on the veining in the marble floor.
Wall paint: Classic Gray, Benjamin Moore
Wall paint: Classic Gray, Benjamin Moore
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| Mattingly designed this vanity to stand up to the large size of the master bathroom. It is 9 feet long and stained a dark walnut, which plays off the gold in the Calacatta marble and the floor's limestone inlay. Mirrors, knobs: Restoration Hardware |
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A clear glass shower door shows off more marble and limestone inlay inside the stall. The home has tankless water heaters that can keep up with the large family.
Shower surround: Calacatta Gold marble and Nova Gold limestone
Shower surround: Calacatta Gold marble and Nova Gold limestone
Ideabook published on Feb. 11, 2013.
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I would switch the two couches in the upstairs den so you could lean against the side, with your legs up, and enjoy the fireplace.
The dining room is lovely for casual every day eating, but you're not going to do 'formal' dining facing your kitchen. This could be remedied with a couple of beautiful folding screens or by hanging a curtain rod above the room opening, with drapes that could be closed to separate dining from the kitchen view.
In this case, it was the homeowners' preference - they have a large family. In the City View: Chicago ideabook I just posted, another designer mentioned it as a trend that allows for pleasing symmetry in the kitchen. I can't imagine it's a big deal to get a glass out of a cabinet, get a drink out of the fridge and walk three steps over to the freezer to obtain ice.