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My Houzz: From Dark and Dim to Cheerily Colorful in Pennsylvania
New windows and lively colors combine with updated accents to wake up a 3-bedroom home in Pittsburgh
Houzz Contributor. There is a lot we can learn about a person by looking into their home. With our environments being one of our greatest forms of self expression, I am consumed with the notion of defining the connection between ourselves and the places we live. Whether working with object, color, or spacial arrangement, it is a privilege to enter another's home and help clarify that union of self and dwelling. As a photographer and contributor for Houzz, it is of equal gratitude that I have the opportunity to look into a person's home in a way that most people do not. To experience the smallest details, or even the way light fills a space, moves me in a way that I cannot describe. I am thankful to those that have opened their homes to me, and I consider myself fortunate to have been involved...
Houzz Contributor. There is a lot we can learn about a person by looking... More »
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Lu-in Wang and her husband, Dave Herring, needed some drastic changes to perk up their dark and neglected Pittsburgh home. They replaced old windows, then tackled the dim and dated kitchen, working with architect Mary Cerrone to add light and color. A new deck and a rainbow-like palette then helped turn the rest of the house into a bright and inviting place.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Dave Herring and Lu-in Wang
Location: Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh
Size: About 2,100 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Dave Herring and Lu-in Wang
Location: Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh
Size: About 2,100 square feet; 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms
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by Adrienne DeRosa
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| The new kitchen makes wise use of this narrow space. Open cabinets and plate racks contribute to the spacious feel and keep things within arm's reach. Cerrone designed custom maple cabinets with a bright yellow aniline dye finish. This process allows the natural grain of the wood to come through, lending subtle texture and warmth to the space. |
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BEFORE: Previously, the outdated kitchen was divided into three small rooms — a highly impractical layout.
"No room was big enough to be useful," says Wang. "Each could accommodate no more than one or two people at a time."
"No room was big enough to be useful," says Wang. "Each could accommodate no more than one or two people at a time."
by Adrienne DeRosa
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They added a new workspace, integrated into the cabinetry, at the kitchen's entrance. The countertop is the perfect multitasking spot and can be converted into a beverage area when they entertain guests.
Stool: Model Six Stool, Jeff Covey; wall paint: Mt. Rushmore Rock, Benjamin Moore
Stool: Model Six Stool, Jeff Covey; wall paint: Mt. Rushmore Rock, Benjamin Moore
by Adrienne DeRosa
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Cerrone replaced a window with a glass door for instant access to a new outdoor balcony. A sliding screen solves the space challenges of the narrow thoroughfare. The screen tucks into a pocket behind the stainless steel refrigerator.
The door frame went through the same dying process as the cabinetry for a more textural look.
Door hardware: Flat Track Series, Barn Door Hardware
The door frame went through the same dying process as the cabinetry for a more textural look.
Door hardware: Flat Track Series, Barn Door Hardware
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by Adrienne DeRosa
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| Herring and Wang's enthusiasm for color greets visitors as soon as they enter the home. "We like warm, vibrant colors and tend to be attracted to the same ones, which is fortunate," says Wang. "We did take into account the colors of adjacent rooms — especially on the first floor, where each room has views of the others." Bright and contrasting colors highlight the home's original features, like this archway and small wall cutout. Entry paint: Bay Coral, PPG Pittsburgh Paints |
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by Adrienne DeRosa
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| Light floods the living room from the back of the house, bringing the primary colors to life. Wang and Herring considered the hues of adjacent rooms when planning their palette, resulting in playful layers of color and space. Fireplace wall paint: Forsythia Blossom; media wall paint: Butterfly Bush, both by PPG Pittsburgh Paints |
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by Adrienne DeRosa
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| Saturated colors in the dining room, such as the vibrant Savannah Moss green walls, feel especially warm paired with natural wood furniture. The mix of modern and traditional pieces creates a comfortable yet efficient environment. "We get ideas by looking around wherever we are, especially when we travel," Wang says. "We love the feel and functionality of small, simple spaces." Dining chairs: Wrap Dining Chair, West Elm |
by Adrienne DeRosa
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Wang enjoys spending time writing in this blue home office.
The antique chair was a wedding gift from Herring's sister, who rescued it from their father's pharmacy. The Bellevue print came from a local artist and friend.
Wall paint: Monet Blue, PPG Pittsburgh Paints
The antique chair was a wedding gift from Herring's sister, who rescued it from their father's pharmacy. The Bellevue print came from a local artist and friend.
Wall paint: Monet Blue, PPG Pittsburgh Paints
by Adrienne DeRosa
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Wang and Herring redesigned their master bath in 2012, installing a wall-mounted toilet to save space and a new Cambria quartz countertop. Long subway tiles in a monochromatic scheme visually elongate the wall.
Wall paint: Hot Spring Stones, Benjamin Moore
Wall paint: Hot Spring Stones, Benjamin Moore
by Adrienne DeRosa
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This window over the vanity was the greatest challenge with the bathroom's redesign, since it prevented the usual mirror setup. Cerrone had a swing-arm mirror installed on the wall.
by Adrienne DeRosa
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The aluminum deck — made with components from a fire escape manufacturer — has doorways leading off the kitchen and living room, providing an immediate connection to the outdoors. During the summer months it's an ideal spot for entertaining.
Your turn: Show us your colorful home!
Your turn: Show us your colorful home!
Ideabook published on Feb. 26, 2013.
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I feel like the deck needs something to tie it down to the yard more, which is an interesting challenge since they can't use posts without blocking their parking space (I'm assuming). It's a large area and juts out quite a bit, but I do like the contrast of the aluminum.