Assisted by Montgomery, Alabama, designer Lea Ann Ward, they assigned three distinct functions to this room--study, central living area, and adjoining dining room. To lend definition to the front spaces, two columns visually separate the study from the living room while keeping them open. In the dining room, master carpenter Sherman Beilby replaced the partitions with another pair of columns and used kneewalls to connect them to the walls.
All-Inclusive Kitchen and Den
When they first encountered this room, Harvey and Jeff found a small galley in need of a total overhaul. So they called upon
the expertise of architect Bret Azzarelli, who removed an entire interior wall and a rickety staircase to create a kitchen
worth celebrating. Stained cabinetry, along with the refinished heart-pine flooring, brings warmth and coziness to this space.
Adjacent and open to the new kitchen, an existing bedroom became a quaint den. A new gas fireplace flanked by low bookshelves continues the cottage theme. The architect even replaced the original double-hung windows with fixed square windows that appropriately balance this wall. In the den, Bret found the right location to rebuild the staircase that was lost. Along the opposite wall from the stairs, a series of French doors and transoms fill the den and adjoining breakfast room with natural light. The breakfast room is decorated with some of Harvey and Jeff's finds, including an old soft drink dispenser and buffet hutch, which is a family piece.
These homeowners, spurred on by their vision and the help of family and friends, reclaimed a bungalow that was down for the count. So, the next time you're wondering whether or not to fix up a timeworn place, do as Harvey and Jeff did--give an older home a chance.
To learn how to carry a theme throughout your decor, read "Seeing Squares," on page 86 in the February 2003 issue of Southern Living.
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