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Houzz Tour: Century-Old Home Gets a Scandinavian Update
A hundred-year-old home of a family in New York is lovingly reworked with fresh colors and modern furniture
Kelly Donovan was instantly drawn to this charming cottage full of period details while hunting for a home on Long Island, New York. Built in 1913, the quaint house has character and is a far cry from the other midcentury-style homes in the area. Donovan and her husband jumped on the chance to give it a makeover with their Scandinavian-inspired style, but they paid homage to the structure's history. "Having a 100-year-old home has provided an ideal canvas on which to layer our more modern style," Donovan says. "It allows us to maintain a comfortable and balanced mix of old and new under the same roof."
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Kelly and Dave Donovan and their 2 young daughters
Location: Huntington, New York
Size: 2,000 square feet
That's interesting: The home was originally built as part of a strawberry farm
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Kelly and Dave Donovan and their 2 young daughters
Location: Huntington, New York
Size: 2,000 square feet
That's interesting: The home was originally built as part of a strawberry farm
by Kelly Donovan
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Donovan's youngest daughter's room is painted a soothing lavender and decorated in a simple Scandinavian-inspired style. Artwork above the bassinet reads, "I love you beyond measure."
"We like to have fun, and mood in a room is very important to us," says Donovan.
The Norwegian bassinet can change to a crib, a toddler bed and a minisofa as the baby grows. The rug is one of many in the home from Donovan's online store, Scandinavian Made.
Wall paint: Benjamin Moore, Peace & Happiness; bassinet: Stokke Sleepi; curtain fabric: Nani Iro; changing table: Walmart ParkLane
"We like to have fun, and mood in a room is very important to us," says Donovan.
The Norwegian bassinet can change to a crib, a toddler bed and a minisofa as the baby grows. The rug is one of many in the home from Donovan's online store, Scandinavian Made.
Wall paint: Benjamin Moore, Peace & Happiness; bassinet: Stokke Sleepi; curtain fabric: Nani Iro; changing table: Walmart ParkLane
by Kelly Donovan
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Although Donovan gave the interior her own special touch, she was also careful to pay homage to the home's history. Antique replica push-button light switches, 10-inch baseboard molding, cast-iron steam radiators and marble doorknobs were all chosen or maintained to highlight the home's original detailing.
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by Kelly Donovan
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| Donovan's older daughter's room is nestled into the top of the house along with the playroom. Slanted ceilings and a sweet little window seat make this space feel like a cozy treehouse. Wall paint: Sherwin-Williams, Window Pane; rug: Scandinavian Made; pillows on window seat: made from fabric from Lotte Jansdotter, house pillows from Ferm Living; bed frame: Pottery Barn Kids; bedding: Serena & Lily Annabel Duvet and Punch Diamond Quilt Sham |
by Kelly Donovan
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This twisting branch was found by Donovan's father in some nearby woods. Cut to size and hung securely from the ceiling, it became a unique coat rack.
by Kelly Donovan
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A family antique from Donovan's husband's family is put to good use in this same bedroom. Animal prints from Ferm Living give this big kid's desk area a younger and more playful feel.
The furniture and accessories in Donovan's house are a mix of hand-me-downs, international products and Scandinavian-influenced designs. Donovan loves handmade items as well and tries to support local craftspeople.
The furniture and accessories in Donovan's house are a mix of hand-me-downs, international products and Scandinavian-influenced designs. Donovan loves handmade items as well and tries to support local craftspeople.
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by Kelly Donovan
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| Renovating the kitchen is next on her list, but Donovan has been able to make the existing kitchen work well with her home's design and color scheme. Traditional-style wood frame cabinets are painted in a deep blue-gray that blends with the wall color. The top shelves are painted white to relieve a bit of visual weight in the space. For Donovan, the main challenge was decorating this older house in a way that wouldn't make it feel rustic or country. But she also knew that just slapping a bunch of modern products in the space wouldn't work either. By paying careful attention to a balance between these two styles, she was able to create a seamless and comfortable look. Chairs, table, bench: Crate and Barrel Basque; wall paint: Benjamin Moore, Stonington Gray |
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by Kelly Donovan
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| The living room is one of the family's favorite rooms in the home. Because of its location and size, it serves several purposes. The front door is at one end of the space and the kitchen is at the other, so the area has become an entryway, an office, a playroom and a living room all in one. The yellows and grays in this room dictated the color palette for most of the home. The unique basket on the wall is an antique find; it was used for gathering tobacco. Couches: Gus Jane Sofa from Bobby Berk Home, Pottery Barn PB Grand Sofa; side table: Crate and Barrel Frame Side Table |
by Kelly Donovan
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Having an electrician for a father came in handy at multiple times during the renovation process, particularly when creating these DIY Edison bulb lamps in the living room. The cords came from Donovan's great-grandparents' old home, and her dad helped install them using the functional knob and tube electrical conductors that were original to the home.
Donovan always tries to fix or create something on her own before calling a professional. Both of her parents are in the home and design industry, so she's constantly motivated by them and all the work they did on her childhood home. "My inspiration is honoring my parents' innate creativity and motivation to make their house a dream home for their family," she says.
Donovan always tries to fix or create something on her own before calling a professional. Both of her parents are in the home and design industry, so she's constantly motivated by them and all the work they did on her childhood home. "My inspiration is honoring my parents' innate creativity and motivation to make their house a dream home for their family," she says.
by Kelly Donovan
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Donovan created a pretty desk area using an antique desk and whitewashed window shutters against the wall. With a blue-striped rug, the effect is almost coastal and incredibly relaxing for a workspace. The blue works well with the grays and yellows that flow through the rest of the home. "The color palette kind of chose us," Donovan says. "And it won't leave us."
Desk: antique; rug: Scandinavian Made
Desk: antique; rug: Scandinavian Made
by Kelly Donovan
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The master bedroom feels simple but bright in a neutral golden color palette. Favorite art pieces are framed near the bed, but the rest of the room is relatively clean, punctuated only by patterned textiles. "Truly love the items that you bring into your home," Donovan says. "Sure, you're bound to have some perfunctory furniture as a stopgap from time to time, but when and where you can, invest in sourcing pieces and décor that make you happy."
Bedding: DwellStudio; rug: Scandinavian Made; wall paint: Benjamin Moore, Autumn Gold
Bedding: DwellStudio; rug: Scandinavian Made; wall paint: Benjamin Moore, Autumn Gold
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by Kelly Donovan
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| An upstairs playroom sits just across the hall from the bedroom in the top of the house. This extra room provides plenty of space for the two girls and can easily be changed into an extra bedroom or recreation room as the girls get older. Wall paint: Sherwin-Williams, Rainwashed |
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by Kelly Donovan
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| Compared to the colorful interior, the exterior is relatively unassuming but still feels quaint. The family loves the age and history of this house. From its creaky floors to its visible pipes, the quirks are what makes it feel like home. More Houzz Tours: Arftul, Vintage Style in Omaha Modern Cottage in Texas An Australian Cottage with a Vintage Twist |
Ideabook published on March 26, 2012.
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I will report back on the paint color for the lower cabinets. It's a Benjamin Moore midnight blue/slate, but I don't have the exact name.
Thanks again!