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My Houzz: Stylish, Family-Friendly Remodel in Pennsylvania
This family with four growing boys renovated their Victorian home to make it both functional and beautiful
Design is my life. Before packing up shop to move from the city to the beach, I was a Senior AD at an agency. I now freelance full-time from home. While in the past I used cube-hop to clear my head, my thoughts now focus on the 1920s beach-side bungalow that I live and work in. I take breaks stalking the open-houses in my neighborhood to steal ideas for paint colors, furniture combinations, or any detail that will make my house that much cooler for me to function in 24 hours a day.
Design is my life. Before packing up shop to move from the city to the... More »
When Nicole and Bob Rodowicz bought this 1870s Victorian, they had just finished remodeling their previous home a few blocks away. They knew that old homes in the borough of Newtown, Pa., were subject to tedious approvals from the town’s historic review board, so they had a strategy for selecting an architect who would help keep their creative vision intact. They even knew where to find period color swatches and fixtures. But the remodel of this home needed to take into account their quickly growing family with four young boys. See how they found ways to incorporate their large family into their home without sacrificing style or function.
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| Who lives here: Bob, Nicole and sons Tyler, Owen and twins Kellan and Egan Rodowicz Location: Newtown, Pennsylvania Size: 4,000 square feet, 6 bedrooms, 2.5 baths Style: Victorian built in 1870. It was converted into a duplex in the 1940s, and then turned back into a single-family home when the Rodowicz family purchased it in 2008. Architect: Bob Vallimont Builder: Ron James |
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| "We found our house because it was two blocks away from our other house," Nicole says. It wasn't love at first sight. "The house was in complete disarray, and it was a duplex to boot. We did fall in love with the street, the location (one block from shops and restaurants) and the potential of the home." To make it their own, "We took an 1870 Victorian that was turned into an investment property in the 1940s, and then we turned it into a single family home that has all the modern amenities of new construction," she says. |
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The front porch begs you to take a seat on a rocker and watch passers-by. Visitors aren't surprised to end up with one of the Rodowicz boys cuddled up on your lap.
Nicole loves Newtown's public school system and free biweekly community events for kids of all ages. "We have a walkable borough — I can take my family to a small creek, multiple parks, coffee shops, restaurants, salons, health food store, the movies — all without ever starting up my car," she says.
Nicole loves Newtown's public school system and free biweekly community events for kids of all ages. "We have a walkable borough — I can take my family to a small creek, multiple parks, coffee shops, restaurants, salons, health food store, the movies — all without ever starting up my car," she says.
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| Because Nicole and Bob have allotted plenty of kid-centric space in the house, they can enjoy clutter-free, adult areas all to themselves. The kitchen, Nicole's favorite room, is part of an open floor plan on the first floor and connects the original home to the addition. It creates a nice flow that Nicole jokingly refers to as “the racetrack.” Countertops: Carrara marble by Stone Tech in Trenton, N.J. |
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| The clean, white cabinets accentuate the sunlight. The two-tiered island with barstools provides plenty of room for guests to crowd into the kitchen without overwhelming the cook. Barstools: JC Penney |
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The farmhouse copper sink has an understated elegance that complements the kitchen's aesthetic.
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| Another small table with fruit easily accessible to the boys sits nearby. |
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| On the first floor, there are nooks galore where the boys can play and draw. The huge windows at the back of the house let in sunshine and help Nicole keep an eye on her sons as they play in the backyard. Kid's table: Pottery Barn Easel: 21st Century Mummy |
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| French doors open from the entryway into the warm and inviting dining room. Paint color: Benjamin Moore, Hot Apple Spice |
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The color of the playroom infuses the space with energy. Floor-to-ceiling cubes make it simple for the boys to help themselves to toys and books. The walls are adorned with the boys' artwork. "I wanted to make the kids feel at home," Nichole says, "but also to keep their stuff organized so that it doesn't look like we live in a day care."
Bookcase: IKEA
Baskets: IKEA
Paint color: Benjamin Moore, New Lime
Bookcase: IKEA
Baskets: IKEA
Paint color: Benjamin Moore, New Lime
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Baskets tucked into corners give the boys access to toys without cluttering the rest of the house.
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| Tin buckets by the side door keep shoes from tracking dirt all over the floor, and also fit the farmhouse style of the home. |
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| Nicole and Bob installed a TV in an unused space under the stairs so the twins can watch while they eat in their high chairs. White chairs: JC Penney |
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The entryway is wide and adorned with family photos and an antique Singer sewing machine. Original details, like the wooden floors that lead into the newer part of the house, are important to Nicole. "The aging of the house is part of the real charm," she says. "My style is functional — clean lines, but with an antique feel. I like to keep it simple."
Paint color: Sherwin-Williams, Koi pond
Paint color: Sherwin-Williams, Koi pond
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| This is the room that the two oldest sons share. The wooden furniture was shared by Bob and his brother when they were children. The room gets a ton of natural light, so picking this dark shade of blue was an easy decision. Four coats into painting, they were unsure about the choice, but the result is a rich blue that stays true to the home's history. Paint color: Benjamin Moore, Old Navy Bedding: Pottery Barn |
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| In the boys' bathroom, elegant pillar sinks, round mirrors and a soft blue paint on the walls serve as a bridge between an adult- and kid-tailored space. Paint color: Benjamin Moore, Sapphire Ice Sinks: Kohler |
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That’s right, that's a urinal. When Bob and Nicole started the remodeling process, they had two sons. A friend suggested they incorporate a urinal into the boys’ bathroom, and Bob’s eyes lit up. Nicole, of course, initially protested. After they were settled in, Nicole became pregnant with twin boys. Looking back, she claims that the urinal was the ultimate jinx. Now there is no escaping her role as the only woman in a male-dominated house.
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| The master bedroom has a serene feel with its tall four-poster bed, fluffy down comforter and piles of pillows. Bed: Carter's Furniture |
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The luxurious master bathroom was designed to give Nicole and Bob a moment of well-deserved relaxation as parents.
Floor tiles: The Tile Shop
Granite countertops: Stone Tech in Trenton, NJ
Floor tiles: The Tile Shop
Granite countertops: Stone Tech in Trenton, NJ
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| What’s next for these remodelers? It depends whom you ask. "We have a 25 foot by 25 foot basement that is unfinished and just waiting for some drywall and flooring," Nicole says. If money weren't an object, Nicole says she would redo the barn behind their house, turning it into a large play area for the kids, as well as a guest house with bathroom. Bob has his sights set on the barn as well. He says, “It’s the perfect size for a racquetball court!" More: Houzz Tour: Victorian Style, Built for Fun Houzz Tour: Comfort and Elegance in Manhattan Houzz Tour: Abbey's Aesthetic Outburst |
Comments
jannie Question for the Plumbers: How easy or difficult would it be to change out that urinal for a standard stool? If the family intends to stay in the house for many years, I think the urinal is great for parents with a crew of boys (and all their friends who will be inevitably hanging out when they get older).
17 months ago · Like
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bonnielynn75 What a lovely family and home! Great job on a beautiful remodel. Bless you!
17 months ago · Like
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Samantha Jayne We fitted a urinal in our home some years ago - haven't looked back - we switched out a bidet that we knew our boys would never use! We could easily switch back to the bidet but would probably have some retiling to do...
17 months ago · Like
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happyexplorer i'm a girl and I want a urinal in my house after seeing that !
17 months ago · Like
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dancingfish Sure takes the argument away of Seat up or down... love it! I personally think it was a wise choice for this growing family
17 months ago · Like
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emailjayne I love this house! It is a real family home and not "overdesigned"! I really enjoy seeing family homes that are "real" and give me ideas that I can actually do in my home! While i enjoy the fantastic designs of many homes I see on Houzz, this one is especially heart warming!
17 months ago · Like
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pvansick that urinal is money!
17 months ago · Like
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Lanie Brown I love the idea of finding period color swatches to keep in mind the tradition of the home when remodeling. Where can I find period color swatches for French colonial style?
17 months ago · Like
evergrove Beautiful children!
17 months ago · Like
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Charlotte Macpherson I love this house and how they've restored/remodeled, but a urinal in a private home?? Can't get on board with that under any circumstances.
17 months ago · Like
The Court Company If you find that your husband ever gets his way for adding a racquetball court, make sure to let us know. The Court Company (www.racquetballcourts.com) 
7 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Dec. 20, 2011.
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