This is not a quick fix. This is a whole house transformation! The wonderful thing is all the space you now have! Start gathering ideabooks so that you can begin to visual the things you like. Then I think you'll be ready to go to the next step!

Go lighter or blue in the LR room. And change the kitchen color.

Paint railng where hand touches) black. Striking!

I might suggest that you begin to make a list of all the elements (details, forms, etc.) of the rooms that provide you with a sense of "traditional." Right off the bat, one could name the "Doric-like" columns, the wood molding profiles, the multi-paned windows, the front door style, the fireplace framed mirror, and the stairway balustrade. Once you have that list, you may get a better sense of the extent of the changes that may be needed to transform the house into something more contemporary looking, should that be your desire.

In that regard, on the plus side is the fact that the lower floor, more public rooms open into one another suggesting that you can use that openness as an asset on which to base your changes, assuming you want the openness typical in most contemporary homes.

As to specific observations, what catches my eye in your photos of the living area is the large blank wall area above the columns (proportionally, it doesn't look right), and the large, somewhat bland ceiling plane. (Depending on other key design decisions, you could make that ceiling more interesting by lowering it to create a cove (ideally lit at night) around the perimeter in such a way that the ceiling area would appear to float over the living area.

However, that is only a detail, and it may not be appropriate for the design scheme you ultimately favor. In my view, the first step should be to develop a clear conceptual idea of how the house is to function and what the relationship of the interior rooms is to be to your outdoor spaces. Once you have a clear scheme, it will be far easier to make decisions about how wall, floor, and ceiling planes need to be changed or manipulated to develop your design scheme in an interesting way.

Hi. I am the owner. We were planning to sell but not anymore. The listing is coming down this month. Rachel, I can't believe u would go there. You should delete your comment.

What type of styles do you like or want to go for?

Need new furniture. The living room furniture needs to be a darker color to give the room some contrast. That rug does not go with the space. A multi colored rug (white, tan, chocolate, sage) would look better. The rug in the bedroom does not match need the same multicored rug in the bedroom, some chocolate colored throw pillows on the chairs, and a brand new comforter set and grommet curtains to match.

I agree on the rugs and furniture. Most of the furniture will be changed over time. The rugs are a little hard because they are really expensive persian rugs. I need to find avenues to sell these things to the right people that are looking... I think what I am going to do is as suggested, do it one room at a time...

I think if the rug is good and you like it, especially as it was your parents, you can use it as a base for your design in that room, or another. I think you are in a wonderful position to re-do that house and make it your own. I would love that project. Enjoy!

Have a "living estate sale" to eliminate the furnishings you don't want from both the home and guest house. You can move the items you want to keep to the guest house for the sale. This way, you run the sale, get the prices you're asking and don't pay any commission.

You can modernize this home by changing the stair railing, staining the floors and other modifications. There is lots of potential there!

As for kitchen, there are so many styles you can choose from if you were looking to remodel. Here is some inspiration:





If you're in the area, come join us for breakfast and check out our free kitchen session every 2nd Saturday of the month: http://leichtnewyork.com/how-much-will-your-kitchen-cost-class-registration

Best of luck with your new home! Feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Start with a fireplace redo. Add in another element of texture by adding stone and a nice dark wood mantle, some media built ins on the side. I would paint the dining room and change the stair rails to iron or metal.

I would keep the Persian rugs! At least the huge one in the living room. Even a cheap rug that size is going to be expensive!!! Besides, persian rugs can look great with modern furniture to warm things up a bit, and if you painted everything white in the living room and refaced the fireplace, those pillars would look a lot more contemporary. At least they are not fluted, and many famous modern architects used plain round pillars--these may have a base and a cap, but not really that much different, and expensive to replace.

Mixing a few antique pieces makes modern more interesting. That is a really great console table. And the big mirror in the foyer could look neat, maybe even painted. Those chairs in the bedroom are quite contemporary anyway, and white goes with everything. Swap the mantel mirror for a piece of modern art, and it could look great.

Beautiful home. And a easy fix. Furniture in a more contemporary
Look will help. Paint all rooms the same. Go a dove gray. Window covers in solar shades with panels on ends of windows. Area rug in a contemporary graphic design. Go bold colors and very modern big art on walls.

All light fixtures and chandeliers go brush nickel. Change out all gold fixtures to brush nickel. In kitchen go granite and brush nickel fixture and faucets and pulls on cabinets. Add recessed lights in ceiling in living areas and kitchen. To"update look.

Firepl needs updating. Remove the blue, and go a black, silver and white morsic tile. Master is big and nice. New updated modern furn is all you need. The chairs could stay. New rug that goes half way under bed. Paint the same gray.

Use the whole room this rom is very large. Could do two setting areas there . I would frame out mirror over firepl with very wide moulding paint black. No china cabinets and add dark wood dining table and sideboard. Where will TV go?

no idea where the tv will go...

So happy for you to receive such a beautiful home,take your time one room at a time ,and pick what you like ,I am not certain about replacing everything with brushed nickel ,that has been around for 15 years already ,go to a home store and see what appeals to you

How about tv wall next to fp.

Keep the rugs!!!!
Sounds like your more modern.
Dove to Steel Grays are very classy and then use glass, wood/metal and black leather furniture.
You could also add a hint of colour to the ceilings to bring down the height...this will join ceilings to rest of home. Keep rugs as the colour pop.

Yep, the furniture all has to go. It would be easy to go Transitional in this your, but to go all out contemporary will be a lot more work and a lot more dollars

Perhaps new flooring. ALl Marble. Let us know if we can assist.

AhmadDoors.com

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