Maintaining the cabin’s 19th-century charm was the easy part for the Donelsons, who are Lewis and Clark period re-enactors. Jan Paul often plays Captain Meriwether Lewis with a group called the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles. The Donelsons brought their furniture from their previous home in St. Louis to the cabin. “It seems like everything we had prior to moving here fits, as if we’d been collecting things all those years just to put it in this cabin,” Jan Paul says. In the living room, he displays a replica of Lewis’s captain’s uniform, which he wears during re-enactments. There’s also a hand-carved paddle he uses on the Missouri and Columbia Rivers and a feather quill used for journal writing during the re-enactments. “Each item has a story of its own and a memory to go with it,” Jan Paul says. The items look perfectly at home in the cabin. The Donelsons are passionate about their cabin and about its importance as a living piece of history. “This place whispers to me every day, of where we have come from,” Jan Paul says. “Not everyone who crosses our threshold feels the connection, but for those who appreciate the sense of place, time and heritage our forefathers gave us, they find the cabin a comfort. They feel that warm embrace of romance from our heritage.”

Chris Golden
Inspiration for a transitional carpeted living room remodel in Phoenix with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a tile fireplace

This kitchen renovation began with the challenge of reimagining an addition that had been DIYed onto the house 40 years ago. The previous homeowner’s efforts, while well-intentioned, fell short of today’s standards, both in terms of building codes and design choices. Materials like modern bamboo cabinetry and a choppy, poorly thought-out layout clashed with the timeless character of the home. The interior design didn’t reflect the 250-year-old Federal-style brick home’s essence, located in the heart of Historic Ellicott City. The current homeowners purchased this house because of its rich history and unique charm, and they wanted a kitchen that honored that legacy—not necessarily a period-perfect replica, but one infused with vintage character and a touch of the home’s original quirkiness. Homes from that era were rarely perfect—they were designed for function, not flawless aesthetics. With that in mind, the renovation focused on balancing modern convenience with historical charm. For example, a small, awkwardly placed window by the refrigerator offered a view of an outdoor wall. Instead of keeping it, we opted to close it up, creating a more cohesive design. The result is a space that feels like it belongs to the home’s history while incorporating the comfort and efficiency of a modern kitchen. Every detail was carefully considered to create harmony between the old and the new. Even down to the Tiffany lampshade that effortlessly binds all of the kitchen hues in one place. To accommodate the homeowners, who are on the shorter side, we designed countertops with their needs in mind. While we couldn’t lower the main counters without creating appliance-fitting issues—and custom appliances were cost-prohibitive—we prioritized usability wherever possible. For the countertops, they selected soapstone, a material that perfectly marries beauty and function. Its natural, timeworn appearance fits seamlessly with the home’s vintage aesthetic, and as a bonus, its antimicrobial properties make it a practical choice for a busy kitchen. The result is a space that feels like it has always been part of this historic home—authentic, functional, and full of character.

Staircase - mid-sized traditional carpeted and underground carpeted and gray floor staircase idea in Toronto with wooden risers, gray walls and no fireplace

Maintaining the cabin’s 19th-century charm was the easy part for the Donelsons, who are Lewis and Clark period re-enactors. Jan Paul often plays Captain Meriwether Lewis with a group called the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles. The Donelsons brought their furniture from their previous home in St. Louis to the cabin. “It seems like everything we had prior to moving here fits, as if we’d been collecting things all those years just to put it in this cabin,” Jan Paul says. In the living room, he displays a replica of Lewis’s captain’s uniform, which he wears during re-enactments. There’s also a hand-carved paddle he uses on the Missouri and Columbia Rivers and a feather quill used for journal writing during the re-enactments. “Each item has a story of its own and a memory to go with it,” Jan Paul says. The items look perfectly at home in the cabin. The Donelsons are passionate about their cabin and about its importance as a living piece of history. “This place whispers to me every day, of where we have come from,” Jan Paul says. “Not everyone who crosses our threshold feels the connection, but for those who appreciate the sense of place, time and heritage our forefathers gave us, they find the cabin a comfort. They feel that warm embrace of romance from our heritage.”

Wool Patterned Field Carpet with Linen Wide Binding & Chrome Upholstery Nails
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Beautiful custom runner to match the unique measurements of this staircase.
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Mannington Adura LVT Napa, color Tanin
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Cuban tile shower.
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Wood-look tile floor using porcelain plank tiles in a herringbone pattern.
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Designed By Runa Novak In Your space Interior Design
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Sleek, black, white, and charcoal kitchen with stainless steel appliances and black granite countertops...Kitchen layout and full-size appliances satisfies my client's love of cooking and entertaining NYC style... The bow tie adds a bit of elegance to the kitchen

Corbin Henry
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This remodeled bedroom was upgraded to an elegant and sophisticated master retreat. Using metallic plasters and various techniques of application with this beautiful repeat stencil pattern, this accent wall is a stunning focal feature of this master bedroom. Copyright © 2016 The Artists Hands