Mid-century modern rebirth
Challenge – Breathe new life into a tired and undervalued mid-century modern home.
Built in 1954, this Techbuilt-brand house had had minimal renovation since its construction. The new owners imagined a weekend haven for their newly blended family where they could decompress and spend time together. They wanted a home that would help them mingle with the sun, breeze and smells of the surrounding seaside landscape in coastal New England.
Budget: $225,000
Approach – Create spaces for time together – and apart – and invite nature into all of them.
Use mid-century modern principles that include ease of living, open spaces and connection to the outside world.
Focus on only a few changes to the layout, in lieu of a full-scale reconfiguration, to enable spaces to work better.
Add a fourth bedroom by combining under-used office and storage spaces.
Solution – Employ period-appropriate finishes, and rework spaces for a seamless flow inside the home and a connection to the outside.
We took advantage of the open layout between the kitchen, living room and outside patios to create spaces for casual family interaction. Separate bedrooms and three sitting areas in the yard ensured enough space for alone time.
We used interior finishes including cork, wood, glass tile and streamlined fixtures to conjure the classic mid-century modern style that contrasts with textured, natural views.
We expanded on the existing large plate-glass windows to connect to the outside world and optimized the pathways between indoors and outdoors to ensure an easy flow.
We created spaces both inside and outside that took advantage of the yard’s micro-climates and views to capture the sun and breezes so the family could fully experience the coastal area.
