When a family of four bought this post-war bungalow in the Rockland area, they teamed up with Ivan Meade atMeade Design Group to renovate the fixer-upper with the intention of selling. But once this midcentury beauty underwent a modern tune-up, the family couldn’t let it go and turned to Meade to help complete the interior design. While remaining true to its midcentury roots, Meade brought the home into the twenty-first century with a Scandinavian sensibility and modern conveniences. With natural materials, contemporary patterns and a splash of brass, Meade fashioned a midcentury transformation with family comforts and chic style in mind.
After a series of previous renovations, “the house was still in rough shape and not very family friendly,” saysMeade. With the help of Silver Peak Development, the family took the house back to the studs and nursed it back to health. Meade’s team knew that with full-time working parents and two active kids, “the house needed to be comfortable and easy to take care of, without sacrificing style and personality.” Meade’s goal was to update all the primary rooms including the bathroom, create efficient storage for the family and bring the house back to its former glory. Meade put most of his effort into creating a functional and stylish kitchen with just the right amount of bling.
“Useless and unattractive, the original kitchen wasn’t even functional,” says Meade. He suggested the family pair practical elements like storage with unique eye-catching features for a beautiful design. “We were working with a very tight budget, but because we priced the whole project at the start, we were under budget in the end and delivered a beautiful family home full of character,” says Meade.
Custom designed with an integrated recycling and compost system, Meade brought this open plan kitchen to the present with floor-to-ceiling subway tiles and an eat-in bar with waterfall edge. The grey-toned, horizontal grain walnut reads well with the midcentury finds, but adds a contemporary feel when combined with the grey tones in the floor tiles.
Antique brass finished plumbing, hardware and lighting add a certain je ne sais quoi to the design and a touch of sparkle against the subtle materials.
The show-stopping sputnik light fixture speaks to the era and echoes the brass hardware in the rest of the kitchen.
Unexpected colour combinations and pops of bold colour dominate midcentury colour palettes and reflect the creative freedom of the era. Warm, earthy tones and natural woods ground this space while bold hues of gold, ochre and teal amp up the fun factor. Maintaining the budget, Meade suggested they keep the fireplace simple by painting the red brick surround in a solid black. The result is modern and subtle, allowing the blue chaise to become the focal point.
A thank-you gift from Meade for the clients, the textured plate art above the mantle is reminiscent of midcentury wall art and works perfectly with the fabric selections and accent colour. Blending new furniture with antique shop finds creates a comfortable space with a high dose of character and livability. “Bright and bold, the saturated tones of Ira Hoffecker‘s painting provide a strength and presence over the teak buffet,” adds Meade.
Repurposing their original teak dining table, the clients added dining chairs found at a local vintage shop. Creating an eclectic space boasting an effortless sensibility, the family integrated locally sourced midcentury pieces from vintage shops and new additions from shops like West Elm.
It speaks volumes of the design when a client chooses to stay in their renovated home instead of selling, as originally planned. “Getting creative with the budget was the best part of the project. It was fun to work with clients that appreciate the past and were open to blending antique pieces with a new design; that was very refreshing,” says Meade.
