My Houzz: Elegant Updates for a 1928 Bungalow
http://www.decor-ideas.org 11/12/2013 23:20 Decor Ideas
Realtor Chris Berry specializes in selling homes in conservation districts and historic neighborhoods, and has always been drawn to the architecture of older houses because of their character. "There is something about these old homes that feels super solid to me," he says. "And this may sound silly, but I also love the sound of the train in the distance. There's something nostalgic about it that speaks to me."
Berry shares his 1928 home in a historic San Antonio, Texas, neighborhood with his fiancée, Paige Blend; they are both musical theater actors. Together they have tackled multiple home improvement projects — remodeling a bathroom, refinishing the backyard apartment and landscaping the entire property — while trying to honor their home's early-20th-century roots.
Who lives here: Chris Berry, Paige Blend and their dogs, Tyson, Echo, Ruuq and Junebug
Size: 1,400 square feet; 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom
Location: Monte Vista Historical District of San Antonio, Texas
Year built: 1928
Berry and Blend didn't really feel like the house was home until they landscaped the front and back yards in 2011. Previously the landscape was just a plain patch of dirt. After Berry planted trees, shrubs and grass, "the house really became a little piece of paradise," he says.
Berry unabashedly refers to Monte Vista as "the best neighborhood in San Antonio," and credits the wide streets, varied architecture and large trees with attracting him to this part of town. "Taking the dogs on a walk is not a chore when you have great houses to look at and big, old trees shading the street," Blend says. Most of the homes in the neighborhood were built between 1890 and the 1940s.
A clean, neutral palette keeps each space light and bright. The brick fireplace supports a massive wood mantel beam that has bent slightly over time. "I love all of the quirks that go along with owning old homes," Berry says.
Sofa: Armoires & Accents
The front door is original to the house, as are all of the floors.
The couple likes to outfit their home with secondhand furniture from antiques stores and estate sales, like the coffee table and side table. But they also keep their eyes open for deals at retail stores. The armchair here is from Cost Plus World Market.
The piano is a 1938 Baldwin, restored by Tom Masinter. The frames above showcase old sheet music. Blend has sung three of the four framed songs in performances. "We are both musical theater actors, and we live five minutes away from the two theaters we both work at," says Blend.
Area rug: Pottery Barn
The circular window at the far end of the kitchen overlooks the backyard; it was installed by the previous owner. "When you walk in, you immediately notice that the house has good energy and good bones," says Blend. "Hardwood floors and interesting windows really steal the show."
Natural light pours through the kitchen window and illuminates the slate counters, which offer a nice contrast to the white cabinets. The ample light allows the couple to grow potted herbs and flowers in the kitchen.
Original hardwood floors extend from one end of the house to the other. At the far end of the kitchen is a breakfast nook.
The breakfast nook shares space with a built-in butler's pantry, which is original to the house. The office space opposite the pantry is a more recent addition.
Pendant light: The Home Depot
Combining households is always an interesting journey, but the two owners share a common aesthetic. "We have very similar taste, so it was easy to combine things when Paige moved into the house," says Berry. "We both look for striking, different, original pieces with classic elements."
Duvet cover: Organic Cotton Pintuck in Soot, West Elm
Blend transformed this 1920s-style dressing room, just off the master suite, into her home office. The white desk is handmade and was designed for Blend by SB Designs.
Upholstered chair: Marseilles Chair, Restoration Hardware Outlet in San Marcos, Texas
French doors lead to the master bedroom, while the two doors at the far end of the dressing room lead to a small closet and the home's only bathroom.
Black cabinet: Hobby Lobby
The couple most recently renovated their bathroom. Tile was falling off in the shower, so they removed it and installed subway tile with black grout from the tub to the ceiling. After seeing a local coffee shop bathroom that used plumbing pipe as bathroom hardware, Berry made the toilet paper holder and towel bars out of pipe from The Home Depot. The couple kept costs down by doing all of the work themselves.
Paint: Intellectual Gray, Sherwin-Williams; mat: Winding Vines Bathmat, Gray, Anthropologie; subway tile: The Home Depot
Tucked away at the back of the property is a 650-square-foot guesthouse that accommodates visiting friends and family. The couple refinished the apartment and installed a small kitchen to create a fully outfitted apartment.
"It's just a stone's throw away from our back door, but it provides privacy with a bedroom and their own bathroom," Blend says. "It is a perfect little apartment."
The couple installed all of the landscaping in the backyard, following a design from a local landscaper, who also installed a dog run to the left of the patio (not shown). The couple has since spent many hours planting shrubs, trees, flowers and grass. Says Berry, "Instead of watching TV, we work in the garden."
Patio furniture: JCPenney
Berry and Blend, shown here, love to sit in the rocking chairs on the front porch and sip wine while neighbors stroll by. "Home is where you set the foundation of your lives," says Blend. "It doesn't necessarily have to be a house, but in our case, our house is our home."
Show us your home!
Browse more homes by style:
Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Eclectic Homes | Modern Homes | Contemporary Homes
Midcentury Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Barn Homes | Townhouses | Apartments | Lofts | Vacation Homes
More: My Houzz: Lighthearted Charm Boosts a 1920s Bungalow
Related Articles Recommended
Related Images Recommend
