California Colonial - continued |
| The family room continues the vintage charm with the
warm glow of wood. The room has taken on a comfortable, tavern-like air. Previously, the
walls were clad in diagonal cedar siding. New knotty pine walls were installed to
complement the existing beamed ceiling. The windows and French doors were outfitted in bold red and tan plaid draperies. Red bouillon fringe adds detail the shaped and shirred valance. A geometric floral fabric covers the sofa while a paisley covers the chairs. The leopard ottoman adds just the right note of fun. Flanking the fireplace are a pair of twin bed/banquettes slipcovered in the same plaid as the draperies and strewn with souvenir scarves turned into pillows. Thrift shop chairs in their original red vinyl pull up nicely to the new game table. They were the inspiration for the new upholstery on the wooden bar chairs and padded bar arm rest. |
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| This kitchen has all the vintage charm of Grandma’s
farmhouse kitchen, but it is state-of-the art and up-to-the minute. A commercial stove
takes pride of place in its own ceramic tile clad arch. Integrated appliances are secreted
behind the beadboard paneled cupboards Reclamation glass with its bubbles and waves is used in the upper cabinets to showcase a collection of 1940’s pottery. The interior of the cabinets are painted a dreamy blue to complement the pottery. While the counters are slabs of granite, the floor is indestructible composite vinyl tile in a checkerboard of post-office green and cream. The collection of old-fashioned light fixtures draws the eye upward to reveal a custom ceramic tile frieze.
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| The sober library has been given a shot in the
arm with the use of vibrant color. Rich greens, lavender and wine reds add a spark of
excitement against the heavily paneled walls. The built-in bookcases are painted in a rosy
lavender to coordinate with the velvet of the chaise. The desk was custom designed to provide further display space for collectible books and vintage ceramics. The over-draperies are three-quarter length diamond-quilted moss green taffeta acetate. For added detail, they button onto the wine red silk underdraperies. The sheers are cocoa brown, useful to filter the hot California sunlight.
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| Leopard and roses reign supreme in the master suite. This gutsy glamour
hearkens back to the origins of the house when Rita Hayworth and Joan Crawford were the
queens of the silver screen. In the dressing area is a voluptuous chair upholstered in
feline-spotted tapestry. The dressing table chair in Lucite is an homage to the Hollywood
glamour girls and covered in snow leopard velvet. Striped rollershades are topped with delicate swagged valances of dotted Swiss. Louvered shutters provide privacy without sacrificing light. The pink marble dressing table is original to the house and was the color inspiration for the room. Vintage black Bakelite cabinet pulls punctuate the doors and drawers. |
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| Completely renovated, the master bathroom maintains the air of a bygone
era. New ceramic tile was custom struck to imitate beadboard. This continues the
wainscoting theme seen throughout the house. Hand-cut white and black marble tesserae form
an intricate basketweave pattern on the floor. The porcelain sink is new, but it recalls an earlier time when generously proportioned sanitary ware were standard fare. The new spa tub, replete with every possible massaging jet, sports an old fashioned telephone-style faucet and hand spray.
Capturing bits of past and uniting them with the conveniences of the present, this California Colonial bridges the decades to become a very comfortable and very livable home. |
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