Colorful and Historic Home Overhaul

When Tim Krovel and Sarah Ketchum purchased an 1887 Queen Anne house in Portland, Maine, they hoped to add livable space and bold color.

Tim and Sarah planned a two-story addition to include a new kitchen and master bedroom upstairs. "We didn't need the extra space, but we really wanted a kitchen that was more social, hard-working and connected to the backyard," says Tim.

"The best part of the original house was the antique woodwork," says Tim. The home came with ornate mantels, carved newel posts and wainscoting. “Unfortunately, this character was covered in mauve carpet, vinyl tile and purple-painted antique pine floors.”

Tim restored the pine flooring underneath the purple wall-to-wall carpeting in the entry for a seamless hardwood floor throughout the home's main level.