Custom Craftsman Details Help New-Construction Home Fit Into Historic Neighborhood
Combining custom touches such as Craftsman millwork, salvaged wood and antique furnishings in thoughtful ways, Houston designer Jamie House helped a newly constructed home fit into a historic neighborhood -- without adding significantly to the cost.
Craftsman-Style Touches Adds Well-Established Look in New Kitchen
Craftsman-style trim and custom millwork lends a well-established look in the kitchen of a new-construction home. Designer Jamie House selected a soft mint color for the cabinetry to add depth to this bright, light space and chose over-scale pendant lights to balance the scale of the large island.
Photo by: Laurie J. Perez
Laurie J. Perez
When construction of a new home was planned for the historic, established neighborhood where Houston designer Jamie House lives, she knew she didn't want it to look out of place.
So she partnered with the builder to add custom details to the Craftsman-inspired infill home to help it match the aesthetic of the rest of the neighborhood.
"Even with a new house, if you can add a little sense of history it feels more comfortable," House says. "It already has some character."
In the kitchen, custom millwork and a light mint color on the cabinetry offer a vintage look to the space. Large pendant lights better balance the scale of the room than builder-grade options would.
Carrara marble tiles on the backsplash evoke the timeless look of subway tiles while matching the countertops. The kitchen did not afford enough room for a breakfast bar at the island, but House add a curved countertop for a more subtle custom touch.
"We wanted it to be a little something special," she says. "It's a walkway, so there wasn't enough room to extend the counter far enough to accommodate seating, but it's a good space to stop and talk."
Adding character to the home did not mean greatly increasing the cost. House identified affordable materials that, when used thoughtfully, offer the look of high-end, luxury touches.
In the master bathroom, she installed porcelain tiles that offer a slate look. The marble tiles on the kitchen backsplash offer a more affordable alternative to a marble slab. And House purchased several vintage rugs through eBay.
"That's the value of hiring a designer," she says. "We can put together materials together in a way that it looks more thought out."
With the help of the builder, House found ways to add modern amenities while maintaining the custom look of the space.
In the kitchen, she created a family hub center with a bulletin board and cubbies which encourage organization in the room that sees the most traffic. To the hub she added a Craftsman-inspired, live-edge wooden countertop.
Near the kitchen is a small butler's pantry trimmed with wood salvaged from an old barn that was being torn down in Texas' Hill Country.
In the powder room, House repurposed an antique vanity from an old chest. Handpainted tiles on the vanity are original to the piece, adding to the sense of history in the home.
Design themes were echoed throughout, such as the herringbone tile patterns in the butler's pantry and master shower and matching sconces in the powder room and master bath.
"Little connections like that make the house fell pulled together without you realizing why," House says.
