The self-taught decorator coaxes the cool out of a 1960s house that was stuck in the past.
If its possible to feel at home in a construction zone,Blair Burtondoes.
Admittedly, their expectations were low regarding the condition of the 1960s home.
Living Room After: The conspicuous furred- down area hiding AC venting, which runs the length of the family room, couldn’t be removed. To distract the eye, Blair designed built-in book - shelves that fit flush against the structure, even carving out a niche for a custom sectional.Credit:Terri Glanger; Styling: Stephanie Bohn
But the Burtons also recognized its potential.
For Michael, it was the wide drivewaybig enough for a half-size basketball court for the kidsthat sold him.
For Blair, it was the solid architectural bones.
Stairwell After: Blair ditched the nubby greige floor covering in favor of French white oak steps and a pretty iron handrail that make the corner feel like a well-considered decorative element.Credit:Terri Glanger; Stephanie Bohn
This meant they had to work fast.
The renovation wasnt down to the studs, but it was close, she says.
The projects scope stayed within the homes existing footprint, which helped their timeline.
Kitchen After: Resistant to the idea of absorbing the dining room to build out a splashy larger kitchen, Blair embraced the existing footprint to create a streamlined galley layout. She relocated the range while removing the cabinets and low vent hood that separated the kitchen from the breakfast area to open up the space without significant demo.Credit:Terri Glanger; Styling: Stephanie Bohn
In their place, Blair added wide-plank French white oak floors throughout the home.
Theyre in a warm, true oak color, she says.
Blair enlisted her fathers help reconfiguring the closed off kitchen and refinishing the old orange-hued oakcabinets.
Office After: Imagination was required to satisfy form and function in this small office, where Blair often meets design clients. She revived an old Four Hands cabinet that offered plenty of storage. “It’s a piece that has traveled with us. I’ve painted it multiple times, depending on the house,” she says.Credit:Julie Soefer
I didnt want to open up the whole house, she says.
Instead, they opted for a roomy galley kitchen that complemented the existing layout.
Here, Blair leveraged her signature combination of natural textures and art to maximum effect.
Ive got a mohair sectional, velvet chairs, and grass shades.
Theres a vintage wool rug on the floor and hundred-year-old pressed botanicals on the walls, she says.
