1913 Beach house bungalow
Marthas Vineyard; a destination very dear to my heart. I have close family and friends who keep homes here and have been vacationing here since I was a child, so making a decision on where and what to purchase, was a decision that was extremely personal for me.
I wanted something that stood untouched by modern developers, walking distance to vineyard haven and to my Family home down the street. I settled on this 3,500 sq ft, 1913 Bungalow, a home that had remained in one family for the last 70 years. The home had been first renovated in the 1920’s at which time the original owners removed the signature bungalow front porch, making the front rooms larger and added a small secondary first floor bedroom. The only other renovations had been done in the 1960s and needless to say, the house needed some serious TLC.
My budget was limited in certain ways, so I knew I needed to be smart about where I chose to invest. Even though all four bathrooms needed to be completely gutted, I did opt to keep three of the original cast iron tubs, with floor to ceiling linen shower curtains, (a look that I love) paired with subtle period appropriate choices like 3x6 ceramic wall tile and classic marble mosaic on all the floors.
- Hannah Deutsch
The kitchen itself was in such poor shape, it was my greatest opportunity to create beauty and function. The floors were sunken and needed to be re-supported and replaced. I chose a pre-finished white oak, (a great cost savings) which closely resembled the beautiful birch flooring that I chose to refinish on the rest of the first floor. There was nothing redeemable about the kitchen’s building materials or layout, other than the two large sky lights which bring such an incredible light and a feeling of airiness to the room. Everything else that stood was removed, so we could start fresh.
I was able to achieve great symmetry with the cabinetry layout, with two focal points being a large porcelain farm sink and a 43” La Cornue gas range. Where there was once an awkward (and ugly) washer and dryer, I positioned the long paneled appliance wall, which includes a column fridge, freezer and generous pantry. I love a paneled look, where appliances can go completely un-noticed. Instead of upper, closed cabinetry, I opted for open shelving-something I grew up with. I appreciate the feeling of space and the functionality they provide to display some pieces from my collections of vintage Roseville and eclectic pottery.
Because I turned the dining room into a den, I wanted to add a breakfast nook in the kitchen, which not only provides necessary seating to enjoy meals as a family, but it was also a perfect moment to add softness with custom seating. I used a wonderful upholsterer from Brookline to create custom seat cushions and pillows with a linen Egyptian printed fabric by Anna French. I selected a vintage Bamboo table base, paired with a custom complimentary marble top and reupholstered antique walnut chairs, originally purchased on the Island over a decade earlier. One of my favorite finds for this room is the 1890’s, antique hand-carved mahogany Butler’s cabinet, found at a favorite antique shop on island during construction. The piece fits perfectly on an awkward existing wall, which leads you into the den. It is unexpected but a perfect fit that adds not only storage, but it is a subtle acknowledgement of the history of the home and of the island itself.
One major bathroom opportunity came from what was a vast unused china closet, in the homes’ the original dining room, which I chose to close off and repurpose as a generous stone and glass shower. This once tiny, community bathroom on the first floor is now much more open, luxurious and extremely functional. It is a wonderful space for guests and is a bit of a surprise in this quaint home.
The position of the original dining room didn’t make sense for my lifestyle. It was off the kitchen and felt like a perfect space for a cozy, media family room. I installed an eclectic art wall, large linen sectional, vintage cabinet door coffee table, (a find from the Brimfield Antiques Fair), all paired with a cozy hand knotted wool rug and many collected custom pillows. Primary living on the first floor was a major selling point for me with this home, and the family room is also directly off the primary Suite, which makes the whole first floor feel much more personal and unified.
