Name: James Hull, Donna Veverka, and Mikro the poodle
Location: South End — Boston, Massachusetts
Size: 1340 square feet (including jewelry studio)
Years lived in: 8 — owned
James Hull is a well respected curator and artist and his partner Donna Veverka is an accomplished jewelry designer. So it's no surprise that their combined creativity and sensibilities have produced a striking and memorable home.
James and Donna have managed no small feat: to make a high-ceilinged loft space feel cozy and inviting. They've successfully created intimately-scaled, discrete zones within a large open space. Even though the zones stand strong on their own accord, they also play so well together, united by a perimeter of amazing artwork.
I'm attracted to so many qualities of James and Donna's home, but I'll force myself to focus on just a few. The plywood wall, oh the plywood wall - not only does it host a fantastic collection of artwork, its expansive, organic, warm-toned presence is largely responsible for making their home feel so inviting. Their "million dollar" red kitchen revived my fading interest in red, and its crisp contrast with the white cabinets and grey floor is really fun. I love how the huge, well-worn red oriental rug (which they scored for free!) brings the red from the kitchen into the rest of the space; these two large swaths of red, bridged by the amazing, narrow, rustic 9 foot dining table, create such a pleasing visual rhythm. And I should have started my "favorites" list with the contained entry, lined by their clever repurposed mantel-turned-coatrack. And then there's Mikro, the elder poodle. Let's just say my crush was big. He's a lucky pup to call this place home.
Apartment Therapy Survey:
Our Style: Artist's Loft
Inspiration: Chelsea art galleries, Maine backwoods cabins
Favorite Element: Plywood wall. After years of building plywood walls for galleries only to cover them up with sheet rock, I found that it saves lots of time (no painting and patching) to use a great pattern to hide the holes and there is no need to paint ( seven years so far...). The warm and wonderful color seems to compliment most artwork too.
Biggest Challenge: Kitchen redo (needed a wall built, so entry hall and glass door added), creating vertical storage.
What Friends Say: "You guys sure have a lot of art", and " You rearranged the furniture again"
Biggest Embarrassment: Vinyl tile floor in bathroom.
Proudest DIY: The kitchen, and the big sliding barn door to our bedroom
Biggest Indulgence: Art by our talented friends
Best Advice: Live in a space for a little while before redesigning it - get a feel for how you use a space to best lay it out. Work in phases to see what works before diving in all the way.
Resources of Note:
PAINT & COLORS
- • Kitchen & Entry: Benjamin Moore - Million Dollar Red
• Bedroom: Benjamin Moore - Seaphine
ENTRY
- • "Gideon" painting: Joe Wardwell
• "X" painting: Hannah Barrett
• Salvaged mantel: from Atlanta, Georgia
• Salvaged glass pane door: Restoration Resources
OFFICE NOOK BY FRONT DOOR
- • Artwork, monochrome "Orange Flash": Bill Thompson
• Small framed painting: Sol Lewitt
• Red wooden 1950's foundry pattern clock: James Hull
LIVING ROOM
- • Unfinished pine plywood: D, B, & Lumberyard
• Large orange and gray painting, "Code Orange": Emil Corsillo
• Antique warehouse pallet coffee table: salvaged from Boston's Fort Port area warehouses
• 1970's Arc lamp: Donna's parents
• Green danish modern chairs: Brattleboro, VT antique store
• Couch: Ikea
• 17 x 10 Oriental rug: free from neighbor in building
• Handmade pillows, using Zimman's fabrics and Winmil fabrics: Donna Veverka
LIVING ROOM PLYWOOD WALL ART, L-R
- • Wood wall sculpture: Michael Beatty and Mike Newby collaboration
• Tube wall sculpture: Laura Evans
• Large white framed piece "Multiple Visualization Technique": Terry Winters
• Striped Canvas painting: John Guthrie
DINING ROOM
- • 9 foot dining table: Restoration Resources
• Queen Anne dining chairs: Lowell, MA antique shop
• Large photograph of sculptural head: James Hull "Restoration Series, Vatican Museum, Rome"
KITCHEN
- • Cabinets: Ikea
• Rug: Flor tiles
• Backsplash art (numbers): Jeff Perrott
BEDROOM
- • "Mirror" painting on wall outside bedroom: Chris Faust
• Oak veneer bed platform with flat files: James Hull (designed and built)
• "Inland 2" painting: Chris Faust
• Antique ladder: Beacon, NY shop
• Lampstand bronze, based on Etruscan lamp in Villa Giulia Museum Rome: James Hull
• Lesser Kudo horns: found in building's trash room
• Closet curtains: Donna Ververka, using Zimman's fabric
BATHROOM
- • fake Barry McGee painted panels: Suzannah Sinclair & James Hull
• sink: Ikea
JEWELRY STUDIO
- • "Power Stile" painting: Spencer James
Thanks, James and Donna!
Images: Kyle Freeman
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I like that some of the art doesn't match the space - it goes with it. That is a common mistake people make and I'm glad you avoided it.
That said, some of the elements are a bit jarring to me. Overall, though, I think you put a lot of personality into the space and it definitely doesn't look cookie cutter.
there are some fun elements here!
Do Donna & James know there's a FOOT under the sectional? :p
I find this interesting (especially the art) but I don't think I'd want to live with raw plywood. Not least because my dad would try to break in with sandpaper and tung oil.
I think building the entry walls/door was a bit genius. I also love the large scale art. Overall, a great space! + I heart the backsplash of overlapping numbers idea!
(that having been said, lose the tab-top curtains for something more finished....and turn the carpet so it defines the living room and is not half under the table!)
I normally don't pay much attention to art, but I LOVE all your artwork!
And the red in the kitchen.
And the dining table.
Beautiful :)
I like a lot of this, including the art! I wish there weren't so much plywood around (that's plywood-colored, anyway). I especially don't like how the yellow-orangey wood plays with some of the yellows and oranges in the artwork on the one wall. :\ But if it makes you happy (it can't be that bad?)
I am very envious of your ginormous free rug, though!
Love it, love it all...the plywood wall, the art, the lack of a tv. Very inspiring!
Yet another fine example of using the red color in a kitchen for good feng shui. I also approve of the beam painted white to cut the beam energy. I could live here :)
Hey! I also have those 2 IKEA high chairs but I use them in my art studio :)
love the art!
My first thought was, "I'd love to hang out in this place, I'm sure I'd love these people." My second thought was, "Damn, why havent a million people commented on the warm, relaxed yet stylish, making it work on a budget with smart choices and good taste where it counts-i-ness of this place?". So I registered so I could let you know I really loved it. Thanks for sharing!
I love everything! Except the plywood wall. To me, it clashes.
Your kitchen is a work of art. Love!
So refreshing to see some white appliances in the kitchen! I might just be peevish lately, but I'm so burnt out on the whole granite-stainless-steel combo, especially in the homes of people who barely spend any time in the kitchen. White appliances somehow scream "real people live here and use this space!" to me. The red and white everywhere is divine.
Totally random, but I had Donna as my jewelry making teacher back at MassArt. Who knew I'd be seeing her house on AT!
I like the homey feeling of this place. It feels warm and natural and of course I like seeing lots of art. I'm not completely sold on the plywood wall though... maybe because there's so much of it.
I like the artwork and the very interesting backsplash/painting idea in kitchen. Not sold on the plywood, but hey, it works for you and you have made a lovely home.
I really love most of it, but I must say I am not a big fan of the plywood.
I took a metals class from Donna too! I'm not at all surprised to see what an amazing place she has. Love the flat files under the bed & the bathroom artwork!
What a fun home.
YAY James & Donna--looks as awesome in pictures as in real life. You are the consummate hosts and your fab pad reflects this. xx Paula
I like the bedroom the best and that's because it's completely separate from the plywood. Any of the rooms where there is plywood or where you can see the plywood feel cold and unfinished, not cozy or welcoming.
Not feeling the plywood, but very cool space.
Having been in this fabulous space- I can tell the plywood doubters out there that the ply wall totally works in the space- both in terms of a sculptural truth to materials approach and the way it balances to the white wall opposite. cool to see the tour!
Love everything about this place. My favourite tour- EVER! Especially LOVE the plywood wall! Power to you!! Just one question, did you seal it at all? Or is it just plain old off- the- shelf sheets?
The beginning description sums it up well. Using the unpainted plywood was a stroke of genius. It's all very interesting and inviting. The big orange and gray piece of artwork in the living room conjures up a forest of thorn trees (for me) which isn't pleasant (for me). Otherwise, it's a top-notch apartment.