A Bold 1934 Craftsman Bungalow Proves Nature Has the Best Color Inspiration

A Bold 1934 Craftsman Bungalow Proves Nature Has the Best Color Inspiration

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Bedrooms
Square feet

2175

Sq ft

2175

Name: Christopher and Jessica Brigham and our three goofy furballs–Murphy, a 72-pound lap dog; Marla, a chunky, zen-like kitty cat; and Sylvester, a poised and snobbish feline.
Location: New Haven, Connecticut
Size: 2175 square feet
Years lived in: 6.5 years, owned

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What’s not to love about this 1934 Craftsman Bungalow? This old gal comes with all the whimsy and charm of its era; has a one-of-a-kind flow; and is lathered in an abundance of bright, natural sunlight. I’ve eclectically decorated and devised clever home hacks highlighting the unique features of every space in ways that welcome modern amenities while harking back to an old world charm.

This home is such a dream to entertain in—something I LOVE to do—and even more so as the floor plan is exceptionally open for an older home. (Side note: I have three parties planned for when the pandemic is over—a quarantine scrapbooking party, a pasta-making party, and a total rager ‘cause I miss people way too dang much.) Each space is full of playful patterns, Craftsman character, bold colors, delicious textures, hordes of plant life (over 100 now!), and truly feels loved, lived-in, and cozy to all who enter. Not to mention, she’s touting the best oxygenated house on the street!

Finding this house was pure kismet as it sparked a light in both my husband (then fiancé) and me. After hearing he’d driven by the home solo, we sat down with a bottle of red wine and decided to give buying this bungalow a go. We ended up closing two days before we got married (and still have that wine bottle as a memento for when this whole shebang started).

Whether it’s an intimate cocktail party replete with fanciful treats and hearty laughter in the Green Kitchen Glamazon; a breezy, windows-open kind of workday in the moody home office where I work on the daily; or a night cuddled up on the sofa with my main squeeze; the energy of this 1930s bungalow is captivating and nothing short of a dream. I never want to leave. (See more of Jessica’s amazing home style on her blog.)

Apartment Therapy Survey:

Our Style: Modern Eclectic Glamazon

Inspiration: A lifetime of thrifting and vintage collecting; a love for bold and playful colors/patterns; tropical and desert flora; hubby’s southern California roots; bohemian touches intermixed with Hollywood Regency vibes.

Favorite Home Element: Holy biscuits and gravy, I have too many! OK, I’ll pick two: the floor plan and the natural light. This Craftsman has a unique, circular floor plan fostering a great flow from room to room (our main bedroom has two doorways, which is totally weird and I love it). The cased opening from kitchen to dining room was opened up to match the six-foot cased opening leading into the living room, which is what makes it feel unusually open for a house of its age and style. It’s situated on the hillside of the street, and the natural light goes on for days.

Biggest Challenge: As is customary with older homes, you’ve got doorways, you’ve got windows, cased openings, a fireplace—aka charm galore! These fabulous features needed to be considered when designing each space to ensure a comfortable flow from one space to the next. I’ve thrifted a large majority of the furnishings, but made the decision to invest in statement pieces that proportionally worked best in the design plan. For example, the blue velvet sofa in my living room fit just right and the low profile makes the room feel bigger, and in the dining room I designed the dining table and had it custom built by my superbly talented woodworker friends. Worth every cent.

Proudest DIY: At the behest of the home, the proudest DIY I completed along with my handy dandy pneumatic nail gun was the three-quarter high board and batten in the dining room. Originally, the space featured a simple chair rail that was not original to the space, and also a bit boring! In an effort to capitalize on the craftsman charm, I drew out plans on paper, measured five zillion times and got to work. I’m a self-taught carpenter and this was my second major project. It took two and a half weeks, a ridiculous amount of caulk (rookie building mistake), and a few coats of paint to bring the board and batten to life. It not only looks like it’s always been there, the three-quarter height makes the room feel huge by drawing your attention upward to the high ceilings (8’6”).  

Biggest Indulgence: The Green Kitchen Glamazon. I’d been daydreaming about it for five years. The four-month renovation was completed when I was a Featured Designer for the One Room Challenge in May 2019.

What’s your best home secret or advice? Start small! No need to figure out an entire home all at once. Pick one room to start, or even start with a small vignette or corner nook to start taking a few risks. Live with it awhile, see how you like them, and adjust accordingly. I can’t express how many times I’ve tried something that didn’t pan out like it did in my mind. It’s okay! All good things take time.

What to people most get wrong about using color in their home? What I’ve learned (and, in fact, am totally guilty of) is painting different colors on every wall, in every single room, can feel overbearing and lacks a certain cohesion. I’ve discovered bright whites and dark, moody hues make for a great neutral base—a blank canvas, if you will—and using decor and statement furnishings is a foolproof way to inject a smorgasbord of color into a space. Should I grow tired of a particular hue, it’s much easier to change out some tchotchke or an armchair than it is repainting an entire room.

What are the biggest tricks/secrets to using color in decor?

1) A great way to conjure up cohesive color play is to pick one of your favorite statement pieces (a rug, a sofa, a vase, tile, etc.) and pull out three colors you L-U-V, love! Curate your decor choices around these colors, even if the shades and hues slightly differ, and you’ll be pleasantly surprised at the results.

2) Removable wallpaper! A gift from the design gods, this is such a great way to take a chance on a striking color or plucky pattern. Keep it simple and cost effective by starting out with an accent wall. You can always fill the whole room if your heart is calling for it.

Favorite wall paint color of all time (include paint name and brand, please): It’s a close call between Forest Green and Hunter Green by Benjamin Moore

Resources

PAINT & COLORS

  • Benjamin Moore — Super White (most walls)
  • Benjamin Moore — Decorators White (board and batten)
  • Benjamin Moore — Hunter Green (home office, bathroom ceiling)
  • Benjamin Moore — Forest Green (kitchen cabinets)

LIVING ROOM

  • Sven Sofa — Article
    Embrace Chairs — Article
    Navy Tribal Panel Rug — RugsUSA
    Dabito 1 — Saba Tile Company
  • Perry Throw — Slowdown Studio
  • Jute Rug – Pottery Barn (discontinued)
  • MCM Planter – West Elm
  • Edgar (painting) – Demi Boelsterli
  • Fan Palm – West Elm
  • Vera Pillow – Kaekoo Pillows
  • Mustard Mudcloth Pillow – DK Renewal
  • Tiger Throw – Fy!
  • Two-Tier Marble + Brass Console (paid $44 bucks online auction!) — Thrifted
  • Oversized Movie Poster Cutout of Leslie Caron in The Glass Slipper— Thrifted
  • Brass Peacock Fireplace Screen— Thrifted
  • Brass Five Orb Arc Lamp— Thrifted
  • Brass Reading Lamp— Thrifted
  • Hollywood Regency Bar Cart— Thrifted
  • Decanters + Yellow Ice Bucket— Thrifted

DINING ROOM

  • You can see the dining room’s transformation and find a resource list on Jessica’s blog
  • Spanish Revival Sideboard — Thrifted
  • Decorative Tropical Plates — Thrifted
  • Mid-Century Bench — Thrifted

KITCHEN

  • You can see the kitchen’s transformation and find a resource list on Jessica’s blog
  • Bar Stools — Thrifted
  • Vintage Rug — Thrifted
  • Onion Bar Signage — Thrifted

BEDROOM

  • You can see the main bedroom’s transformation and find a resource list on Jessica’s blog

UPSTAIRS GUEST ROOM

  • You can see the guest room’s transformation and find a resource list on Jessica’s blog

BATHROOM

  • You can see the bathroom’s transformation and find a resource list on Jessica’s blog

Thanks Jessica!

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