They Turned Their Beige 1900s Parlor into a Bold, Green “Analog Room”
Older homes have unique charm because the layout includes special details that, typically, aren’t seen in modern builds today. Historic homeowners Alexander Rigby and Bobby Naugle, who live in a Pittsburgh townhouse built in 1900, have a gorgeous parlor room.
The front room has a fireplace with an original wood mantel and green tiles, plus large stained glass above the front window. But because the couple’s home has three bedrooms, Alexander and Bobby turned the third one in the basement into an informal living room. This meant the parlor could be used how it was originally intended.
They Wanted to Turn the Front Room into an Analog Room
“There is no television in here, and I love how it’s more of an analog space full of books, a record player, and records,” Alexander shares.
The First Thing They Changed Was the Walls Painted “a Boring Shade of Beige”
When the couple first bought the home, the parlor (and all the rooms, really) were painted “a boring shade of beige” and did nothing to highlight the historic charm. So one of the very first things Alexander and Bobby did after closing was choose Behr’s “Equestrian Green” for the front room.
“I picked the green paint color based on the green tile around the fireplace grate so they would be complementary,” Alexander says. The rich paint also highlights the beautiful, deep wood mantel.
He Completed the Space with One Other DIY
But other than paint, Alexander and Bobby were lucky and didn’t have to do any other upgrades. “We just tried to pick art that was colorful and fun and felt like home,” Alexander adds.
However, Alexander added a fun DIY project to the parlor room by taking two pieces of wood, sanding and staining them, and then attaching metal legs to the bottom. Now, the two end tables are used as plant stands for the best light in front of the window.
His Favorite Part Is the Original Stained Glass and How the Sunlight Transforms the Room
While Alexander’s favorite part is that the stained glass window is original, the couple especially loves how much light the front window lets in in the mornings. They enjoy the coziness in the mornings, reading on the sofa in the afternoon, and listening to records each evening.
“It’s an analog space meant to be comfortable for reading and conversation,” Alexander says. “It’s [also] a great place to visit and just talk with friends and family when they come over!”
Check out Alexander and Bobby’s full house tour to see what their basement living room looks like. Inspired? Submit your own project here.
