A Restored 1940s Bungalow Is a “Fresh Perspective on Curated Vintage”
A Restored 1940s Bungalow Is a “Fresh Perspective on Curated Vintage”
“During a time when home rental inventory was sparse in our area, my husband, Sean, and I stumbled upon a diamond in the rough while in need of a new lease,” begins Nathalie Darilek. “A beautifully restored 1940s bungalow just 10 blocks away had the same natural light and historic neighborhood charm we loved about our previous rental. Little did we know, the temporary lease we were signing would eventually lead us to an opportunity to purchase the house and make it our own a couple of years later. Having had plenty of time to fantasize about which paint colors and light fixtures would fully express our style if we had full creative freedom, the work to redecorate started on closing day!”
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Darilek describes her home style as “A fresh perspective on curated vintage. I would say our home is curated to evoke a sense of cherished nostalgia. You’ll see personal heirlooms rich with backstory, vintage furnishings gathered over time, and decor purchases that embody style from decades past.”
“Sean shares my same fondness of mid-century belongings, and will tell you his favorite piece in the house is a restored teak buffet where he stores vintage jazz records along with whiskey to make a mean Old-Fashioned,” she continues.
“For our home, the mid-century inspiration acts as a base, and is paired with touches of Art Deco influence, a modern color palette, and family antiques to bring warmth to each room. We inherited unique items and thoughtfully put them on display, like my grandfather’s collegiate art etching and an onyx fruit set from Sean’s great-grandmother now placed in a ruby-red antique crystal bowl. But something non-material was also passed down — my mom’s passion for home decor and lessons on scale, balance, textures, and color. She was my partner in crime as we tracked down the perfect light fixtures and hung numerous gallery walls with as few nail holes as possible.”
“I love when colors, textures, and shapes come together in a slightly unexpected way. Something that catches your eye as a ‘surprise,’ or that seems slightly odd but in a cozy way that adds character. Some of my favorite parts of our house that incorporate this idea include a collection of colorful ceramic bird figurines atop an otherwise standard armoire, and racing stripe sheets mixed with more feminine bedding. Sean and I previously lived in New York City, which we cherish and now visit frequently. You’ll find little nods to the city throughout the house — a framed watercolor of the Chrysler Building, numerous books, and taxi cab dessert plates in the kitchen cabinets,” she writes.
Resources
PAINT & COLORS
- Valspar Signature Paint & Primer “Ultra White”
LIVING ROOM
- 3-cushion sofa — West Elm
- Art and accessories — Mostly vintage, personal
- Glass top coffee table — Home Depot
- Upholstered club chairs — West Elm
- Shag rug — Etsy
- Black arch mirror — Kirklands
- Bar cart — West Elm
- Mid-century credenza — Vintage
- Standing lamp — Wayfair
DINING ROOM
- Dining table – West Elm
- Dining chairs – Wayfair
- Armoire — World Market
- Curtains — Amazon
- Art and accessories — Mostly vintage, personal
KITCHEN
- Floral rug — Etsy
- Art and accessories — Mostly vintage, personal
BEDROOM
- Bed — West Elm
- Bedding —West Elm & Urban Outfitters
- Black rug — Urban Outfitters
- Art and accessories — Mostly vintage, personal
- End tables — Vintage
- Pair of black lamps — Vintage
- Curtains — Amazon
- Dresser — West Elm
GAME ROOM
- Coffee table — Home Depot
- Standing lamp — IKEA
BATHROOM
- Bath rug — Anthropologie
- Art and accessories — Mostly vintage, personal
Thanks, Nathalie!
This tour’s responses and photos were edited for length/size and clarity.
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