Vintage and Family Relics: Artist's House in America

In a house with a total area of nearly three hundred square meters, a family of an artist and his teenage son lives. The homeowners decided to invite designer Ellie Welling when they realized their interior was hopelessly outdated. However, the family's overall idea of an ideal living space had already formed even before the final decision on renovation: how else could it be if the head of the family is an artist?

The main task set for the designer was to expand the common area so that family members could spend more time together.

Also, many relics of dishes, interior items and other vintage objects were collected in the house, which were inherited from grandfathers and grandmothers. Therefore, an important stage in the interior design process was to subtly integrate all of these into the overall look.

To fulfill the first part of the plan, Ellie suggested knocking down a wall between the living room and kitchen. This not only expanded the space but also provided a view of the backyard, which the homeowners found quite picturesque.

The kitchen underwent the most extensive renovation. Originally, it was very cramped with a round-shaped island in the center. Now, the kitchen design features clean lines, the island replaced the dining table, and a refrigerator was placed where the garage door once stood. Upper cabinets with glass doors were also designer's idea. These are used to display antique dishes and decorative elements.

The large dining table did not cancel the existence of a dining room in the house. The vintage dining set, chandelier and old laundry board were intended to be incorporated into the dining room as original decorative elements—these items were also inherited from the family. However, when these pieces were gathered together, they looked bulky and disharmonious. In the end, a new table with chairs was purchased, and the “dining heritage” was once again hidden away—awaiting its time to shine.

The designer aimed to emphasize different types of wood, textures and colors, making the overall color palette calm, with white or pale blue walls. False panelling and mirrors in furniture finishing are not new techniques, but they help rustic elements of the interior to stand out more vividly and expressively.

Only a few paintings and botanical engravings are featured among the artworks here, which is somewhat atypical for an artist's interior. Nevertheless, family relics and vintage items are themselves small art forms.

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