Updated Americana for a Historic Maryland Farmhouse
A color scheme of red, white and slate blue runs through this 19th-century home redecorated for a family of 6
As she drove through the countryside to visit her new clients’ historic farmhouse for the first time, interior designer Kirsten Kaplan had a plan brewing. It was a color scheme that would anchor a sophisticated, reimagined take on Americana — reds, whites and charcoal-ish slate blues. As soon as she sat down with the homeowners, one of them said, “I just keeping thinking about white, red and slate blue.” And they were off to the races, creating a home that was family-friendly and comfortable, and that kept the spirit of the 1880s building alive.
The farmhouse had two additions that had been constructed years before — this great room on one side and a kitchen on the other. Before, the great room had dark stained-wood walls and yellow wall-to-wall carpeting, and the homeowners didn’t envision ever spending much time in the drab room. Kaplan gave the entire room tongue-and-groove paneled walls and a whitewashing, which brightened things up considerably.
The existing floor in the kitchen addition is stone, so the team tracked down the local quarry and procured the same stone for the great room, then layered a colorful rug over it. “We all fell in love with this rug — it captured our color scheme and gives the white room a solid grounding,” she says.
Sofas: Lee Industries; rug: Dash and Albert; pillows: CR Laine; chandelier: Troy Lighting; chests: Stanley Furniture; coffee table: Century Furniture
The existing floor in the kitchen addition is stone, so the team tracked down the local quarry and procured the same stone for the great room, then layered a colorful rug over it. “We all fell in love with this rug — it captured our color scheme and gives the white room a solid grounding,” she says.
Sofas: Lee Industries; rug: Dash and Albert; pillows: CR Laine; chandelier: Troy Lighting; chests: Stanley Furniture; coffee table: Century Furniture
Throughout the home, in addition to the reds, whites and blues, Kaplan threw in golden-honey wheat hues. The rug, wreath and some of the wood finishes bring in the color, which references the agricultural setting. The 25-acre farm also has horses, so Kaplan nodded to equestrian style with wood, iron, and pieces like the ring and rope chandelier.
But perhaps the biggest thing setting the tone in this room is the lack of a TV, which encourages conversation and reading. Instead, there’s this banquette and game table, where you’ll usually see Monopoly, Legos or a puzzle set up. Two Federalist mirrors bring golden glints and American style to this corner.
Stone floor installation: Summerfield Masonry; banquette: Vanguard Furniture Co.; table: Tritter Feefer; chairs: Lee Industries; custom drapes: Gretchen Everett; mirrors: Worlds Away
Stone floor installation: Summerfield Masonry; banquette: Vanguard Furniture Co.; table: Tritter Feefer; chairs: Lee Industries; custom drapes: Gretchen Everett; mirrors: Worlds Away
The adjacent living room has grown-up style that’s comfortable for the whole family. “The artwork includes this photograph of elephants, which everyone in the family loves,” Kaplan says. “The children are central to this house, and every room reflects that it’s a family home.” There is also a curio cabinet in this room (out of view), where the kids display the found objects they collect around the property.
The light coming in from windows on two walls inspired the dark color. “The light filters in from morning through the evening — because the walls are so thick, all of the windows have these wonderful deep sills, and they also have the original antique glass,” Kaplan says. “The color and the way it works with the light is just so captivating, it makes you want to be in here.”
The light coming in from windows on two walls inspired the dark color. “The light filters in from morning through the evening — because the walls are so thick, all of the windows have these wonderful deep sills, and they also have the original antique glass,” Kaplan says. “The color and the way it works with the light is just so captivating, it makes you want to be in here.”
The room’s design began with the deep reds in the antique Persian rug. Comfortable sofas welcome all ages, while two chairs reflect the family’s heritage. Each is covered in a different tartan from the father’s Scottish clan — one is the ancient tartan, and the other is the modern version. A cheeky Prohibition poster hangs next to the custom bar cabinet.
Wall paint: Gray 2121-10, Benjamin Moore; chairs: McGuire Furniture Co.
Wall paint: Gray 2121-10, Benjamin Moore; chairs: McGuire Furniture Co.
Honey wheat plays a larger role in the dining room, adorning the walls in a grasscloth. Equestrian style has the strongest presence in here as well, from the leather straps and iron ring of the chandelier to the artwork, and from the antique bits hanging on the wall to the twisted iron rings on the table base.
The overall style is casual elegance, much like the family’s usual entertaining style. “They entertain a lot — soccer teams, friends, neighbors — people are constantly coming through, and they are always set up for them,” Kaplan says.
Grasscloth wallcovering: Manila Hemp in Camel, Phillip Jeffries; table: Old Biscayne Designs; chairs: Lee Industries; chandelier: Suzanne Kasler design, Circa Lighting; console table: Restoration Hardware
The overall style is casual elegance, much like the family’s usual entertaining style. “They entertain a lot — soccer teams, friends, neighbors — people are constantly coming through, and they are always set up for them,” Kaplan says.
Grasscloth wallcovering: Manila Hemp in Camel, Phillip Jeffries; table: Old Biscayne Designs; chairs: Lee Industries; chandelier: Suzanne Kasler design, Circa Lighting; console table: Restoration Hardware
The china cabinet is original. Painting the back in Benjamin Moore’s Temptation lets the family’s favorite serving pieces stand out.
The kitchen had been renovated not long before the family moved in, so the changes in here were mostly cosmetic — new paint for the cabinets, which had been a dark-stained wood; new paint for the island and walls; new light fixtures and furniture. The counter stool upholstery ties in the honey wheat, blues and just a touch of red. “The table is huge, and is meant to seat a lot of kids and parents,” Kaplan says. The chairs are wood with leather seat cushions.
Paint: Gray Owl (walls), Mineral Alloy (island) and White Heron (cabinets), Benjamin Moore; custom table: Lorts; chairs: Stanley Furniture; counter stools: Woodbridge Furniture; stool fabric: Carleton V; chandelier: Circa Lighting
Paint: Gray Owl (walls), Mineral Alloy (island) and White Heron (cabinets), Benjamin Moore; custom table: Lorts; chairs: Stanley Furniture; counter stools: Woodbridge Furniture; stool fabric: Carleton V; chandelier: Circa Lighting
The mudroom is just off the kitchen. With six family members and several pets coming in and out, the room needed to work hard. The custom cabinetry includes wire-mesh shoe drawers for ventilation. There are hooks for each kid and baskets overhead. Kaplan had two doors in the room covered with chalkboard paint for family messages, reminders and doodles.
The leather pulls bring in a touch of the equestrian, while the color scheme is red, white and a true navy blue.
The leather pulls bring in a touch of the equestrian, while the color scheme is red, white and a true navy blue.
There is a TV in the house; it’s tucked into this family room off the kitchen and mudroom. The glossy red coffee table amps up the Americana look, while the sectional provides comfortable seating for movie night.
Wall paint: Hale Navy, Benjamin Moore; sectional: Lee Industries; coffee table: Lorts; striped chair: Wesley Hall; chair fabric: Ralph Lauren
Wall paint: Hale Navy, Benjamin Moore; sectional: Lee Industries; coffee table: Lorts; striped chair: Wesley Hall; chair fabric: Ralph Lauren
This space served as the original kitchen when the farmhouse was built, and there’s still a wood stove designed for cooking inside the fireplace. Now the room acts as a home office for the owners, and was designed with the kids in mind too. There are comfy chairs for reading, as well as spots for them to do their homework and draw.
Wall paint: Edgecomb Gray, Benjamin Moore; chairs: Lee Industries; lamp: Circa Lighting
Wall paint: Edgecomb Gray, Benjamin Moore; chairs: Lee Industries; lamp: Circa Lighting
The back staircase gets its happy personality from a gray striped runner with red binding. Small touches of red make a big impact all over the home.
The upstairs hallway has a sophisticated lumberjack vibe, with the red-and-black check on the twig bench and the large woodcut artwork. Hunt Slonem’s bunnies on the pillow are a charming finishing touch.
“This job was a really special experience — the clients are such wonderful people, and they put their trust in me,” Kaplan says. “And it was such a team effort. Everyone who worked on the project took such pride in their work and became like family.”
Woodblock art: Bryan Nash Gill; bench: Nell Hill’s; pillow fabric: Hutch, Hunt Slonem collection, Lee Jofa
Builder: Griffith-Brilhart Builders
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“This job was a really special experience — the clients are such wonderful people, and they put their trust in me,” Kaplan says. “And it was such a team effort. Everyone who worked on the project took such pride in their work and became like family.”
Woodblock art: Bryan Nash Gill; bench: Nell Hill’s; pillow fabric: Hutch, Hunt Slonem collection, Lee Jofa
Builder: Griffith-Brilhart Builders
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
Farmhouse at a Glance
Who lives here: A busy family of six and their pets
Location: Northern Maryland
Size: Four bedrooms and five bathrooms
Designer: Kirsten Kaplan of Haus Interior Design
“This is such a welcoming, unpretentious and hospitable family,” Kaplan says. It’s only fitting that their front entry be the same. With the red door and the vibrant rug, the space sets the tone for the many relatives, friends and animals they welcome on a regular basis. The heart pine floors are original.
“On every job, I always think, ‘What does this house want to be?’” Kaplan says. “There needs to be harmony between the architecture, the setting and the residents, and this house is just so alive with the family’s busy schedule, the children, and the dogs and cats running through.”
Paint: Swiss Coffee (walls) and Super White (trim throughout the house), Benjamin Moore