From Mid-Century Modern to Eclectic Contemporary

Jen and Mary fell in love with their 1955 ranch home many years before it came on the market. Now that it’s theirs, they want to keep the integrity of the design they love, while updating it to meet their 21st century lifestyle.

The Giraffe design team met the challenge to stay consistent with the legacy and design of the home, incorporate their eclectic tastes, and create a cozy living space. Mary says “it’s the architectural details that make the open space feel cozy”.

Local Chef Mary, loves to cook, and she and Jen love to entertain. The existing narrow, 1950s galley kitchen with original appliances needed to be modernized. This narrow little nook lends itself to become the perfect office space, with floor to ceiling bookshelves along one wall and a large window with a view of their beautiful neighborhood on the other.

Now here’s the fun part. The current living room was originally an attached two car garage. This space is now converted into the new kitchen. Incorporating it into the existing flow of the house is the elegance of the design. The new kitchen will be open to the living and dining area, complete with brick fireplace, and a wall of windows looking out to the gardens this space is warm, relaxing in all seasons, and perfect for entertaining.Together, they describe their personal style as “Industrial Farmhouse” and believe their eclectic tastes adds to the elegance of the design. An example is their stunning hammered copper sink in the kitchen. “It adds to the design by contextualizing it”, says Jen - juxtapose with the sleek modern look in the kitchen and the open shelving for the pantry that’s built with wood reused from a bowling alley floor. Eclectic Industrial Farmhouse!

Once they settled on a design it was demolition time. All it took was a three day party with their friends to take it down to the studs – floor, ceiling, walls – and it was ready for the Giraffe build team.