Housetrends March/April 2013: "Light touches in Amberley Village"

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GREATER CINCINNATI | MARCH/APRIL 2013 | VOL. 12, NO. 1 | HOUSETRENDS.COM | $4.95

LIGHT TOUCH INAMBERLEY VILLAGE

Anderson Kitchen Bumps Out

BUILDING A NESTIN WALNUT HILLS

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When newly empty-nested couple Bruce and Jenny decided to remodel

their Amberley Village home, there were certain elements that sim-

ply had to go—like the purplish-pink toilet, countertop and flooring

that filled an out-of-the-way half-bath, giving away the home’s 1989

construction. What they weren’t so sure about was what style should

replace the dated look and define this new chapter of their lives and their

home. ● The answer came a few years ago, when Jenny freshened

the foyer by replacing two traditional table lamps with sleek shell-tiled

wall sconces. Something about the modern simplicity spoke to her, and

sparked an empty-nest makeover that, by the time it was done, included

a powder room inspired by fortune cookies, a master bathroom that

seems illuminated by drops of mercury, and a fresh, transitional design

that celebrates the couple’s past, present and future. ● “As I’ve gotten

older, I’ve felt like I just wanted a cleaner look,” Jenny says.

Amberley traditional reinvents itself with a fresh, contemporary feel

By Amy Howell Hirt

Photos by Robin Victor Goetz/RVGP Inc.

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housetrends greater cincinnati 23


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The contrasting textures of stone and glass make the dramatic center window pop.




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Breaking from traditionOver the 13 or so years that Bruce and Jenny have lived in the Tudor-style home, they gradually edited pieces that didn’t reflect their personality. They un-screened a screened porch off the kitchen, redeco-rated the master bedroom and introduced hardwood flooring and a slab of smooth granite to replace carpeting and yet anoth-er, pink Corian countertop covering a wet bar in the living room.

While they selected styles that appealed to them, Jenny says they always kept a cautious eye on what would sell, given the traditional style that has long dominated the local area and established communi-ties like Amberley.

“I was always drawn to contemporary but was being logical about resale,” Jenny says.

But with those simple sconces serv-ing as a muse, the couple began follow-ing their personal sensibilities instead. Working with interior designer Renan Menninger, owner of RM interiors, they created welcoming yet personal spaces where industrial, contemporary lines feel at home alongside traditional furnishings and keepsake art projects.



Breaking from traditionOver the 13 or so years that Bruce and Jenny have lived in the Tudor-style home, they gradually edited pieces that didn’t reflect their personality. They un-screened a screened porch off the kitchen, redeco-rated the master bedroom and introduced hardwood flooring and a slab of smooth granite to replace carpeting and yet anoth-er, pink Corian countertop covering a wet bar in the living room.

While they selected styles that appealed to them, Jenny says they always kept a cautious eye on what would sell, given the traditional style that has long dominated the local area and established communi-ties like Amberley.

“I was always drawn to contemporary but was being logical about resale,” Jenny says.

But with those simple sconces serv-ing as a muse, the couple began follow-ing their personal sensibilities instead. Working with interior designer Renan Menninger, owner of RM interiors, they created welcoming yet personal spaces where industrial, contemporary lines feel at home alongside traditional furnishings and keepsake art projects.

A refreshing revampWith the exception of the ceiling in the master bathroom—where a classic barrel vault was removed in favor of a dropped tray—the home didn’t need a structural overhaul, so the couple and the designers simply upgraded the home’s aesthetics, introducing a carefully curated combi-nation of contemporary simplicity and organic warmth.

Menninger remade the family room fireplace by covering the red brick with stacked quartz, and Drew Dearwester, co-owner of Switch Lighting and Design, updated the traditional stairwell with a cascading light fixture that he typically recommends for clients with downtown lofts or city views, not two-story Tudors in the suburbs.

In the kitchen, bright modern finishes such as a clear-glass backsplash, stain-less-steel cabinetry and a glossy white quartz countertop replaced the existing ho-hum brown cabinetry and checker-board tile backsplash. Menninger added a natural stone finish above the cabinets to focus attention on the soaring window and wood-beamed ceiling, and brought in dark-stained oak cabinets, travertine flooring and linen blinds to keep the space from feeling overly modern.

OPENING SPREAD AND TOP LEFT: A cornucopia designed by Jenny and Bruce’s son, commands visitors’ attention in the living room. OPPOSITE AND BELOW: A blank wall in a lower level theatre/billiards area is converted into an inviting gathering spot. TOP: Ozzie relaxes in the dining room where a self-portrait by the couple’s son hangs on the wall. ABOVE: A light fixture rests on a contemporary side table.

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Unexpected elementsOf course a home is only as interesting as the stories it can tell, and there are plenty of conversation-starting features that inject personality into this home’s remodeled spaces.

An interplay of clean lines and soft curves draws you into the master bath, where you then notice the crowning glory of this space—and arguably, the house. A light fixture resembling smooth metallic pebbles or drops of mercury provides gen-eral illumination in the space and serves to unite the industrial and natural elements. While the silver coating coordinates with the concrete countertops, modern drawer pulls and geometric tub, the organic shape also relates to the river rocks inlaid in the shower floor and the circular design on the resin window panels.


housetrends greater cincinnati 29continued >

Unexpected elementsOf course a home is only as interesting as the stories it can tell, and there are plenty of conversation-starting features that inject personality into this home’s remodeled spaces.

An interplay of clean lines and soft curves draws you into the master bath, where you then notice the crowning glory of this space—and arguably, the house. A light fixture resembling smooth metallic pebbles or drops of mercury provides gen-eral illumination in the space and serves to unite the industrial and natural elements. While the silver coating coordinates with the concrete countertops, modern drawer pulls and geometric tub, the organic shape also relates to the river rocks inlaid in the shower floor and the circular design on the resin window panels.

“It’s like a piece of art on the ceiling,” Menninger says. “It pulls it all together.”

Not to be outdone, a powder room just down the hall is another small space packed with character. The couple decided on a black vinyl wallpaper with charcoal-gray circles meant to resemble a bird’s-eye view of a traditional Asian rice hat. Because the wallpaper style was named “Fortune Cookie,” Menninger encouraged the couple to run with the theme, com-plete with a “fortune” printed across the bottom of the mirror. Bruce and Jenny chose a phrase—“What we see depends mainly on what we look for”—that could be interpreted as a tongue-in-cheek nod to its own reflective surface.

Art from the heartOriginal artwork imbues a home with per-

OPPOSITE: Translucent resin panels, from 3 Form, provide privacy in the master bath. TOP LEFT AND TOP RIGHT: A pebble emit-ting an upward light source shines on a cluster of polished chrome shapes evoking beads of silver mercury. LEFT AND ABOVE: A cement trough sink, designed by Menninger, adds an earthy touch to the master bath.

sonality in a way that can’t be reproduced, and Jenny and Bruce are lucky enough to have pieces by their now-grown son and daughter—both grads of the School for Creative and Performing Arts—that exhibit talent and appeal beyond the merely sentimental.

While their daughter’s influence can be seen in smaller pieces that dot the bookshelves, their son is responsible for large-scale, attention-grabbing artwork. An oversized cornucopia-shaped sculp-ture—which he made with carefully fanned slices of wood—keeps the beige-colored living room from feeling too tradi-tional. In the dining room, a lighthearted self-portrait that’s paired with an asym-metrical light fixture adds intrigue to the classic dining room setting.


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Designer: Renan Menninger, RM Interiors; Lighting: Drew Dearwester, Switch Lighting and Design; Contractor: J Michael Companies; Flooring: Louisville Tile; Kitchen cabinetry and countertops: Sims-Lohman; Kitchen backsplash: Dickey’s Glass; Kitchen sink: Norwood Hardware; Bathroom cabinetry: Sims-Lohman; Master bath sinks: Engineered concrete, Ohio CemTech; Master bath ceiling details: Drawing Dept; Powder room sink: Norwood Hardware; Bathroom faucets: Norwood Hardware; Bathroom mirrors: Designed by RM Interiors, produced by Dickey’s Glass; Powder room wallcovering: Donghia; Master bedroom design: Sandy Datillo, Ethan Allen

Welcoming entertainmentWhile the kitchen, which opens to the family room, often becomes the hub dur-ing parties, it was important to Jenny for the finished basement to feel just as wel-coming. “I wanted to make it a little more appealing to come down here and have drinks,” she says.

While some basement lounge areas can feel like a dark pub, carefully placed light-ing and natural, textured materials bring a boost of vitamin D to this space. The focal point is a kitchenette area that has a cheerful, Tuscan-like glow. Internally lit cabinets serve as bookends for a wall that’s finished with stacked quartz—left over from the upstairs fireplace—and ran-domly spaced reclaimed walnut shelves decorated with bottles of oil.

Given the entertaining appeal of this lower-level space, which is complete with a pool table, refrigerator and freezer draw-ers and wine cooler, the couple finds their nest isn’t quite as empty as it used to be.

“Our kids are now in their 20s, but they say, ‘You can never sell this house.’ They like coming over to hang out or swim in the pool,” Jenny says.

OPPOSITE AND LEFT: Glossy black walls add drama while fortune cook-ies add fun to the guest powder room. ABOVE: The master bedroom features a wall of windows that opens up to the lush garden and pool area.

more onlineSee more photos of this home at housetrends.com Search: Light Touches.


Housetrends March/April 2013: "Light touches in Amberley Village"

Documents

tfea lighttouches

traditional style

tudorstyle home

amberley traditional

amberley village home

screened porch

traditional furnishings

master bedroom