My Houzz: First-Time Cincinnati Homeowners Take On a Modern Rehab
Exposed brick walls, salvage finds and bursts of fresh color update a couple’s 19th-century home
As first-time homeowners, Grania and Leif Edgar took on converting an abandoned mid-19th-century building in the Over-the-Rhine neighborhood of Cincinnati. Grania, who works as an environmental graphic designer for an architecture firm, and Leif, who works in marketing, bought the home in March 2017. Located just steps from the entrance to Findlay Market, the longest-running open-air market in the country, the building offered a blank slate for the well-traveled couple to infuse their own version of what Grania describes as “Scandinavian-modern-meets-Parisian-romance style.”
The wooden mantel in this first-floor family room is from local salvage shop Wooden Nickel Antiques. The large traditional red Swedish Dala horse figurine was a gift from their families.
Door rug: Grainwell; reclaimed-wood coffee table: Everything but the House
The wooden mantel in this first-floor family room is from local salvage shop Wooden Nickel Antiques. The large traditional red Swedish Dala horse figurine was a gift from their families.
Door rug: Grainwell; reclaimed-wood coffee table: Everything but the House
The renovation — which made a previously uninhabitable space into a home that would provide a welcome return from the couple’s frequent worldwide adventures — took nine months.
Grania, pictured with the couple’s dog, Sterling, a Labrador and dachshund mix, handpicked many of the finishes throughout the home.
Infusing the space with Scandinavian style while maintaining the historical integrity of the house was one of the top priorities during the design process. The couple worked closely with interior designers Josh Jansen and Lauren Farquhar of Storied Homes to help preserve the style of the building and details such as exposed brick walls. Farquhar and Jansen helped manage the project, architect Sarah Cornell of Tangent Architectural Group created a drawing for the renovation, and general contractor Joe Wood of All Around Joe handled the construction.
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Grania, pictured with the couple’s dog, Sterling, a Labrador and dachshund mix, handpicked many of the finishes throughout the home.
Infusing the space with Scandinavian style while maintaining the historical integrity of the house was one of the top priorities during the design process. The couple worked closely with interior designers Josh Jansen and Lauren Farquhar of Storied Homes to help preserve the style of the building and details such as exposed brick walls. Farquhar and Jansen helped manage the project, architect Sarah Cornell of Tangent Architectural Group created a drawing for the renovation, and general contractor Joe Wood of All Around Joe handled the construction.
Find a general contractor on Houzz
The Edgars exposed the original brick on the north and west walls of the house. “We weren’t able to salvage anything from the original building, but the brick was one piece we could keep. I love how it gives the space a more raw feel,” Grania says.
“We spend most of our time in our kitchen and family room,” Grania says. She loves to cook and frequently entertains friends and family. The back door leads to a small enclosed patio.
Black matte cabinets: Wellborn
Look for pendant lights in the Houzz Shop
Black matte cabinets: Wellborn
Look for pendant lights in the Houzz Shop
On one side of the kitchen is this custom bar, complete with a mirrored liquor cabinet. The couple use it to store their special collection of matchboxes and coasters from restaurants they’ve visited around the world. The countertops are quartz.
Herringbone tile backsplash: Floor & Decor
Herringbone tile backsplash: Floor & Decor
The Edgars chose a dark gray paint color for the baseboards, doors and door frames (Iron Ore by Sherwin-Williams) to contrast with the all-white walls (Snowbound by Sherwin-Williams).
During the remodel, the original stairwell orientation was changed from north-south to east-west. “Originally, the house was built as a two-family [residence] — with one family living in the front and the other in the back,” Grania says. “Rearranging the stairs removed the division between the two separate homes and created more living space.”
The couple bought this colorful print from an artist selling his work at the Mercado de Santa Clara in Portugal.
The couple bought this colorful print from an artist selling his work at the Mercado de Santa Clara in Portugal.
This sliding barn door that leads to the second-floor media room is vintage. Instead of creating custom doors for every entry, the designers found reclaimed doors at local flea markets.
Shop for barn door hardware
Shop for barn door hardware
The open shelves in the media room display many of the couple’s souvenirs. A pullout sofa doubles as a bed for guests.
I love the tile in all of our bathrooms,” Grania says. “It helps play up the contrast and our black-and-white palette.” A bright yellow print adds a pop of color to this second-floor bath.
Find a bathroom remodeling professional near you
Find a bathroom remodeling professional near you
Designer Farquhar found this green claw-foot tub for the second-floor bath. The color is original.
The couple created a third-floor master suite by bumping up the original roof to full height. “We decided to paint the brick a neutral white to help conceal the transition from the old to new brick,” Grania says. The south wall of the bedroom is painted in Naval by Sherwin-Williams.
Framed artwork by Tan & Loose Press hangs above the bed.
Framed artwork by Tan & Loose Press hangs above the bed.
This faux fireplace is one of Grania’s favorite features. “The mantel is made from a piece of granite that has been in my mother’s basement for 20 years,” she says. The metal cover is from Wooden Nickel Antiques.
The master bathroom is inspired by the couple’s travels to the Hotel Providence in Paris. The floor is covered in a custom penny tile design.
The shower features classic white subway tile with a dark grout.
When the Edgars first bought their home, this third-floor window was concealed by drywall. They decided to keep it despite its awkward location.
Though not a typical yard, the small patio provides a space for eating outside and entertaining friends. The goal was to decorate the enclosure in what Grania describes as “classic-meets-Parisian patterns.”
The Edgars hung the string lights for a recent wedding shower they hosted for friends. They aimed to keep their potted plant choices low-maintenance.
How to Hang String Lights Outdoors
The Edgars hung the string lights for a recent wedding shower they hosted for friends. They aimed to keep their potted plant choices low-maintenance.
How to Hang String Lights Outdoors
Photo by Storied Homes
Before: The building’s exterior was run-down and in need of new paint, windows and doors.
Before: The building’s exterior was run-down and in need of new paint, windows and doors.
After: A fresh coat of gray paint and new windows updated the previously patched-up exterior. The couple commissioned local sign artist Josh Flohre of Ink & Hammer to paint the house numbers in gold leaf above their front door.
See more of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More
How to Find Your Renovation Team
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See more of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More
How to Find Your Renovation Team
Browse outdoor lighting products
Who lives here: Leif and Grania Edgar and their dog, Sterling
Location: Cincinnati
Size: 1,800 square feet (167 square meters); three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms