Houzz Tours
My Houzz: Bright and Cheerful Updates to an 1890s Colonial Revival
Modern tweaks, including a kitchen overhaul, brighten a family’s home
April and Peter Nannucci’s home sits on a quiet, tree-lined street in Newton, Massachusetts, a suburb just outside Boston. The Nannuccis love the location, which borders conservation land and the Charles River, and they love the fact that the 19th-century home has had only two prior owners, both of whom, Peter says, cared deeply about the house. So the couple decided to take on a four-month-long renovation of this older home, which has what Peter describes as “good bones and historic charm.” The result is a bright and airy space with classic, timeless appeal.
Varying shades of white and wood keep things simple. Upper cabinets extend to the ceiling, and beadboard and glass cabinet doors offer both visible and closed storage. Metal shelves from a restaurant supplier keep everyday dishes handy. Hints of additional color come from a bouquet of fresh flowers and produce from the family’s backyard and local markets.
April and Peter came up with the layout and design of the kitchen themselves. She wanted the kitchen open to the rest of the house while remaining a well-defined space. “This is the first kitchen that I’ve been able to design the way that I wanted it,” April says.
The couple wanted the upper cabinets to reach to the kitchen’s 9-foot ceilings, so they went the custom route with a cabinetmaker. “We wanted a classic but modern take on an antique kitchen, so we chose a simple off-white Shaker cabinet door with beadboard insert and maple countertops,” Peter says. The cabinets are solid maple.
When redesigning kitchens and bathrooms, the couple believes that less is more. “If designed with a bit of restraint, they maintain their charm without becoming dated over time,” Peter says.
Sconces: Barn Light Electric Co.; sink and faucet: Ikea; metal shelves: restaurant supplier; 2-inch maple butcher block countertops: Home Depot
April and Peter came up with the layout and design of the kitchen themselves. She wanted the kitchen open to the rest of the house while remaining a well-defined space. “This is the first kitchen that I’ve been able to design the way that I wanted it,” April says.
The couple wanted the upper cabinets to reach to the kitchen’s 9-foot ceilings, so they went the custom route with a cabinetmaker. “We wanted a classic but modern take on an antique kitchen, so we chose a simple off-white Shaker cabinet door with beadboard insert and maple countertops,” Peter says. The cabinets are solid maple.
When redesigning kitchens and bathrooms, the couple believes that less is more. “If designed with a bit of restraint, they maintain their charm without becoming dated over time,” Peter says.
Sconces: Barn Light Electric Co.; sink and faucet: Ikea; metal shelves: restaurant supplier; 2-inch maple butcher block countertops: Home Depot
AFTER: Closing off the pantry and turning it into a much-needed powder room for the first floor allowed the couple to move the stove to the previously chopped-up wall for a more efficient layout. The remaining door now opens to the side entry, which Peter turned into a beadboard-paneled mudroom with access to the outdoors and the new half bath.
Mudroom wall paint: Mediterranean White, Restoration Hardware; boot tray: Crate & Barrel; wicker bins: Ikea
Mudroom wall paint: Mediterranean White, Restoration Hardware; boot tray: Crate & Barrel; wicker bins: Ikea
“The rooster breadbox is one of the first things I bought for my house,” April says. “I still love it, because I bought it right out of college when I was 23.” A vintage chalkboard hangs above this kitchen console.
The wood-and-white palette extends to their daughter’s mini kitchen, found at Ikea when the family was shopping for appliances. “It was so amusing to us that it looked like our little kitchen, complete with her own little cutting board,” April says.
Zinnia also sits with her mom at the counter, helping with prep and making pretend soup for her dolls.
Cabinets: Supreme Cabinet
Zinnia also sits with her mom at the counter, helping with prep and making pretend soup for her dolls.
Cabinets: Supreme Cabinet
New cabinets above the fridge add more storage, as does a new built-in pantry. This door, one of two remaining on this wall, leads to the home’s entry. The other goes to the basement.
The floors are red oak hardwood. “Houzz was hugely inspirational in the design process,” April says. “It gives me great pleasure working and playing in my new kitchen every day.”
The cost of the kitchen remodel was about $40,000, which included the large appliances, sink, faucet, island, cabinets and countertops, plus construction, including plumbing and electricity work.
Wall paint: Tapestry Beige, Benjamin Moore
The floors are red oak hardwood. “Houzz was hugely inspirational in the design process,” April says. “It gives me great pleasure working and playing in my new kitchen every day.”
The cost of the kitchen remodel was about $40,000, which included the large appliances, sink, faucet, island, cabinets and countertops, plus construction, including plumbing and electricity work.
Wall paint: Tapestry Beige, Benjamin Moore
BEFORE: “Our home came with almost all the original doors, windows and hardware,” Peter says, adding that it was important to the couple to “bridge the gap between the time when the house was built and the present without compromising the integrity of the home.” Having original features helped them make a few modern tweaks to the simple, classic design.
The home is listed in the book Newton’s 19th Century Architecture: Auburndale as an example of Colonial Revival style. The rooms have unusual rounded corner molding surrounding all the doors and windows, which mimics the unusual rounded cornice molding on the outside of the house. The book mentions that this cornice style bears witness to the builder’s imagination.
The home is listed in the book Newton’s 19th Century Architecture: Auburndale as an example of Colonial Revival style. The rooms have unusual rounded corner molding surrounding all the doors and windows, which mimics the unusual rounded cornice molding on the outside of the house. The book mentions that this cornice style bears witness to the builder’s imagination.
AFTER: The revitalized space now looks airy and inviting. “The antique Morris chair and red velvet chair [seen below] both came with my father’s Victorian when he bought it about 30 years ago. I found them in the attic, cleaned them off and had them both reupholstered,” April says.
The couple’s gallery wall includes an Ansel Adams Moonrise, Hernandez print found at a yard sale, old photos of April’s family members and a wedding gift to April’s great-grandparents in the early 1900s. The church pew in the entry area is from April’s mother’s childhood parish. The vintage school desk was a $5 find at a neighborhood yard sale. The mother-and-child stone statue on the mantel is a memento from a trip to Cape Town, South Africa.
The couple’s gallery wall includes an Ansel Adams Moonrise, Hernandez print found at a yard sale, old photos of April’s family members and a wedding gift to April’s great-grandparents in the early 1900s. The church pew in the entry area is from April’s mother’s childhood parish. The vintage school desk was a $5 find at a neighborhood yard sale. The mother-and-child stone statue on the mantel is a memento from a trip to Cape Town, South Africa.
The Chinese screen in the living room was inherited from April’s grandparents. “It doesn’t have much monetary value, but made such an impression on me as a child as a distinctive feature of their home,” she says. The Chinese charcoal sketch of a tree is from a church yard sale. The framed coin collection is of the 50 state quarters, which Peter collected as they were minted from 1999 on. The table is fashioned from an old-fashioned commode.
Cavett leather chair and Cleo table lamp: Crate & Barrel; rug: HomeGoods; Barristers bookcase: Brimfield Antiques Show; sheepskin: Ikea; wall paint: custom blend, 50 percent Palace White and 50 percent Buttermilk, Benjamin Moore
Cavett leather chair and Cleo table lamp: Crate & Barrel; rug: HomeGoods; Barristers bookcase: Brimfield Antiques Show; sheepskin: Ikea; wall paint: custom blend, 50 percent Palace White and 50 percent Buttermilk, Benjamin Moore
April shares a love of antique homes and furnishings with her parents and other family members. Her maternal aunt Mary, affectionately known as Candy, passed away 15 years ago, and April inherited many pieces of art and furniture, which now adorn the house. “She greatly influenced my sense of style,” April says. “She loved antiques and was able to combine various styles effortlessly.” The couple has acquired other items, such as the chandelier in the dining room, from antiques shows, like the Brimfield Antiques Show. They also enjoy decorating with pieces from yard sales and the occasional curbside find. The wooden chairs and turquoise bench are from a yard sale, and the console table is a roadside find the couple refinished.
Rug: Serena & Lily; metal chairs: Overstock; table: Restoration Hardware; wall paint: custom blend
Rug: Serena & Lily; metal chairs: Overstock; table: Restoration Hardware; wall paint: custom blend
Peter says he is strongly influenced by farmhouse style but cannot commit to a particular design category. April, however, “has the knack of being able to make a mix of antiques, midcentury modern and classics work together and look like they were truly meant to be,” he says. The couple worked to achieve layers of pattern and texture that blend various time periods.
The sofa was the very first piece of furniture April owned when she graduated from college. It was a gift from her grandmother. “It’s a bit frayed to say the least, and the one arm has been removed several times in the process of moving in and out of previous homes,” she says. “It has a great deal of sentimental value, and we are currently contemplating reupholstering it.” The chest to the left of the sofa is an old-fashioned icebox that belonged to April’s great-aunts. “It has an intricate pattern of hand-carved roses on the front,” she says. The brass lamp belonged to her grandparents. The trunk-turned-coffee table and antique clock were both passed down from April’s aunt.
Wall paint: custom blend, 50 percent Palace White and 50 percent Buttermilk, Benjamin Moore
The sofa was the very first piece of furniture April owned when she graduated from college. It was a gift from her grandmother. “It’s a bit frayed to say the least, and the one arm has been removed several times in the process of moving in and out of previous homes,” she says. “It has a great deal of sentimental value, and we are currently contemplating reupholstering it.” The chest to the left of the sofa is an old-fashioned icebox that belonged to April’s great-aunts. “It has an intricate pattern of hand-carved roses on the front,” she says. The brass lamp belonged to her grandparents. The trunk-turned-coffee table and antique clock were both passed down from April’s aunt.
Wall paint: custom blend, 50 percent Palace White and 50 percent Buttermilk, Benjamin Moore
After brightening up the walls and woodwork, the couple pieced together the playroom. “I think every home should have a touch of eccentricity in order to truly reflect the individuals who live there,” Peter says. The bookshelves are spice racks from Ikea.
Rattan chair: eBay; sisal rug: Overstock; sofa, alphabet poster and shelving: Ikea; brass floor lamp: Crate & Barrel
Rattan chair: eBay; sisal rug: Overstock; sofa, alphabet poster and shelving: Ikea; brass floor lamp: Crate & Barrel
The painting in the playroom is from Tanzania in East Africa and is an example of Tinga Tinga art.
Side table, lamp and pillows: Ikea
Side table, lamp and pillows: Ikea
Zinnia’s bedroom, once marked by splintering and worn-out wooden floors and dated wallpaper, now is full of light, color and fun accents. “We have a young child and have many friends with young children, so nothing in our house can be too precious,” Peter says.
Wall paint: Buttermilk, Benjamin Moore; chandelier: Neena’s Lighting; bed: Charles P. Rogers; rug: Serena & Lily
Wall paint: Buttermilk, Benjamin Moore; chandelier: Neena’s Lighting; bed: Charles P. Rogers; rug: Serena & Lily
One corner of the room features a cozy reading, napping and play nook.
Tepee: Etsy; dresser: Hemnes, Ikea
Tepee: Etsy; dresser: Hemnes, Ikea
“All the items in our house either hold sentimental value or are items we truly love,” Peter says. Above the headboard is a Wallace Nutting photograph. The chandelier is from the Brimfield Antiques Show.
Above: boat photograph: limited-edition Cape Dame by Julie Tremblay; lamp on dresser: Pottery Barn; Hemnes dresser, vase and chair: Ikea
Left: bed: Restoration Hardware; linens: Restoration Hardware Outlet; sconces: Schoolhouse Electric
Above: boat photograph: limited-edition Cape Dame by Julie Tremblay; lamp on dresser: Pottery Barn; Hemnes dresser, vase and chair: Ikea
Left: bed: Restoration Hardware; linens: Restoration Hardware Outlet; sconces: Schoolhouse Electric
Like the other rooms in the home, the master bedroom has been given a fresh update that respects the home’s origins. April and Peter strive for their home to be laid-back, comfortable, warm and inviting. “From the minute we saw it, we truly viewed our house as a labor of love,” Peter says.
Bed: Pottery Barn; Picasso sketches: Ikea; Maine lighthouses artworks: antique calendar pages; brass lamp: Brimfield Antiques Show; wicker lamp and pillows: Ikea; wall paint: custom blend
Bed: Pottery Barn; Picasso sketches: Ikea; Maine lighthouses artworks: antique calendar pages; brass lamp: Brimfield Antiques Show; wicker lamp and pillows: Ikea; wall paint: custom blend
Vase: local artist
The bathroom previously had dated flower tiles in the shower. It’s now a bright and updated space.
Mirror: Rejuvenation; medicine cabinet: Overstock (distressed by April and Peter); Memoirs pedestal sink: Kohler
Mirror: Rejuvenation; medicine cabinet: Overstock (distressed by April and Peter); Memoirs pedestal sink: Kohler
April and Peter designed their corner garden themselves. The 4-foot-high fencing is made of 1-inch cedar boards joined with pocket screws and heavy-gauge wire. The flooring at the entrances is made of reclaimed old brick and cobblestone.
When looking for a home, the couple sought green space that could serve their family for many years. Prior to buying this home, they lived in a charming 1920s red brick Hamilton Harlow-designed building in Cambridge. They adored the building and beautiful atrium, but grew weary of the four-story walk-up and lack of designated parking, especially during harsh New England winters. “This move allowed us to be closer to relatives and to have more living space for our growing family,” Peter says.
Lumber and wire: Home Depot; raised beds: Gardener’s Supply Co.; red watering can: Crate & Barrel
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.
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When looking for a home, the couple sought green space that could serve their family for many years. Prior to buying this home, they lived in a charming 1920s red brick Hamilton Harlow-designed building in Cambridge. They adored the building and beautiful atrium, but grew weary of the four-story walk-up and lack of designated parking, especially during harsh New England winters. “This move allowed us to be closer to relatives and to have more living space for our growing family,” Peter says.
Lumber and wire: Home Depot; raised beds: Gardener’s Supply Co.; red watering can: Crate & Barrel
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.
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
Who lives here: April and Peter Nannucci and their daughter, Zinnia
Location: Auburndale, a village in Newton, Massachusetts
Year built: 1890
The remodeled kitchen, completed in 2012, is the family’s favorite room. The Nannuccis host family feasts at least once a month. Typical gatherings find April finishing something at the stove and Peter rinsing something in the sink. April says, “You’ll see my mom at the island making a homemade salad dressing, my daughter running around feeding her stuffed animals, my brother opening a bottle of red wine, my sister and brother-in-law standing around eating homemade artichoke dip with crackers.”
Renovations in this room were challenging because of “precious little continuous wall space,” Peter says. The kitchen was last renovated in the 1970s and was poorly laid out, with five doors leading into the room.
Cabinets: custom solid wood, Supreme Cabinet; kitchen wall clock with timer: Rejuvenation; cabinet hardware and ceiling fan with light: Restoration Hardware; stools: Overstock