Photography by Alise O'Brien
At this Central West End home, the owners wished to maintain the integrity of their house, built in 1907 as a single-family residence and now comprised of condos, while creating a comfortable modern dwelling. They knew just whom to turn to for both guidance and vision.
“That’s really my forte and what I love to do,” says Lauren Sweet-Schuler of Castle Design.
The kitchen opens up to the home’s other main living spaces, prompting Sweet-Schuler to work within a specific palette to foster a sense of continuity. “The entire house is designed in layered neutrals,” she says.
They began with the room’s most eye-catching feature: the fireplace, and opted to preserve the mantel’s plaster ginkgo leaf motif but replace the brownstone with a blue-honed limestone in a matte finish. As they worked their way through the kitchen, they switched out brown tones for more neutral ones, like a taupe paint for the cabinetry, white quartz countertops, and a simple white subway tile for the backsplash. The cushion and pillows on the window seat are upholstered in performance fabrics that stand up to the sunlight streaming through the original leaded-glass windows.
Throughout the renovation, the homeowners showed Sweet-Schuler inspiration images from magazines and other sources. “We ended up talking about what felt comfortable to live in, and what were other things that would be fun to visit but that doesn’t quite feel like home,” she says.
For modern touches, they chose Knoll’s Bertoia barstools and Plissé pendant lighting from Luceplan, transforming the look of the room without the need to replace cabinetry and appliances. All along, Sweet-Schuler aimed to help her clients create a space that reflects their tastes while being easy to maintain.
“They have these dual lives: They’re very busy, but when they’re home, it’s very serene and calming,” she says.
“That was the intent with all of this.”
Standout Feature: Designer Lauren Sweet-Schuler says it’s unusual to see a fireplace in the kitchen these days, but that it likely ended up there when the house was converted to accommodate three separate condo units, one per floor.
