Gallery
Tudor
Main floor
Joined by graceful archways, the entry vestibule, living room, and dining room flow together into a warm and inviting whole while each space still retains its individual character.
We begin our tour at the gabled front entry with its rounded-top plank door, one of the signature elements of the vintage homes of this style and era. In solid mahogany and adorned with traditional black iron strap hinges and hardware, this front door is especially nice.
The focal point of the living room is another timeless feature: an inviting fireplace, this one with a lovely arched pewter surround, set into a wall of built-in bookshelves and cabinetry. In this case, the fireplace is a modern clean-burning propane version but it has an old-fashioned "coal fired" look when lit.
The other storybook feature of the living room is the striking staircase with its interesting wrought-iron balustrade and solid-oak handrail.Illuminating the lower stair landing and adding a final grace note to this intimate living room is the custom stained-glass window that was designed especially for this home.
Through a gracefully curved arch, another common Tudor Revival element, we enter the dining room. This room features yet another component often found in early-twentieth-century homes: built-in cabinets. With lighted glass shelving, these built-ins are the perfect place for showcasing a collection of vintage Carnival Glass or other special treasures. The sleek antique-reproduction chandelier overhead and the old-style doorbell chime on the wall, both in classic brushed nickel, give the room added flair.
At the end of a hallway toward the back of the house is a small bedroom, with large casement windows opening onto the back garden, and, next to it, a full downstairs bathroom. The bath is done up in fine high style, with a pedestal sink, antique-style toilet, tiled tub/shower surround with black diamond accents, Art Deco porcelain wall sconce in gleaming jet black, matching porcelain bath accessories also in black, and a floor of one-inch hexagonal tile with black-flower motif. Period perfect.
Finally, rounding out the main floor is the kitchen, which we leave to its own separate section, and outside, just off the kitchen, a small deck for cookouts in the warm summer months.
Before leaving the living, dining, and entry area, a note about the connecting arches. Rather than employ what would have been the obvious choice, a Tudor arch, we elected instead to use a simple arch. The reason? To precisely mirror both the rounded-top front door and the curvature of the fireplace surround. The devil is in the details.
And one other special note, this one concerning the downstairs main bath. If you look carefully at the layout of this room, you may find it familiar, especially if you're a regular attendee at the annual historic home tours. That's because this particular configuration was very common in the early twentieth century. And being the die-hard purists that we are, naturally we had to use it here.
