Mix Master
Author:Abigail StoneEllen Nystrom, a master of the thoughtful mix, washes a modern sheen over an Edwardian home
The result converted the clients to Nystrom's definition of what modern could be. "They seemed especially happy with how were were able to revitalize and integrate some of their sentimental, inherited pieces," she says. Combining the old with the new, the high with the low, color and neutrals. That is the new definition of modern.
Photographer: Ken Gutmaker
Balance was also the guiding factor when it came time to furnishing the interiors. Existing family heirlooms and mid-century pieces mingle with modern classics. Traditional fabrics like tweed, pinstripe, and herringbone were used in unexpected colors or applications. Here, a Robert Allen turquoise plaid updates an antique settee.
Photographer: Ken Gutmaker
Expanding the house into the backyard, excavating the basement and reorganizing the main level to achieve an open living area with views of Noe Valley and the San Francisco Bay, also helped to bring the home into the 21st century. The bedrooms sprawl across the upper floor. The master bathtub is from Zuma
Photographer: Ken Gutmaker
"During the planning stages, we devoted several meetings to assessing the storage needs and making sure that there would be plenty of accesible yet discreet storage space for supplies and gear so thaat the living areas would feel uncluttered and spacious." The sink is by Catalano, the vanity's lights by Edge Lighting.
Photographer: Ken Gutmaker
That included specific requests. Because the family travels extensively, they needed a casual study that would also serves as a staging area where they could plan trips and lay out their gear. The wife needed an art studio, the kids a hobby room.
Photographer: Ken Gutmaker
“We made a deliberate decision to retain the Edwardian features of the common areas while lightening them up with a coat of white paint and simplifying some of the trim details. This core captures a sense of the home's history and serves as a transition between the traditional features and the modern style of the renovations,” says Nystrom.
Photographer: Ken Gutmaker
“Much of the discussion was about what modernizing this home meant to the client.” She partnered AT6 Architecture. “We both use the hard facts of each project as the fundamental inspiration for the visual language.”
Photographer: Ken Gutmaker
“It required a thoughtful approach,” Nystrom explains. But sensitivity is the key to Nystrom’s success.
Photographer: Ken Gutmaker
“The objective was to reimagine the home to suit modern-day living while preserving some of the original features. They knew they wanted to retain the Edwardian character of the house, which reminded the wife of her childhood home in London.
Photographer: Ken Gutmaker
“Initially, they needed help visualizing how specific rooms would function so we generated furniture layouts that, for example, re-imagined the formal living room as a cozy study. One thing led to another, and soon we were consulting on finishes and furnishings for the full house.”
Photographer: Ken Gutmaker
The Edwardian-era home, built in 1916, needed updates. Like many clients, this family shuddered at the mention of the word modern. But meeting Nystrom on the recommendation of mutual friends did much to allay the clients’ worries.
Photographer: Ken Gutmaker
Interior designer Ellen Nystrom of Nystrom Design is determined to shatter the cold perception that gives the term "modern" a bad rap. “It can include antiques and traditional elements that hold sentimentalvalue. Incorporating these elements adds warmth, interests and emotional comfort to a modern environment." The ‘Charles’ sofa is from B&B Italia.
Photographer: Ken Gutmaker