THE RULE
KEEP A ROOM’S ORIGINAL USE BREAK IT
CHANGE IT UP
PAINT PICK ALL SURFACE ENAMEL IN SAFET Y RED; SHERWIN WILLIAMS
The original kitchen of this big old house became “the bar room,” this photo, after a remodel carved a new kitchen out of another space. Gretchen replaced old appliances with a beverage cooler and icemaker and removed an island in favor of a secondhand table and flea market chairs. Verdant wallpaper balances the red countertop and floor, which Gretchen painted here and in several adjoining rooms to hide a mishmash of wood finishes. She swears by oil-base enamel floor paint. When it shows wear, she just repaints.
