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Family Tradition

An updated 100-year-old Uptown house

By Lee Cutrone

A HUNDRED AND SEVEN YEARS AgO, Kristen Metzger’s great-grandparents built a house just steps from Audubon Park. Through the years, her great-grandparents, grandparents and other relatives lived there, and Metzger herself, dreamed of one day owning the property. In 2013, the dream became a reality when the house was handed down to Metzger through her father’s succession. Metzger, who has her own graphic design business (The Constance Creative) and often draws floor plans for realtors, soon designed a Left: Custom chartreuse linen pillows inspired the paint color used on the wall behind the bookshelves. Linen pillows, natural root coffee table, tufted chairs, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams sofa and Jonathan Adler lamp table, all through ND Studio.

Facing Page: Left: A rustic dining table found online is paired with chairs picked up at a garage sale. Above the dining area, is an organic, hammered metal light fixture available through ND Studio. Right: Kristen Metzger and her 9-year old rescue mix, Abbey.

remodel for the home. She then consulted an architect, hired a contractor and found an interior designer. The plan was to respect the sentimental, family-rich history of the house, while making the space her own. “This house has always been in my family,” she says. “I want to raise my kids here.” Originally a two-plex with first and second floor units, then a tri-plex and later a two-plex again, the house had identical floor plans on the lower and upper floors. Metzger gutted the house to the studs and reconfigured some of the floor plan to turn it into a single-family residence with room to grow. Downstairs, she removed walls to create an open flow between the new kitchen, living and dining areas. Upstairs, she turned what had been the living and dining rooms into guest bedrooms and turned the space previously occupied by the kitchen into a large master closet. She left the façade the same, but added a porch and a balcony across the rear. Perusing Thumbtack, a website designed to match consumers with service providers, she found local designer Nadia Ramadan of ND Studio and the two clicked immediately. Ramadan was quick to get an accurate read of what Metzger likes and to deliver options that suited her client’s vision. “My favorite part of working with Kristen is that she trusted me,” says Ramadan. “Oftentimes, I have to show clients many different furniture options for them to feel comfortable with their choice. With Kristen, it was easy. I knew what she would like before I even showed her.” With her familial history always at the forefront of the project, Metzger wanted a transitional interior that pays homage to the past but also reflects her life and style. That meant bringing together old and new. Designer and client opted for timeless architectural features and surfaces, such as clerestory windows that mimic the homes original transoms, quartz and Carrera marble counters and original wood flooring. They also included several pieces of heirloom furniture, most notably, a 19th century sofa that belonged to Metzger’s grandmother. Ramadan, had the sofa’s dark wood frame stripped, painted and glazed, and replaced its worn, mauve upholstery. In the process, she and Metzger discovered that the sofa was carved with swans they hadn’t noticed.

Facing Page: Top Left: Metzger and Ramadan chose coral (one of Metzger’s favorite colors) and gray for the master bedroom. The bench at the foot of the bed belonged to her grandmother and was reupholstered. Custom headboard, nightstands, alpaca rug and drapery through ND Studio. Top Right: The bubble-like pattern of the marble floor Metzger chose for the master bath set the tone for the rest of the room. The custom Roman shade and the crystal light fixture overhead repeat the circular shape. Bottom Left: Metzger added a porch and a balcony to the back of the house. Bottom Right: The guest bedroom is dressed in neutral beige and white. Custom drapery, headboard, nightstands and hand-sewn cowhide rug, through ND Studio. Top Left: The kitchen’s gray cabinets, quartzite counters, subway tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances are both classic and fresh. Glass pendant fixtures from Southland Plumbing Supply, bar stools from Gabby Home. Top Right: Metzger inherited the living room sofa from her grandmother and Ramadan gave it a refresh by having it stripped, painted, glazed and reupholstered. After it was renewed, homeowner and designer discovered it was carved with swans. Ramadan designed both the raw metal and barge board console (at left) and the raw metal and quartz coffee table (at right). Fabrics, drapery, rugs, gold leaf basket weave end tables, microsuede chair, and chandelier in foyer, all through ND Studio. Ramadan tempered the refinement and modernity of several other pieces she designed for the house by incorporating rustic elements such as raw metal and reclaimed barge board. “I didn’t want too much polish,” says Metzger. With one foot rooted firmly in classic design, Metzger and Ramadan were free to have fun with contemporary trends such as statement lighting, animal skins, metallics and splashes of bold color. The two are so likeminded on their design choices that they finish each other’s sentences and are quick to point out their favorite parts of the re-design. Metzger loves the refurbished sofa. “My grandmother would be so proud,” she says. Ramadan is especially fond of the organic hammered light fixture in the dining room. “It was a risk but I think it definitely paid off,” she says. “It highlights the tall ceilings and everyone talks about it when they come in.” Making the house dog-friendly for Metzger’s 9-year old shelter rescue, Abbey, was an important consideration for designer and client as well. Metzger chose ample backyard space for Abbey over a larger version of the new garage, sized the stair treads to accommodate an aging pet, and with only a few exceptions, went for easy-to-clean fabrics like washable white bed linens and micro-suede upholstery. “Sometimes I find myself looking around and thinking I still can’t believe that this is real,” says Metzger of her dream home. “Every design decision I made, I kept in my mind ‘would Gammie be proud, would Dad be proud?’ I think they would.” n