The first house we toured in Spring City was a new house designed to look old, and man, did the design team do a great job. It was one of our favorite houses on the tour! Here are a few ways the owners achieved classic charm in new construction:
The walls were painted white with the trim in a contrasting color. The front room had yellow millwork, the bedroom had red, and the kitchen gray-blue. These windows look a lot like the ones we just installed in our house.
The kitchen island looked more like a piece of movable furniture than stationary cabinetry. I also love the style of the drawer fronts and this amazing exterior door to the side porch.
Art in a kitchen is always a good idea. The hood acts as a ledge for the painting, and blue cabinets feel rich and not too new.
This laundry room was built on the other side of a pass-through from the kitchen (that would force you to keep your laundry tidy!). The designers built this space to look like an addition—see the shiplap above that contrasts with the rest of the home’s walls? And outside (see below), the laundry room has vertical siding rather than horizontal. This makes the house feel like it’s seen changes over the years. The old bricks on the chimney further the “old” feeling of the house.
Those peaked pediments over the front door and windows add flair without adding bulk.
The copper gutters and rain chain were a splurge for sure, but they add a lot to the simple exterior.
The owners built a barn on the property for family gatherings.
And of course, a great house needs a great area for kids to play. This treehouse is about as perfect as it gets. I love a good playhouse.
I know I’m a historic-house snob, but I am also a supporter of sustainable new construction—the kind of houses that will easily sell over the decades because they are timeless and well built. This house checks those boxes and more. •
Boulevard West 