STYLE ROOM – February 2013
by Brett Johnson of Maine Street Design Co.

“The search for the perfect house can sometimes be a long one. This was definitely the case for my partner, Tim, and me. The house, a small Cape on a quiet street in Yarmouth, was perfectly situated on a little over a half-acre of land—flat, dry, and with good soil for planting. We set out to create a small in-town farm where we could grow our own food. The house was stick-built in the beginning of the 1960s and had very good bones, but it suffered from being a period piece with knotty pine cabinets, red Formica countertops, and a pink and a teal bathroom on each floor. The house, though small, had four bedrooms—two small bedrooms on the first floor and two large bedrooms on the second—and it was also dominated by too many hallways. The first line of attack was to eliminate the hallways to open up the kitchen and dining room and to remove all the closets on the first floor to make room for a small guestroom and a study/TV room we have nicknamed “the Snug.” We opened it to the foyer with French doors and devised a plan for built-ins. The new, open kitchen plan includes charcoal gray quartz countertops, blue/gray cabinets custom made in Maine, Italian appliances, and a large butcher-block island with a steel base made by Al Kronk of Rusted Puffin Metal Works. The fabrics, materials, and hardware for the entire house are a lush blend of natural-colored linens, all very affordable and punctuated by ethnically inspired fabrics in dark grays and naturals. There are subtle hints of soft yellows and blues to warm it all up and sturdy oil-rubbed bronze hardware for substance. The whole feeling should be warm, embracing, and traditional with a contemporary touch. It is always fun to walk the line between traditional and modern, and I think we will be able to take great pride in the finished product, and even greater pride in turning this house into a home.”

Library Wing Chair
Maine Street Mercantile & Mfg. Co.
mainestreetdesign.com

Gingko Pattern Pillow
Maine Street Mercantile & Mfg. Co.
mainestreetdesign.com

ReGo Handmade Linen Whale Shade for Maine Street Mercantile & Mfg. Co. by Michael Rego at
etsy.com/people/regollc

Maroc Fabric in Java
Beacon Hill
beaconhilldesign.com

Ikat Fret Fabric in Charcoal
Robert Allen
robertallendesign.com

Shruti Washed Linen
Kravet
kravet.com

Eastbourne Fabric in Custard
Classic Cloth
dessinfournir.com

Emtek Providence Knob
Handle It
handleitshowroom.com

Cabinetry by Kaeser in Shoreline by Benjamin Moore
Maine Street Design Co.
mainestreetdesign.com

Printed Cotton Fabric in Nickel
B.Berger
bberger.com

Paint Color: Tarrytown Green
Benjamin Moore
benjaminmoore.com

Carpet
Surya Fallon
surya.com