12 April 2018
Posted in: Project Spotlight
Nemo Tile + Stone

Project Spotlight: A Clever 100-Year-Old Farmhouse Renovation in Fair Haven, NJ

This house was the personal yearlong renovation of a 100-year-old farmhouse in Fair Haven, NJ.  The homeowners, Architect Erica Broberg Smith and Scott Smith, Owner of Smith River Kitchens wanted a home that was easy on the eyes, full of clean lines, and yet operated at maximum functionality for their highly active family while still retaining its charm. Since both homeowners are involved in making daily design decisions for multiple clients and projects, it was important to them that their home wasn’t too trendy. They chose a color scheme of grey and warm white for the simplicity and timelessness.  This color scheme gave them a calming respite from the many patterns and colors they work with every day. The homeowners bumped out the house to expand the kitchen adding a laundry room, pantry and mudroom. Erica Broberg Smith wanted to stay true to the original architecture of the home, so she when it came to designing the new addition, she did just that in keeping with a cohesive, yet modern look and feel of the house. The result—a magical transformation that boasts a clever design.  

Laundry Room & Pantry

  While the Torrone is a more utilitarian tile in its application, the homeowners opted for the porcelain in Absolute White for the laundry room and pantry, leading from the kitchen. The high-function-meets-high-style design of the Torrone Absolute White beautifully complimented the neutral color pallets that were chosen for both of those spaces.  Meant to mimic Terrazzo stone, the flecks of color in the Torrone Absolute White allows the light to reflect in random patterns, which easily disguises household marks and is a wonderful solution for high-use areas of the home. NEMO materials used: Torrone Absolute White 24x24. Torrone is offered in an array of neutral color schemes. View Torrone HERE.  

Mud Room

Although the mudroom currently occupies the space where the home’s original outdoor porch was previously located, the seamless renovation and creative design makes the room look and feel as if it has always been there. The mudroom’s custom-built cabinetry commissioned by Smith River Kitchens lends its own traditional aesthetic to a more transitional space. The cabinetry is painted in a high gloss finish to compliment the design and houses everyday clothing as well as the sports equipment for Scott and Erica’s ten and twelve-year-old children who play field hockey and lacrosse. Adding a sense of flair and charm to the space are the flying pig piggy bank and the Scottie Dog, both antique finds from the Hampton Gather Shop. NEMO materials used: Marvel Pro Noir St. Laurent 12x24 with a matte finish. In this application, this matte finish gives the tile a more realistic, marble-like appearance. The complex black tones with the subtle grey marbleizing, transform the space into a unique one of a kind installation. View Marvel Pro HERE.  

Master Bath

  The bathroom is flooded with natural light thanks to multiple windows and an oversized skylight—an element that is always an added bonus when designing a space. When it came to designing the master bath, the homeowners continued the grey and white color pallet from downstairs opting for a clean, modern and fresh look which was nicely complimented by the abundance of natural light that already filled the room. “Because we are kitchen and bath designers, we wanted a peaceful space that was both easy on the eyes and maintenance friendly” states homeowner Broberg Smith.  “I wanted the bathroom to be bright and simple.” In this space, they used the Marvel Grey Fleury 12x24s on the walls in a stacked pattern to keep the grout lines to a minimum. This appealing linear design draws your eyes up and also gives the look of natural stone with the veining. The combination of the Marvel Grey Fleury and subtle organic striations of the Volcano Cenere 2x2 Mosaic create a tranquil space for relaxation. The floor was the same Torrone Absolute White 24x24 tile and pattern as in the Laundry Room and Pantry. Note how in this space, the Torrone pattern feels different due to the overall design. The homeowners also added in electric radiant heat from Ditra Heat to keep the bathroom floors warm. The toilet is located behind a separate door to ensure privacy and a designated “wet area” was created in the bathroom design by Erica. “I recommend this set-up for clients with young children.  The bathroom instantly becomes family friendly with one parent being able to get ready while the children splash around on the shower floor under your watchful eye.” The wet area features two shower heads and a shower sitting area. “I like it without a door. The water is contained in the wet area and the door doesn’t add clutter to the space. It’s ok if the tub gets a little wet.” The master bath was designed for both husband and wife to share. “Here we don’t have to wait for a spouse to shower in order for the other to be able to get ready. Our morning routine becomes found quality time for us.” The end result is a bathroom space that is not only bright, simple and easy on the eyes, but also functional and uncluttered. NEMO materials used: Marvel Grey Fleury 12x24. View HERE. Torrone Absolute White 24x24. View HERE. Volcano Cenere 2x2 Mosaic. View HERE  

Credits

Erica Broberg Smith Architect http://ericabrobergarchitect.com @ericabrobergsmitharchitect Smith River Kitchens http://www.smithriverkitchens.com @smithriverkitchens Hampton Gather Shop http://www.hamptongather.com @hamptongathershop
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