Displaying posts labeled "Library"

Working on a Saturday

Posted on Sat, 18 Oct 2025 by midcenturyjo

It’s like I say week in week out. If you have to drag yourself into work on a weekend then it helps if it’s somewhere stylish. The Beacon Hill Bookstore by Cathy Kincaid Interiors.

Photography by Sarah Winchester.

Though you wouldn’t know it, this Chicago suburbs home was a completely new build. It honors classical design principles and timeless traditional architecture while embracing a colorful, livable spirit. Formal elements—columns, moldings, a sweeping stair, and a grand two-story library—are paired with bold palettes, playful patterns, and antique furnishings to create rooms that feel both historic and fresh. The result is a home that balances proportion and permanence with warmth, wit, and modern comfort, standing as a testament to Chicago architecture and design.
I love the contradiction of formal and whimsical elements in this house. Serious, but nah, just kidding. Design: Summer Thornton; Photos: Thomas Loof; Architecture: Heidi Lightner Architects

Colour, comfort and connection

Posted on Wed, 10 Sep 2025 by midcenturyjo

C & J Katz Studio designed this lakeside New Hampshire home for longtime clients, blending memories of a beloved family cottage and their former Boston townhouse. Built on a steep hillside, the residence steps down in levels, each offering expansive lake views. A winding oak staircase recalls the townhouse, while stone floors, a generous fireplace, and ample storage nod to the cottage. Rich in colour and texture, the interiors balance joyful details with a deep connection to site and family history.

Photography by David Mitchell.

The goals of the project at “Big Bend”, located in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, were two-fold. The design team was charged with completely re-envisioning the interior of the house through a gut renovation that would deliver amenity updates and a setting for a contemporary lifestyle. Simultaneously, restoration of the exterior and minor additions would occur with the minimal possible impact on the historic character of the building. Our client wanted the interior to surprise visitors. In response, our design delivers utterly unique, dramatic spaces created through custom casework, vaulted ceilings, and a plan that provides multiple sightlines through the house from various points of entry.
I loooooooove the mix of old and “newer” in this home and how it all looks like there’s some history behind it even if it’s been rebuilt. I don’t know what the interior looked like before the renovation but I think Archer & Buchanan Architects did it justice. BuilderGriffiths Construction, Inc.; Photos: Jeffrey Totaro.

I spotted this location home on Shoot Factory and immediately fell in love with it’s quaintness and soothing, peaceful vibe. It’s a traditional Cotswold stone barn house situated at the end of a private lane in a peaceful Gloucestershire hamlet. Formerly the barn of a farm property it was changed into a residential dwelling in the 1960’s. And I could live there happily for the rest of my days.