The living room on the other side of the hallway is a more formal space with its high backed and tufted sofa and an upright piano placed just in front of the wall shelving. Adding to the more regal effect is the tall mantle that surrounds the fireplace. With the height of the mantle and the high back to the sofa, the ceiling could have felt low had they not painted out the exposed beams but with the only dark shades near the floor, the space is kept light and bright. Even though this is a more social space then the library, it has a more serious feel about it.
The coffee table in the living room is a clever design of a mid-century style wood table with splayed legs inset on an angle into a modernist waterfall solid surface table. The contrasting styles, materials, and colours add a little whimsy to an otherwise formal space as does the addition of a zebra pattern on the chaise.
There is also a more formal dining area located between the stairwell and a pair of French doors. The French doors are actually a double layer of doors, the first keeping the traditional elements of the home alive while the second offering the more efficient glazing required to keep wind, heat, or cold at bay. The fireplace in this room is less grand then in the living room but nevertheless keeps a stiff upper lip. The table in this room is huge and is once again supported by both chairs and a bench, but here, the bench is more sofa then bench and the chairs have a more classic profile then the cane seats in the library.
The dining room is a study of pattern from the grid work on the French doors and the white pickets on the balustrade to the exposed ceiling joists and the chair back details. With all this pattern the room could easily feel busy but with the simple white on ebony colour story it instead feels calm and relaxing.
Upstairs a small family room is the perfect get away from the hustle and bustle downstairs. A linen slipcovered couch and vintage furniture bring a real rustic biv to this room that was not seen downstairs. The casualness of the space is a perfect transition to the bedrooms that line the hall.
Even the doorway to the family room is a far cry from the elegant details below. Here a wall mounted slider allows for a large vintage door to open or close without imposing on the room itself.
The guest bedroom is also small and located in the corner of the home with windows on two sides, the only way to fit a double bed into the space was to situate it in front of one of the windows. The designers accommodated for this by wrapping the window in shelving which keeps the bed out and away from the glass while at the same time offers storage and table surface for the guests. The crown moulding is wrapped in front of the shelving rather then behind it and this makes the shelves appear to be built in rather then added on.
A second small bedroom is outfitted with a single bed tucked into a void created by a second single bed with pull out trolly bed below.
Also located on one of the home’s corners, each of these beds is below a window with bookshelves lining the walls behind the beds.
A third bedroom on this level is much bigger then the other two and is the Master Bedroom. While bookshelves are also a feature, here they are not on the window wall but instead flank the length of the wall on both sides of the bed. The bed is a traditional frame that requires steps to get into it and that little bit of nostalgia is further emphasized by the four-poster framework, chest at the end of the bed and the antique table.
The bed in this room is situated to take advantage of the view.
The bathroom on this level is a traditional composition of clawfoot tub, pedestal sink, and toilet, all surrounded by wainscoting of beadboard. The tub features ornate feat and a black painted surround that picks up on the traditional black and white hexagonal pattern to the floor tiles.
The pedestal on the bathroom sink is a whimsical addition of a cut down vintage newal post usually seen at the end of a balustrade.
