Contemporary Style in a 1909 Massachusetts Home
Homeowners work with a team of pros to transform a former bed-and-breakfast into their dream space
After living in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston for many years, Courtney and Brendan Meyer were ready to move their growing family to a more rural setting. They wanted more space, and the town of Hadley in western Massachusetts provided both that and proximity to family.
The couple bought their 1909 three-story fixer-upper in the fall of 2017 and, in Courtney’s words, “the house was falling into disrepair and it honestly made us feel depressed when we walked into it.” But they absolutely adored the location near the historic town common, a bike path and a river walk. They hired a team of design pros to do a gut renovation and create their dream home in their dream location.
The couple bought their 1909 three-story fixer-upper in the fall of 2017 and, in Courtney’s words, “the house was falling into disrepair and it honestly made us feel depressed when we walked into it.” But they absolutely adored the location near the historic town common, a bike path and a river walk. They hired a team of design pros to do a gut renovation and create their dream home in their dream location.
The couple turned to photos on Houzz for design inspiration and resources throughout the renovation. Once the walls came down, opening up the first floor, they had the ideal canvas on which to create their contemporary design aesthetic. Here, Courtney and Brendan hold son Owen.
How to Create and Use Ideabooks
How to Create and Use Ideabooks
The property was once a Christmas tree farm, and from the window above their farmhouse sink, the couple now enjoy a beautiful view of mature evergreens in the backyard.
Their previous home in Boston had a cramped galley kitchen, and a big priority for them in their new house was plenty of counter space and cabinet storage to keep things tucked away. Because the couple enjoy hosting their families during the holidays, they had two ovens installed.
Find the Right Oven Arrangement for Your Kitchen
Their previous home in Boston had a cramped galley kitchen, and a big priority for them in their new house was plenty of counter space and cabinet storage to keep things tucked away. Because the couple enjoy hosting their families during the holidays, they had two ovens installed.
Find the Right Oven Arrangement for Your Kitchen
The large island takes advantage of the generous floor space and provides ample storage and an additional surface for cooking and entertaining.
A turquoise accent wall sits opposite the floor-to-ceiling windows. This same color is found on accent walls throughout the house.
Accent wall paint: Bahamian Escape, Clark + Kensington; Knicker dining chairs: Blu Dot; Turquoise artwork: Pat Mattina; Heracleum II LED suspension chandelier by Bertjan Pot for Moooi: Lightology
Accent wall paint: Bahamian Escape, Clark + Kensington; Knicker dining chairs: Blu Dot; Turquoise artwork: Pat Mattina; Heracleum II LED suspension chandelier by Bertjan Pot for Moooi: Lightology
After: Removing the walls created an open layout, and now the dining area is easily accessible to the kitchen. The couple kept the wood ceiling and had it painted white. The living-dining area is now one of the family’s favorite spots in the house, thanks to its multipurpose function and open feel.
The living area is also home to a few houseplants, which thrive with all the natural light from the windows. Courtney is the plant tender in the family. “I struggle to keep plants alive but love having plants around, so I try my best,” she says.
The living area is filled with warm light even on dreary days thanks to the new floor-to-ceiling windows that span the entire space.
The renovated downstairs bathroom has the same modern style as the rest of the house. A sleek white wall-mounted floating vanity and dark gray large-format floor tile create clean and simple lines.
A barn door separates the family room from the rest of the first floor. The family loves to cuddle on the large and comfy sectional. The original tin ceiling makes an appearance in this space.
High Line coffee table: Urbangreen Furniture
High Line coffee table: Urbangreen Furniture
An old barn used to sit on the property, but it was in such bad shape that it had to be removed. The couple were able to repurpose some of its wood to create accents around the house. In the entryway, the wood was used for a bench and coordinating shelf. The hooks on the shelf are doorknobs that were salvaged from the house during the renovation.
Brendan’s home office incorporates a few vintage touches, and the original tin ceiling can be spotted here as well, painted a copper color.
Volute wallpaper in Oyster: Bradbury & Bradbury
Volute wallpaper in Oyster: Bradbury & Bradbury
One of the biggest changes the couple made to the house was the layout. “We had to move three stairways since Brendan was too tall to walk up them,” Courtney says. They used the opportunity to add some architectural detail in the form of slatted wood railings and dividers.
Brie, one of the family’s cats, likes to bask in the sunlight that floods into the master bedroom.
At the entrance to the master bedroom, a partial wall adds privacy and provides a natural spot for a dresser, which sits opposite a walk-in closet.
Envelo dresser: Article
Envelo dresser: Article
The couple added dark blue geometric-patterned wallpaper as an accent on the far wall of the bedroom.
Ferm Living Lines wallpaper in Dark Blue via Burke Decor
Ferm Living Lines wallpaper in Dark Blue via Burke Decor
The spacious master bath features a modern floating vanity and a large glass shower with light blue fish-scale-shaped accent tile.
Down the hall, Owen’s nursery is furnished with simple modern pieces.
When the Meyers purchased the home, it was zoned as a multifamily house with a living area, kitchen, bathroom and bedrooms on the second floor. They removed that kitchen and transformed it into bedrooms and a play area for Owen. Their signature turquoise accent wall makes another appearance here.
The same unique slatted railings extend up to the third floor, a bonus room that’s used as a play space and an extra bedroom.
The bonus room is one of the few areas of the home that wasn’t touched structurally. Its ceiling wood was dark and dated but it was architecturally interesting, so the couple simply painted it white and added a turquoise accent wall. A handful of mementos from their travels decorate the wall.
Outside, the couple worked with New York stonemason Warren Melby of Zen Stone Guy to create a stone fence. They also had new siding installed and painted the exterior a cheery yellow. Their goal was to have the house still look like a 1909 farmhouse but with a more contemporary, updated look.
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
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My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More on Houzz
See other home tours
Find a home pro
Shop for home products
Who lives here: Courtney and Brendan Meyer; their son, Owen; and their cats, Pickle and Brie
Location: Hadley, Massachusetts
Size: 3,100 square feet (288 square meters); five bedrooms, four bathrooms
The Meyers hired local architect Lynn Posner Rice to help redo the layout of the house. The homeowners took the majority of the home right down to the studs, removing walls and relocating stairways. Since the house used to be a bed-and-breakfast, they also needed to change its layout. The homeowners worked closely with their design team, which included the architect and general contractor John Sackrey of Sackrey Construction in Sunderland. The couple began the renovation in February 2018 and completed it later that year.
The family now enjoys a contemporary-style interior with hits of color that add personality while honoring the home’s original architectural details. “We opened up the walls on the first floor to make it more welcoming,” Courtney says.
The renovated kitchen’s cabinets, backsplash and stainless steel appliances are all new. The Shaker-style cabinets are painted a soft minty green — Tea Light by Benjamin Moore.
Backsplash: Medium Diamonds in Deco White: Mercury Mosaics