The project is a 19-century Victorian farmhouse in Geneva, IL. The owner had bought it a few years ago along with the farm and decided to perform a full renovation of the interior. The original part of the house, while aged, was in good condition but later additions were poorly done and in need of overhaul. The project kept the older part of the house almost intact with concentric wood floor pattern and bold trim work, while fully renovating the rest of the house.

The major spatial change was to ‘flip’ existing stairs so that the circulation becomes smooth and efficient when the house has few people, or a lot. 

The main key design efforts focused on the kitchen and the numerous bathrooms. 

The kitchen used to occupy a wide area but was inefficient and of poor quality. The new kitchen takes advantage of the ‘almost square’ shape in plan and allows many to engage in cooking and social activities at the same time, as the client likes to host casually. The cabinetry has a farmhouse language and the color palette creates a sophisticated yet pastoral atmosphere.

The house has many bathrooms and the design for them varies according to the location and for whom it is designated. The master bathroom is grand and features a magnificent Lacava bathtub. The finish, using handmade tiles of three different shades of blue, allows for the room to have depth.  The older part of the house, keeping a more vintage look, will host special guests and its bathroom was updated with classical fixtures and a striking hexagon dialog, giving a contemporary interpretation of the classic 1920s vintage style.

Photography: John Boehm

Copyright Aurélie Merle Atelier