The Revival of a 1970s A-frame Home

1970s A-Frame

Let the Sun Shine in.

Lovingly dubbed the Wildflower Chalet, this 1970s A-frame is, in a word, stunning. The architecture, the natural light, and the views add up to a magical home tucked high in the mountains.

A-Frame

But it wasn’t always so cheery—when the new owners purchased the home, wood beams throughout were painted in thick, dark brown, and the light fixtures looked like they came directly from the Renaissance Festival, among other aesthetically challenging features.

To bring light and love into the home, the owners relied on the three pillars of interior design—paint, lighting, and furnishings.

PAINT

At some point in the home’s history, the beautiful natural wood beams had been sloppily painted a dark glossy brown. It competed with the warm wood tones on the ceiling and clashed with the red tones in the wood flooring. Luckily, the wood frames between the glass panels, beautifully warped by time, had been left natural.

In order to lighten up the overall look, every square inch of dark brown paint throughout the home was re-painted with Classic: a light cream color by Clare Paint. The transformation was instantaneous. The spiral staircase now sings, the fireplace feels less recessed, and your eye has the freedom to travel up the glass windows and rest upon the natural beauty beyond.

LIGHTING

Next was the lighting. In a space this grand, scale is key. The overall size of the light needed to be as impressive as the style itself. The owner turned to the artists at Blueprint Lighting NYC. These custom 6-tier orbital chandeliers they created are a dash of French modernism, a splash of Italian modernism, a bit Alexander Calder-esque…and absolute perfection.

A-Frame

The owner/designer chose a retro sunset-inspired palette in six shades for the globe finials, paired with six-inch milk-glass bulbs, and champagne bronze hardware.

FURNISHINGS

In essence, the mood for the entire room was established by light fixtures. Warm woods, creams, whites, and golds mingle with a touch of rust. Vintage wingback chairs—statement pieces—were reupholstered in faux sheepskin fur. A velvet sofa cradles pillows with nubby texture and tassels and pairs well with a round upholstered ottoman.

At the meridian of the windows sits a burl wood console, flanked by a pair of vintage oversized cream vases. On the mantle of the elongated moss rock fireplace rests a framed print by Jan Skácelík.

Tucked beneath the spiral staircase, a mid-century modern tiger wood dresser houses the record player and vinyl collection. The vintage gold-coated hand chair serves as an art installation.

The room mixes mid-century modern with brutalism, anchored in natural textures and a neutral palette. If this home sparks a bit of joy for you, replicate this simple formula of light-enhancing paint colors, statement lighting, and furnishings in a strict color palette.

Text by Jasmine Bible + Photos by Jennifer Morgan Creative

–We shared this article with you in the Winter 2022 issue of NEST Magazine. Subscribe here. And be sure to follow us on Instagram @NestRealty.

 

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Posted in Asheville, Charlottesville, Fredericksburg, Greater Louisville, Greensboro, Greenville, Jackson, Lake Norman, Morganton, NEST Magazine, New River Valley, Raleigh-Durham, Richmond, Roanoke, Shenandoah Valley, Wilmington
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