Date:  October 31, 2019  |   Story: Stephanie Maxwell Newton  |   Photography: Rett Peek  |  

Massimo Interior Design looks to a homeowner’s eclectic collections to create a modern townhouse design

When the owner of this home came to Scott Paterek and Tammie Weaver of Massimo Interior Design, she was living in an English country-style home and looking to downsize—and make a rather drastic departure from the style of her home. “She was just ready for a change. She’s very artistic, and I think after years and years of tradition, she envisioned this cleaner palette for herself,” Scott says.

Massimo took the lead on helping the homeowner through a massive renovation of a newly purchased townhome, which includes living spaces on the second floor (above a ground-floor garage and utility room) and bedrooms on the third floor. “The fireplaces and staircases remained in the same locations, but otherwise we gutted it,” Tammie says. Together, they worked with the owner to customize the home into the clean-lined, serene space she desired while working in a few nods to industrial style, some of her favorite antiques, and her extensive collection of art, acquired both locally and from afar.

In making choices throughout the design process, Scott and Tammie took much of their inspiration from the owner’s art collection, letting black-and-white paintings and graphite drawings guide them toward dark pieces that would stand out against the all-white backdrop. Wood also acts as an accent throughout the home, adding warmth and texture to the design.

“I’ve always had a little cleaner style, personally, but we try to avoid a stamped look in clients’ homes,” Scott says. “For this project, we kept in mind that the home needed to serve as a simple backdrop for her collection. It pushed us to think outside the box, for sure.”

“She and her husband bought this piece in Thailand,” Scott says of the enormous fish sculpture this is the focal point of the living room. “It was the jumping off point for almost the entire space.”

Industrial Kitchen
While the home’s clean-lined simplicity continues into the kitchen—apparent especially in the lacquered cabinets—that element is juxtaposed with the warmth of the wooden island and curves of the industrial pendants and bar stools. “We knew you’d be able to see the dining table from here, and we wanted to continue that softness a little,” Scott says. A solid piece of stainless sheet metal serves as the backsplash, and cabinets overhead are translucent to offer ease of use while cooking as well as visual interest.

Seat at the Table
Though technically the formal dining room, the straight lines, lack of ornamentation, and playful art—a portrait of the homeowner’s English sheepdog—keep this space down to earth. The table is repurposed from the owner’s previous country-style house and balances the more contemporary elements of the space and its adjoining kitchen and living room while adding character.

Modern glass-and-metal railings open up the two stairwells in the home. More of the homeowner’s personal art collection is displayed gallery style.

Artful Retreat
A metal bed frame brings the home’s industrial slant into the master bedroom, while the bedside tables are repurposed pieces from the owner’s previous home. There are also several instances where it’s hard to separate form from function in this room: The sculptural towers on each bedside table are actually bulb-less lamps (their internal ring glows), and nearby ottomans take the form of fluffy sheep with wood-carved faces.

Place to Create
The design team configured a sitting area in the master bedroom complete with a drafting table. On either side of the fireplace, glass-front armoires store the homeowner’s art supplies while helping her keep track of what items are stored where. “These work here because they have an old appearance, but they’re very sleek with rustic hardware,” Scott says of the case goods. “They’re, in essence, contemporary pieces, but they have a texture and roughness to them.”

Simplified & Serene
The master bathroom is floored in an oversized glazed porcelain tile that mimics the veining of limestone. A charcoal drawing by a local artist adds interest above a sleek soaking tub.

Thoughtful Design
A symmetrical shower configuration in the master bath showcases Scott and Tammie’s forethought for utility in design. A linen closet divides two spaces: on the right, a shower with a zero-threshold entrance, and to the left, a water closet with a wall-mounted toilet concealed by the frosted glass. Behind the linen closet, unused space was turned into shower cubbies and shelving for toiletries. Above the floating vanity, the mirror slides up to expose electrical outlets and even more concealed storage.

Happy Place
With tasseled bedding and pops of primary colors in the art and accessories, the guest room is the perfect place for the owner’s granddaughter to feel comfortable when she visits. All bedding in the home came from Massimo’s sister store in Chicago, Norcross & Scott.

The home’s powder bath showcases a unique floor-to-ceiling mirror behind a floating vanity and glass sink.

Design Resources
Contractor Bill Wrape, Distinctive Kitchens & Baths Interior design Scott Paterek and Tammie Weaver, Massimo Interior Design Bedding and furniture Massimo Interior Design Cabinetry and countertops Distinctive Kitchens & Baths Paint Benjamin Moore Window coverings Larry Engels