Creating a Contemporary Craftsman

Curating Character

Approaching the white Hardie board exterior and entering through the rich wood-stained front door takes visitors directly into the home’s living room. Here, several elements provide a nod to the original home. “We took the existing fireplace surround and reused it in the brick wall of the main living space, and we also used some of the trim that was originally around the windows and doors,” explains Bridges. “We really wanted to keep the same look and character.” 

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The white tongue-and-groove ceiling is angled against the joists to add a bit of visual interest, and the exposed supports give the illusion that the 10-foot ceilings are a foot higher than they really are. Although the main living spaces are arranged in an open-concept floor plan, a charcoal gray metal support beam at the far end of the living room works to give the spaces their own distinction while also tying in the subtle industrial elements found throughout the home. A wooden dining room table surrounded by slat-back chairs rests in front of a window that provides ample light, and four leathered barstools just feet away are tucked under the overhang of an elongated kitchen island.

“I really liked that we utilized a local craftsman for the thick butcher block-style island counter,” adds Bridges. “This space is truly a catch-all. It’s used as both a seating and storage area and still has a generous work surface.” Clean-lined medium-gray shaker cabinets tie in with the patterned backsplash tile and are outfitted with silver hardware that matches the room’s stainless-steel appliances. A few fresh flowers and potted plants energize the space and provide an additional layer to the mixed materials found in the space and throughout the rest of the home. 

Tile: Stone Source, Inc.

Progressing deeper into the home takes visitors to the master suite. Here, a king-sized platform bed is topped with a heavenly tufted comforter, and a large window features a casement pane for a breath of fresh air. Two pendant lights match a trio in the living room and work with the open-web metal truss ceiling to carry the industrial flair into this room. “On the second story of the home, we included a dropped deck that sits just above this room,” explains Bridges. “Like the living room, we were able to gain a foot by exposing the structure. It’s great because these feel like 9-foot ceilings when they’re really only 8.”

“On the second story of the home, we included a dropped deck that sits just above this room. Like the living room, we were able to gain a foot by exposing the structure. It’s great because these feel like 9-foot ceilings when they’re really only 8.”
– Michael Bridges, Surface Architecture & Design

Stepping into the spacious master bathroom provides a sense of tranquility. The rich woods and deep grays that are seen around much of the home are traded for materials that are several shades lighter. Vanities donning quartz countertops are on perpendicular walls, and large-format tiles with a suite of neutral streaks flow across the floor. Those same tiles can be found in the oversized, zero-threshold shower that is complete with a rain head. Similar tiles, much smaller in size, are arranged in a herringbone pattern along one wall, which features a ledge just underneath an elongated window that provides both ample light and privacy. 

Outdoor porch furniture: Fowler Brothers Co.

Traveling back toward the living spaces and up a set of stairs provides access to the home’s screened-in porch and soon-to-be rooftop garden. “It wasn’t until we were getting ready to start demolition that we realized we had views,” says Bridges. “That was a nice surprise, and we wanted to make sure we capitalized on that. It was the main reason we ended up designing this place the way we did.” Now, the home has the perfect space for entertaining or relaxing during the warmer months. A tongue-and-groove ceiling plays off of the area’s natural surroundings, and a metal table once again brings in mixed materials and boasts comfortable seating for six. “We had a lot of unforeseen circumstances around this project,” explains Bridges. “But with each change, we were able to pivot and adapt, and the final result was amazing.”

Other Suppliers:

Additional brick: Acme Block & Brick, Inc.

Appliances and lighting and
plumbing fixtures: Ferguson

Coffee and dining room tables and island countertop: Carter Ellis, Ellis Table Company

Countertops: Granite Warehouse

Flooring: Heavenly Floors

Interior doors, trim, and windows: JB Millworks