One of the great pleasures I derive from working on a wide variety of historic periods and design styles is that I am continually exposed to new material and ideas. And I have an opportunity to learn something of the history and sociology of that particular period or style. ( Some times I’m a closet anthropologist or sociologist.)

The 1804 Federal home we’re are working on has a layout typical of Colonial/Federal period homes – a formal parlor and dining room across the front of the house and a large hearth room across the back of the house. Earlier in the home’s history, I suspect there was a small study immediately behind the front parlor, making the original hearth room small than what we see today. Mr. Forster, for whom the house was originally built, was a merchant who owned a small coastal trading ship and the study would have been the room from which he conducted the daily routine of his business – while formally meeting his clients/customers in the parlor. Quite typical for the day…

Of course, the hearth room was originally a working kitchen.While we will tip our hat to its original function, the real cooking will happen in the modern kitchen noted in our earlier post. Our challenge will be integrating the hearth room into a larger kitchen lounge/great room environment, more suited to today’s lifestyles, while keeping the hearth as the focal point of the room.

It has been a joy to see how others have tackled this and similar design challenges – either through the design of the interior architecture or the collecting and display of examples of uniquely American art or artifacts.

These and other images were terrific working tools as Sally and I talked with our client about the vision they had for this house – their vision of Home. While we talked and sketched space plans and worked on the kitchen design, I was looking for clues as to what would be an appropriate design for the hearth room’s fireplace mantel and storage solutions.  What’s cool about an old home is that the answer to ones questions can usually be found in the home’s existing details.  In this case, there were clues and hints in spades, from which a series of idea sketches were pulled together. Here are a few examples.

Love doing these little emotional sketches!!!