Restorations Can Be as Fresh as They Are Faithful

After refreshing the exterior of the 1920s Dutch Colonial by taking it from dark and forgotten to bright and vibrant, it’s time to venture inside the front door. For those who haven’t already, be sure to check out the latest edition of Traditional with a Twist to see the dramatic before and after.

The exterior sets the stage for the home, and the foyer welcomes guests. It was important that the transition be seamless. At the start of the project, the foyer felt like it was missing the grandeur that the bones of the staircase carried. It’s a traditional 1920s staircase with a landing three-fourths of the way up.

Traditional design is all about the details, and the walls needed more dimension. Applied wainscoting was added, and once it was complete, it felt as if it had always been there. The trim was kept white and warmed up with a glossy new Benjamin Moore color, then a soft white was added above on the walls and ceiling. The look feels understated, like a breath of fresh air. The floors were refinished in a medium and warm brown tone, which provided a beautiful contrast to the white wainscoting, and helped bring elegance to the space.

Next came solving one of the main pain points of the home—the lack of a bathroom on the first floor. At the time, the only bathrooms were on the second floor, meaning guests would need to trek all the way upstairs.

Square footage was limited, as every space was purposeful and being used, but there was a tiny 12-inch-deep closet in the foyer. It was painful to take away some of the elegance of the staircase, but the compromise proved to be rewarding. Plus, it’s charming that many historic homes have tiny powder rooms on the first floor. First, an unnecessary door in the foyer that led to the kitchen was closed off, then the wall from the closet was bumped out to create enough room for a powder room.

Since the powder room is flanked by more formal living spaces (a formal dining room and formal living room), it needed to feel special, like a jewel box, and with a pop of color. Blue and white have a long history with traditional design, and the Schumacher wallpaper selected felt like a fresh take on the traditional color combination. The antique mirror and art laid against it created a stunning contrast with the wallpaper. Due to the size of the bathroom, the smallest sink possible was sourced — just big enough to wash your hands. In the end, this powder room not only added function to the home, but also a great conversation piece while guests are entertained.

Now that the journey has moved from the exterior to welcoming guests inside the home, stay tuned for the next issue, where more will be shared about decorating and how parts of the home were furnished before diving into the kitchen renovation. More to come, as this home continues to be featured with a traditional design, with a twist, made for today’s modern living.

Writer/Interior Designer: Belinda Pabian, @belindarpabian
Professional Photography: Mandy McGregor, @mandymcgregorphoto

This article originally appeared in the May 2025 issue of Omaha Home Magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.