Since moving to Louisville in 2005, Robin Cole of Robin’s Nest Interiors has been incorporating timeless and stylish designs throughout homes in Louisville and beyond. Here, she discusses how she transformed a cold Goshen ranch house from a stark, cold space into a warm and inviting, livable abode.
Flooring first
Cole's primary challenge with this 4,050-square-foot home was its marble flooring throughout the entire first floor. While it’s an elegant, aesthetically appealing choice, marble can be slippery, prone to cracks, and give off a sterile and unwelcoming feel.
“The marble just made everything so cold,” Cole said, adding that the decision to replace it was pricey, but worth it. “We ended up laying down French white oak, and left it natural, so that immediately warmed up everything.”
She adds that consistent flooring throughout a space also helps to tie everything together. Different kinds of flooring can create multiple issues, including lack of cohesion, awkward transitions from room to room, a disruption of flow, maintenance challenges, and height differences between various materials.
“Your flooring is a good way to keep it all moving and feeling very consistent,” Cole said. “Whenever possible, it’s nice to do that. We kind of did the same thing with the colors on our walls — we kept those within that same family.”
New hues
Cole says that two Sherwin Williams gray hues — Amazing Gray and Intellectual Gray — are used throughout the dining room, kitchen, breakfast area, and study. Like the unchanging flooring throughout, this color consistency helps each redesigned room seamlessly flow into the next.
The one room with a major pop of color is the study-turned-office, which boasts a bold, bluish-green built-in.
“We decided to take the study to the left of the foyer (and turn it into) an office,” Cole said, adding that in lieu of installing doors to make it more private, they opted to leave it open and create a big, eye-catching built-in instead.
Working with the homeowner to design the piece, Cole made sure to include customized spaces to accommodate both office equipment and art.
“She had a piece of artwork that she wanted to incorporate in that,” Cole recalled, “so we basically designed it around those parameters, then painted it that strong, blue-green color so that was what catches your eye — rather than the monitors sitting on the shelf.”
In addition to creating a space for the artwork, Cole carefully styled the shelves with complementary accessories and framed photos, then added a chic writing desk to the space.
“It still very much feels like a study,” Cole said, “but with that built-in, we got her all the functionality that she needed to work from home.”
The Benjamin Moore Yorktowne Green of the built-in was also used on the foyer ceiling, helping unify the two spaces.
Feeling blue
Also supporting cohesion throughout the first floor are the drapery panels used in nearly every room.
“The fabric has metallic threads in it, so it’s a little pop of fun,” Cole exclaimed.
She adds that the owners love blue, so she incorporated various shades of the soothing color throughout the home. In the dining room, blue-hued decorative vases sit below a multicolored abstract art piece.
“It’s a long and narrow space,” Cole said, “so I got (that) vibrant piece of artwork and put it at the end of the room, right above the wainscoting. That catches your eye and draws it back there.”
Cole also added a long table that seats eight on a typical day but boasts enough room for 12. Windows line the wall on one side of the table while medallion wall decor adds visual interest to the other.
“We packed a lot in that area,” Cole said. “I’m a sucker for a good-looking dining room.”
A breakfast area near the back door provides space for informal dining. At the small round table with seating for four, the homeowners can enjoy their morning meals with a view of their beautiful backyard.
“The house sits on a really pretty property,” Cole said, “and I always try to not compete with the outdoors, but complement it. I use a lot of texture (and) natural (elements), like that basket on the table. … You’ll hear this a lot: bring the outdoors in.”
The breakfast area flows into the kitchen, where Cole swapped the previous island top with quartzite to match the rest of the counters. She also replaced the clear glass in the cabinet doors with smoked glass so the homeowner can store items without worrying how they’re presented.
“(They) didn’t want to have to worry about displaying stuff,” Cole said. “It turned out beautifully and it helped function for them.”
Know a house that would make a great Home of the Week? Email writer Lennie Omalza at [email protected] or Lifestyle Editor Kathryn Gregory at [email protected].
nuts & bolts
Home: This is a four-bed, four-bath, 4,050-square-foot ranch home in the Poplar Woods Estates subdivision in Goshen. It was built in 2018.
Distinctive elements: Built-in in study; decorative wainscoting in dining room; quartzite countertop on island; natural French oak flooring throughout.
Applause! Applause! Interior design, furniture, rugs, artwork, and accessories by Robin’s Nest Interiors; photography by Abby Tappendorf.
Powered By