1830 Antique House Filled with Modern Art | Designport Snoop

Amanda Tartar’s dining room pairs modern art and sculptural lighting with 150-year-old architectural bones.

You may know her as Fairfield County realtor @subwaytosuburbs — but her own home feels like the perfect blend of bucolic country estate and chic downtown gallery.

Amanda fell in love with this antique house the moment she saw it. Built in 1830, it still has the foot-wide original floorboards to prove it. Inside, her eclectic style layers antiques and family heirlooms with her father’s sculpture and an outrageously fun collection of modern art.

Amanda worked with interior designer Lauren Rasken of @laurenabalkandesigns to shape the spaces while keeping the home’s historic charm intact. The result is a house that feels personal, artful, and just a little unexpected.

The refreshed entryway sets the tone immediately. A graphic, windowpane wallpaper print by Kelly Wearstler creates a striking backdrop for a vintage Danish table that once belonged to Amanda’s parents. Styled with favorite art books and a piece of her father’s sculpture, the vignette perfectly captures the home’s mix of heritage and modern personality. The black and white photograph is by Elizabeth Gilbert, Amanda’s former neighbor from her New York City days.

One of the most dramatic transformations happened in the kitchen. The original wood cabinetry felt a bit too country for Amanda’s taste, though the layout and appliances were still functional. Rather than gut the space, the team opted for a lighter touch: painting the cabinetry and updating the hardware and lighting for a cleaner, fresher look. The adjacent family room was also brightened and refreshed, and is now where the family spends most of their time. (Images 2 & 4 show the “before.”)

The large living room contains two separate seating areas. The first is anchored by the home’s original fireplace and built-in bookshelves. The goal here was to preserve the character and heritage of the space while giving it a more collected, pulled-together feel — something the before photo makes especially clear. The room is filled with art treasures, including the abstract “dripped” painting to the left of the fireplace, a signature Waterfall piece by Pat Steir.

But the dining room may be the true show-stopper. A basketweave wallcovering by Philip Jeffries provides a richly textured backdrop, while dramatic draped lighting adds sculptural interest in the low-ceilinged space. The large photograph, titled Floater, is part of a diorama series by Lori Nix .

One playful highlight in the dining roomm: a bright red lip print by Donald D Rawbertson punctuates the space with unmistakable artistic flair.

Upstairs, the bedrooms continue the home’s theme of vintage charm meeting bold artistic expression. Once again, the before photos reveal how restraint can go a long way in spaces with such beautiful architectural bones.