The primary bedroom in this Lumberton farmhouse features a riot of color and pattern. Photo: Brian Wetzel
Michelle Gage understands the challenges inherent in updating a historical home for modern living, but this particular residence was special.
“This is the oldest home we’ve worked on,” the designer says of the 18th-century structure in Lumberton.
To put it in perspective, at the time this house was built, the steam engine was an up-and-coming tech innovation, a chest of drawers cost around $2, and the American Revolution was still fresh in the minds of New Jerseyans.
“In a house with this much history, it’s inevitable that the many inhabitants will make alterations over the decades and centuries,” says Gage, owner of Philadelphia-based Michelle Gage Interiors. Still, she was undaunted, in large part, because her client was so receptive to her suggestions. “He was incredibly open,” says Gage, who took into consideration the aesthetics of both the home and the homeowner. “We felt the home had an English vibe, and that the client was fairly quirky and eccentric, so we wanted the home to match.”
The English aesthetic is apparent throughout, from the entry, where wellies hang on an antique boot rack, to the primary bedroom, where layers of florals appear on the walls, headboard and bedding. The wallpaper has a British-country-house appeal, with rich designs and varied patterns that add depth and character.
In the breakfast nook, a moody, jungle-like wall covering frames the original built-in cabinetry and features an intriguing surprise. “There are animals hidden in that wallpaper,” Gage notes. In the laundry room, a more subdued sage-green and white botanical wall covering provides a look as crisp and fresh as newly laundered linens.