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Collection by Andrea Smith

Things of the Past: 8 Converted Homes

From factories and garages, to stables and taverns, these repurposed homes have serious soul.

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An interior courtyard provides even more space for entertaining, as well as another opportunity to reference the building’s history. Backlighting transforms this 16-foot Cor-Ten steel light fixture into an image of super-sized tulips, a nod to Cruickshank’s history. To create the design, a heavily pixelated image of tulips was translated into perforated steel.
An interior courtyard provides even more space for entertaining, as well as another opportunity to reference the building’s history. Backlighting transforms this 16-foot Cor-Ten steel light fixture into an image of super-sized tulips, a nod to Cruickshank’s history. To create the design, a heavily pixelated image of tulips was translated into perforated steel.
The upstairs living room is an open plan social space, perfect for entertaining. Turntables live behind the vintage mirror (on wheels for easy moving) and make frequent appearances, and the leather sectional holds each piece separately on wheels, fitting together like a movable puzzle.
The upstairs living room is an open plan social space, perfect for entertaining. Turntables live behind the vintage mirror (on wheels for easy moving) and make frequent appearances, and the leather sectional holds each piece separately on wheels, fitting together like a movable puzzle.
The bathroom evokes the building’s industrial bones. The pendant light is from Ikea, and the towel racks are repurposed train car luggage racks. The Carrara tiles are mismatched seconds. “It works if you let yourself not try to fix it,” says Brandon.
The bathroom evokes the building’s industrial bones. The pendant light is from Ikea, and the towel racks are repurposed train car luggage racks. The Carrara tiles are mismatched seconds. “It works if you let yourself not try to fix it,” says Brandon.
When it comes to material originality, this former tavern in Chicago’s trendy Bucktown neighborhood pulls out all the stops. Gut-renovated by local firm Wilkinson Blender Architecture, the house is also comprehensively green. Photo by: Doug Fogelson/DRFP
When it comes to material originality, this former tavern in Chicago’s trendy Bucktown neighborhood pulls out all the stops. Gut-renovated by local firm Wilkinson Blender Architecture, the house is also comprehensively green. Photo by: Doug Fogelson/DRFP
Hernandez and Surratt relax in the living room, which is enlivened by the house’s internal topography. A short flight of steps divides the interconnected areas and offers a place to sit. Above is a loft that can be converted to a bedroom.
Hernandez and Surratt relax in the living room, which is enlivened by the house’s internal topography. A short flight of steps divides the interconnected areas and offers a place to sit. Above is a loft that can be converted to a bedroom.
Original elements such as the curved glass windows, added in the 1930s, remain, as does the original parquet floor.
Original elements such as the curved glass windows, added in the 1930s, remain, as does the original parquet floor.
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