Rocky River is a beautiful old suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, right up against Lake Erie. It’s a very familiar place to us – close to where Karen grew up, and where a few of the custom homes I’ve designed are built.
It’s a small city of 20,000 people and it’s filled with hundreds of classic early 20th-century homes like this updated Dutch center hall Colonial. We saw this come up for sale a while back and thought it was a great example of an updated home that keeps all of it’s original charm.
Just inside the front door of this center-hall floor plan is a modest foyer that opens into the living room on one side and the dining room on the other. The original narrow oak floors are a typical feature of center hall Colonial homes built in the 1920s.
The totally update kitchen has custom cabinets from Timberdoodle, a cabinetmaker in Minnesota.
We love this little mudroom hutch that matches the kitchen cabinets!
A nice little screened porch is just off the sunroom – yep, that’s an apartment building right next door, a pretty common occurrence in older neighborhoods.
The front has all of the wonderful, classic features of a center hall Dutch Colonial Revivial home – the gambrel main roof, big shed dormer, arched and bracketed entry, and two fantastic bay windows. It’s so simple, so well-composed and balanced…and the landscaping!
One of those big bays spans the whole width of the living room – love the light pouring in!
The other big bay window is in the dining room, just across the foyer. I’m sure this house is always full of light, even on an overcast northern Ohio winter afternoon.
The master bath is very “period” but totally functional and very pretty! The owners have combined the tile floors, pedestal sinks, beadboard wainscotting and other period details really well.
Next time we’re in Rocky River we’re going to try to track down this house. I’m sure it’s on a street with dozens of other cute 20’s homes.
I love this house. I live in Toledo, Ohio in Old Orchard neighborhood near the University. Old Orchard homes were built in the 20’s and 30’s. There are two homes in the neighborhood very similar to this one. Beautiful and full of charm.
Thanks for sharing.
Just a short drive along the lake to Rocky River! 🙂
It’s too funny to find this article. I was searching for Dutch Colonial design inspiration, and found my own house that I just bought and am rejuvenating! It is a very charming house that we can’t wait to make a home. You’re welcome to stop by whenever you’re in town!
Thank you! Congrats on the new home!