Homeowner’s passion for color evident

Visitors opening the door to Harry and Sue Hart’s South Hill home are in for a delightful surprise. Instead of a small, cramped entryway, common in homes like this one built in 1904, a spacious panorama of color delights the eyes.

According to Harry, a retired airline pilot, when they first opened the front door three years ago, the couple came face to face with a large plywood closet.

Sue noticed something wasn’t right about the ceiling. They discovered a drop ceiling had been added in the 1960s. In the process of ripping it out a treasure literally fell into their laps. A handwritten letter, on linen paper and dated April 28, 1905, was addressed to “My dearest friend Mary.” The Harts framed the letter, and it has a place of honor in their home.

From 1939 to 1998 the house was owned by the Lawson family who were active in local politics and civic affairs.

Harry and Sue Hart, with assorted family members, spent weeks gutting the first floor.

“We bought the house in June of 2004, and we were finished by November,” Sue Hart said. “My husband says we worked for four months and then rested for the next nine.”

Sue painted the walls in warm pinks and added a deep purple wall for contrast. “My theory is it’s just paint. You can always paint over it if you don’t like it,” she said.

The Harts have owned and restored many homes, and Sue spent eight years as a real estate appraiser. As a result they knew exactly what they wanted in this home.

The custom-made center island, topped with pink and white quarry tile, is the hub of the kitchen. Swivel diner stools line the bar.

Sue prefers drawers to hanging cabinets. She finds them much easier to use and organize.

“I have a drawer for potato chips,” Sue said. “Most people don’t know what to do with potato chips.”

The added bonus is the openness of a kitchen without cupboards blocking views. Pendant lighting complements the contemporary feel of this room. New French doors warm the kitchen with natural light.

Harry has tried to restore and preserve as much of the original deep baseboards and molding as he could, giving them a fresh coat of white paint.

Upstairs they removed the brown linoleum from the guest bathroom. Sue painted the floor with Kilz, which sealed it and acted as a bonding agent. Then she painted the floor green, dipped a plastic bag in white paint and swirled it atop the green. She brushed dots and swirls on top of that. The result is a funky, finger-painted look. No slacker with a paintbrush, Sue added a pink and white checkerboard pattern to the baseboards. Hart does the painting freehand, without templates. “I really like to do eclectic things,” she said.

The couple took out an upstairs bedroom to create a master bed and bath suite. An antique claw foot tub rests on tile left over from the kitchen re-do. Sue refinished the tub and painted a geometric pattern around its edges.

Sue enjoys finding new uses for old linens. The elegant white shower curtain is actually a handkerchief linen tablecloth. The bedroom curtains are antique muslin and percale sheets. Pillowcases embroidered with “Mr.” and “Mrs.” hang from the bathroom windows.

Harry’s favorite room is the kitchen. “I like what it provides,” he laughed, “and I like the functionality of it.”

Sue, who owns a home redesign and decorating business, is passionate about her painting projects. “I love walking into my house,” she said. “I love the colors.”

“They make me feel so good.”