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Updating a Melrose Victorian with bright and cheerful color

The owners wanted a kid-friendly scheme that works with their eclectic tastes and their home’s turn-of-the-century architecture. And they weren’t afraid of bold color.

A seascape by New England artist Sue Charles from Powers Gallery in Acton lends softness to the sitting room. Over the fireplace, Cupcake sconces by Dunes and Duchess cast a glow.Michael J. Lee

The new owners of a Victorian house in Melrose were certain of what they liked, but they didn’t have the time — or, admittedly, the skill — to put it together. They hired Barbara Elza Hirsch of Elza B. Design in Concord, who started sleuthing. A professional couple with two small children, the clients “wanted a colorful, kid-friendly scheme that melded their modern and eclectic tastes with the turn-of-the-century architecture,” Hirsch recalls.

The breakthrough came from their client questionnaire and the artwork they already owned, which included a glossy, polychromatic piece by Lisa Bartleson — now in the dining room — that the husband had bought years earlier in New York. “The art was a big hint that they were not afraid of color,” says Hirsch, who established a palette of bright blue, green, and yellow suitable for an energetic young family.

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In the entry, she switched out the wallpaper, replacing a frumpy floral with a stylized floral pattern inspired by a 1950s Scandinavian block print. A funky vintage cabinet the wife bought early in her career picks up on the millwork of the staircase and anchors the space. “It was a dumping ground for everyday things, but we turned it into a statement piece with antique books, glassware, and boxes,” Hirsch says.

The perfect family gathering place, a reclaimed-wood farmhouse table, was already in the dining room. “I told them right from the start there was no need to get a new one,” Hirsch says. The couple had commissioned the table when they first married, hoping that someday there would be kids doing crafts on it. The Dash & Albert indoor-outdoor rug is worry-free, and the George Nelson pendant light adds softness and structure without distraction. Hirsch spruced up a barely used window seat, now known as the “cuddle corner,” transforming it into the most coveted spot in the house.

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To accommodate the reality of life with small children (toys!), the desire for a place to chill, and aspirations for entertaining, Hirsch divided the long, narrow living space into three zones. At the front of the house, a sectional, upholstered in easy-care fabric, hugs a corner of the room atop a soft wool rug. A round felt ottoman makes for a child-friendly coffee table, and the arc floor lamp is tucked safely behind the sofa. Roman shades in Schumacher Full Circle, a playful pattern featuring green polka dots with a Marimekko vibe, carry through the space.

In the middle, Hirsch carved out a dedicated play area lined with cubbies. Beyond, the fireplace mantel, painted Sherwin-Williams Amalfi blue, draws the eye to the back of the house. Hirsch created a seating area conducive to adult conversation, with bright green upholstered armchairs and Eames molded plywood lounge chairs. “The circular layout also counterbalances the room’s long shape,” Hirsch says.

A teak desk and glazed ceramic lamp in the wife’s office extend the mid-century modern aesthetic and bold palette used throughout the first floor. Upstairs, however, Hirsch employed a much softer scheme for the master bedroom. “They need a serene respite from their busy lives,” she says. “Overall, I think we struck the right balance of pulled together and easygoing.”

MORE PHOTOGRAPHS:

In the dining room, Hirsch dressed the window seat — a.k.a. the “cuddle corner” — with a cushion covered in Sunbrella fabric, Roman shades in an organic leaf design, and throw pillows in colors pulled from the living room. Michael J. Lee
In the entry, a vintage 1950s Persian geometric rug from First Rugs in Acton adds color and introduces new shapes. “It’s not too matchy-matchy,” says designer Barbara Elza Hirsch. Michael J. Lee
In the sunroom-turned-office (below), which is visible from the dining room, the teal-and-yellow color scheme carries through. The desk is from West Elm, and the lamp is by Arteriors Home. Michael J. Lee

Marni Elyse Katz is a frequent contributor to the Globe Magazine. Send comments to magazine@globe.com. Get the best of the magazine’s award-winning stories and features right in your e-mail inbox every Sunday. Sign up here.

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