Betsy Wentz breathes new life into a historical house for a couple and their three children, introducing modern elements while also honoring the past.
Sewickley Designer Betsy Wentz Makes a Historical Home Family-Friendly
Designing a serious home for a young family is always a bit of a juggling act between livability and style. The house in question is a 1903 Pittsburgh landmark by MacClure and Spahr, who also built the Keystone and Union Nation Bank Buildings. Updating it meant deciding when to modify and when to maintain what was there. The couple is also passionate about collecting art, so striking and important pieces hang throughout the house. Designing backdrops to complement them was an important part of the equation.
Sewickley-based interior designer Betsy Wentz met the challenges by using varying intensities of pattern and color, at times pulling back—up to a point—to allow art to shine, and at others turning up the volume to create high-impact moments. Her clients wanted to make everything feel less serious, “but they also wanted to respect the bones of the house and make sure that we maintained the majority of the woodwork.” (The carpet in the foyer is by Rug and Kilim.)
Starting With the Color Palette
Wentz incorporated a rich palette of gold, deep blues, reds—and a fair amount of lilac. Even in places that are more subdued, flashes of bright hues catch and delight the eye. At the same time, an abundance of rich woodwork contrasts with the more updated elements, creating a delightful conversation between old and new. “There’s a lot of push and pull. It’s fun, it’s young, and it’s fresh.”
Painting: Never alone (2022) by Lucio Carvalho.
A large sofa and loveseat in gold Kravet fabric anchors the living room, creating a cozy seating area presided over by an incredible painting, Never alone, 2022, by Lucio Carvalho. A subtly striped Stark rug plays off the Schumacher drapery and wallpaper and a Century Furniture ottoman in a sort of modern patchwork pattern.
Combining Bold and Comforting Designs
One of Wentz’s favorite spaces is an intimate sitting room, clad in lavender Phillip Jeffries grasscloth and a playful Stark rug, the latter strategically cut to work with the existing hearth. The mismatched chairs were the husband’s idea, and add to the casual vibe, even though they are quite tony in and of themselves. (The blue one sits in front of Untitled, 2022 (Lens) by Fabrizio Gerbino.)
Wentz combined several strong patterns with plenty of color in the dining room, but it never goes too far. The Romo wallpaper is decidedly bold, but works beautifully with the Andreu World dining chairs and a From Jaipur with Love rug. She painted the molding but left the fireplace as it was, again striking that essential balance.
Keeping Things Functional
The kitchen had to be highly functional, with the three children running in and out, sometimes with wet feet or bathing suits. The Andreu World stools are upholstered in vinyl and can be wiped down. (For extra fun, she put polkadot fabric on the backs.) A vintage runner is both intriguing and practical. Off to the side is a walk-in pantry, its eye-catching Cole & Son wallpaper providing more circles, here cross-sections of bright citrus on a dark background. In the nearby sunroom, chair backs each have their own color in another less-serious element.
At the top of the stairs is another favorite of Wentz’s, a vintage rainbow glass chandelier hung over some heavily-carved woodwork and Juliette leaded glass windows. Another important piece of art, Our collective beauty, 2022, by Thandiwe Muriu, presides. The master suite is a serene space, but is nonetheless punctuated with rich accents, including a bench from Century covered in Missoni fabric and quietly textured Philip Jeffries grasscloth wallpaper. A moody, wood-clad dressing room is accented with striking lapis handles on the doors and a striped Stark rug.
Meeting Somewhere Between Fun and Sophistication
The children’s spaces are each clad in a different wallpaper, including a tiger and tree pattern from Rifle Paper Company in one daughter’s room, which also features a pin-up wall covered in green mica paper, forming a workspace area with desk and chair.
The playroom is subtly sophisticated, especially in its play of color, like the one established between the built-in and the wall. The Chairish chandelier, with its multiple purple arms, is pure fun. Ultimately, Wentz’s work was about coming up with a complex way to combine all the elements into a cohesive whole. “They are a very sophisticated couple—but they also have kids. So I think the point of the story was how to take an old home and make it more livable and approachable. It’s ultimately a family home.”
Story by Stephen Treffinger
Styling by Tori Mellott
Interior Design by Betsy Wentz
Photography by Max Kimbee
Flowers by Eleven Mile Farm
Art Consultation by Melanie Werner, Galleria Werner
Subscribe to TABLE Magazine’s print edition.
