Studio Mason Brings Character to an Old Greenwich Home

Interior designer Susannah Heyworth’s favorite detail in the sunroom is the large, custom sectional by Peter Dunham. “It was a big investment, and it’s such a great representation of how it’s worth it to really take the leap,” she says.

The Early American Arts and Crafts sideboard in the dining room is the only family piece Studio Mason repurposed. Heyworth and her design partner, Francesca Bonaiuto, paired it with a custom Dunes and Duchess dining table.

In the powder room, a vintage dresser converted to a vanity, Adelphi Paper Hangings wallcovering, and Vaughan sconces, are on the same wavelength as the dining room without looking too matchy-matchy.

“The client really trusted us when we said, ‘We’re going to paint your whole kitchen and your millwork green,’ ” says Bonaiuto. Gold hardware from Rejuvenation adds glam.

The reimagined breakfast area is now open to the kitchen with glass doors that walk out to the back patio and custom cabinetry for added storage. To give the space an always-been-there feel, Studio Mason chose a James & James table and a Visual Comfort & Co. ceiling light with a custom lampshade.

Robert Dean Architects designed a built-in two-seat desk in the kitchen to make better use of an odd nook. It mirrors the painted shiplap flanking the range and hood.

Arched doorways unite the first floor and give the home a sense of heritage. A vintage secretary desk from 1stDibs and a custom-upholstered Chelsea House chair add charm. “We love finding that balance where a room doesn’t feel too old and doesn’t feel very modern,” says Heyworth.

Redesigning a Non-Descript Home for Modern Family Life

They say location is everything, but what do you do when the house you buy is anything but conducive to the lifestyle you want to live? Design partners Francesca Bonaiuto and Susannah Heyworth of Studio Mason had to answer that precise question when their clients called on them to rejuvenate a lifeless 1950s home in the coastal neighborhood of Old Greenwich.

The young family was drawn to the neighborhood’s sense of community, but the home wasn’t designed to host casual gatherings or impromptu guests. In addition to some needed structural repairs, the kitchen felt restrictive and disconnected from the outdoors and other gathering spaces.

Studio Mason called on Robert Dean Architects to reconfigure the back of the house. The team expanded the mudroom, opened the kitchen to the breakfast area and back patio, and widened entrances to the butler’s pantry and sunroom. Then they transformed an awkward kitchen nook with a built-in desk where the kids could do homework or crafts, all within arm’s reach of mom and dad.

Custom Details Improve Everyday Function

“The design incorporates a few little subtle things that make it feel very custom,” says Rob Fischetti of Peerless Construction, who noted the kitchen’s slim broom closet and custom vegetable drawer.

The family also felt the home lacked character, so while they were at it, the team introduced architectural details to create a sense of heritage. The inspiration “comes from beautiful old prewar homes,” says Bonaiuto—not to mention other storied coastal enclaves.

“This is a coastal home, but we didn’t want it to feel cliché, so we looked toward homes on Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket that have
a real sense that they have been collected over time,” Bonaiuto adds.

Decorative stone trim frames the kitchen window and echoes the countertops. Arched doorways unite rooms, and custom cabinetry in the kitchen and mudroom provide seamless storage. “Both the architecture and the furnishings, the way that they’re layered, really makes them feel elevated,” says Michele Van Steinburgh, studio director at Robert Dean Architects.

The homeowners couldn’t agree more. “The curated wallpapers and the blend of patterns and colors bring so much warmth, character, and beauty to every room,” says Laura Beck. “Most of all, we love how the renovated space brings people together.”

Project Team
Architecture: Robert Dean Architects
Interior design: Studio Mason
Builder: Peerless Construction