A Tudor Revival Home Influenced by British Design

The layering of textiles begins in the foyer where an antique cane bench has a patterned cushion, pillows, and throw. The 1950s French gilt sunburst ceiling fixture was found on 1stDibs.

A desk from Bunny Williams Home is anchored by a wing chair from the homeowner’s collection, which designer Jessica Alex had reupholstered in an Avera print from Brunschwig & Fils. A Stark sisal carpet is layered with a colorful antique rug.

The original textured plaster walls and beamed ceiling in the living room were preserved. A custom sofa by Chris Upholstery in Norwalk and chairs from Bunny Williams Home provide comfortable seating; the curtains are crafted with crewel embroidery from Chelsea Textiles.

The house exterior has the steeply pitched roofs and half-timber details that distinguish the Tudor style.

The dining room captivates the family’s three-year-old daughter with its fantastical de Gournay custom mural depicting ancient India. Alex added the balustrade wallpaper element to create the illusion of a balcony view. The English mahogany starburst dining table from Mill House Antiques in Woodbury sits atop a patterned sisal rug.

Practical counter stools from Serena & Lily and pendant lights from Visual Comfort & Co. were added to the existing kitchen island.

The kitchen had been renovated by a previous owner. Using Kit Kemp Mythical Creatures dinnerware as inspiration for the color scheme, Alex added a breakfast nook for informal family dining.

The client’s own wingback chair from her childhood home, still upholstered in its original fabric and placed by a Gustavian writing desk, inspired the primary bedroom’s palette.

The Kit Kemp influence is evident in that room’s custom headboard and rich mix of patterned textiles.

Now used as a nursery for the family’s baby boy, this bedroom in bright blue Casa Branca wallpaper and fabric has a custom sleeping nook ready to serve as a big-boy bed.

Timeless Tudor Revival Design in Connecticut

When designing the interiors of a classic 1916 Tudor Revival house in suburban Connecticut, Jessica Alex had three muses, each an icon in the field of decoration with an impeccable focus on comfort, beauty, sophistication, and domestic ease. “The client wanted her house to look collected and layered,” says Alex, “to feel like a cross between a Robert Kime home in the English countryside and a Kit Kemp hotel in New York. She appreciated that I had worked for Bunny Williams and knew I understood the vision.”

The four-bedroom, 4,342-square-foot home was in a community of houses of similar vintage and style. “It was like a Hansel and Gretel cottage,” says the client. “The entire neighborhood had a storybook feel.”

The client had amassed a collection of art, antiques, and medieval manuscripts, most acquired during extensive world travels. “I was excited to incorporate all of this into an East-meets-West vibe,” she says. “But I didn’t want anything to be too precious. The whole house is meant to be accessible.” “

No room should feel like you can’t use it,” says Alex, channeling her former boss and interior design mentor, America’s decorating doyenne Bunny Williams. It’s a mantra that guided her as she worked with her client to create a warm and inviting home for herself, her husband, and their two young children.

Layered Interiors with Art, Antiques, and Textiles

The recently renovated house had a new kitchen and updated bathrooms. The original textured plaster walls, stained wood beams, and hardwood floors were intact, but the client felt the interiors did not adequately reflect the architecture.

The late Robert Kime, the darling of British traditional decor whose clients include King Charles III and international rock stars, famously advised that furnishing a room should “start with the rug.” In most spaces, Alex used gorgeous vintage carpets, some from the client’s collection, others bought from trusted local dealers. Beautiful textiles were also pivotal to her design. “The client trusted me to source the best fabrics,” she says.

Throughout the house, what seems casual is, in fact, carefully curated. In the dining room, Early Views of India, an other-worldly de Gournay mural teeming with colorful depictions of camels and elephants, graces the walls. “My three-year-old plays in that room,” says the owner. “It’s where she learned about animals.”

British Design Influence

The influence of British designer Kit Kemp, who built an empire of boutique hotels around an animated style that combines bright colors and bold prints in a refined package, is reflected in the bedrooms. A Cowtan & Tout woven grasscloth wallcovering that “has the look of a man’s business suit,” says Alex, is the backdrop for a custom headboard upholstered in a lively red, white, and blue fabric from Chelsea Textiles.

Patterned bed pillows and simple benches from Ballard Designs at the foot of the bed recovered in bold pink Ikat add bursts of complementary colors. “My client truly lives in her house,” says Alex. “Nothing is too expensive or sacred. She understands the interiors are meant to be enjoyed. When I go over for site visits, I see toys strewn about her dining room, which always makes me smile.”

Project Team
Interior design: Jessica Alex
Interiors Builder: Zagaja Construction

Styling by Frances Bailey