Family-Friendly in Wellesley

The living room was refreshed by a new quartzite fireplace facade in shades of green.

Designer Tiffany LeBlanc embraced classic details, such as the foyer’s original millwork, even while infusing the home with a modern sensibility.

The high-contrast dining room provided the perfect canvas for a mix of moods—from the refined lines of the dining table and upholstered chairs to the bold metallic wallpaper and striking Cloud light fixture. The penguin painting is a crowd favorite.

A custom banquette, roomy table, and eye-catching prints create a welcoming vibe in the breakfast area.

Very little was done to the existing fixtures and finishes in the kitchen, although LeBlanc brought in the comfy counter stools and trio of hanging pendants.

The centerpiece of the patio is a broad firepit in a design that echoes the water feature.

Landscape architect Dan Gordon used granite, a traditional material, in unexpected ways; here he created a bold, scene-stealing water feature.

The landscape plan starts at the curb, continues into a circular arrival court, up to a carpet-like front entrance, and into the yard.

A closed-off sitting room provided an opportunity for the designer to go bold with art and color, including powder-blue leather wing chairs and a purple sofa.

The bedroom is a study in elegance, with its inviting custom bed, paisley-patterned drapes, and a cage-like alabaster chandelier.

No toile? No problem!

That’s what interior designer Tiffany LeBlanc thought to herself when she was asked to make a new home in Wellesley, Massachusetts—a 6,500-square-foot classic Colonial—feel more like a boutique hotel than, well, a classic Colonial in Wellesley.

The house had good bones and some nice touches, including lovely coffered ceilings. Instinctively, it felt good to the homeowner; the flow from room to room made sense. But she had something more special in mind. And because she and her husband have three children, their “boutique hotel” would have to be family-friendly, too.

“They wanted a sophisticated home, but one that was atypical,” says LeBlanc. “Not overly decorated—she specifically requested no toile—suitable for kids, but not dumbed down.”

They wouldn’t be taking a single stick of furniture from their old home. “We started with all new furnishings because we saw this as our ‘grown-up’ house,” says the homeowner.

A near-blank slate is a designer’s dream, but it can be daunting. “You have to corral your ideas and decide how far you want to go,” says LeBlanc. “Ask yourself what you can live with, and how to get where you need to be.”

A few architectural changes came first, including “peeling back some of the molding and details,” the designer says. For a more modern, linear look in the living room, she replaced the mantel and heavy millwork around the fireplace with a floor-to-ceiling quartzite facade. She kept the sitting room’s traditional trim, but toned it down by removing the upper shelving flanking the fireplace and painting the coffered ceiling a half tone lighter than the walls. Then she chose unexpected pieces for the room, including a purple Wesley Hall sofa and blue leather wing chairs.

The designer says she “wanted to achieve luxury without trying too hard.” “So we added lots of texture, layers, wallpaper, and wool woven rugs that make rooms feel more intimate.” The artwork is deliberately eclectic.

In the dining room, a metallic ikat wallpaper by Jim Thompson adds depth. Overhead, the designer hung a favorite fixture—the Cloud by Apparatus Studio. “Every designer has a love affair with a piece,” she says. “They tuck it away and know they will use it somewhere. This was mine, and it was time.”

The oversize painting of penguins by an illustrator in the U.K. was selected because “it’s kitschy and makes you smile.”

In the calming master suite, LeBlanc chose a matte wallpaper to contrast with the woven carpet. The enchanting tête-à-tête is a favorite with the children, while the homeowner says she absolutely adores her desk. “I still love writing cards, and it’s the perfect place to be reflective and write notes,” she says.

LeBlanc clearly took care to engage—not obliterate—the home’s classic elements. “Detailing and tailored accents let you know the space is very refined and thoughtful,” she says. “Contemporary nods make it feel more urban, more timeless than traditional.” And there’s not an inch of toile in sight.

Project Team
Architecture: Scott Rogers, Shane Structures
Interior design: Tiffany LeBlanc, LeBlanc Design Interiors
House Builder: Brendon Homes
Remodeling Builder: Dean Behrend, Dean Behrend Luxury Homes
Landscape design: Dan Gordon, Dan Gordon Landscape Architects

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