Primed for lounging by day and games at night, the living room is multifunctional: “I wanted cozy yet airy,” Russell says of the space. “That comes down to creating a good furniture layout.”
A monochromatic entrance lets the architectural details of the 1764 colonial shine.
Adam’s office, which is centrally located on the first floor, was smartly designed with both work and play in mind—storage bins in the white-oak desk hide daughter Effie’s toys. “I like having a place for everything,” notes Russell.
A cushioned window seat in the light-filled office invites Effie to relax with a picture book while Dad checks his emails.
A comfy banquette, a custom O&G Studio table, and a statement-making pendant by California-based Ravenhill Studio make this corner of the kitchen a coveted spot for coffee and conversation.
Family dog Harry waits patiently for mealtime by his built-in dining nook.
The recently renovated kitchen, with its user-friendly layout and large island, was a draw for homeowners Pegi and Adam, who both like to entertain. Russell and Pegi chose an antique mirror backsplash behind the range to give the room depth and lend visual interest.
Updated for modern living, the home has five bedrooms and a family-friendly layout, complete with a mudroom on the far left and a three-season room on the far right.
Russell had the dining room chairs custom made by Artistic Frame to match the homeowners’ existing dining table; the window treatments, which when closed create a warm, cocoon-like feel, are from Julie Thome Draperies.
The genesis of Phoebe Russell’s overall design scheme, which is marked by earthy color tones and light oak wood paired with black accents, took shape in the living room.
In the back foyer, a Chameleon Lighting chandelier illuminates a custom table with a burnished-brass base that echoes the gold hues in the carpet.
Artwork from Rachel Lee Hovnanian is the focal point in the room’s cozy seating area.
Rather than hang artwork in front of the primary bedroom’s desk, Ruderman opted to make a sculptural statement with an oval-backed Christopher Guy chair
Shades of emerald green transition to hues of soft blue in the primary bedroom with its leather-covered headboard.
Interior designer Linda Ruderman loves the living room’s Lorin Marsh lamps, which feature white linen shades with sheer outer shells. The homeowners’ Petra Cortright painting adds a pop of color.
Visual Comfort pendants hang from a beadboard ceiling and provide plenty of light for the kitchen’s dual islands.
“I knew this was our house as soon as I saw the listing,” says the homeowner. “It was on flat land and a quiet street, and I was obsessed with the functionality of the layout. It checked every box.”
The homeowners purchased one of Roberto Dutesco’s horse photographs when they were living near his SoHo studio. Indoor/outdoor fabrics and a rug from L&M Custom Carpets stand up to an active family with three young boys.
Ruderman custom designed the family room’s coffee table, which features leather-wrapped corners. Ottomans can be stored underneath when they aren’t in use.
The millworkers at Connolly & Kyne Interiors added paneling to the walls in the front and back foyers to give the spec home more of a custom feel. Sconces from Pagani Studio flank mixed-media artwork from Ran Hwang.
The formal dining room can only be described as tactile, from the upholstered walls and embroidered window coverings to the silk-and-wool rug and polished mahogany table, which seats twelve.
A niche in the primary bath cocoons a soaking tub.
Senior Landscape Designer Matthew Willinger of James Doyle Design Associates imagined the colonial home’s backyard to include a swimming pool, spa, outdoor kitchen, fireplace, putting green, and garden.
The basketweave marble tile inset in the primary bath flooring complements both the double vanity and the tub.
The ample outdoor dining table beneath the covered section of the rear terrace is a favorite spot for the family to gather.
Deep blue cabinets in the adjacent pantry add a happy pop of bold color to the scheme.
A custom partners desk made by Litchfield Hills Kitchen & Bath sits by a window in the home office.
A cutout in the main living room wall exposes the black balustrade and oak railing of the staircase, which reads as modern art. The doorway to the right leads to the shared entry hall, which connects with the parents’ unit next door.
To add a playful touch to the laundry room, the owners selected wallpaper in a motif that reminded them of pussy willow branches.
Kitchen countertops are Danby marble quarried in Vermont. Not wanting too much stainless steel in the room, the owners housed the exhaust hood in plaster for a warmer, less-industrial look. The door to the right leads to the home office.
In a guest room, a four-poster bed balances modern and traditional sensibilities, a theme found throughout the house.
The living room’s fireplace mantel is made of Utah river stone; Sean Platt Plaster created the surround above it.
Platt also imagined the gold-flecked dark blue venetian plaster ceiling—designed to mimic the night sky—in the family room.
Landscape architect Abigail Adams used giant boulders uncovered during the excavation of the foundation to form a defining wall framing stone steps leading to the rear of the house. Meeting the low-maintenance mandate, architect Julia Metcalf used Hardie Plank Lap Siding, a cement product, for exterior cladding.
Among the contributions by local artisans is the dining table crafted by Ian Ingersoll using a walnut slab procured at Berkshire Products in Sheffield, Massachusetts.
The soaking tub is “positioned for the best views of the property,” says the husband.
The primary bath and covered open-air dining room overlook what Ryan refers to as a multilevel at-home resort that includes a second waterfall crossed by floating pavers.
A showstopping sunken waterfall adds color, beauty, sound, and movement to what might otherwise have been a rather cloistered basement apartment and deck.
Pavers guide guests across the driveway to the covered main entrance; even the homeowners prefer to enter this way and enjoy the dramatic views beyond the front door rather than utilizing the side-garage entry.
Perez and the owners collaborated on the interior design. The living room showcases walls of both smooth and cleft Jerusalem limestone, with exterior views of the back lawn and intentionally placed landscaping elements.
The body of the house is intentionally asymmetrical, but the lawn is precisely delineated by a low granite curb. Shallow steps lead from the patio to the grass and enhance the home’s presence and height.
Rather than seeing this desired fireplace as an obstacle, Perez emphasized the utilitarian need for a hearth and wood storage by enlarging both to allow for see-through views of the living room and yard.
Horizontal fireplaces in the living room and primary bedroom allow TVs to be set at a more natural eye level than a typical hearth.
Partially filmed windows enhance privacy in the primary bath where concrete-tile floors are enlivened by crushed-glass edging.
The body of the house is intentionally asymmetrical, but the lawn is precisely delineated by a low granite curb. Shallow steps lead from the patio to the grass and enhance the home’s presence and height.
Photograph by Joesph Werner
Photograph by Joesph Werner
Photograph by Bruce Rogovin
Photograph by Read McKendree
Photograph by Read McKendree
Photograph by Bruce Rogovin
Photograph by Erin Little
Photograph by Leslie Brown
Photograph by Bruce Rogovin
Photograph by Christopheer Buccino
Photograph by Lauren Stimson
Photograph by Bruce Rogovin
To make the oak pantry appear much older than it is, Modern Heritage incorporated turned details, beadboard paneling, and leaded-glass panels.
This New Hampshire pantry was inspired by the all-wood pantries common in New England during the early 1900s.
“When a kitchen is so visible from the rest of the house, it’s nice to have another space where food can be prepped and dishes can be stacked,” says architect Christopher Hall.
The pantry supports the main kitchen during a party but also functions for everyday use—especially for the clients’ children, who can easily grab their own snacks and dishware.
The other, a working island, has prep space, a sink, and barstools for casual dining.
The kitchen contains two islands: one features stained white oak and soapstone and is built for entertaining, with beverage fridges, an ice maker, a bar, and plenty of countertop space for serving food and drinks.
Lighting is a critical component in any kitchen, and designer Meg McSherry chose a mix of classic pendants, aged-brass sconces, and art lights, all from Ann-Morris. “We wanted to warm up the kitchen with different finishes,” says McSherry. “When just the sconces are on at night, they create such a soft feel. It changes the mood entirely.”
The new archways in the kitchen match the historic architecture.
“The coffee bar is just as important as the cooking area,” says Venegas. “We even measured the particular coffee the client buys so it’s all laid out in the drawer.”
Opposite the wall with the range is a coffee bar complete with a sink, microwave, and storage for snacks.
The varied materials palette—which was inspired by a classic men’s suit—incorporates mahogany, burlwood, and painted charcoal cabinetry with brass and marble accents. The lighting is from Visual Comfort.
Interior designer Ana Bonilla and kitchen designer Donna Venegas collaborated on this Brookline kitchen, transforming what was historically a working kitchen for support staff into a custom kitchen that reflects the rest of the highly detailed 1905 Tudor Revival residence.
he kitchen opens to the family room, which has a similar palette and includes cabinetry with the same metal mesh doors that appear in the kitchen.
The clients requested a coffee bar.
Interior designer Anne Rubin worked with kitchen designer Melinda Guglietta of Bespoke of Winchester on the layout and organization of the long, narrow space.
The starting point for the kitchen was Kelly Wearstler’s Liaison Hillcrest floor tile for Ann Sacks, customized with Arabescato, Nero Marquina, Silver Ebru, Verde, and Grigio Carnico accent tiles.
Photograph by Bruce Rogovin
Photograph by Michael J. Lee
Photograph by Peter Vanderwarker
Shop owner Carolyn Piccirelli stands at the ready behind the flower bar.
Fluted plates from Amsterdam each feature a wildflower portrait.
Because mantels often pose a design challenge for customers, Piccirelli loves to offer accessorizing hints in the shop.
A vintage hutch filled with candles and artichoke sculptures provides “a snapshot of how we do things at Honeychurch Home,” says Piccirelli.
The milky glaze of a handmade footed bowl from Japan accents a white pumpkin.
Inspired by Dutch tulip vases, an innovative stem vase from Italy displays a grouping of ranunculus.
Birds perch on a whimsical ceramic bowl from Malta.
Stools from all eras surround a vintage French table holding a prewar Hungarian scale and other goodies, while cut flowers wait to be composed into bouquets.
A display of gift items and bedding from Matouk at Margo Moore.
A custom chair upholstered in a nubby carpet complements A Little Moore’s signature floral wallpaper.
The inviting exterior of A Little Moore at 25 Main Street lures shoppers.
Clients meet in the second-floor design studio where fabric samples are at the ready.
Cheerful bedding from Pine Cone Hill tops a classic bobbin-style bed.
A Cowtan & Tout wallpaper provides an elegant backdrop for painted furniture, a sofa from Lee Industries, and a navy leather chair influenced by midcentury modern design.
Margo Moore is located at 74 Elm Street, just up the hill from Camden’s town center.
Megan van der Kieft Carozza, owner of Margo Moore and A Little Moore, leans against a wall adorned with Ralph Lauren’s Shipping Lanes Map wallcovering. The paper depicts Maine locales.
Conti chose the Clarence House wallpaper in the bathroom for its brushstroke pattern.
Beyond the puzzle table, a barn light illuminates a sliding door that hides the attic’s only remaining unfinished space: the closet containing the HVAC system.
Labrecque can perch on a Pierre Frey-upholstered sofa and stream guitar lessons on the big screen above the Flare double-corner fireplace.
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