contemporary

Modernist pieces, including Italian tulip swivel armchairs, give the living room a stylish but informal look.

Kenneth Cobonpue’s Bouquet end table pairs with a vintage sofa treated to new chartreuse upholstery to create a playful mood.

a newport vacation home's master bedroom with striped wallcovering

The pinstriped gray wallpaper helps scale the master bedroom’s high, slanted ceilings down to comfortable proportions. Deep-pile carpeting and a brace of burlap-covered ottomans warm the space.

a newport vacation home's office with blue walls

The midcentury design favored by the owner is manifest in the gracefully curved desk in the office.

Guests are welcome to lay their heads in an upstairs bedroom that modestly departs from the home’s restrained use of color; a ribbed Lucite rocker and ottoman even flirt modestly with whimsy.

a newport vacation home's dining room table and banquette

Banquette seating maximizes the relatively narrow space utilized for the dining area, which is further defined by an oversize print of curling surf.

a newport vacation home's great room with sitting area, bar cart and dining table

The new fireplace, window seats, and built-in shelves give the living room a strong focal point.

a newport vacation home's living room with glass-topped coffee table

A glass-topped coffee table has a wooden base that suggests rolling waves.

A Newport vacation's home accent table with a mirror above it

Driftwood edging around a mirror provides subtle hints about the home’s nautical setting.

A Newport vacation home's living room with leather side chairs

Textured surfaces breathe life into this downtown Newport home’s living room, with a linen sofa and leather armchairs signaling the designer’s delicate balance between comfort and masculinity.

The master bath’s barnacle-like mirror frame and wave-patterned floor tiles reference the home’s coastal location.

The bunk room’s nautical touches include rope sconces, anchor-print bedding, and a line-and-cleat detail.

bedroom with blue and green floral wallpaper

Patterns in a guest room mix and match, from florals on the wall to stripes and plaid in upholstery and pillows.

A space-age ball chair is a playful addition to the bunk room.

blue striped lounge chairs around a pool

The pool connects the main house and guesthouse in a unified landscape.

detail of a wood chair with a green accent pillow

An all-wood wing chair softens the master bedroom’s vibrant colors.

master bedroom with dark wood canopy bed and pale green shiplap walls

The master bedroom’s vintage and antique furniture is refreshed with plucky hues drawn from the wallpaper in the hallway.

bedroom with dark wood canopy bed and blue beaded chandelier

A chandelier strung with tiny bits of turquoise is framed by the angled ceiling in the master bedroom.

kitchen with white cabinets and a blue and green backsplash

The kitchen joins in on the colorful fun with wallpaper (protected by glass) behind the range and inside the glass-front cabinets. The white wall faces the property line, so the high windows let in the light while allowing for privacy.

Ambles through the village inspired architectural details like the cap over the front door and the curved upper corners of the columns.

dining area with blue-framed sliding glass doors leading outside

A combination of benches and transparent chairs surround the concrete-slab dining table.

living area with blue and green striped sofa and rug

Bold stripes of blue, green, and turquoise in durable, stain-resistant outdoor fabrics make for a bright, easy-care sitting area.

blue shiplap wall behind the blue railing of a staircase

A rope railing is the final seafaring touch for the stairway painted in two glorious shades from Benjamin Moore—Caribbean Blue Water on the wall and Adriatic Sea on the treads.

The bright blue of the cottage’s front door hints at the rainbow awaiting inside.

exterior of a home surrounded by green trees

Photo by Peter Vanderwarker

live edge dining room table with a chandelier made from tree branches hanging above it

Photo by Peter Vanderwarker

walkway leading up to a lit home in the evening

Photo by Peter Vanderwarker

Living room with view of the water from floor to ceiling windows, fireplace, and white couch and chairs

Photo by David Sundberg/Esto

view from a deck looking through home to opposite exterior

Photo by David Sundberg/Esto

exterior of a home with lit windows at sunset

Photo by David Sundberg/Esto

Looking down the length of a room to a back window that frames the ocean

Photo by David Sundberg/Esto

Photo by Matthew Snyder

Photo by Matthew Snyder

Photo by Peter Vanderwarker

Exterior of a modern home lit up at night

Photo by Matthew Snyder

The master bedroom’s tufted headboard and diaphanous drapes add even more elegance to a glam space.

The shower’s Bisazza tile wall adds a bold touch to the wife’s serene bathroom.

The spiral staircase in the wife’s dressing room leads to an extension of her closet.

Quilted barstools make for comfortable seating at the lower-level bar.

The fun-loving homeowners and their guests enjoy lively bowling competitions.

The billiards room is on the lower level—a space dedicated to entertaining and fun and outfitted in sumptuous reds and black.

The kitchen was designed with two islands: one for the couple to share with every party’s ubiquitous crowd in the kitchen and another for the caterer.

A gorgeous alcove with unparalleled views holds the family’s only indoor dining space.

The walk-in bar visually expands the living room in a practical and appealing way.

The living room is glamorous and comfortable in equal measure; the black doors open to the roomy bar.

Another guest room, which doubles as an office, has a desk cleverly composed of leftover marble from the kitchen counter atop legs from IKEA.

The original beams in a guest room have been partially revealed for a rustic touch.

The master bath’s vanity of reclaimed barnboard was custom made by an Indiana craftsman.

The Stones found the arched chairs, likely from a church, in an antique shop. One of Hank Hudson’s “dot series” images of celebrities (in this case actor Daniel Craig as James Bond) is from the Provincetown gallery Woodman/Shimko.

Light from the dormers spills into the comfortable new master bedroom in the second-floor addition.

The back patio has gray stone tiles for continuity with the look and feel of the kitchen floor.

Pat combined traditional with contemporary, as in the breakfast area’s antique table surrounded by Eames chairs.

Ben and Pat Stone enjoy a glass of wine at the marble-topped reclaimed-wood island, while Franklin signals his approval of Pat’s choice of gray porcelain floor tiles.

Above the foyer’s welcoming bench hangs a prized photograph by a favorite artist—Caitlin Stone, the homeowners’ daughter.

The ground-floor walls and the home’s original staircase now wear horizontal shiplap for a traditional Cape Cod cottage feel.

The living room’s original ceiling beams were left exposed, brushed with paint, and paired with new beadboard. The art in the house is largely from artists with a local connection, as with the landscape by Truro-based Michael del Visco.

The master bath opens onto an outdoor shower planted with bamboo.

A mirror from the North Carolina furniture company Skram is a curvy foil to the master bedroom’s sleek Giorgetti desk.

A top-floor guest bedroom has a wide balcony for enjoying the view.

Like the first modernists on the Cape, who built houses to celebrate summer, indoor spaces are linked with the outdoors.

Because the house is on a hill, it provides one of the longest views in Truro.

Forgoing upper cabinets keeps the kitchen sleek; the architects added a second pantry for storage.

High and low styles—a dining table from Roche Bobois, cabinetry from IKEA—coexist happily in the open kitchen/dining area.

High awning windows on one side of the house and low ones on the other create a constant flow of cooling breeze.

While most of the site uses native plantings, such as bayberry and sweet fern, to blend into the surroundings, color and geometrically designed perennial beds announce the entryway.

Architects Don DiRocco and Mark Hammer tucked three levels into the side of a steep hill. Landscape architect Jessalyn Jarest planted red pines and tupelo trees to screen the house from neighbors below.

For sheer fun the basement bunk room, with cheery splashes of orange and its pool table, is hard to beat.

Two more girls cozy up in a room with built-in beds that incorporate helpful storage.

A standing mirror visually enhances the size of a daughter’s room.

The generous deck wraps around the living room, increasing the home’s livable space. Interior designer Audrey Sterk elevates the outdoor area’s allure—as she has the whole house—with comfortable pieces that correlate with easy living and relaxation. The adjacent guest house/studio mimics the home’s design and provides bonus overnight accommodations.

The study, with its grasscloth-covered walls and peaceful color scheme, affords a quiet spot for reading. It’s also the only room with a TV, which the owners use primarily for viewing tennis matches. A beach scene by Philip Barlow displayed above the sofa nods to summer.

Sterk chose walnut stools with leather tops for a warm counterpoint to the kitchen’s cool gray tiles.

The mudroom’s colorful door gives notice that this is a modern house.

A cityscape of Manhattan on handmade paper by Barbara Macfarlane ratchets up interest in the dining area.

Cutone’s straightforward design reflects Nantucket’s architectural roots while maximizing the compact lot with an open-plan house that flows from front to back.

French doors in the living room lead to the deck, so the family feels connected to the outdoors even when they gather inside. To lend the room’s fireplace added interest, architect Mark Cutone included a millwork wall. A large collage by artist Selena Beaudry adds subtle color to the serene setting.

Master bedroom bed with dark wood nightstands on either side. There are round gold mirrors above the nightstands.

In the master bedroom, chests from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams sport navy blue stain and are customized with gold-toned hardware.

Guest bedroom with neon sign reading chic chick above the bed

Spiky, plum-colored Urchin pendants by Varaluz hang on either side of the guest room bed. “I love unexpected color combos,” says designer Dane Austin.

An office with green walls and the sculpture of a sheep under the red and gold desk

The office’s light fixture is made of metal strapping sourced from old wine barrels.

Lady Gaga wore these Black Dahlia Mary Janes during performances commemorating the closing of the Roseland Ballroom in New York in 2014.

kitchen with white cabinets and a pink island. The appliances are stainless steel. The tiled backsplash is gray and white.

The Venetian plaster finish on the kitchen island masks scuffmarks.

Dining room with pale pink walls and a round dining room table. The stilettos are in the corner.

In the dining room, a deconstructed collaged portrait of George Washington by Tokyo-based artist Tomoya N hangs above Lady Gaga’s shoes, a purposeful contrasting of pop-culture with politics.

Top of a coffee table with a vase of yellow flowers and two books

Gold leaf tops the round resin Fabergé egg–like coffee table.

Living room with a graphic black, white and gray sofa with orange and green accent pillows.

Graphic black and gray upholstery and bold jolts of color stand out against the statement-making blush-pink walls of the living room. The oil painting by Croatian artist Stjepan Šandrk pictures a young woman holding a cup of coffee and a cell phone in front of an 1866 masterpiece by Gustave Courbet.

Bathroom with exposed beams and a round mirror above a white porcelain sink

The intrusion of structural beams in this contemporary guest bath hints at the home’s antiquity.

Bedroom with wood floors, white bedding, white walls and wood beams

Removing the attic opened up the ceilings of the second-floor guest bedrooms, where exposed beams offer subtle contrast to the white walls.

Wood floors in the loft hallway and glass walls looking down on wood beams

A glass-paneled railing creates a see-through barrier for the open hallway that provides access to the second-floor bedrooms.

An up-close view of the white kitchen cabinets and marble backsplash

The kitchen’s contrasting window grids are another Piet Boon influence.

Looking into the kitchen with a view of the eat-in island and white lacquer cabinets

The outdated kitchen was replaced with a clean and functional one designed in collaboration with SieMatic of Boston.

Dining rooms with rectangular table and a huge fireplace behind it. Above the table are exposed beams and then a glimpse into the second floor

Removing a portion of the ceiling above the dining room created a loft-like second floor. The original wood-burning fireplace and baking oven were refaced with matte black granite for a contemporary look.

Family room with gray couches and black and white pillows

Adjacent to the reading room, the family room reflects the influence of Dutch designer Piet Boon, a favorite of both Balsbaugh and her clients.

Another view of the reading room with the overstuffed white chair, Hermes throw and black bookshelves

Maureen Griffin Balsbaugh designed the bookshelves and matching chaises in the reading room.

Oversized white chairs adorned with black and white hermes throws. Black shelves display pottery and books.

The reading room on the main floor offers a peaceful alternative to the beach, and like other rooms throughout the house, draws on a balance of white walls, a neutral floor, and black accents.

Stairwell with green rails with a window framed with framed bird prints

The curves that are a refrain throughout the house are on display in the stairwell, where Fremont-Smith has hung color-printed lithographs from Audubon’s Birds of America.

A view of an upholstered bed with white bedding. The floor is painted green.

A guest room is outfitted with a custom tufted headboard in a restful purple-and-blue floral fabric from Schumacher.

Another shot of the exterior of the gray shingled house

The sheep sculptures are by local artist Dan Falt, who has been welcoming children into his studio for art workshops since the homeowner and her designer were kids summering on the island.

Living room in shades of blue and green. There's wallpaper on the walls, roman shades on the windows and a blue bookcase filled with books. A photo of waves hangs above the bookcase.

Fremont-Smith let herself go wild with color and pattern in the TV room, a space more for family retreats than public entertainment. A green-painted floor and blue-painted ceiling continue the home’s summery vibe.

Dining area with red-and-white French bistro chairs around a rustic table topped with lemons. The window covering are green, white and yellow.

A mobile crafted of wooden fish the wife painted back in childhood holds pride of place above the breakfast table.

Close-up shot of a vanity with a mirror above it against bright blue wallpaper adorned with white flowers

Fremont-Smith successfully mixes patterns even in a small powder room, installing a bone inlay mirror against a bright Meg Braff wallpaper.

Blue kitchen cabinets with red lanterns hanging above an eat-in island surrounded by blue-and-white French bistro chairs

At the homeowners’ request, the kitchen cabinets were painted a vibrant peacock blue.

a fabric, tented ceiling in a round room with built-in seating below windows dressed in pink and white roman shades.

The turret’s third-floor media room is a Moroccan fantasy, complete with tented ceiling.

Dining rooms with patterned wallpaper in shades of pale blue, green and white. There's a glass chandelier hanging over the table.

The hand-blocked, trellis-patterned wallpaper keeps the dining room feeling summery, while the round table softens the square room.

Living room with two chairs in front of a roaring fire. On the floor is a blue-and-white geometric rug.

Fremont-Smith designed the living room rug as a contemporary take on a traditional hooked rug.

Another shot of the living room with its arched doorways, chairs and sofas in grays, whites and neutrals with a few pops of yellow.

The designer created a variety of seating areas in the large living room, layering pattern on pattern in soft-hued fabrics.

A lush garden filled with purple, pink, white and red flowers. There's a swing shrouded in green ivy.

A garden near the house holds seventeen varieties of roses, an arbor, and a swinging bench.

Another view of the home's exterior showing the turret, wrap-around porch and a second-floor balcony

A curved second-floor balcony is a crowning touch on the front entrance.

An aerial view of the home's exterior with wrap-around porch, lush green lawn and forest of trees. You can see rolling green hills in the background.

Designed in 1989 by architect Christopher Glass, the Shingle-style home is a playful take on the grand cottages of the turn-of-the-century rusticators of Maine’s Mount Desert Island. The extensive gardens were laid out by landscape designer Dennis Bracale and are now tended by Erika Lindquist, who works full-time on the grounds.

Close-up shot of Julian Edelman's master bed and nightstand.

Walnut and polished-nickel lamps and a teak lounge chair are masculine touches.

White bathroom sink on wood vanity topped with greenery in a glass vase; Julian Edelman's Back Bay Condo.

Walls, floor, and ceiling in the master bath are covered in Marone Toscano travertine field tiles, lending an outdoorsy atmosphere to a space starlit by dozens of dangling LED globe lights. The enormous single-pane mirror was carefully maneuvered into place before the rest of the bathroom was built around it.

Julian Edelman's bedroom with taupe curtains, denim wallpaper and a bed dressed in neutrals. There's a blue throw at the edge of the bed.

Natural denim wallcovering and soft, stone-hued fabrics give the master bedroom its restful mood.

Recessed niche bar stocked with oranges, liquor and copper barware.

The custom wet bar crafted from reclaimed pine has a copper countertop and sink and an antiqued mirror reflecting the bottles and glassware.

Julian Edelman's Game room with dark wood floors, a red spiral staircase and a small Coke machine.

For Edelman, games aren’t limited to the football field: this video gaming area is announced with eight gaming-themed metal art prints. The lush longwool rug encourages sprawling during epic Xbox or PlayStation battles.

Julian Edelman's lounge with a brick wall adorned with a dart board. There's an acoustic guitar leaning up against the wall.

Exposed brick adds warmth to the playful loft lounge.

Brown banquette with a tall back in front of a wood and metal table with a gray and wood chair on the opposite side; Julian Edelman's Back Bay Condo

Framed photos of palm trees above the high-backed banquette remind Edelman of his West Coast upbringing.

Julian Edelman's kitchen with a marble counter surrounded by red metal stools. There's a staircase off to the right.

Opening the space between the kitchen, living room, and dining area permitted the addition of an expansive island. Subway tiles, bronze cabinet hardware, and a rolled-steel range hood add an urban feel. The steel and wood staircase leads to the loft.

Powder room with red walls covered in black-framed photos

Photos of golden-age Hollywood starlets adorn a bold Farrow & Ball Raddichio-painted powder room that serves the home’s spacious roof deck.

Living room with view of a brownish-stone bar and a gray sidechair.

A vaguely Egyptian bar unit covered in architectural vellum in a natural stone finish serves Julian Edelman’s living room guests.

Julian Edelman's living room with a leather bench and taupe couch

Sunlight streaming through restored nineteenth-century windows and modern artwork, such as Cherry Bomb! by Matt McKee, brighten the living room with its sturdy midcentury furnishings in a variety of natural textures.

An artist's studio with several paintings in progress and a shelf filled with paints

The artist’s weekend studio contains a custom built-in desk and enough room for recent works, in this case, likenesses of Jay Leno, Jon Stewart, and Chelsea Handler.

The back of the house and the edge of a sunken swimming pool

The random flagstone pool deck is a throwback to midcentury summers.

Bedroom with built-shelves filled with sculptures and books. There's a painting of Samantha Bee hanging between the shelves. There are chairs in front of the shelves.

The master bedroom’s built-in shelves, stocked with period treasures and dominated by Stein’s portrait of comedian Samantha Bee, float above the floor.

Close up shot of the side of a bed with a gray headboard and white and eggplant bedding. There's a floating nighstand with a lamp and a vase of hydrangeas.

The bedside nightstands, too, are suspended from the wall to visually increase floor space. The sculptural female form of this vintage lamp is partnered with a male version on the opposite side.

Kitchen with various shades of gray on the cabinets and countertops. The accessories and barstools are orange.

The designer’s contemporary redesign of the kitchen is less a midcentury move than an elegant response to a confined space.

Built-in shelves stocked with barware and liquor. There's a midcentury chair covered in navy blue in front of the cabinet.

Concealed behind shoji-style doors, a bar cabinet is outfitted with vintage shakers and glassware from Davies’s collection.

Living room with a stone wall featuring the painting of a bald man in blue glasses. There is a built-in entertainment unit.

The long, narrow family room presented a spatial challenge that Davies conquered with extra-slim walnut shelving and a custom sofa from Vladimir Kagan.

Dining room with a round would table and midcentury chairs covered in navy blue. There's a stone wall with a painting of a woman on the wall.

The dining room’s Saarinen table and chairs from Knoll serve up midcentury style beneath a contemporary chandelier. Light from an existing skylight floods the room, which was made even airier with the removal of a wall separating it from the kitchen.

Living room with an in-ground planter featuring tropical plants. Behind the planter is a stone wall with a large painting of a woman in sunglasses.

In remodeling, Davies retained the living room’s original stone planting bed but reduced the foliage to a level more appropriate for her busy clients.

Painting of the back of a woman leaning on a table. She has blonde hair pulled up in a bun and she's wearing a black bikini top and black pants.

In the living room and throughout the house, paintings by Stein, an artist, enliven the walls.

Front of gray house with stone pillar and an open red door. There are tall trees behind the house.

A finish of brick-red paint (Farrow & Ball’s Blazer) spotlights the front entry.

A bed with white coverings against a wall papered with navy and white geometric wall paper

Tyler Karu carved out a highlighting niche to frame this bed. Photo by Justin Levesque.

Bedrooms with a colorful blue headboard and a white duvet with blue accent pillows. There's a dark blue chair next to the bed and the wall is covered in gray and white geometric wall paper.

Wallpaper, art, lighting, pillows, and furniture all act as layers of pattern in a bedroom by Diane McCafferty. Photo by Eric Roth.

Master bedroom in white and light gray. There's a bed in white coverings, and a large window with white shears

Gina Baran extended a statement wall onto the ceiling for extra architectural definition. Photo by Emily O’Brien.

The interior of a shower with a silver mosaic tile wall

A mosaic wall in the guest shower picks up the texture theme.

Bathroom with dark wood, double-sink vanity. There are separate mirrors hanging above each sink. The countertops are white.

Reflective materials give the smallish master bathroom a sense of space.

Guest bedroom bed in dark green. The bed covers are white and gray. There's gray carpeting on the floor. Nothing hangs above the bed.

A guest room’s textured wallpaper echoes a serene palette of silvery gray with touches of deep green.

The master bedroom bed with a nightstand. The nightstand is topped with books, a barnacle and a plant

The master bedroom is a symphony of deep, rich blues set against a gray-blue grasscloth shot through with metallic threads.

The master bedroom sitting area with a blue velvet armchair and a blue and white accent pillow. There's a window behind the chair and you can see the skyline.

The master suite’s coral-inspired lamp and ocean-blue ombré velvet armchair reference the water views.

A view into a small kitchen with gray tile backsplash. There's a bar with two green barstools. Teo glass pendent lights hang above the bar.

The kitchen is a simple, modern, tactile marvel, with metal-trimmed leather upper cabinets and backsplash tiles of textured antique mirror.

Dining room with round table and four chairs. It's near a window, and you can see into the kitchen. Everything is in shades of gray and we can see the corner of a green chair.

The dining area is simple, with open cantilevered chairs, and a ceiling fixture that helps to define the space.

A gray fireplace with a wave pattern design. There's a dark gray armchair with a blue accent pillow.

The floor-to-ceiling sculpted fireplace wall is a show-stopper.

The condo's living room with a gray couch featuring throw pillows in shades of green, blue and gray. There's a green armchair and the walls behind the couch are mirrored.

The living room is the apartment in microcosm: all contours and texture, mixed materials, muted jewel tones, water references, and modern moments—carefully composed in a painterly way.

Master bathroom with an oversized white tub. The only color in the room is a blue seat at the vanity.

A raised base conceals the plumbing for the master bath’s oversize freestanding tub.

Master bedroom with large bed in front of charcoal gray wall. The bed is clad in beige. There's a stool at the end of the bed.

The master bedroom features a custom headboard of dark-stained bamboo.

Dressing room with walnut closets and a walnut chest of drawers

In the dressing room, clothing, shoes, and accessories are all discreetly stored away in walnut cabinets and a dresser.

Powder room with walnut vanity, black bowl sink and white toilet

The polished wood vanity top in the guest bathroom is a rare irregular shape in the home.

Another view of the kitchen with walnut cabinets and white counters

A narrow opening between the kitchen and dining area was dramatically expanded to create the sense of openness.

Kitchen with walnut cabinets and three taupe barstools. There are green plants on the walnut shelves hanging from the gray tiled walls.

The range is the only visible appliance in the kitchen; all others are disguised behind the cabinetry.

Living area featuring walnut shelving, leather taupe chairs and decorative objects in metallic shades

The television sinks into a hidden alcove in the built-in cabinet, crafted by Woodmeister Master Builders, when it’s not in use.

Round, walnut dining table surrounded by taupe colored chairs with a view into the walnut kitchen

A walnut dining table and pale gray chairs adhere to the color scheme defined by the walls.

Gray and brown entryway with bench and vases of purple flowers

The entry greets homeowners and guests with a sense of calm.

View of living area with couch and chair, dining area and kitchen. Windows offer view of Boston skyline.

Designer Rina Okawa balanced the clean, geometric lines of the open floor plan with the softness and warmth of natural materials, including walls of walnut and mosaic stone, quartzite kitchen counters, and a leather sofa and lounge chair.

A large mirror hangs above a blue desk. There's a green vase of flowers on the desk and an orange lamp. The same geometric blue, purple, green and gray wallpaper is on the wall behind the desk.

An eye-catching mirror enhances light and makes the compact guest room feel bigger.

Master bathroom featuring stand alone bathtub, glass shower, potted plant and a photo of a bookcase above the bathtub.

“You never see a bookcase in a bath, that’s why we love it,” says Josh Linder about the master bath’s photo.

Guest room with a bed featuring a mustard colored headboard, white duvet and a black-and-white striped bench at the foot of the bed. The wallpaper behind the bed is a geometric pattern in shades of purple, blue, green and gray.

Bold patterns and bright colors happily coexist in the guest room; the photograph is by David Heitholt.

Powder room with white sink, white toilet, wallpaper that mimics malachite and a piece of modern artwork showing pink lines.

Green-as-malachite wallpaper revs up the powder room.

The back patio featuring an orange fence, orange high-backed chairs, a couch with orange cushions and three round white tables

Festive flashlights lined up along the patio fence add nighttime ambience.

A sitting area featuring a green sectional couch, skylights, white walls, glass hexagonal tables and a shag rug in shades of green, blue and purple.

Bee drawings in the sunroom are mounted on wallpaper intended to represent the insects’ busyness.

Kitchen with dark brown cabinets and white countertops. Cookbooks line the top shelf of the kitchen cabinets.

A colorful lineup of cookbooks stands as a design element in the kitchen.

An office area with a white desk, a black chair with spikes on the back and another large piece of art in rainbow stripes. On top of the desk is a black lamp with spikes on the base and two red glass orbs.

Spikes and spiky items—the Pyrus lamp and a metal-studded chair inspired by the British punk fashion movement—are a fun theme throughout.

The living area featuring a couch upholstered in wide green and green-blue stripes, floor-to-ceiling windows that look out over trees, a pale taupe couch, a wood credenza and a large piece of art featuring rainbow-colored stripes

Nodding to the home’s traditional past, the living room’s decorative moldings remain.

Blue door opens to an entryway featuring a brown side with an Hermes change tray and a vase of flowers. Above the table are six prints featuring Brooklyn scenes

A grid of lively Brooklyn street scenes greets visitors as they enter.

Master bedroom with bedding in shades of white and taupe. There's a view of Boston Harbor outside the window.

Favorite pieces—like the wife’s father’s lounge chair and the couple’s headboard—were redone and incorporated into the master suite.

A white couch with throw pillows in oranges and purples. There is a large painting of tulips in a vase above the couch. The tulips are pink and red. There's also a cocktail table with a vase of orange flowers.

The family room’s accent colors were inspired by the tulip painting in the homeowners’ art collection.

Looking into the kitchen we see white cabinets and an eat-in bar with bar stools covered in purple vinyl. There are eggplants on the white countertop.

The kitchen features vinyl-covered bar chairs for worry-free eating.

Display case in the dining room near the glass dining room table surrounded by chairs with purple cushions.

A built-in of stainless steel and faux-ostrich vinyl makes a striking display for art pieces.

A painting of Sophia Loren on the cover of Vogue magazine hangs above a dining room table with purple chair cushions

A sultry Sophia Loren ups the glam factor in the dining area.

A broader view of the living room featuring the view, a neutral colored couch and a large painting with a white background and black rosebuds hanging above the couch.

Pops of color amid a sea of neutrals keep the living room warm and inviting.

Living room in soft pastel colors with large windows looking out over Boston harbor. There's a painting floating on the window.

An absence of window treatments, a low-backed sofa, and streamlined swivel chairs play up the show-stopping view from the living room of a condominium in Boston’s Seaport District.

Living room with gray sofa, small round cocktail table with a blue glass vessel and a glass and wood coffee table with a vase of orange flowers

The sofa dominating one end of the living room throws an insouciant curve at the room’s rectilinear lines. Oak beams and trim were treated to a gray-green stain that makes the wood less imposing but allows the grain to show through.

Wood bathroom vanity with white countertop and mirror hanging above

Duffy designed the master bath’s teak vanity with room to store towels and toiletries.

Reading nook featuring blue, orange, rainbow stripes and white cushions, and a wood-paneled wall

Graphic Romo fabrics give energy to the guest room’s reading nook.

Master bedroom featuring gray bed, graphic black and white rug, and black and white photos above bed

The owners’ private sanctuary includes an ultra-suede upholstered bed.

Office featuring painting of a dress above a dark wood midcentury desk and a white office chair with a furry seat

Air, a digital photo collage by Ysabel LeMay, contrasts perfectly with the office’s midcentury desk.

A view of the kitchen with a countertop bar featuring barstools with dark wood and blue upholstery

“One of our goals was to provide plenty of storage,” says Duffy of the new kitchen, which has gone thoroughly modern with Leucos pendants and quartz counters.

Dining room table with artwork by Henry Mandell, light hanging above the table, and potted succulents on table top.

At the table’s head, Plumb 12 (Leaves of Grass), by Henry Mandell, complements the dining area’s sophisticated tone. Intriguing accessories, like the trio of knot sculptures on the buffet, spark conversation.

Wall separating dining room from office plus a view of the living room with a lit fireplace and modern artwork

The light-blocking wall separating the office from the relocated dining room has been shrunk to half its size.

Paintings above the couch in the conversation area

A glass-topped table resting on a stone ball lends a sculptural note to the conversation area, while a fur pillow adds texture on the sofa. The paintings—Falling for You—are by Karine Léger through Boston’s Lanoue Gallery.

Lit fireplace in home with a modern painting featuring an African American woman hung above it

Rather than a massive rug that would hide the newly stained floors in the main living area, interior designer Dennis Duffy and his project captain, Michael Forman, went custom: “We designed the rug’s pattern and had a fabricator cut it,” Duffy explains. A printed velvet ottoman serves as a seat or a cocktail table when entertaining.

A deep Fleurco tub in the master bath promotes relaxing.

A silk and wool rug feels good under bare toes, while an Arctic Pear chandelier by Ochre lends sparkle.

Irving created an inviting sitting area in the couple’s bedroom.

As stylish as any grown-up haven, the little girl’s room holds an Ethan Allen bed from the owners’ previous home, which Irving refreshed with a coat of white paint. A geometric Tibetan wool rug and CB2 bedding strike additional notes of sophistication.

What was once a mere stair landing is now a sunny spot well equipped for private time with a plush daybed.

The chic mudroom incorporates a custom shade and a handy apron-front sink for washing hands.

The kitchen’s dining area sports an arresting acrylic on panel by Duy Huynh and a contemporary Apparatus chandelier in blackened brass.

To ensure the kitchen counters stay clear, Irving devised a bonanza of storage.

Irving brought the dramatic color into the family room, too, coating the bookshelves and window seat as a contrast to the room’s paler walls.

“The dining room’s focus is the wallpaper,” explains designer Kristine Irving, who also chose Farrow & Ball’s Inchyra Blue paint for the ceiling.

A favorite gathering space, the family room includes Michael Mazur’s painting White Water and a game table for hours of fun.

Working with Boston’s Krakow Witkin Gallery and Jules Place, the designer and her clients found contemporary art that beautifully complements the old room. In the same congenial spirit, modern furnishings and fixtures look right at home with the living room’s classic architectural details.

The main staircase echoes the geometric design of the home and incorporates the building blocks used in its construction—wood, metal, and glass. Above twinkles a welcoming crystal chandelier, one of the few truly ornate elements in the home.

The backyard and pool area echo just enough of the geometry of the home to remain harmonic, while landscaping, ornamental flowers, discreet lighting, and a welcoming cabana soften the edges of a space used frequently for entertaining and family time.

Family room with large slab of decorative marble

A huge slab of polished marble serves as a focal point in the living room, complementing the views of the lush backyard and acting as a counterpoint to the room’s sleek, modern design.

Wood-grained Eggersmann cabinetry hides major appliances and provides contrast to the monumental marble kitchen island.

Contemporary exterior Brookline home designed by Marcus Glysteen Architects

“Home-sized” windows, a bedroom balcony, and native trees help create a residential feel for a structure that intends to stand out from, not blend into, its environment.

Contemporary entryway designed by Marcus Glysteen Architects

Varied ceiling heights help define spaces throughout the home, while artwork provides color and texture. A wood panel buffed to a high gloss mirrors the custom staircase, itself a piece of functional art.

The sleek, blocky basis of the home’s abstract design is mitigated by the addition of a floating canopy, brise-soleil, and extensive plantings around the entry.

Marilyn Monroe smiles over the art deco dining room, where Parsons-style J. Robert Scott chairs surround a custom table by interior designer Manuel de Santaren.

A variety of textures is at play in the wet bar, where a mix of tile, marble, and polished wood brings warmth to the ultra-modern design.

Contemporary powder room with polished marble and tile

Polished tile and marble make for a glamorous bathroom.

contemporary

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