Gray

The design team renovated the third floor to add additional bedrooms, like this guest room swathed in a Sanderson wallcovering, one of Lindsay’s favorites, that has a bit of a retro vibe.

The primary bath’s new flooring, comprised of tumbled Bardiglio and Carrara marbles, has a timeworn look.

You’d never know the cottage’s great room used to be a garage. It now impresses with an Uttermost coffee table, Kuzco sconces, and a cozy Calligaris sectional sofa—the better to fit the home’s many guests

Kurth and her team selected a ribbon-like fixture from Luke Lamp Co. to illuminate the island in the streamlined kitchen.

Carol Kurth, who designed this Bedford, New York, guesthouse, found the foyer’s Stacy Milburn mirror artwork at Sorelle Gallery in Westport. Peter Tunney created the art adorning the opposite wall.

Awash in neutrals and texture, the kitchen’s cabinetry is stained, wire-brushed oak, the flooring is white oak, and the countertops are brushed Caribbean Island marble.

This nook in the kitchen of a Boston brownstone serves as the only dining area in the home, so the table can expand to seat twelve. The wallpaper is from Holly Hunt, and the Kravet chairs are upholstered in Perennials indoor-outdoor fabric.

For the library of a Back Bay condo overlooking the Charles River, designer Nicole Hogarty selected such luxe elements as Loro Piana upholstery, a custom Landry & Arcari hide rug, and a Tempest Blue quartzite mantel. A photograph by Dean West and Nathan Sawaya hangs above the fireplace.

Hogarty selected the dining room’s abstract-patterned, bamboo silk Steven King rug for “an artistic moment, something modern to both elevate and ground the room.”

Sherwin-Williams Urbane Bronze lends a sense of formality to the study without sacrificing warmth. The chandelier suspended from the mushroom-wood ceiling resembles sea glass, a nod to the home’s coastal locale, and a Murphy bed is secreted among the built-in cabinetry.

Pendants sourced from London’s Limehouse Light Company hang above the kitchen island. “I think lights above an island should be very special,” says Paton. “You have to go the extra mile with those—the same with faucets and handles.”

Sliding glass doors behind a living room sofa conceal a workout area without obstructing any natural light from either space’s abundant windows.

The building’s elevator opens into a redesigned foyer. Its new two-foot-deep wall (right) separates the entry from the kitchen and dining room and gives the family a much-needed coat closet.

Interior designer Michael Forman sought to highlight the condo’s molding, some of it original to the early 1900s, by painting it a darker shade than the surrounding walls. “Doing so can make a space feel more formal, but we balanced it with contemporary elements,” he says. Case in point: the chandelier from Aerin for Visual Comfort & Co. and artwork by François Bonnel.

The son’s bedroom is a lesson in contrast with its gray-black wood bed and bright blue molding.

In the dining room, Pomeroy painted the walls, trim, and window mullions a greige hue for cozy warmth. The pale blue ceiling reflects the robin’s-egg blue of the head chairs.

A light fixture by Terzani hangs above a Thos. Moser table and chairs; the room is painted Benjamin Moore Platinum Gray.

In addition to the table and chairs, the homeowners also had a pair of antique Murano-glass sconces and a painting by Henri Le Sidaner; the custom rug is from Cabernet Carpets.

As Roughan explains, “Strong imagery mixed with textures and a wood-veneer coffered ceiling help create a calm yet powerful presence, while numerous decorative small pieces, such as the KleinReid ceramic vase on the coffee table, resonate with the interior.”

A vintage Debbie Harry black-and-white poster, found at a flea market, crowns a fireplace painted, like the rest of the room, Benjamin Moore Gray in a satin finish.

Roughan designed the walnut desk and redesigned the bookcase, which houses an egg sculpture by Sergio Bustamante, to include the same Phillip Jeffries wallcovering found on the ceiling.

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.

To maximize storage, the steps double as drawers.

Guest rooms are augmented by a bunk room over the garage, where a pair of Serena & Lily hanging chairs permit views in either direction.

The primary bedroom’s window seat is wrapped in steel. “The steel defines the window and frames the view to the backyard,” Elms says.

In the primary bath, the vanity’s rounded finger-pull cutouts echo the mirrors and sconces above; the marble countertop is from Cumar and the tile floor is Ann Sacks.

A standard eight-foot ceiling would have been too low for the new party-sized great room, so the design team sank the floor to gain height; surface-mounted lighting felt more appropriate to the architecture than recessed cans.

Defying convention, Brady placed a chaise at the foot of the bed instead of a bench and suspended a contemporary Le Deun Luminaires pendant above.

Hats accompany an antique bow-front chest in the primary bedroom.

Gleysteen added a curved soffit and benches just inside the door to create a sense of arrival and surrounded the Palladian window with recessed paneling.

The living room’s marble fireplace and coffered ceiling are original; designer Jocelyn Chiappone chose durable furnishings that include a velvet-covered sofa and a leather ottoman.

Dowel Furniture midcentury-style chairs upholstered in Jab Anstoetz velvet surround a game table in a living room alcove.

Poritz & Studio created the walnut swing bed for the entry-floor lounge.

The elliptical staircase—which spans seventy-seven vertical feet—required an array of experts and artisans to complete. Ron Mott of Mott Iron Works customized the bronze balustrade. The skirts, risers, stringers, and wood handrail are by Hardwood Design in Exeter, Rhode Island. Clayton Austin of Boston Ornament Company created the stairway’s plasterwork.

The foyer features an eye-catching Patagonia granite flooring. The wallcovering is by Élitis, and Hope’s Windows created the steel-and-glass partition. Rich Corner of BluBlk crafted the handrail.

Artwork by Lídia Masllorens presides over the dining room. Minotti chairs surround a custom dining table by Jeff Soderbergh, which is illuminated by an Ochre chandelier. Throughout the house, most of the walls, ceilings, and crown moldings are painted Benjamin Moore Oxford White. Ceiling heights that reach nearly thirteen and a half feet and multi-stepped crown moldings nod to the attention bestowed upon scale and proportion.

Both the Helgesons’ dressing rooms—that’s Savannah’s here—are outfitted with custom cabinetry by Christopher Peacock.

A custom fixture by Apparatus illuminates Henry Helgeson’s tidy dressing room.

A tiny powder room makes a big statement with Innovations Oil + Water wallpaper and a monolithic stone sink set against a tiled wall.

Designer Dee Elms replaced the half-wall and heavy columns that separated the dining and living rooms with glass panels. Says project manager Dan Stone of JW Construction, “It was a more traditional house, and she brought a lot of contemporary ideas. It was a fun project to do.”

Deep blues drench the family room where a lounger and sofa from The Bright Group mix with a pair of Casa Design Group swivel chairs and an original oil painting, Twilight, Arcadia, by Dan Goozee.

“If you’re going with a monochromatic palette, how do you make it interesting?” asks designer Jessica Rogers. “You do it with texture—materials that feel handcrafted.” In the formal living room, that’s evident in the leather-tabbed mirrors by Casamidy, the hair-on-hide Steven King carpet, and the laser-cut wood artwork by Nate Nettleton sourced from Boston Art.

On game days, homeowner Barry can be found in the molded-leather reclining chair in the family room.

In the dining space, a linear Lindsey Adelman for Roll & Hill light fixture complements the sculptural shape of the dining table.

Custom cabinetry expert Jannell Zarba teamed with the clients and Rosenfeld to ensure the kitchen is as efficient as it is handsome. The cabinetry’s pale gray color—Benjamin Moore’s Silver Lake—lets the space blend seamlessly into the living and dining areas and doesn’t compete with the outdoors. Heart pine floors inject a warm note.

Flooded with light, thanks to floor-to-ceiling windows and eleven-foot-high ceilings, the airy living room features a neutral palette of grays and off-whites. The dramatic fireplace surround is Siberian marble.

Each piece of stairway art has personal meaning. The photo in the upper right, for example, was shot in Montauk, where Harry’s family has a summer home. A Murano glass Jellyfish chandelier makes the journey up and down tenfold times more enjoyable.

A pillowy sectional sofa by the newly installed fireplace makes the family room the perfect kick-back-and-relax zone.

A segmented layout was scrapped to create an airy, open floor plan with hardwoods, a fresh blue-gray-natural palette, and whimsical light fixtures.

Muted bed coverings and rugs enable a mildly riotous contrast between the vine-patterned wallpaper and colorful drapes.

A bounty of quartzite counters lit by a galaxy of Todd Bracher Vessel pendants make cooking a delight. The couple opted for steely gray cabinets, Palumbo says, as a change from white.

Silver found the basalt bathtub while traveling through southeast Asia.

The master bath’s sink was crafted from mitered slabs of basalt stone.

The attic-level dressing room sports one of Silver’s favorite items: a signed Jean-Michel Basquiat 1986 exhibition poster.

Last summer, while Silver helped her son relocate, she says she stayed in a hotel for a month, an experience that made her appreciate her home more than ever. “Coming home after that was the epitome of sanctuary.”

Homeowner/designer Mar Silver refers to the fireplace as the 5,300-square-foot home’s heart. “It radiates warmth and spirit,” she says. The chair and ottoman, by Swedish designer Arne Norell, reflect Silver’s appreciation for sculptural furniture.

A fan of midcentury-modern style, Silver loves these vintage acrylic barstools that seem to float under the kitchen counter.

Five years ago, Silver discovered Korean artist Yong-Soo Lee, who created a series of three-dimensional bowl wall hangings. Silver purchased five of the seven in the series, keeping this one and giving the others to clients.

Behind the lime tree in the corner of the sitting room is a painting by Manolo Valdés.

The master suite is a soothing sanctuary from the bustle of hosting visitors.

A Four Hands sectional and chair are the centerpieces of a classic and comfortable family room. Fletcher gravitated toward timeless pieces. The colorful image on the far wall is of a beloved vacation spot, Lake Tahoe.

The downstairs powder room has a concrete composite sink below oversized pendant lamps.

Facing south with a door to the balcony, the master bedroom is flooded with light.

A roaring fire on the screened porch makes for a pretty backdrop to spirited dinner conversation; the screened porch opens out to the pool and the ocean side of the property.

The kitchen, designed by Venegas and Company, contrasts warm woods with stone countertops and metallic-painted cabinetry for a contemporary and chic look; upper cabinets were eliminated to make way for windows and artwork.

The inviting great room, anchored by a sofa, chair, and coffee table from Artefact Home | Garden, in Belmont, Massachusetts, has a soothing palette, reinforced by the artwork.

The statement-making bronze-finished steel doors open out, giving the dining room a European aesthetic. “It encourages the flow of indoor/outdoor activity,” says architect Thaddeus Siemasko. The dinner-party-ready dining table and chairs are from BDDW, and the modern light fixture is from Apparatus Studio.

The old living room windows were nixed for new models. To help frame the glorious river vistas, curtains are trimmed in a Holland & Sherry embroidery. The vintage console is another Atlanta-found prize.

One of two children’s rooms separated by an oversize pocket door.

A bedroom closet holds an abundance of storage.

Night tables are tucked into the built-ins in the master bedroom. Blackout drapes offer cozy nighttime privacy, and open to views of the rear park come daybreak.

Robert Orr designed the paneling in the keeping room to be imperfect—just as it might have been if it were original.

Minimalist decor prevails throughout the home, including the dining room. The wall art of painted concrete panels adds just a hint of texture and muted color to match the velvet sofa.

The bay window’s sumptuous banquette, where the owners often settle for meals or with their laptops, hails from Lisa Tharp’s collection. With multiple seating choices—including an iconic Alky chair designed by Giancarlo Piretti—the room is party-perfect, too. A painting by Takefumi Hori is one of several bold gold touches.

Vintage Oscar armchairs revamped with a lustrous Robert Allen fabric anchor a dreamy sitting area by the window. The intriguing linear pattern of The Rug Company’s hand-carved wool Circuit rug pops come nighttime, illuminated by the deco-style ceiling light.

Cupp picked up the leather rockers second-hand from Chairish, especially for sitting by the fire.

Amy Beth Cupp used Benjamin Moore chalkboard paint on the walls and ceilings of the TV room; the dark matte color makes the room, which is only nine feet wide, feel cozy in the winter and cool in the summer. The artwork hung around the existing barnboard is largely junk-store finds, says the designer.

Amy Beth Cupp used Benjamin Moore chalkboard paint on the walls and ceilings of the TV room; the dark matte color makes the room, which is only nine feet wide, feel cozy in the winter and cool in the summer. The artwork hung around the existing barnboard is largely junk-store finds, says the designer.

A son’s handsome bedroom takes the home’s gray theme in a darker direction.

The owners love cooking together in their spacious—and gorgeous—new kitchen.

The seating area adjoining the living room provides a peaceful spot for reading on a rainy day.

In the stairwell, old-time touches, including shiplap and a barn door, are juxtaposed with the sleek modernity of the railing.

Gillian used a British fireback as a backsplash for her stove, and she loved the look so much that she now imports the hearth protectors for her store.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Benjamin Moore’s Arctic Shadows trim lets the parlor’s rich architectural detail shine.

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

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

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

Framed banners enhance the masculine feel of the office, where a sofa tucks into a custom-built nook.

A kaleidoscope sculpture by Boston-based artist Damien Hoar de Galvan adds a splash of color to a guest bedroom.

Splashes of yellow burst against the pale gray and white of the family room. A custom Stark rug with a geometric pattern ties everything together nicely.

To introduce architectural character into the bedrooms, each was given its own niche; the one in the master was embellished with lacy Weitzner wallpaper.

The master bedroom includes a sitting area.

The 9,200-square-foot home sits on nearly an acre landscaped by Gregory Lombardi with a collection of New England perennials and a garden gate that is original to the 1908 house.

A circular rug from Surya echoes the shape of the family room in the addition. “It was important to the client that they have a great entertaining vibe in that space,” says designer Josh Linder.

Modern furnishings help leaven the living room’s formality, as in the pair of wing chairs rendered in acrylic. Windows look out onto the wisteria-covered arbor in back and are framed by a pair of built-in display cabinets that were brightened with new interior paint and the owners’ collection of French oyster plates.

An oversize ottoman that faces the inglenook can be shared by the seating groups on either side.

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.

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

“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.

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.

White cowhide pillows girded with hand-applied metal chains dress the Jessica Charles Lexi swivel chairs in the master bedroom’s sitting area. “I’m addicted to cowhide,” says Vergara.

Mr. Brown lamps foster the designer’s nighttime reading and—with additional bulbs hidden inside their hollow bases—up the glamorous mood.

The dining table’s pedestal base and the sconces display the turned forms that designer Rachel Reider favors.

The dining room features a round table custom designed by Roughan for the house; a graphic rug adds movement to the serene space.

A large door masquerading as a wall when open, can be swung shut to block noise in the living room from reaching the rest of the home.

Light pours into the living room from the original windows of what was once the Boston College High School auditorium, casting a warm glow on the hot-rolled steel used for the fireplace and mantel.

Japanese Shou-Sugi-Ban pyrography brings out the rich grain in the wood paneling surrounding the study, and a comfortable reading nook takes advantage of the deep wells of the original windows of the historic building.

Hidden appliances and the absence of cabinets around the range keep the kitchen uncluttered and in thematic harmony with the clean lines in the rest of the home.

A sculpture by New York artist Jeremy Holmes makes a statement on the custom wallpaper that wraps the elegant formal dining space.

The commode next to the kitchen banquette doubles as a bed for the owners’ Brussels Griffon.

A modern L-shaped sofa perfectly complements the large corner windows, which nicely bridge outdoors and in.

A painting by Michael Hoffman adds a spark of color to the dining area.

The sleek living room has a contemporary slate fireplace.

The dining room holds a Saarinen table and chairs.

A Jonathan Adler desk and a Kartell acrylic chair.

The dining room wallpaper’s hand-painted silver leaf changes color in different lights.

The formal living room is an elegant balance of light and dark, with lacquered charcoal-gray walls offset by silvery drapes, lighting fixtures bedecked in crystals and fabrics that boast a reflective sheen. The stone fireplace is original to the house and retains Asher Benjamin’s signature fretwork.

The master bedroom is an oasis of calm for the homeowners. “It’s great when you can make something beautiful but it’s also great when it doesn’t overstimulate the senses,” says Morgan Harrison.

Gray leather sofas invite relaxing in the TV room.

Contemporary accessories complement the foyer’s classic herringbone-pattern wood floor.

The dining room’s silvery hues shimmer in numerous reflective surfaces, including an entire wall covered in antique mirror. The homeowners entertain frequently, so a large round table was of utmost importance to offer plenty of seating for guests and help ease the flow of conversation.

A recessed wall, covered with Greek Key–pattered paper in a nod to the homeowners’ heritage, forms the master bed’s headboard.

The living room is a mix of muted blues and grays and features furniture, like the gray linen Verellen sofa, that is elegant yet comfortable.

A custom-designed light fixture adds drama to the high-ceilinged master bedroom, while blackout shades guarantee uninterrupted sleep. The taupe tone-on-tone carpet creates a neutral background for the richly colored high-backed bed.

To give this light-filled family room a feeling of “relaxed elegance,” designers Noelle Micek and Tricia Roberts kept accessories, such as the custom lighting fixture and garden stools, to a minimum and opted for a neutral color palette featuring blues and grays. The soft, muted beachy tones, says Roberts, “bring a little bit of California to New England.

Diverse elements unite happily in the living room, where striking charcoal-on-paper drawings set off a steer’s head cunningly crafted of metal washers. The herringbone-patterned hide sofa pillows hail from Dovecote in Westport.

In the home office, metal spheres bring an element of softness to the composition

The bedrooms curtains, made from metal mesh, and the sleek Woodmeister-made headboard contribute to the industrial sensibility.

A live-edge walnut slab tops a desk in the master bedroom.

Mixed with the industrial sensibility, bits of whimsy include a Terzani light fixture and gilded branches in the frame surrounding the sofa and on the built-in shelves.

A live-edge walnut slab on Plexiglass legs forms the dining table, from Hudson Furniture.

The kitchen, with its wall of Japanese ceramic tile, sits at the center of the unit and opens to the home office. Cabinets built by Woodmeister Master Builders were treated to a coat of shiny paint that resembles a metal surface.

A bright red bench by Bouvé Woodworking and a contemporary painting add zest to the complex textures and colors of the entry. The Venetian plaster walls and ceiling, as well as the tiled walls were designed to resemble concrete and stone.

Magnificent views of the Charles River and Back Bay attracted the homeowner to the lofty condominium.

Dragoo designed the tufted headboard in the cozy master bedroom.

The dining room’s dark walls "make things pop," explains the designer.

A colorful Oushak carpet sets the library’s welcoming tone. The George Nelson pendant lamp adds a modern note, while classic articulating brass lamps from Michele Varian aid nighttime reading.

Colorful accessories pop in the living room, where walls of Benjamin Moore’s Jet Black set off the crisp white trim and shelves.

A custom table by D2 Interieurs holds sculptural pieces in the dining room, which Kerri sometimes uses for client meetings.

Designer Leslie Fine gave the master suite luxurious touches like the bed wall upholstered in suede and a plush tete-a-tete chaise.

Mirror-mounted sconces with crystal sprays set the entry’s glamorous tone.

Twin seating areas, tiered ceiling coffers, and soft corner drapes give the expansive -living room the warmth and intimacy of a smaller space. Mica panels in the chandelier add sparkle to the room’s quiet palette.

The study, which the homeowner uses more for relaxing than for work, features a sofa from Casa Design outfitted in Donghia mohair in the same hue as the Phillip Jeffries wallpaper. The mixed-media artwork is by the contemporary Argentine artist Claudio Roncoli.

In the guest room, a lithograph by Robert Longo hangs on a wall painted in Benjamin Moore’s Galveston Gray.

In the show-stopping master bath, the walls are crafted of wide slabs of marble that are perfectly book-matched to appear seamless. The same marble was used for the shelving and, cut into strips and laid in a herringbone pattern, on the floor. Sconces from Circa Lighting and a sculpture from Marc Hall Objekt add the finishing touches.

Diaphanous wool-and-mohair curtains, in Ethereal by Threads at Lee Jofa, offer some privacy while still allowing natural light into the master bedroom. Jim Thompson fabric covers the custom-designed winged headboard. Behind the bed, Reclining Figure, a midcentury painting by Peter Busa, is a colorful counterpoint to the room’s serene grays.

The living room’s second sitting area plays host to a Kyle Bunting coffee table and armless chairs upholstered in cashmere velvet.

A Moroccan silk shag rug and black-and-silver wallpaper strike a sumptuous tone in the dining room, where a David Weeks chandelier illuminates a round walnut table.

The sophisticated kitchen sports a skyline marble mosaic backsplash and a mix of painted and stainless-steel cabinets. Arctic Pear light fixtures by Ochre gleam above an island of snow-white quartz.

Reflective pieces such as the sconces, a custom mirror, and a console in polished nickel and shagreen add sparkle to the windowless space.

In a living room sitting area that looks out on Boston Common, B&B Italia high-back chairs with long-hair Mongolian cushions keep company with a tub chair and sofa from Holly Hunt. The bronze sculpture, Blade II, is by Guy Dill.