traditional

Next page →
The bed was one of the last things the couple found while working on the decoration of the house. A multicolored woven blanket and pillows by John Robshaw are finishing touches.
Soothing blue is one element that gives the master suite its getaway feeling. A cozy sitting area in front of the fireplace and a large balcony overlooking the backyard are other bonuses.
The study, where Kramer and Celeste often take their morning coffee, shows off Murphy’s deft blending of the couple’s tastes—her preference for traditional and his for a more bohemian look.
The bed was one of the last things the couple found while working on the decoration of the house. A multicolored woven blanket and pillows by John Robshaw are finishing touches.
A sink base picked up at the antiques show in Brimfield, Massachusetts, finds a new home in the first-floor powder room.
Wood beams and painted beadboard emphasize the vaulting of the kitchen ceiling; the design team took down walls, allowing the kitchen to flow into the breakfast area and living and dining rooms.
A fun mix of seating around the table gives the breakfast area its relaxed feeling.
The large living room, outfitted to accommodate the homeowners and their six children as well as plenty of friends, has multiple seating areas scattered around a fireplace conceived and built by stone artist Lew French.
Layers of antiques and flea-market finds fill niches such as this one in the entryway.
The living room includes a well-equipped bar.
The kitchen was the starting point for the home’s design.
A half-wall and columns separate the large living room into two more intimate seating areas.
Symmetry defines the front of the Shingle-style house.
n back, symmetry gives way to interesting roof lines, a turret, porches and a fieldstone chimney that serves four fireplaces.
Casual comfort reigns in the more rustic family room.
A nook in the master suite provides a cozy spot for relaxing.
Copper-toned chair cushions accent the neutral color scheme in the casual dining area.
Granite-topped counters and a walnut-topped island provide plenty of working space in the kitchen.
The living room plays out a simple, neutral palette with a black-accented vie.
A deep Jacobean brown stains all the floors. The marbleized globe ceiling fixture was brought in from the front porch ceiling.
The pale palette is broken only by an accent wall in green, a custom color chosen to reflect a bit of the outdoors.
The thick turned legs of the dining table reflect some of the home‒s heavier architecture details.
Narrow built-in drawers add a graphic note.
Round and oval ornamental windows add interest to the house’s front facade.
The large dining table, which offers plenty of seating for family and friends, came with the owners from their previous house.
Interior designer Nance Vigneau styled the intimate living room with a monochromatic beige-and-tan color scheme.
The paneled wall underneath the staircase landing encloses a small powder room.
Some of the bookcases architect McKee Patterson designed wear a cover of ornamental wire.
The terrace, with its large barbeque area, outdoor dining space and stone fireplace, connects the main house and cabana.
The back porch sprawls across the living room, family room and kitchen with their spectacular views of the harbor beyond.
A rough-sawn oak timbered ceiling lends the kitchen and adjacent sitting area a rustic look.
The master bedroom boasts a variety of soft colors and sumptuous textures, from the velvet headboard to the quilted bedding.
The bowed ceiling and beaded paneling of the cabana’s bedroom was inspired by boat interiors.
The tub in the master bathroom offers harbor views.
A heated marble floor ups the master bath’s comfort level.
An antique tea table resides between the master bedroom€’s velvet-covered chairs.
Antique light fixtures illuminate the kitchen island.
Antique prints enliven a son’s room. The pine chest holds keepsakes.
A nineteenth-century Hungarian oil painting hangs above a living room loveseat.
The dining room includes an antique mahogany sideboard.
The home’€™s exterior and its surroundings blend references to the stately houses of Europe and New England’s iconic stone walls.
The foyer’€™s curved wall lent itself to the Scenes of North America” wallpaper by Zuber, a paper also found in the White House.
The master bathroom has a soothing palette of cream, grey, and white.
The designers incorporated beautiful creams and whites into the master suite to give it the subtle, sophisticated feel of a high-end hotel room.
The family room, part of the home’s addition, combines comfort and chic, coastal New England style with ease.
“If you’re here for a cocktail or a dinner party, you definitely play pool,” says designer Parker Rogers, so it was important for the billiard room to make a statement. Drapes of richly colored plaid fabric lend a men’s club touch.
A built-in cabinet finished to mimic an antique anchors the dining room.
Bistro chairs custom made in France flank the Carrara marble kitchen island.
A luxe William Morris wallcovering is a surefire dinner party conversation-starter.
The living room has a formal feel without sacrificing comfort. The landscape that hangs above the mantel, which echoes the pretty palette of blues and greens, is another Vineyard find.
In the foyer, an antique French sideboard that doubles as a bar welcomes visitors. The owners discovered the painting that hangs above it on Martha’s Vineyard.
Located in Southport’s Historic District, the Shingle-style house hadn’t been altered much since it was built in 1894, retaining its original detail and character.
Mimi Bennett’s study/sleeping porch has dramatic views on three sides.
George Bennett’s vanity tucks sideways into the nook under the window.
Reclaimed pine tops the kitchen island.
The big dining table is a copy of the one in the old rental house.
The living room’s comfortable furnishings echo the sand, sea-blue and corals of the beach outside.
The exposed rafter ends look like stylized fish heads, reflecting the family’s love of fishing.
Gambrel roofs and low eaves give the house its horizontal, ground-hugging quality.
The wife’s office area is part of the master suite.
Simple tile and clean whites make for a fuss-free master bath that doesn’t skimp on luxury.
The master bedroom’€™s open bookshelves hold an array of Nantucket baskets, some of which the homeowner made.
The kitchen’s tiled countertop and green faux-painted cabinets add to the home’s cottage look.
The table has an end drawer for storing linens.
A reproduction lace-maker’s table holds summer’s bounty. Sconces set into painted wood beams add ambience in the evening.
Built-in wooden benches line the patio and serve as additional seating for entertaining.
The window seat wraps the perimeter of the living room.
A whale carving that once hung on the outside of a Sconset house dominates the living room with its whitewashed walls.
A schooner painting by William P. Stubbs gets prominent placement in the entry hall.
An addition to an existing post-and-beam house on Nantucket gave its new owners a wide porch and more formal entry area.
Furnished with casual pieces from Restoration Hardware’s Leagrave collection, wide porches invite overflow guests, easy conversation, and kicking back.
Outdoor living is essential to the Cape experience, of course, and it’s celebrated in this family compound.
The TV room is layered with textures.
Comfort and a go-with-anything palette rule. Punches of color, exaggerated patterns, and touches of wood, rattan, and wicker jazz up the living room. The living room’s Balou lounge chair from JANUS et Cie is a favorite perch.
The kitchen and dining room are perfect examples of an intentionally casual mix of materials and styles.
The main house family room was fashioned around neutral seating from Restoration Hardware.
Most of the furnishings in both houses were collected over time, some from previous residences, others from catalogs, says interior designer Barbara Lazarus.
A bright red door, twig chandelier, and compass rose create a welcoming vibe in the larger main house.
A pergola shelters the main walkway between the entry doors.
Sited to face the lawn and lake, the houses connect to the outdoors—and each other—by way of multiple paths, porches, and patios.
Inspiration for the two nearly mirror-image homes came from classic Cape architecture, a lovely, private lakeside setting, and the idea that both would function as one family retreat.
In addition to the poolside cottage, which has been reborn as guest quarters, and a pool house for equipment, the property also holds a separate garage with second-floor studio space.
In keeping with the location’s vernacular, Matthew R. MacEachern, principal of the Nantucket firm Emeritus, artfully incorporated all the traditional elements of what he labels the home’s “high Shingle style” but in a scaled down, contemporary manner better attuned to today. Spare and elegant, the new house is a perfect fit for a shell drive and hydrangeas—both longtime Nantucket favorites.
A guest room with a lively palette is a favorite with the owners’ nieces. "I chose a strong blue for the headboards to help anchor the space," says Carter. The appealing bedding is from Bloomingdale’s, while the custom bedskirts are from Martin Lawrence Bullard. The Hickory Chair chest nestled between the beds houses clothes or extra blankets.
Upholstered walls enhance the master bedroom’s coziness and mute the sounds of the city. "I wanted the room to feel like an elegant cocoon," says the designer.
A club chair from Gregorius Pineo makes a choice spot for reading. The fetching painting is from Webster & Company.
A set of Vaughan sconces and a stylish mirror pick up on the faux-bois wallpaper in the powder room.
Having been previously renovated, the spacious kitchen primarily required cosmetic attention. Valances in a tailored Kravet fabric and sleek pendants by Visual Comfort give the space a fresh look. To accommodate his clients’ request for greater efficiency and comfort, Carter modified the island before flanking it with a parade of inviting Hickory Chair barstools.
In keeping with the husband’s wishes for a dash of the modern, Carter chose an attention-getting painting-Didactic Method of Elenchus, by Edward Lentsch-from the Lanoue Gallery in Boston, for the serene living room. The welcoming club chairs by Rose Tarlow are dressed in a Cowtan & Tout fabric, while the sofa wears a neutral Jane Churchill fabric. An antique desk set cleverly in the bay window provides a sunny work area.
An ornate Baroque mirror from Minton-Spidell is a memorable foil to the living room’s classic mantel. The gray-blue for the interior of the shelves was chosen to echo the blue of the Lentsch painting on the opposite wall.
The adjacent entry hall holds a gilded stool from Rose Tarlow clad in a dreamy Jim Thompson fabric that echoes the striking colors of the art. The candlestick lamps are from Dessin Fournir.
No ordinary foyer, this one includes a Donald De Lue sculpture by the window and antique Foo Dogs atop the mantle.
A stunning mirror from Donghia and a Murano-glass chandelier add sparkle to the gleaming paneling of the dining room’s walls and ceiling. The antique sideboard hails from Alexander Westerhoff in Essex, Massachusetts. "These aren’t wide rooms. The sideboard is a perfect size," Carter notes. Velvet drapes and distressed-velvet dining chairs ramp up the luxe factor.
The antique sideboard hails from Alexander Westerhoff in Essex, Massachusetts. "These aren’t wide rooms. The sideboard is a perfect size," Carter notes. Velvet drapes and distressed-velvet dining chairs ramp up the luxe factor.
The same plaid fabric adds a note of color to the master bath.
The occasional use of wallpaper makes a fun accent in a bedroom. Here and throughout the house, the original walnut floors were refurbished.
A tiny office is tucked away in the new addition.
The peaceful master bedroom, with its headboard upholstered in a sweet gingham plaid from Scalamandré, sits in the addition.
The new addition’s mudroom has under-floor heating.
The original home had no fireplace, so the owners installed one in the connector that serves a family room and links the old house with the addition.
Glass-front custom-crafted cabinets enhance the open kitchen’s airy feel.
The dining room features a painting by Woodstock, Vermont, artist Glenn Suokko.
Higgerson used Scandinavian pieces like the painted console throughout the home.
After falling in love with the long-neglected Vermont village house, interior designer Phyllis Higgerson and her husband decided to renovate it instead of tearing it down. Her elegantly simple design scheme features a neutral palette and Swedish-influenced furniture to give the renovated home a feeling of calmness and serenity.
Following their design edict of "less is more," the owners added subtle crown moldings throughout the house and opted for furniture, walls, and drapes in muted beiges.
A chandelier from Bella Figura lends a more formal touch to the dining room.
The new kitchen is bright and efficient. The dining room’s Robert Abbey chandelier makes a striking contrast to the warm wood table.
Mirrored drawers and cabinet doors play up the substantial light that spills through the master bathroom windows.
A custom hood and island are commanding elements in the bright white kitchen.
A farmer’s sink is a practical addition to the mudroom.
In the master bedroom, the walls and ceiling wear the barest whisper of lavender.
The husband’s love of rich color is addressed in the dining room with its blue grasscloth walls and blue-velvet chairs.
A side entrance opens to a spacious mudroom with plenty of storage options.
A giant ikat print wallcovering flows around the first-floor powder room’s charming oval window.
In the family room, the designer satisfied the wife’s penchant for neutrals by washing the space in shades of taupe.
Pops of purple and a fiery painting brought back from Italy add a little kick to the living room’s palette of soft grays.
Silvery chairs frame a view of the sofa and a sculpture in the window overlooking the front lawn.
So classic are the lines and materials of this Shingle-style waterfront home in Greenwich, it’s almost hard to believe it was only recently built.
The elegant powder room is swathed in blue floral fabrics. “I wanted to make it a jewel box,” says Griffin-Balsbaugh.
The family often dines at the kitchen table, where large windows overlook the New Canaan Reservoir beyond.
A view of the hydrangea garden.
Delft tiles enhance the fireplace in the master bedroom.
Halpern had coral box-framed for the master bedroom.
A brick fireplace makes the stone-floored kitchen a favorite gathering spot.
Architect Dean Telfer designed the paneling in the "snug." The nautical painting comes via London.
The pantry window once graced an old English cottage.
A quiet corner makes a perfect spot for tea.
An antique Welsh dresser holds a growing pewter collection.
Holly Hunt stools belly up to the soapstone-topped island.
Homeowner Dolores Halpern designed the drawing room’s sofas and coffee table.
The dining room’s eighteenth-century corner cupboard hails from Maine.
The sunroom is Ruderman’s go-to space for relaxation and reflection.
The kitchen is stylish but no-nonsense, perfect for this ­serious cook who loves to entertain.
The genteel clapboard house sits on two well-tended acres overlooking Washington’s historic green.
Lush landscaping abounds.
Every exterior feature, especially the outdoor entertaining spaces, was given the same attention to detail as the interiors.
The paneled library is classically styled, with both masculine and feminine touches.
The home’s facade is grand, inviting and traditional.
The porch is one of Ruderman’s favorite spots because, she says, it reflects who she is as a designer.
The porch is casually furnished with wicker and wrought iron.
Architectural details, like the coffered ceilings, abound throughout.
Another view of the interior “skylight” in the foyer.
A sitting area surrounds an antique mantel in the living room.
The palette is intentionally neutral, providing contrast for curvaceous seating and richly textured accessories.
Curated with care, the furnishings in Linda Ruderman’s home are evocative of the designer’s signature traditional style. Period and custom pieces wedded with well-chosen antiques lend her rooms an elegant authenticity.
In the wife’€™s office the chaise’s feminine Peter Dunham fabric and pretty fern prints create a striking contrast with the rugged architecture.
The designers whitewashed the walls above the paneling to bring light into the space. The watercolor on the foyer wall depicts a local scene.
The dining room’s beautifully understated chandelier is by Dessin Fournir.
The antique work table came with the house.
The family room’s fireplace speaks to New England'€™s ubiquitous stone walls. Durable furniture, like the Cordoba Cognac sectional from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams, keeps the room kid-friendly.
The family fell in love with the home’s classic New England details.
The new addition brought a parade of French doors that open from the family room to a covered porch with the master suite above.
The dining room is a gracious setting for more formal occasions.
A hand-crafted lantern from the New England Historical Connection lends stature to the entry.
A Robert Mangold print and an antique Federal chest marry happily in the sitting room.
The hallway was given a decorated floor to dispel its formerly dark state.
The curved fronts of the master bathroom’s vanities make it easy to lean into the mirror while shaving or applying makeup.
The designer uses color judiciously, opting for a kitchen with clean lines and a subtle palette.
The home’€™s classic shingled exterior gives it a timeless look.
The kitchen features painted maple cabinets, a soapstone-topped island and a cherry valance hood over the stove.
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.
A weathervane inspired by the Fool in the Tarot deck stands atop the cupola.
A bluestone terrace surrounded by lush plantings makes a peaceful outdoor dining area.
The old standalone garage is now a fitness room and studio.
Landscape architect David Hawk planted lush perennial beds along a meandering bluestone path.
The original Cape-style house still forms the core of the expanded home.
Originally a conservatory, this room’s use changed as the family grew, when it became the library.
A nineteenth-century table turns the space under the stairs into a quiet reading nook.
An oil painting by American artist Megan Hinton, a focal point of a seating area in the living room, picks up the blue of the ottomans and accessories.
The classic Shingle-style house was built in 1996.
The expanded master suite includes linen-clad walls and a custom upholstered bed with a pop-up TV hidden in the footboard.
The window seat that wraps around the living room ties the indoors to the outside. The travertine fireplace and upholstery colors were chosen for their similar hues to the nearby sand and sea.
The homeowners were drawn to the unassuming facade of the house.
The kitchen cabinets were custom built on site by Dutch cabinetmakers.
The designer favors a neutral palette both for its soothing qualities and to showcase her antiques.
The country kitchen features a tile backsplash
Lewis had admired the traditional cape and its gardens for years before she bought the house.
The walls of the narrow dining room are clad in Travers fabric.
A quilted paper art piece by Nantucket artist Mellie Cooper hangs above the family room fireplace. The family room is open to the living room, but maintains a more casual character.
Zoffany fabric makes a pretty backdrop for the entry’s Chinese vases and gilt-framed mirror.
Bold blues and lively botanical print fabrics animate the historic Nantucket home’s formal living room. Period antiques mix with newer pieces to keep the home from feeling too rooted in the past.
Nancy Serafini found the English chair at Janis Aldridge and the antique embroidered fire screen at Rafael Osona Auctions, two on-island resources popular with interior designers.
The sun-filled conservatory features half-round transom windows, a tropical feel, and furnishings that encourage kicking back.
Blues of every hue prevail throughout the classic home. Though formal, the dining room and living room (facing page), are not off-limits to the homeowners’ three small children, thanks to sisal rugs, durable casegoods, and forgiving fabrics; a mix of three-including faux leather-adorn the dining chairs.
The formal living and dining room.
The simple, organic color scheme plays up the foyer’s original moldings and leaded-glass windows.
The homeowner experimented with color in the baths, like the rich Drawing Room Blue from Farrow & Ball in this space.
Waverly’s La Belle Campagne cotton toile transforms the guestroom, where a favorite portrait of an unknown woman hangs. "I just fell in love with her," says Bell.
A Russian painting called "Peasants after the Harvest" hangs above the fireplace. The collection on the mantel includes a cluster of vintage alabaster grapes.
A Russian painting called "Peasants after the Harvest" hangs above the fireplace. The collection on the mantel includes a cluster of vintage alabaster grapes.
A first-floor powder room holds what was once a cupboard in the pantry.
The parlor, with its inviting Robert Allen camelback sofa, is the place to be when temperatures drop. Frank McBournie crafted the luxurious throw from vintage coats.
Silk drapes add extra warmth to the dining room and help frame views of the adjacent preserve.
In addition to refinishing the original staircase, the couple sanded and stained the foyer’s pine-board floor to awaken its sleeping beauty.
A tub enjoys dramatic views and its own proscenium arch.
The spectacular staircase mixes verticals, horizontals, and diagonals with wood both rough-hewn and polished.
Custom millwork, such as the master bedroom’s cabinets and mantel, is one of the house’s signatures.
The house’s rich oak flooring is most evident in the open kitchen.
Some of the fieldstone for the central hearth was taken from the property.
The Michael Taylor dining table sits atop a stone base.
Next page →