traditional

Looking perfectly comfortable in a wintry setting, this Redding home takes its design cues (and even some of its building materials) from nearby Connecticut barns.

Custom sconces flank a walnut bed outfitted in chic Les Oiseaux fabric, by Marvic.

The architect sited the one-and-a-half-story cottage to give the children a yard to play in.

In the master suite, a sofa and wing chair provide inviting roosts, while an antique chest serves as a put-your-feet-up coffee table.

A well-equipped mudroom opens to the pool area.

A Blanche Field chandelier and classic Windsor chairs sound traditional notes in the dining room.

The sun-washed living room epitomizes the owners’ wish for a traditional seaside house with a modern air.

A soffit helps delineate the cooking area in the open kitchen, while the curved counter creates a nook for the breakfast area.

Landscape architect Gregory -Lombardi’s plan enhances an already dazzling site, while the multiple decks of the house designed by architect Doreve -Nicholaeff give the homeowners ample opportunity to enjoy the views.

Punches of red brighten the master suite.

A variety of patterns-from herringbone to stripes to circles-mix it up against the dark walls of the music room.

A wallcovering from the Phillip Jeffries Rivets collection clothes the dining room walls, where the palette of nature-inspired colors reflects the rocky coast outside.

Designer Honey Collins opted for casual, but not outdoorsy, furnishings for the sun porch because the space is open to the living room.

The living room’s herringbone wallpaper lends a masculine touch, while a botanical rug adds a hint of femininity.

Grand inside and out, this stately 1885 former summer home in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, retains its historic charm.

The foyer’s original woodwork soars to the third floor.

Original beams from the barn provide structural support and visual appeal.

Stephanie’s husband, Harald, bought the nautical painting above the fireplace as a surprise for his wife.

In search of an abstract focal point to anchor a hallway wall, Stephanie spied this painting, by Victor-Raul Garcia, in a SoHo shop.

Arranged just so, a cluster of paintings collected over the years wound up a perfect fit for the family room.

A few well-placed black accents in the family room spice up the quiet palette.

The chandelier from the owners’ previous home proved a perfect match for the Thomas Pheasant table from Baker. The custom chairs guarding the table’s ends wear a lush Cowtan & Tout fabric.

In the airy kitchen, a Venetian glass chandelier adds a dash of unexpected glamour, while the island’s meticulous furniture-like details speak to the home’s craftsmanship.

Original pocket doors open to the sitting room, where unmatched but similar vintage oriental rugs separate the two seating areas. The cut crystal chandelier at the fireplace end of the room is original to the house.

A vintage sofa and Salon chairs by Barbara Barry surround a distinctive Baker cocktail table in the sunny sitting room.

In the foyer, the marriage of an antique mirror and a modern console sets the tone for the home’s striking old-meets-new decor. An antique oriental rug and a contemporary stair runner from Stark also make pleasing partners.

A lower terrace below the house creates a private spot for the pool.

Boxwoods, statuary, and white flowers give the garden its classic feel.

A massive window wall opens the great room to garden and water views.

The Clive Christian kitchen plays with rich detailing in the cabinetry and turned legs of the island and range area. Rinfret accented the space with an iron chandelier and wallpaper.

The black-lacquered powder room takes its cues from a chinoiserie painted chest the homeowner found and that interior designer Cindy Rinfret turned into a vanity.

Timelessness, it seems, is the best anti-aging formula. Antiques, Gracie paper, and an animal-print stair runner in a luscious shade of pink stop time in its tracks in this historic Belle Haven home.

The Battles turned the wisteria-draped space into an outdoor living area.

A landscape painting by Daniel Thibault of Peterborough, New Hampshire, hangs above a settee that was in Janice’s childhood bedroom. The bed is dressed with Matouk linens.

The master bedroom’s dressing table was one of the first antiques the couple bought as newlyweds, thirty years ago. The vintage French creamware plates flank a silver-leafed mirror.

The couple rescued the Smallbone cabinets from Janice’s parents’ house, and John retrofitted them for the kitchen that, inspired by Monet’s home at Giverny, is painted in five shades of yellow

The heirloom sofa is from Janice’s grandmother’s house, while the bookshelves hold John’s bevy of -Baedekers and Janice’s collection of creamware and mercury glass.

Acevedo carried blue and white accents into the master bedroom, the space he considers the most luxe in the house.

Designer Herbert Acevedo chose bolder colors for the diminutive guest room than elsewhere in the house; visual interest is created by mixing patterns.

The textures of the grasscloth wallpaper and the sisal rug add warmth and casualness to an otherwise formal master bedroom.

Casual yet elegant was the desired vibe in the living room, where a neutral palette reflects the natural beauty of sand, sea, and sky outside the windows.

A delicate shell mirror and a piece of decorative coral in the entryway subtly reference the coastal location.

Although small in scale, the dining table can still comfortably seat six for a dinner party.

A vaulted ceiling above the tub in the master bath is one more example of the skillful architects’ attention to details. Open shelves house towels, and marble in the tub surround and counter lends a note of elegance.

Guests enjoy their own deck with postcard views. Following the roof lines, the room’s sloped ceilings conjure intimacy. Matouk linens and Bennison fabrics-stripes on the beds and floral at the windows and on the armchair and ottoman from Reddick’s private label-enliven the space.

A master-bedroom window seat covered in a dreamy Peter Fasano fabric makes an additional perch for reading or resting.

The library offers the best of both worlds: a welcoming fireplace for when the owners wish to be cozy and access to the deck so the sea feels always near. A sumptuous Edward Ferrell sofa is just right for hunkering down with a book or watching television.

A custom desk in the library provides a handy spot for working from home.

Opportunities abound for catching ocean views, including a pair of second-floor roof decks. A honeysuckle hedge (with a safety fence hidden inside) safeguards the pool.

The rounded porch is a favorite destination for al fresco meals.

Lovely millwork and quietly elegant furnishings in the living room mesh, providing a setting that’s both comfortable and beautiful.

The sight line from the front door, through the dining room, and out to the sea is breathtaking. Designer Susan Reddick smartly played to the scenery with Lee Jofa linen drapes, a blue Stark carpet, and dining chairs clad in Brunshwig & Fils Oxford blue chenille.

Sudbury Design Group’s landscaping plan includes a generous swath of hydrangeas that enhance the appeal of the handsome shingled house. Architects Lisa Botticelli and Ray Pohl’s design incorporates the classic details beloved by Nantucket residents.

A custom lantern based on an eighteenth-century design is a striking contrast to the modern staircase.

The spacious kitchen sports marble countertops and a custom dining table in a boat shape.

Nestled into the hill and oriented toward the water, the house is mostly hidden from town despite being in the middle of it. The landscape plan is lush and natural looking.

Nestled into the hill and oriented toward the water, the house is mostly hidden from town despite being in the middle of it. The landscape plan is lush and natural looking.

Nestled into the hill and oriented toward the water, the house is mostly hidden from town despite being in the middle of it. The landscape plan is lush and natural looking.

Rogers accentuated the ceiling beams in the kitchen by painting the walls chocolate brown.

Bright navy lacquer on the dining chairs and a blue-and-white Ralph Lauren wallpaper lend a playful look to the dining room.

Wicker, rattan, and sisal are summerhouse staples in this Martha’s Vineyard vacation home that overlooks the water. Designer Parker Rogers softened the formal architectural touches by adding fun touches like a zebra-print rug.

The kitchen’s custom-painted fixture is by Stray Dog Designs. "I like oversize lighting," says Goldberg. "This one complements the grand scale of the table." The zippy indoor/outdoor fabric on the dining chairs is Tortola by Schumacher.

New countertops and snowy tiles give the busy cooking zone fresh spirit.

The living room flows seamlessly into the dining room, where the large light fixture and rich dark-blue chairs add a dose of drama.

Twin Lucille floor lamps by Oly bring an additional measure of symmetry to the open and airy living room. The lively Christopher Farr drapery fabric inspired the bold green wall color.

Light and dark materials take turns in the master bath.

A cast-resin sea urchin assumes a sculptural presence in the entry, next to a reclaimed-wood table topped with a lamp custom made by Hudson Interior Designs.

Bold blues and orange add punch in the daughter’s room.

The master bedroom’s closet incorporates an Empire-period chest that belonged to the wife’s mother, prompting the choice of natural walnut for the walls, floors, and ceiling.

Pergolas at either end of the pool create outdoor living spaces complete with a waterside kitchen and dining area.

Giant pots of rosemary and flowers mark the path toward the pool area.

In the family room, a geometric-patterned rug, a circular design on the chairs’ upholstery, and wave artwork offer an echo of the pool area, which sits outside the room through a set of French doors.

The one-of-a-kind backsplash is a mural by island artist Kara Taylor.

In the office just off the dining room, designers O’Kelly and Georgopolis opted for a green ceiling to define the architecture of the space while creating a sense of coziness.

Ahearn used exaggerated, symmetrical bays on the backside of the house; the guesthouse is visible to the far left of the main house.

Exposed ceiling beams add character to a living room painted in serene white and accented with bold blues.

The entry of the upside-down house offers the same welcoming feel as a home with a more conventional circulation pattern.

Adjustable pulleys mean the lights above the dining table can be pulled up during the day so as not to impede the ocean view.

An enlarged skylight floods the stairway with natural light.

The master bedroom features floor-to-ceiling windows (flanked by Indian shutters and blue-and-gold silk drapes) that look out onto Commonwealth Avenue. A buttercream-colored rug keeps things light. A television and dresser are neatly tucked away in one of the room’s two alcoves.

Architect Patrick Ahearn, interior designers Andrea Georgopolis and -Kellye O’Kelly of Slifer Designs, and builder Peter Rosbeck teamed up to create this oasis on Martha’s Vineyard for a suburban-Boston family. The view from the second floor of the guesthouse encompasses the main house, pool, bocce court, and an ocean view.

Although the owner worried that the original wood paneling made the living room too dark, a color palette of light blues, greens, and creams and a generous supply of table lamps and wall sconces helped brighten the once "gloomy" room. Minimal window treatments also let in lots of light from Commonwealth Avenue.

The design team created a spacious new kitchen, complete with an island and breakfast counter. New cabinets of white wood and glass and a copper oven hood blend in with period elements such as the original leaded-glass doors.

The mural continues onto the dining room walls.

Designer Cynthia Deysher left the leaded-glass windows curtain-free.

To counterbalance the dining room’s fourteen-foot ceilings and massive limestone fireplace, Deysher chose oversize wing chairs in embroidered silk to anchor the generous dining table and added a William Morris-inspired rug and rock-quartz crystal chandelier.

As the restored entry hall and vestibule of this elegant Commonwealth Avenue townhouse prove, bringing the historic nineteenth-century, 7,400-square-foot building back to its original condition required a skilled team of artisans who worked hand in hand with the project’s architect, designer, and contractor.

After replacing wrought-iron balustrades with more traditional wood banisters and spindles on the main floor’s staircase, the design team commissioned a local painter to create a mural that features historical scenes of Boston.

The back patio sits off the family room, accessible through French doors, and the master suite is perched above.

The family spends lots of time in the kitchen, often gathering at the large island with its gleaming mahogany top.

Perfect for dinner parties, the dining table expands to seat twelve; the antique chairs are a delicate counterpoint to the pedestal table.

The family room offers two seating areas; this one, closest to the kitchen, is a popular gathering spot during prep time.

The owner, who oversaw the interior design process, introduced color throughout. "I wanted it to feel like it’s a warm house," she says.

The living room glows with her choice of a rich palette of golds and yellows highlighted by the geometric-floral wallpaper by Osborne & Little.

The foyer, which spans two stories, sets an airy, welcoming tone.