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The home’s central hallway serves as a gallery for the owners’ collection of original artwork, as well as providing access to each of the first-floor rooms, with larger doors to public spaces and smaller openings to more private areas.

Thematic bronze sconces by Visual Comfort flank the living room’s formal fireplace; the art over the mantel is by interior designer Jill Goldberg.

Reproduction loop dining chairs find spherical echoes in a cast-resin sphere chandelier and the Peter Dunham fabric on the head chairs. A weathered linen tea rose–hued wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries complements the vintage rug.

Red accents pop against the pale blue background in a boy’s bedroom.

Broad stripes on the ceiling give the nursery a look that’s cute but not cloying.

Soft greens and neutrals keep the master bedroom feeling serene.

The basement was reconfigured to create a rec room and den for family fun.

The library was turned into a playroom and homework center, with open shelving and a bright pin board above each desk.

A backsplash and countertops of statuary marble marry gray and white tones in the new kitchen; the breakfast area’s chairs, swamped in the flood, were restored and repainted.

Gates brought a new level of comfort to the dining room with luxurious velvet-upholstered host chairs that complement the existing dining set. A custom wood and lacquer buffet balances the traditional style of the dining room with some contemporary lines.

Designer Erin Gates updated the room by swapping out the wood fireplace mantel for a surround of marble and limestone and adding twin built-in bookcases.

Neutral tones and simple, comfortable furnishings make the living room a favorite place to unwind.

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.

The entry is a study in black and white contrasts. The wool stair runner looks like sisal but is easier to clean.

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 gate’s X-motif is repeated throughout—even in the custom baby gates the owners ordered.

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.

Paint accentuates the dining room’s wood trim, while matching grasscloth minimizes contrast, so the room envelops you. Vintage Irish chairs anchor either end of the contemporary pedestal table.

Agate sconces illuminate the powder room under the stairs.

Chevron inlays animate a chest in the home’s entry vestibule.

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 balance of classic and modern starts in the entry hall, where a contemporary open stair is combined with Murano glass lighting, and black floors play against white paneled walls.

Light from a skylight catches the glossy surface of bookshelves on the first floor of the two-story library, where the palette was inspired by the chalky blue and gray tones in the hide rug.

The pattern on the rug that defines the living room area echoes the interlocking squares on the ceiling. A glass chandelier and crystal sconces make elegant companions to the glossy Striato Olimpico marble of the fireplace.

Designer Michelle Morgan Harrison added sparkle to the living room by backing the bookshelves with glimmering Phillip Jeffries wallpaper.

Tom Dixon mirror-ball pendants create a playful vibe in the family room, where book-matched slabs of Bianco Elegant marble create a dramatic backdrop for the fireplace and flat-screen TV.

A custom dining table by Chaddock anchors the dining area. The chairs, also from Chaddock, are upholstered in velvet on the front and silk on the back.

A cherry-paneled media room was painted a custom-mixed bright blue to add color and reflect light.

Fabrics with hues of citron and fuchsia offer a lively contrast to the room’s neutral furnishings.

Starr Daniels says she couldn’t pass up the digital painting that matched the master bedroom’s color scheme.

To add to the living room’s airy feel, designer Christina Sullivan Roughan removed crown molding above the French doors and hung the draperies as high as possible. The neutral palette of pale gray and white gets youthful energy with the occasional shot of sky blue.

A dazzling Ricardo Rumi painting and a Lubomir Tomaszewski sculpture add contemporary flair to the library.

Casual barstools in the kitchen offer an informal contrast to the dining room.

In the family room, hemp wallcovering and wool carpeting enhance the cozy feel.

The random dots in the Stark stair runner meander from the lower level to the fourth-floor office.

A once-dark powder room got a light and bright makeover with Gracie wallpaper, marble floor tile, and a lighter-than-air Lucite vanity from Waterworks.

The dining room’s delicate Dennis & Leen chandelier balances the heftiness of the moldings, but both share a sense of shine. In the living room, glistening nailheads and zebra fabrics add interest to the lounge chairs.

Morgan Harrison gave the kitchen some pop with a globe light fixture from Remains, fresh window treatments, and new hardware.

Comfortable simplicity reigns in the master bedroom, where delicate night tables from Worlds Away flank the plush upholstered headboard.

Designer Michelle Morgan Harrison introduced shine throughout the house, from the living room’s crystal chandelier to the silver-leaf coffee table to the high-gloss finish on the home’s moldings, stair balusters, and newel caps.

The exterior of the Greenwich townhouse.

A Barbara Barry chaise offers an alternative lounging spot in the guest room.

Just off the living room, a staircase winds up all four floors of the home, originally designed by architect Anthony J. Tartaglia.

Light streams from the terrace into the living room through French doors, creating a visual echo of artist Michael Zigmond’s riveting work above the bar cabinet.

A Dennis & Leen sofa with a somewhat formal silhouette plays off the room’s contemporary art.

A border of reclaimed wood along the base of the vent hood ties in with the kitchen’s new beams.

The chandelier came from the owners’ previous home.

Nailhead trim on the upholstered dining chairs and Conrad handwoven shades at the windows introduce an extra layer of subtle texture.

A pair of Gregorius Pineo wing chairs nestling by an original fireplace are an unexpected delight in the dining room. The landscape above the mantel is by Tracey Lane. A cache of snowy china fills the new floor-to-ceiling cabinets.

On the first floor, the elegant guest bath features a custom granite sink and a generous frosted-glass shower enclosure.

Nearby, the wife’s dressing room features custom closets and a marble-topped island; crystal chandeliers, refitted with shades from Blanche Field, were relocated from the hallway.

Tress-Balsbaugh and her client found inspiration for the living room in photos of the Paris apartments of well-known designers. “That juxtaposition of old and new was something I was really drawn to,” the homeowner says.

The streamlined contemporary kitchen on the fourth floor is adjacent to a comfortable media area and just steps away from the bi-level roof deck.

White paint transforms the home’s beautiful but somber period woodwork. The beauty of the original mahogany can still be appreciated in the varnished newel post and stair rail, however.

Designer Carolina Tress-Balsbaugh’s lighten-it-up approach is apparent the moment one crosses the threshold.

A Ro Sham Beaux chandelier illuminates the master bedroom, where French doors open to a deck overlooking the pretty yard.

Vibrant black-and-white chairs, contemporary sconces, and abstract art are fun contrasts to the living room’s understated heirloom sofa.

Comfort in the family room includes a cozy sectional and ottoman along with a feels-good-underfoot Stark carpet.

Russell chose Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee as the trim color for every room, giving the house a pleasing continuity. In the entry, the hue is the ideal partner for the wheat-toned chest.

Designer Phoebe Lovejoy Russell brought modern art and a contemporary light fixture into the airy dining room to balance traditional furnishings. The painting’s colors echo the room’s palette, while the candlesticks and striking chandelier are in step with Russell’s penchant for brass.

Antique beds in the four-year-old’s bedroom belonged to Russell’s father.

Horn-and-bone mirrors enliven the master bath’s Restoration Hardware vanity.

The kitchen’s marble surfaces sport a leathered finish, which translates to less maintenance.

In the generously scaled master bedroom, the designer confidently mixed a modern chevron wallcovering with the bold chinois drapes, and created a link between an old house and a modern mood with the graphic custom rug. The chairs add classic style and a pop of plum.

Rich wood paneling gives the living room its cozy feel. The homeowners had used the vast felt rug in their New York City apartment but, amazingly, it was a perfect fit here as well.

The kitchen was a complete redo. Custom cabinets were painted to brighten the space and provide contrast for the dark floor finish.

The classic home on a tight urban site was fully fenced and comfortable in its surroundings, with a “nice enclosed, landscaped feel,” says architect Robert Adams, but previous renovations hadn’t been kind to it, so he set about restoring its original beauty.

The windows in the room’s new bump-out bathe the space in natural light. The breezy shades can be rolled up and fastened with rope, while shutters offer flexible privacy control at the room’s front window.

The screened porch is furnished with comfy sofas and tea-height tables for casual eating and reading, making it a favorite gathering spot.

The living room adopts a nautical air without being too obvious.

The kitchen opens to the light-filled dining room.

The dining room’s velvet-covered wing chairs provide a luxe counterpoint to the vintage violin maker’s table and textural pendant light.

The living room is contemporary in feel, now that the old brick hearth has been replaced by a sleek stone surround. Easy-care slipcovered chairs flank a cocktail table of black grasscloth and brass.

A zinc-topped wet bar features a well for liquor bottles and ample storage for barware.

The Lucite legs of the upholstered bench at the foot of the master bed add a glamorous touch.

A silk rug grounds the living room, where a sofa reupholstered by the designer in Venetian velvet and chairs re-covered in Osborne & Little Oriole fabric beckon. Ikat and animal-print toss pillows lend an exotic note.

Phillip Jeffries wallpaper provides a subdued background that lets the art play a starring role.

Comfy cowhide-covered swivel chairs fill the sitting space off the kitchen.

An upholstered banquette and cafe chairs surround the breakfast area’s Saarinen table. Comfy cowhide-covered swivel chairs fill the sitting space off the kitchen.

A fireplace fabricated with London Fog stone commands attention in the family room.

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

White sofas and a cowhide rug, glass cocktail table, and an airy cage chandelier are washed in light in the glassed-in conservatory.

A Victoria + Albert soaking tub in the master bathroom sits between a pair of vanities topped in mitered Carrara stone.

The house nestles into the dramatic slope of the lot.

The great room’s sitting area is anchored by the massive fireplace built with locally sourced stone. Furniture keeps a low profile, the better to focus on the views.

Cream-colored ceilings and island add a light touch to the kitchen.

To help the house blend into its natural surroundings, the design team kept the existing woodlands wherever possible, supplemented with native trees and plants. Red cedar shingles and stone enhance the home’s connection to the land.

The entry hallway sets the tone for the home with natural touches such as the twig-like door handle.

The owners enjoy their second-story porch all year long.

The master bedroom opens to a private balcony.

The master bath features an oversize tub of marble and limestone tucked into a windowed niche.

Sunset-colored furnishings give the library its warm ambience.

Elegance meets rusticity in the dining room, where a dramatic chandelier hangs above a live-edge walnut table.

The boathouse deck makes a pleasant gathering spot.

The cathedral ceiling is painted in high-gloss white to enhance the sense of height and emphasize the simplicity of the beams and trim work.

The rope motif of the Lee Jofa wallpaper is echoed in the headboard’s trim and the twisted plaster rods of the chandelier.

The open kitchen is outfitted with custom cabinetry that sports authentic marine cleats for hardware. Silvery crackle ceramic subway tile adds shimmer to the backsplash. The owner wanted countertops of Caesarstone for its high style and low maintenance.

A classic barn door was updated with navy high-gloss paint and modern hardware for a polished, but rustic look.

A new foyer was created to establish a true sense of arrival. Navy grasscloth walls let the white furniture, accessories, and high-gloss white trim pop.

The clean lines of the bedding and furniture play well against the wallpaper’s whimsical nautical design in the master bedroom.

The original entry was transformed into a sitting area, where swivel chairs surround a pierced cast-resin cocktail table, adding a sophisticated touch to the beachy vibe.

The designer paired a Kelly-green carpet with a magenta loveseat in the master bedroom; fabric panels flanking the headboard suggest a canopy, but without the bulk. In the master bath, Burke installed a sink in a Rococo dressing table and covered the wall behind it with broad stripes

After a flood destroyed her new kitchen, Burke worked with Farmington architect Jack Kemper to remake the space, raising the ceiling to twenty-two feet and installing distressed cabinets topped with quartzite.

Burke painted the paneling white and dressed the unused fireplace with a screen covered in curtain fabric. The designer refers to the recamier as her “phone booth” because she lounges on it when she makes calls. With a similar palette but a different scale, the patterned upholstery works well with the Christian Lacroix rug.

Mismatched chairs from Theodore Alexander surround a David Michael table in the dining room. “I don’t like cookie-cutter chairs,” Burke says. “I like to mix and match.

Zeytoonjian’s Bahamian roots are reflected in the Amos Ferguson paintings over the bar; elephant heads supporting the brass rail honor the home’s original owner, Republican governor Henry Roberts

The family gathers nightly to watch TV on the custom sectional, which Burke embellished with tufting, pleating, and nailhead trim.

An antique chandelier illuminates a group of Theodore Alexander club chairs in the great room, which Burke has dubbed “Club Z” for her husband, Mark Zeytoonjian.

“I really love to blend styles,” says designer Kellie Burke, who placed a modern seating group beside a traditional one in the former ballroom of her Hartford home.

Cowtan & Tout’s Hayworth Trellis wallpaper accents the wall behind the bed.

Future Grandmasters can compete at the Oomph game table. At a nearby seating area, the coffee table is topped with easy-care white-birch Edelman leather.

The expansive pool area can accommodate a crowd, with its well-appointed outdoor kitchen, a bar, dining table, and two seating areas, including the custom sofas that tuck into the stonework enclosures by the swimming pool. Under the pergola, seating includes natural woven Restoration Hardware outdoor furniture, X benches by Serena & Lily, and barstools by JANUS et Cie.

The heft of the marble-topped kitchen islands is offset by light gray cabinetry and the cheerful striped fabric on the barstools.

The kids can vie for a spot on the curved settee when the family gathers for casual meals in the kitchen’s dining area. The chairs are durable Design Within Reach wishbone chairs finished in white lacquer.

A seating area in the living room is brightened and lightened with hide-upholstered chairs and a glass-topped acrylic table. The deep Keegan sofas are from the Kristin Drohan Collection in Perennials fabric.

The charcoal-colored millwork of the custom-built bar frames the doorway between living and dining rooms.

The home, built in 1919 with Tudor-style elements inside and out, sits on a hill overlooking Hingham Harbor. Oversize windows take full advantage of the view across the circular drive, which surrounds a decorative fountain.

A William Morris paper creates a traditional backdrop in the nursery, while one of the homeowners’ many Moroccan rugs adds a bold, bright accent.

The watery motif of the home extends into the spa-like master bath; the custom cabinetry is from Downsview of Boston.

Footballs—each with a personal meaning for the homeowners—heighten the study’s intimate tone. An Urban Electric chandelier and a streamlined coffee table from the Bright Group lend a masculine feel.

The beachy theme takes a softer turn in the master bedroom, with a calming palette of pale blues and cream.

Christopher Peacock Cabinetry of Boston joined forces with Marcuvitz and Arner to design the spacious kitchen and its light-filled breakfast area. Clear pendants by Remains cast a beam on the island without detracting from the architecture. A marine finish safeguards the island’s walnut top, where Hickory Chair stools line up.

The breakfast niche’s walnut table is a delicious contrast to the oak floors, and with a custom banquette and upholstered chairs from Hickory Chair, the setting is as comfortable as it is stylish.

Hanging his and her lights free up space on the nightstands in the master bedroom, where hand-painted metallic wallpaper covers the wall behind the bed. A faux-shagreen-framed mirror adds interest to the fireplace.

Muse used a soothing gray-blue paint in the family room to create a backdrop for a host of lively fabrics including pillows dressed in a blue-and-taupe leaf motif from Zoffany and geometric stripes by Christopher Farr Cloth. New Lucite hardware and a freshly lacquered mantel increase modernity.

The living room’s high level of -interest stems in great part from all “the varied elements of texture,” says the designer. The metal side table is topped with petrified wood, while two stools flaunt velvet-clad bases to complement their seats of striped fabric by Duralee. Pale linen curtains afford privacy and soften the windows. The arresting painting is by Patrick Wilson.

Interior designer Lauren Muse -collaborated with Michelle -Brunwasser of Weber Fine Art Greenwich to help the owners find works that would please them visually and suit their decor, such as the dining room’s lively painting by Judith Kruger.

The entry’s contemporary console and attention-getting art by James Nares provide a lively contrast to the traditional architecture.

A brushed-steel bed from Room & Board adds a contemporary, more masculine touch to the hotel-chic master bedroom. The roomy double bedside dressers are from FDO Group.

The study also serves as an informal sitting/TV room with its comfortable Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams sofa; the desk is by Excentricities.

A Restoration Hardware vanity resembles a piece of furniture, perfectly fitting its niche in the guest bathroom.

The bright, spacious kitchen was designed with the homeowners’ frequent entertaining in mind. Sparkly pendant light fixtures from Lucía Lighting & Design add a fun touch to the open space.

In the dining room, a Hubbardton Forge light fixture has simple linear lines, and the chairs keep a low profile, so as not to block through-views.

A tête-à-tête settee by A. Rudin sits in the cased opening in the double living room. The window seat to the left is another spot to lounge and enjoy a pretty harbor view.

Capiz-shell tiles create a special feature wall in the powder room.

A pair of sleek sconces flank an abstract artwork by Doug Kennedy above the fireplace, with its custom-designed mosaic surround. Glass-front built-ins hold accents and collections.

The foyer sets the home’s transitional tone with its linear console and double-ring-base lamp, both from ICON Group, and an area rug from Steven King Decorative Carpets.

Local photographer Daniel Sutherland’s work brings a bit of the island’s scenic landscape into the master bedroom.

For the son’s bedroom, Cappoli went for masculine textures such as leather, natural steel, and wool fabrics and carpet all inspired by a man’s suit.

The homeowners are restaurateurs, so the kitchen was especially important to them. A black La Cornue range and matching high-gloss black island with brass hardware pack a visual-and functional-punch. The swivel stools wear a Seema Krish fabric that ties in beautifully with the dark island and its light granite top.

A seating area focused on the stacked-stone fireplace is one of two arrangements, separated by a game table and bar area, that Cappoli designed to bring the 1,200-square-foot family room down to a comfortable size.

Comfort was the directive in the keeping room, located just off the kitchen, where a well-stocked bar, cozy club chairs, a fireplace, and warm, chocolate-brown walls make the room a welcoming spot for evening cocktails.

Dinner parties are more fun in a dining room that is a conversation starter in and of itself. The modern plum-blossom pattern of the De Gournay wallpaper adds a splash of color.

Sheer drum shades update the crystal chandeliers and soften their glow.

The library skews formal, but not at the expense of comfort. Cappoli sourced the sofa and the carpet first, then the rest of the room fell into place. "There are pieces that define a space, that arouse people’s emotions, associations, and memories," he says.

In the foyer, Cappoli blended classic elements like the Greek key pattern of the carpet with contemporary touches such as a bronze sculpture by Boston artist Tristan Govignon perched on a Lucite pedestal.

In the powder room off the foyer, designer Tony Cappoli took a traditional glass subway tile and ran it vertically for a modern aesthetic. A custom-scaled Trove wallpaper conjures the feeling of being out in the woods.

The living and dining rooms are one, with a comfortable, eclectic mix of furnishings chosen for visual and textural interest.

A few modern moves make all the difference in this townhouse transformation. In the living room, a log trough adds an artistic as well as functional touch to the fireplace wall.

The floor of the master bath, fabricated from Thassos and statuary Carrara marbles, is designed to look like a garden path; the beautiful collection of botanical photos reinforces the theme.

With subtle gold and silver accents and a cozy sitting area, the master suite is a soothing retreat for the homeowners.

Detail of the master bedroom sitting area.

The Carrara- and Thassos-marble backsplash in a soft gray-and-white pattern lends a wow factor to the kitchen.

The designers incorporated indoor/outdoor fabric on the sofa and ottomans in the TV room, making them family- and pet-friendly.

The eye-catching triptych above the sofa is by Darien artist Andrea Bonfils.

The table in the eat-in kitchen juxtaposes a distressed antique wood column base with a sleek cast-iron top.

An oversize walnut coffee table with sculptural legs anchors the large family room.