Neutrals Reign in a Home Designed by Becca Casey
October 4, 2021
Becca Casey infuses her signature country-meets-coastal charm in a colonial farmhouse for a young family in Old Greenwich.
Text by Marni Elyse Katzâ   Photography by Chloe Crane-Leroux
Sydney and Brian Williams wanted their first home to be a refuge. The couple, who lived in a 900-square-foot apartment in Manhattanâs West Village with their then six-month-old son (heâs now three and his brother is one), purchased a charming colonial farmhouse on a quiet cove in Old Greenwich at the end of 2018. âWe were both still commuting, so we wanted to walk into a place of serenity when we returned from the craziness of the city,â Sydney Williams says.
The 1940s Shingle-style five-bedroom, with its covered front porch and cobblestone path, was welcoming from the outside. The interior, however, felt stiff. Drawn to local designer Becca Caseyâs timeless English country sensibilities and at-home-on-the-sea aesthetic, the couple hired her firm, Becca Interiors, to transform their new space into a mellow haven.
The first priority was to open up the middle and back of the house. âWe took an informal approach, creating cased openings between spaces for an easy flow,â Casey says. The resulting airy kitchen and sun-drenched breakfast room serve as the heart of the home.âI come from a big, loud Southern family that hangs out in the kitchen all day long,â Williams says. âI wanted our kitchen to play that role.â
Casey carried a neutral-with-hints-of-blue color scheme and natural-materials palette throughout. In the adjacent family room, a crisp-but-comfortable sectional (oversized seating was a must-have for Brian, who is six-foot-four-inches tall) hugs a rustic wood coffee table with clean lines. The pieces sit atop a jute rug, while a minimalist seascape adds quiet interest to the walls. âWe use this room for everything,â Williams says, noting that the built-ins nicely hide the toys. âWe open the French doors in the fall and spring so we can see the water and hear the birds.â
Upstairs, the coupleâs bedroom is a peaceful aerie with a cathedral ceiling lined in white planks. A custom canopy bed melds Shaker and industrial flavor, while a Belgian-linen-upholstered armchair coupled with a midcentury rattan ottoman lend European flair. Casey infused the nursery with similar notes of playful sophistication using tone-on-tone wallpaper with finely drawn elephants, a contemporary crib, and a statement pendant light.
From top to bottom, Caseyâs ensembles epitomize her concept: bright, classic New England that feels youthful, livable, and not too beachy. âBecca was wonderful at teasing out what was in my head,â Williams says. âShe translated it into something weâre happy to call home.ââ
Project Team
Interior design: Becca Casey, Becca Interiors
Architecture and builder: Lee Development Company
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