blue

Nodding to the home’s traditional past, the living room’s decorative moldings remain.

A trio of brass elephants trumpet their presence behind the mirrored bar.

The bar room’s decor is built around the artwork on the wall, with a complementary color scheme, traditional moldings, and an oval captain’s window.

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

Irving brought the dramatic color into the family room, too, coating the bookshelves and window seat as a contrast to the room’s paler walls.

The keeping room is home to owner Ashley’s finds; she loves scouting for antiques and unusual pieces, like the blue leather wing chairs and animal-print ottoman, that bring personality to her rooms.

A library features traditional furniture covered in atypical colors and fabrics, along with bright metallic accents like the coffee table’s gilded treatment.

The foyer’s vivid colors, grasscloth walls, and literary references introduce visual refrains that appear throughout the inn.

Every guest room holds a writing desk, furthering the inn’s literary theme.

Bold graphics in the wallpaper and rug get a calming counterpoint in the solids Reider chose for the upholstered bed and draperies.

Barn doors slide aside to reveal a master bedroom with a Mediterranean feel built around the bold Phillip Jeffries arrowroot wallcovering.

Aqua Ann Sacks oversize glass subway tiles form the backsplash in the master bathroom.

A bamboo-inspired bed gives a hint of the tropics to a guest room.

The atmosphere is relaxed in the living room, with colors borrowed from a Cuban painting over the fireplace. A skirted table divides the room into two seating areas. A console table was turned into a bar to draw people into the living room.

Brass accents add a historic sheen to the kitchen, whose table extends out from a marble-topped island.

The color palette is established in the entry hall, thanks to an exuberant striped wallpaper from Stroheim that designer Lynn Morgan paired with the homeowners’ own console table and mirror.

Comfort was paramount in the family room, which features a custom ottoman covered in outdoor canvas. Patterned paper enlivens the back of the bookshelves.

To lighten the formality of the owners’ mahogany dining set, Morgan upholstered the chair backs in a blue zebra print and introduced a sisal area rug and clear glass chandelier.

The neighboring butler’s pantry was turned into a wet bar.

Blue is paired with orange in son Juan-Carlos’s bedroom, which once belonged to hockey great Max Pacioretty.

The master bedroom draws from a lighter seaside palette of colors and textures for a serene look and feel.

Builder Craig Ashworth rescued the corner cupboard from another home and installed it here, much to the owners’ delight, where it houses a growing collection of fragile oyster plates.

Lustrous antique silver lends character to the refined dining room.

The wife’s love of bold geometry plays out in the living room’s rattan chairs. A piece of art above the fireplace conceals the TV.

Wicker seating and a custom sideboard featuring panels made of birch rounds introduce an organic element into the dining room.

In the master bedroom, a tailored approach lends structure to the powder-blue easy chair, custom headboard, and bed skirt. French doors swing open for a view of the harbor.

The living room gets a nice punch of color from the oversized painting by Ben Georgia above the fireplace.

In the basement bunkroom, striped bedding and nautical details add up to a space made for grandchildren.

Adjacent to the kitchen, the family room is outfitted for comfort with an oversized sectional and a hefty leather ottoman large enough to rest an extended family of feet. Durable fabrics are key to keeping the beach house relaxed and user-friendly, says Morgan.

Chairs upholstered in a Jane Churchill print liven up the white milk-paint dining table from Circa Antiques.

A deft mix of antiques and contemporary pieces fosters a charming cottage ambience. “The wife and I had a wonderful time sourcing pieces,” says interior designer Linda Banks. “Many of them are from local sources.” Holding court in the living room, the old cherry coffee table has a waxed finish reminiscent of a boat’s deck.

The living room’s vintage black barley twist writing table was among the first purchases made for the home.

The eye-catching painting is by local artist Allen Whiting, who was inspired by the Norton Point Breach, a breach in the barrier beach connecting Edgartown with Chappaquiddick. The wife scored the captain’s chairs at a charity flea market in Manhattan, and Banks designed the weathered oak refectory table crafted by furniture maker Mike Elkins of Elkins and Company in Boothbay, Maine.

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

Nancy’s father, a B-17 pilot in World War II, left her the two Toulouse-Lautrec prints that now hang in the master bedroom. She chose a color scheme to complement them.

The kitchen has a view through the entryway into the dining room; Tony, the couple’s Wheaten Terrier, keeps a watchful eye from his spot in the hall.

Nancy displays her favorite antique dishware on the living room’s bookshelves and coffee table.

The prevailing theme is blue and white in a variety of patterns and textures.

A seat for everyone was the goal in the living room, where a pair of John Duckworth photographs stands in for views.

Morning light streams into the master bedroom across an Andrew Day Chaise from the Kristin Drohan Collection.

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 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 guest bedroom is a perfect illustration of De Bastiani’s goal of “creating a scheme incorporating traditional silhouettes without feeling like your grandmother’s house—a youthful traditional, if you will.”

The entry’s dark-wood bench, simple hanging lantern, and traditional bronze-toned wall sconces are a purposeful nod to the home’s traditional Craftsman-style exterior.

Propane-fueled tabletop fireplaces play off the birch wall sculptures and take the place of candles in the chic dining room.

Dining chairs wear a vivid Pierre Frey fabric that makes a striking contrast with the blue grasscloth wall covering. Sliding fabric panels stand in for drapes.

The living room’s ornate mantel was preserved, while new molding has a simpler, more contemporary profile.

The blue-and-white guest bedroom features a shiplap paneled ceiling and built-in bookcases; a circa-1905 slag-glass acorn pendant light adds a special vintage touch.

With its palette of warm hues and cushy furniture, the study is a sink-in-and-stay space.

The clean-lined and practical kitchen was smartly designed by Pennoyer and his associate Jasmine Pinto. They used Jet Mist honed granite for the countertops and found the backsplash tile locally, at Cider Press Tile in Keene.

Neutral, with pleasing blue notes, the living room is purposefully calm, cozy, and curated.

The bed wears a crisp taffeta skirt, and the headboard is accented with strips of silk ikat.

In the master bedroom, Rylee’s penchant for silver translates into a host of small antique boxes (more treasures via her grandmother) gracing the Lucite top of her faux-tusk-legged dressing table. The painting is by artist Richard Segalman.

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.

Turquoise, Amber’s favorite color, was the ideal choice for the family room’s attention-getting sectional. Accessories in various shades of blue, like the Stephen Gerould lamp and oomph tray, add an additional layer of beachy interest.

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.

A whale carving that once hung on the outside of a Sconset house dominates the living room with its whitewashed walls.

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.

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.

Eero Saarinen’s Womb Chair turns a corner into a -mini-sanctuary.

Master bedroom walls wear a strié treatment in luscious blue.

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

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

To tie the color palette together in the living room, Deb Nicoud designed a custom, hand-woven rug.

Camel, navy, and cream are colors a young boy can happily grow along with.

The elegant powder room is swathed in blue floral fabrics. “I wanted to make it a jewel box,” says Griffin-Balsbaugh.

Louis Ghost chairs cozy up to a white pedestal dining table; a purple chenille sofa adds a pop of rich color.

The homeowners’ dog, Chloe.

Other hues, such as the shell-pink accents, are also drawn from nature.

With an eye toward geometric shapes, Ouellette painted all of the artwork in the house.

Homeowner/designer Margo Ouellette chose a palette of blues and greens to represent the ocean and sky.

Warm hues and textured fabrics bring a sense of serenity to the master bedroom.

Contemporary chairs surround a weather-worn trestle table in the dining room.

A sea of blues and taupes washes the living room of the remodeled Victorian in softness. Designer Kristen Rivoli mixed traditional and contemporary furnishings and art.

In the master bedroom, a framed banner unearthed at a tag sale recalls days spent on the Cape. Shelves burst with books and antique night tables keep essentials at hand. Restoration Hardware’s Frette linens and Ralph Lauren custom pillows cozy things up.

A cozy library off the kitchen sports club chairs covered in Lee Jofa fabric and a coffee table from Bungalow 5.

The dramatic ikat curtain fabric provided the starting point for the decor in the kitchen and casual dining area.

The chevron fabric on chair and hassock makes a bold companion for the curtains.

“Every room should have a surprise,” says designer Joyce Clear. The master bedroom has several, from its unique headboard to its steel bench covered in Donghia fabric to the seafoam hue of the bedding.

The master bedroom carries out the designer’s serene design scheme with pale-blue walls, white bedding, Lucite bedside tables and symmetrical bookcases.

Rotenberg’s office displays an almost twelve-foot-long American flag she painted, replacing the stars with flowers.

A crystal LED chandelier that changes color illuminates the entry, with its book-matched marble tile floor and a painting by Sheila Gallagher.

An open floor plan gives the apartment its airy feel while still providing enough wall space for art.

A shimmery silk from Robert Thompson covers the dining chairs, playing off bold blues—including a glossy Interlübke sideboard—in the dining room. A crystal Schonbeck pendant light gleams above the table.

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.

Serena & Lily bedding, a charming lamp from Arteriors Home and a floor painted in Benjamin Moore’s classic Newburyport Blue create an inviting guest room.

Simple sheers at the windows give the spacious master bath privacy. "There’s something about a summer breeze gently moving sheers that says relax and take it easy for me," says Gauthier.

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 lack of curtains lets the view be part of the living room’s decor no matter the season.

Laverge-Schade furnished the guests’ rooms in the Old World style she’s cherished all her life.

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.

The formal living and dining room.

The homeowner experimented with color in the baths, like the rich Drawing Room Blue from Farrow & Ball in this space.

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.

A hefty coffee table lends the airy living room gravitas.

Chiappone gave the dining room a casual, beachy feel with a floral-inspired chandelier from Roost, painted bamboo chairs, and a sisal rug.

A navy-blue wall adds depth to the master bedroom. The shag rug is cut to the width of the custom platform bed’s upholstered headboard.

A painting by Kerri Rosenthal sets off the daughter’s already-colorful space.

Dark-blue walls and a mix of textiles create an upscale "man cave" for the son.

The wife’s favorite shade of blue and a soft-underfoot jute rug bring a casual vibe to the family room.

Designer Amy Aidinis Hirsch gave the living room a more spacious feel by adding the white paneling.

A spectacular tapestry by Pae White is displayed above the living room sofa. To the right of the sofa hangs the intriguing Proposal 15, a painting by Los Angeles artist Alex Olson.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A built-in breakfast seat secures a front-row view to the morning workings of the harbor.

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