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A glimpse of the campaign-style desk-and-drawer unit designed by designer Jenn Orr. The U-shaped piece runs along the perimeter of the office.

The custom teak campaign-style dining table was crafted by Kariba Woodworks in Sandy Hook; they worked with the homeowner, who turned the legs.

A cozy corner of the long, narrow living room is furnished for comfort with a sectional from A. Rudin in an inviting shade of blue. Making an appropriately maritime statement is a collection of photographs from the Rosenfeld Collection from the Mystic Seaport.

Hand-hammered brass sconces add a bright touch above a pair of comfy chairs from The Antique and Artisan Gallery in Stamford.

“Rather than making a sexy evening entertainment vibe, we went for something plush, light, and inviting that beckons you to take a seat all hours of the day,” says Sinkin about the living room. Prism side tables inject an architectural element, while faux palm leaves are reminders of Florida, a favorite vacation destination. The coffered ceiling panels sport a cane-patterned wallpaper to heighten visual interest.

For continuity, the dining room’s wallpaper, curtains, and chair seats all showcase Thibaut’s Imperial Dragon pattern.

A custom Ping-Pong table, set against Rivets wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries, plays to both sophisticated tastes and college-kid interests.

A mix of styles, from art deco to midcentury to coastal chic, makes for a sophisticated lounge space grounded by a youthful touch of fun in the neon wall sign.

Pops of peppy color punctuate the playroom. The modular sofa by Nugget can be configured into forts. The trio of prints are by London photographer Karin Berndl through ArtStar.

The dressing room, once an extra bedroom, is an elegant but not overwhelming background for her extensive wardrobe.

The inviting chaise in the master bedroom was chosen to echo the teal hues in May’s treasured dressing room

The dressing room, once an extra bedroom, is an elegant but not overwhelming background for her extensive wardrobe.

Beast meets west in this comfy corner of the living room, where a desert-bleached skull, lizard-skin wallpaper, and the home’s turn-of-the-century crown moldings suggest the parlor of a Gold Rush tycoon’s mansion at a recent remove from the frontier.

Luxurious details in the master bath include a mosaic stone backsplash and grasscloth-clad cabinetry.

A television hides in the master bed’s footboard; a wire-and-glass tapestry by artist Susan Freda was commissioned for the room.

A lacquered mirror and tasseled lamp hang in a playful powder room.

The sunroom’s V-groove ceiling and slate tile floor evoke a classic beach house vibe. Wedge ottomans under the coffee table provide extra seating.

The Calacatta Bluette marble that tops the kitchen’s double islands informed the palette in the room and just beyond, while mixed-metallic finishes heighten the drama. The client also “thought through every daily ritual,” says Watson, which helped define realistic storage that results in a calm, clutter-free space.

For ample seating in the living room while keeping the space airy, designer Patti Watson brought in ottomans that tuck under the coffee table and portable benches in playful blue and yellow. A photograph by Newport, Rhode Island, photographer Onne van der Wal hides the television above the fireplace.

The entry’s bi-directional shiplap and custom newels deliver pared-down detailing that riffs on traditional vernacular.

The dining room’s custom built-ins have Niobe Beige marble countertops that double as serving surfaces. The Keith Fritz table, Sunbrella-upholstered chairs, and an Urban Electric Co. chandelier emphasize a circular motif.

Luxe alpaca curtains buffer the windows in the couple’s sleeping quarters. Palumbo designed the upholstered bed and framed it with contemporary task lamps.

The thread of blue continues into the master bath with a pin-striped his-and-her vanity atop rose-gold legs.

Floor-to-ceiling red glass tiles from Ann Sacks are a vivid, reflective counterpoint to the concrete floors. A zero-clearance shower with a full-width linear drain eliminates the need for an enclosure.

The bar, the ladder, and the loft railings were fabricated by Adam Brandt of ArcArt in Sterling, Massachusetts.

Najnigier kept the cottage from being too rustic with clean lines (note the lack of baseboards and moldings), modern furnishings, and strategic use of saturated color.

Rich velvet and brass accents add a dose of luxury.

Designer Jill Najnigier contrasted rustic elements, such as the original ceiling (which was lightly sandblasted to bring it back to life) and the stone fireplace, with simple interior architecture. A ladder made of metal piping and salvaged hemlock leads to a loft with a queen-size bed.

A vibrant painting by artist Alice Denison brings a spark of interest to the stairwell.

The lambrequin (a window treatment style that harks back to the Middle Ages) might have felt old school, had interior designer Honey Collins not chosen an upbeat Katie Ridder fabric. Add a bright door, a Jim Thompson wallpaper, and an antique credenza Collins nabbed in Atlanta at Parc Monceau, and this is an entry everyone wants to come home to.

The lambrequin (a window treatment style that harks back to the Middle Ages) might have felt old school, had interior designer Honey Collins not chosen an upbeat Katie Ridder fabric. Add a bright door, a Jim Thompson wallpaper, and an antique credenza Collins nabbed in Atlanta at Parc Monceau, and this is an entry everyone wants to come home to.

The Summer House’s bedrooms are a riot of color, pattern, and texture.

Amy outfitted the family room in furniture from Oomph, the Greenwich shop she and Brooks own, superimposing a fresh, up-to-date layer on the antique beams, paneling, and brick.

As avid sailors, homeowners Amy and Mark Rice collect old maritime paintings like the one in their dining room.

The powder room’s Splat KR wallpaper from Rosenthal’s collection sparked the home’s design scheme.

Rosenthal enlivened the living room’s neutral backdrop with deep blue upholstery and graphic pillows.

A custom white pigment dye with an oil finish brightens the kitchen’s oak floor.

A mix of prints in cobalt and sky enliven the master bedroom.

The powder room is tiny, but with two different wallpapers on the walls and the ceiling, it packs a mighty design punch.

The family room is a friendly riot of blue and green.

In the mudroom, created where the old galley kitchen once stood, vivid cement tiles inspired the color scheme.

A seagrass rug and Maine Cottage fabrics invite casual luxury into the master suite.

Shiplap cabinetry wears Benjamin Moore’s Blue Suede Shoes and leather pulls.

The kitchen island’s heavy marble top is offset by translucent pendants and a pillowed-tile backsplash.

Plush lounge chairs swivel to face the ocean or accommodate TV viewing; shibori-dyed pillows boost the coastal effect.

The dining room’s azure rug and artwork hint at the home’s beachfront location.

The kids’ room’s swing chair ranks as the most popular seat in the house.

The onetime dining area is now a bright, airy sitting room that feels like an indoor-outdoor space despite being fully enclosed.

Not surprisingly, everyone wants dibs on the down-filled daybed in a lounging area near the kitchen.

The family room is made for comfort with a stylish ceiling and a commissioned Sophie Treppendahl triptych depicting a slice of beach life on Pleasant Bay—including cameos of the family dogs.

“She has a great aesthetic,” says Wagner of the homeowner, who helped select the fabrics in each room, including the robin’s-egg accents in this bedroom suite.

At the end of a long day on the lake, a circle of custom-made club chairs beckons the adult members of the family. “We get the kids to bed, and it’s a nice way to say, ‘We did it,’ ” the homeowner notes.

The wife had seen a photo of a blue-painted banister and knew she wanted it replicated for her own home.

The cottage-chic theme continues in the master bedroom, part of the suite that occupies the entire second floor.

A powder room is shipshape in crisp navy and white.

The mahogany dining table the husband grew up with is right at home here, illuminated by a wrought iron chandelier with recycled glass drops.

Blue accents give the mostly white kitchen continuity with the rest of the space.

Exterior walls reinforced with steel meant the first floor could be one wide-open space incorporating the living, dining, and kitchen areas. A reclaimed wood ceiling adds a rustic note.

Shiplap walls and plenty of rich blue tones, including the royal blue of the banister, nod to the watery location.

In this bedroom, the sweet blue tones get an energetic boost with a framed pareo by Manuel Canovas.

The kitchen’s forty-inch countertops accommodate the taller-than-average family.

Vivid blues dominate the palette throughout the house, as in the Madeline Weinrib rug that grounds the family room.

A set of paintings by Deborah Quinn-Munson are a focal point on the divider that separates the reading room from the family room on the opposite side.

Lofty ceilings give the great room, which is divided into this reading room and a family room/dining area, its airy feeling.

The midcentury design favored by the owner is manifest in the gracefully curved desk in the office.

The vibrant watery-blue accents of the living room take a more dominant role in the dining room.

The wife wanted to see the ocean while she worked, so the kitchen was filled with windows. To get extra storage without upper cabinets, shelves were run across the windows.

A window seat nestles between the living room fireplace and shelves filled with vintage local knickknacks.

The different tastes of husband and wife—his New England traditional, hers California modern—blend nicely in the living room.

The master bath’s barnacle-like mirror frame and wave-patterned floor tiles reference the home’s coastal location.

The bunk room’s nautical touches include rope sconces, anchor-print bedding, and a line-and-cleat detail.

Patterns in a guest room mix and match, from florals on the wall to stripes and plaid in upholstery and pillows.

A space-age ball chair is a playful addition to the bunk room.

A chandelier strung with tiny bits of turquoise is framed by the angled ceiling in the master bedroom.

The kitchen joins in on the colorful fun with wallpaper (protected by glass) behind the range and inside the glass-front cabinets. The white wall faces the property line, so the high windows let in the light while allowing for privacy.

A combination of benches and transparent chairs surround the concrete-slab dining table.

Bold stripes of blue, green, and turquoise in durable, stain-resistant outdoor fabrics make for a bright, easy-care sitting area.

A rope railing is the final seafaring touch for the stairway painted in two glorious shades from Benjamin Moore—Caribbean Blue Water on the wall and Adriatic Sea on the treads.

The calm palette continues into the master bedroom.

Traditional elements find a home in the bright, sunny kitchen.

The peacock-blue butler’s pantry is always visible, so del Toro decided it should be delightful and surprising.

Limestone floor inserts in the casual dining area lend a garden-room feel.

With its tufted sofa and English armchairs, the living room is a perfect setting for the owners’ antiques. A glass-top coffee table with a driftwood base counters the formality, says interior designer Brian del Toro.

The library’s woodwork is painted a saturated shade of blue, the perfect foil for a collection of Chinese and European blue-and-white ceramics.

Fremont-Smith let herself go wild with color and pattern in the TV room, a space more for family retreats than public entertainment. A green-painted floor and blue-painted ceiling continue the home’s summery vibe.

Fremont-Smith successfully mixes patterns even in a small powder room, installing a bone inlay mirror against a bright Meg Braff wallpaper.

At the homeowners’ request, the kitchen cabinets were painted a vibrant peacock blue.

Metallic paper on the ceiling ramps up the glamour in the show-stopping dining room. Reider’s color scheme for the room, like the rest of the house, is based on neutrals energized with jolts of vivid color.

The vibrant living room centers on a round Ralph Lauren seagrass table with a glass top; the chairs are covered in a mix of Romo and Schumacher fabric to match the Stark Carabello carpet.

The dining room’s Saarinen table and chairs from Knoll serve up midcentury style beneath a contemporary chandelier. Light from an existing skylight floods the room, which was made even airier with the removal of a wall separating it from the kitchen.

Wallpaper, art, lighting, pillows, and furniture all act as layers of pattern in a bedroom by Diane McCafferty. Photo by Eric Roth.

An eye-catching mirror enhances light and makes the compact guest room feel bigger.

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

A grid of lively Brooklyn street scenes greets visitors as they enter.

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.

A circular rug from Surya echoes the shape of the family room in the addition. “It was important to the client that they have a great entertaining vibe in that space,” says designer Josh Linder.

Graphic Romo fabrics give energy to the guest room’s reading nook.

Blue and orange make a bold statement in the family room.

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.