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The new kitchen island boasts seating for five at Palecek bar stools perched beneath pendants from Hudson Valley Lighting.
The bedroom is a study in elegance, with its inviting custom bed, paisley-patterned drapes, and a cage-like alabaster chandelier.
A closed-off sitting room provided an opportunity for the designer to go bold with art and color, including powder-blue leather wing chairs and a purple sofa.
Very little was done to the existing fixtures and finishes in the kitchen, although LeBlanc brought in the comfy counter stools and trio of hanging pendants.
A custom banquette, roomy table, and eye-catching prints create a welcoming vibe in the breakfast area.
The high-contrast dining room provided the perfect canvas for a mix of moods—from the refined lines of the dining table and upholstered chairs to the bold metallic wallpaper and striking Cloud light fixture. The penguin painting is a crowd favorite.
The living room was refreshed by a new quartzite fireplace facade in shades of green.
Designer Tiffany LeBlanc embraced classic details, such as the foyer’s original millwork, even while infusing the home with a modern sensibility.
The blue that predominates elsewhere is softened and used as an accent against a neutral backdrop, including a sandy-hued Phillip Jeffries grasscloth, in the master bedroom.
The blue-and-white palette continues in the powder room.
The family room/library is ideal for rest, play, or conversation. The bookshelves hold a collection of hand-turned wooden pieces by the homeowner; he also crafted the backgammon table behind the sofa.
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.
Wooden countertops and brass lighting and hardware give the kitchen a nautical feeling without overwhelming. The original cherry cabinets were painted white.
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.
Fine art, handcraftsmanship, and treasured finds are in evidence throughout this Mystic home. The client fell in love with the antique rosewood wagon wheel from Tucker Robbins and gave it a place of honor in the entryway.
The antique plates on Aria’s bedroom wall come from both sides of the family. Some—from Sinkin’s great, great grandmother—are late 1880s Haviland French porcelain. “It’s like her ancestors are watching over her,” Sinkin says.
In Aria’s dainty bath, a personalized footstool is the perfect accessory.
Sinkin nabbed the stylish guestroom bed on Wayfair. Mirrored nightstands heighten the room’s appeal.
Each piece of stairway art has personal meaning. The photo in the upper right, for example, was shot in Montauk, where Harry’s family has a summer home. A Murano glass Jellyfish chandelier makes the journey up and down tenfold times more enjoyable.
To boost the charm of the cool Sputnik light fixture over the breakfast nook even further, Sinkin added a ceiling medallion. The family-friendly banquette is dressed in a Sunbrella fabric.
Above the kitchen sink, the cornice flaunts an embossed design drawn by Sinkin. The backsplash of gray glass subway tiles is in step with the rest of the home’s palette.
“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.
The soaring family room features eye-catching scissor trusses as well as a comfortable collection of chairs and sofas.
In keeping with the owner’s wishes, the design team opted for a cathedral ceiling to fill the kitchen with light and chose custom-designed walnut cabinets and a white oak floor to reflect the home’s natural setting.
The master bedroom features a custom-designed headboard.
The master bathroom boasts a freestanding tub with an unobstructed view to the outdoors.
In the master bedroom, the arched window frames were painted to stand out against the custom mural by the French wallpaper company Ananbô. The cage chandelier is from Visual Comfort.
Chests the homeowners already had were retrofitted to function beautifully as sinks in the master bath.
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.
The kitchen was relocated to the rear of the house and reinvented with a classic European vibe. The look is a bit formal (but relatable) and gorgeous (but totally functional). Raw Urth Designs fabricated the range hood. And on the island chairs, there’s that playful green again.
A petite powder room lives large, thanks to the bold blossoms of the Phillip Jeffries wallpaper.
The dining room exemplifies the important role of color, with its light green Brewster grasscloth wallcovering and the painterly velvet fabric on the lacquered chairs.
Homeowner May Doherty’s eye for fashion informed the choice of furnishings. But at the end of the day, says designer Jenn Sanborn, keeping thing comfortable and welcoming was key. Plush sofas and a put-your-feet-up wooden coffee table by Gabby fit the bill.
A Wesley Hall wing chair sports a playful apple-green fabric.
The interior architecture was transformed, given dimension and interest with details such as the entry’s box molding that set the stage for a design that blends classicism with unexpected touches like the animal print Stark carpet.
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 breakfast nook’s table by Lorimer Studios is where the family takes most meals. Artwork by Christian Potter Drury adds a color pop.
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.
The music room is open to the entry hall, so visitors get a peek at the dreamy blue walls when they cross the threshold. “It’s always nice to have one room that’s drenched in color,” Palumbo says.
The thread of blue continues into the master bath with a pin-striped his-and-her vanity atop rose-gold legs.
A bounty of quartzite counters lit by a galaxy of Todd Bracher Vessel pendants make cooking a delight. The couple opted for steely gray cabinets, Palumbo says, as a change from white.
Steel-framed glass doors separating the family room from the dining room are a modern architectural touch.
The stairs to the lower level (which also holds an exercise room and an antique billiard table) sport a decorative railing. A sliding barn door can close off the space.
Although gutted from top to bottom, the home retained its basic layout. The dining room is between the kitchen and living room, but all three spaces have a more open flow today. Clad in a Phillip Jeffries Bermuda grasscloth, the dining room exudes both elegance and comfort. The colorful painting is by Alberto Murillo, a Spanish artist who now lives in Florida.
A light palette brightens the living room and complements the architecture. Fumed white oak floors throughout have the same effect. Interior designer Jennifer Palumbo devised the tailored sofa and the walnut and leather side tables. The eye-catching prints by Brazilian-born artist Vik Muniz hung in the owners’ previous home.
The spa-like tub room connects the master bedroom to the master bathroom. The modern table was sourced at Field + Supply, a curated makers craft fair held semi-annually in Kingston, New York.
A second-floor guest room has a restful color scheme that complements the pretty views of the Atlantic Ocean and the North Shore of Boston.
The library, which boasts built-ins and pocket doors, also made by Jewett Farms + Co., is one of the only rooms sans water view; the owners wanted a comfy nighttime retreat that they could close off.
One of the couple’s favorite wintertime spots, this cozy sitting area off the kitchen has warm wood built-ins fabricated by Jewett Farms + Co.
The ocean-facing side of the house; to the far left is the guest suite inspired by the previous owner’s sculpture studio.
A roaring fire on the screened porch makes for a pretty backdrop to spirited dinner conversation; the screened porch opens out to the pool and the ocean side of the property.
The kitchen, designed by Venegas and Company, contrasts warm woods with stone countertops and metallic-painted cabinetry for a contemporary and chic look; upper cabinets were eliminated to make way for windows and artwork.
The inviting great room, anchored by a sofa, chair, and coffee table from Artefact Home | Garden, in Belmont, Massachusetts, has a soothing palette, reinforced by the artwork.
The statement-making bronze-finished steel doors open out, giving the dining room a European aesthetic. “It encourages the flow of indoor/outdoor activity,” says architect Thaddeus Siemasko. The dinner-party-ready dining table and chairs are from BDDW, and the modern light fixture is from Apparatus Studio.
The powder room, where a graphic Pierre Frey wallpaper makes a catchy backdrop for a Celerie Kemble mirror and a sink on polished nickel legs, is a happy surprise for guests.
The owners make good use of the sitting area adjacent to the kitchen every day. “It’s a less serious space,” Collins says. The puffs wear a Sister Parish fabric the color of fresh grass. The paneled wall conceals a wealth of storage.
A softly hued Phillip Jeffries linen wallcovering conjures the peaceful ambience the couple envisioned for their sleeping quarters, while an upholstered bed from O. Henry House and a curvaceous upholstered bench (just the right height for a sit-and-put-on-your-slippers perch) boost comfort. The striking painting is by Utah artist Holly Addi.
New quarter-sawn oak herringbone floors lighten the home’s mood, as do the playful Miles Redd dining chairs.
Collins came up with a kitchen that’s as posh as it gets, from the custom cabinets by Furniture Design Services to the brass shelving by Palmer Industries. Even the walnut stools step it up with gleaming brass bases.
The updated elevator sports suede panels, brass nailheads, and a handle covered in a Holland & Sherry leather.
A vibrant painting by artist Alice Denison brings a spark of interest to the stairwell.
The old living room windows were nixed for new models. To help frame the glorious river vistas, curtains are trimmed in a Holland & Sherry embroidery. The vintage console is another Atlanta-found prize.
New built-ins provide the living room with storage and a display area for books and mementoes. Skillful at mixing, Collins teams an antique floral-dressed chair with a cool David Iatesta coffee table. Unexpected materials add punch. The eye-catching octagonal mirror, for instance, is made of porcupine quills.
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.
A chestnut-topped bar is tucked into a corner of the living room.
The cozy breakfast room, like the family room and kitchen, sits in the nineteenth-century barn that the Rices used for their addition.
The main barn’s original bracing warms the large living room. Despite the soaring ceiling, which rises to thirty feet, Amy says the space is “cozy, not cavernous.”
There’s nothing old-fashioned about the kitchen, which was created by architectural designer Louise Brooks, Amy’s friend and business partner.
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.
A new entryway of glass and steel, fabricated by Jared Baldyga of Greenwich Construction and Development, gives the old barn-turned-home a contemporary touch.
“It’s no bigger than a phone booth,” says Dunn, of her tiny, but polished, powder room.
The antique portrait lending character to a cozy guest room belonged to Dunn’s mother.
Twin bookcases add symmetry to the living room; their modern silhouettes also make a fun contrast to the rugged beams above.
A custom white pigment dye with an oil finish brightens the kitchen’s oak floor.
The dining room illustrates Dunn’s passion for stripes; note the ceiling, rug, curtains, and even the mirror’s subtle detailing.
The revamped front porch sports a new teak floor and tiered teak railings. “This is a deliciously cool spot for enjoying evening cocktails,” interior designer Leslie Dunn says.
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.
An antique chest and child’s chair in the foyer provide neutral counterparts to the bright colors beyond.
The homeowners fell in love with the three-story circular staircase at first sight.
A plaque on the house identifies it as the the Christopher H. Drowne House, built 1862–1863.
Antiqued-mirror cabinet fronts lend a vintage look with a twist.
Large windows offer plenty of light, but preclude wraparound cabinetry, so window seats do double duty as extra storage space.
Dashes of bright green create a youthful, friendly vibe in the sitting area off of the new kitchen.
A dressing room is a bright and practical addition to the enlarged master suite.
With a tufted headboard, plush bedding, and shades of cream and gold, the master bedroom is as luxurious as it is comfortable.
A son’s handsome bedroom takes the home’s gray theme in a darker direction.
The new sunroom strikes a midcentury-modern note.
A cozy room serves multiple purposes as office, library, and TV watching spot.
The owners love cooking together in their spacious—and gorgeous—new kitchen.
The living room is a vision in silvery grays, with judiciously placed splashes of marigold inspired by one of the owners’ prized paintings.
A stunning John Pomp bronze credenza and hand-blown pendants star in the entryway.
The dining area next to the kitchen reflects the home’s new modern vibe—from the live-edge table designed by Rachel Reid to the industrial-feeling modular fixture that hangs over it.
The playful, gender-neutral guest bedroom hosts frequent sleepovers by the grandkids.
The kids’ room’s swing chair ranks as the most popular seat in the house.
An inviting soaking tub occupies a sunny corner of the master bath; the gossamer shades provide privacy while letting in plenty of natural light.
In the chandelier-lit master bedroom, the most formal space in the home, an imposing bed is balanced with softer tones in the bedcoverings, bench, and divan.
Barstools and chairs are companion pieces that unify the kitchen and dining area.
A landscape by Vermont artist Craig Mooney adds a splash of color to the dining room’s quiet palette.
The onetime dining area is now a bright, airy sitting room that feels like an indoor-outdoor space despite being fully enclosed.
Kicking your feet up in this unfussy living room feels natural, and there’s ample room to do so thanks to the oversize ottoman, brought over from the owners’ previous home and paired with a new sofa.
The homeowners begin and end their days in the intimate study; the tiny bar in the corner has earned the nickname the Pearl, thanks to its iridescent wallpaper.
The formal first-floor powder room refashions an antique Anglo-Indian map cabinet topped with marble as a vanity.
A Victorian carved bamboo headboard, bamboo-embellished armoire, and woven plantation chair give the master bedroom its hint of British colonialism.
The marine-blue pantry does double duty as a bar.
Not surprisingly, everyone wants dibs on the down-filled daybed in a lounging area near the kitchen.
Vinyl seats at the kitchen island welcome wet, sandy bodies just in from the beach.
An antique Swedish trestle table marks the intersection between the family room and the kitchen.
The collection of antique seascape paintings, mostly from Eldred’s Auction House in Dennis, Massachusetts, provides a backdrop for the dramatic entryway staircase.
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.
Scallop shell pedestals provide the legs for a narrow dining room side table. The mirror above reflects a painting by Connecticut artist Charlie Miesmer.
The dining room’s chandelier echoes the branches of the giant English oaks on the property and lends an organic touch.
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 sliding barn door gives the master bedroom privacy.
Classic beach house elements like clapboard get a contemporary update with such features as the tan-trimmed windows and steel cable railings.
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.
Eschewing a traditional front door, the front of the house provides multiple opportunities to interact with the outdoors, including the master bedroom’s deck and a dining patio off the kitchen.
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.
Homeowner and designer Hannah Childs kept the dining room simple with a whitewashed oak table and Tolix-style chairs made comfortable with cushions. The painting, Fanya, is a beloved piece by Alice Neel, who was a family friend.
A generous sink provides plenty of splash protection in the downstairs bathroom near the boys’ bedrooms.
A mudroom wall of pecky cypress with epoxy fillings is beautiful (and dog-friendly).
The main stairway merges contemporary and traditional elements. The bright orange bench is a momentary departure from the blue tones that dominate the home’s interior.
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.
Trundle beds and bold blue make a kid-friendly bedroom.
Another bedroom wears sunny apricot-hued paint.
Softer colors give the master bedroom its serene feel.
Colorful bedrooms include this sunny one in the “treehouse.”
The open part of the front porch has a gap at the base of the wall so water can drain out.
The sunny breakfast room sits in the partially glassed-in front porch.
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.
Shiplap paneling and antique furniture give the foyer a classic Maine cottage feel.
A rear view of the house shows the glass connector that joins the primary house to the “treehouse,” the builder’s nickname for the section of the home on the left that tucks into the forested part of the property.
The wife’s dressing room celebrates her love of romance and of blue and white.
The calm palette continues into the master bedroom.
The continuous Shaker-style railing in the polished hallway is an example of the kind of millwork that sets the house apart.
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.
Pecky cypress in the recesses of the ceiling fosters the great room’s casual, beachy vibe.
Upholstered host chairs join the heirloom dining table and Chippendale side chairs.
Decorative artist Chuck Fischer painted the mural, incorporating area landmarks.
The graphic hooked rug, designed by del Toro, hints at modernity in the traditional dining room.
A shell-framed mirror adds a touch of whimsy to the foyer.
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 oak paneling, designed by architect Tom Catalano, was painstakingly bleached, wire brushed, stained, and glazed.
Clementine bids welcome at the front door of a home inspired by those built by ship captains of early Chatham. Traditional notes start at the entry, where leaded glass sidelights and transoms frame a mahogany door.
The master bedroom’s balcony is the Dillons’ favorite spot in the house.
The master bath houses a bench designed by William Yeoward.
The bench at the foot of the English bed is an antique from France, reupholstered in simple linen.
In the stairwell, old-time touches, including shiplap and a barn door, are juxtaposed with the sleek modernity of the railing.
Beyond the kitchen, views of Duxbury Bay stretch out endlessly.
Gillian used a British fireback as a backsplash for her stove, and she loved the look so much that she now imports the hearth protectors for her store.
An eighteenth-century Breton table surrounded by reproduction English Windsor chairs makes the perfect setup for casual dining.
Simple upholstered seating serves as backdrop to an assortment of wooden pieces from the homeowners’ store, including a reclaimed elm coffee table from England. Rustic ceiling beams add vintage charm to the new house.
As befits this new-meets-old house, a chest in the entry hall was made of antique components.
The freestanding tub is an island of serenity in the master bathroom, with plenty of natural light reflecting off of the herringbone-pattered tile floor.
The master bed is accessorized with a custom headboard, bench, and pillows covered in Quadrille fabric.
Parquet-style teak flooring covers the expansive roof deck that sports an outdoor fireplace and flat-screen TV.
Cabinets with a built-in sink and refrigerator pair with a gas grill to create a seasonal open-air kitchen perfect for entertaining.
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.
A built-in banquette cozies up to a glass-topped table in the breakfast nook.
A sloped custom range hood and a pair of Geo Lantern pendants from Ilex Lighting are the eye-catching features of the kitchen. The cabinetry has backlit glass cutouts displaying keepsakes.
A custom table reflects the geometric pattern on the rug in the family room, which effortlessly steps out to a harborside patio through a vanishing glass wall. Subdued, sandy tones on the sofa and wallcoverings are enlivened by pops of blue from the toss pillows and twin ottomans.
Oversized Schumacher Feather Bloom wallpaper adds drama to the dining room, where an elegant Ro Sham Beaux chandelier hangs over a custom dining room table and chairs.
Coral-like wall art and a shimmery rug announce the home’s subtle nautical theme in the foyer. A custom bench is fashioned with an ikat pattern that gets repeated throughout the house.
A bold green bed stands in contrast to a bedroom’s sedate white walls.
Work meets play in the upstairs office space, where a mismatched desk and chair are all business, while book breaks can be taken in the window seat.
Framed banners enhance the masculine feel of the office, where a sofa tucks into a custom-built nook.
The younger daughter’s bedroom is viewed here from a shared bathroom clad in Fireworks wallpaper by Albert Hadley.
A kaleidoscope sculpture by Boston-based artist Damien Hoar de Galvan adds a splash of color to a guest bedroom.
Design and durability unite in the casual dining area where a Verellen table is paired with Eames molded plastic dowel-leg chairs. The light fixture above provides minimal distraction from the views of the backyard.
A faux bois mirror in the powder room is the perfect partner to the Tropical Isle wallpaper from Schumacher.
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.