whites neutrals

A custom hood and island are commanding elements in the bright white kitchen.

A farmer’s sink is a practical addition to the mudroom.

In the master bedroom, the walls and ceiling wear the barest whisper of lavender.

A giant ikat print wallcovering flows around the first-floor powder room’s charming oval window.

In the family room, the designer satisfied the wife’s penchant for neutrals by washing the space in shades of taupe.

Silvery chairs frame a view of the sofa and a sculpture in the window overlooking the front lawn.

With its pale blue walls and plush cream wool chaises, the sitting area in the master suite is an oasis of calm.

Griffin-Balsbaugh custom-designed the natural linen chaise, chairs in crushed velvet and glazed linen and faux-leather ottoman.

A guest bedroom also provides ocean views, as well as breezes.

Designer Dennis Duffy designed the resin-topped dining-room table and the buffet.

The vintage barstools were once used by Maine factory workers.

Furniture is simple and clean-lined.

Original details such as coffered ceilings and dark-stained floors blend with modern elements like the fireplace’s stone facing.

Beneath the ancient beams: a gleaming white marble bath.

Barcelona chairs and upholstered Midcentury benches add verve to a serene master bedroom.

The garden room adds hints of pale lavender and green to the gray that unites the first-floor rooms.

Shades of cream and white give the master bedroom a feminine feel.

Designer Karen Quinn created an intimate sitting area focused on the spacious family room’s stone fireplace. The palette takes its cue from the honey-toned paneling.

Light spills in on a second, smaller ­sitting area in the family room.

The entry, displaying just a few of the objects the homeowner has collected over the years, hints at the easy comfort of the house.

A front parlor makes a cozy space for low-key entertaining.

The octagonal tower holds the master bath; glass partitions separate the oval tub from the vanity area.

A collection of windows surrounding the range hood pulls light from the mudroom into the kitchen.

The breakfast area, with its Knoll table and Blu Dot chairs, sits in the octagonal tower that is part of the addition.

The while the master bedroom has a neutral palette.

The black-and-white guest bedroom, inspired by a magazine photo, has a plush cowhide rug atop practical sisal.

The guest bath takes a dramatic turn with horizontal wallpaper and a black-and-white striped rug.

An upholstered bench joins slip-covered chairs around the dining table.

Antiques and contemporary pieces mix in the elegant living room—a space the homeowner’s two young sons know is off limits when it comes to roughhousing.

The master bath's octagonal recessed ceiling is accented by a fixture from Ailanthus.

Hanging glass globe pendants above the island keep the space fully transparent.

The angular coffered ceiling of the kitchen contrasts with the oval shape of the adjacent breakfast room.

A circular tête-a-tête is an organizing element for the living room'€™s seating arrangements. "Sacred Fig" by Jennifer Amadeo-Holl hangs above the mantel.

In the master bedroom, built-ins fabricated by Herrick & White Architectural Woodworkers showcase the custom bed and create a home for a collection of pottery. The upholstered chair and table along the window are by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams.

Bentley sconces and luxe upholstery up the glamour.

Custom vanities offer ample master bath storage.

Dramatic Linea chandeliers by Boyd Light illuminate the open living-room area where seating, including a leather-covered accent chair by Holly Hunt, surrounds a versatile Madam X cocktail table. The sofa is covered in a taupe Larsen fabric that wears as beautifully as it looks.

Stephen Mueller’s buoyant watercolors, from Boston’s Obelisk Gallery, hang by the living room’s new fireplace.

A lavender ceiling is an unexpected surprise in the master bedroom.

A calming palette of creams and blues envelops the living room, which gets a touch of extra drama from the glints of light bouncing off the starburst ceiling fixture and the convex mirror over the fireplace.

Waterworks fixtures dress up the gentlemanly master bathroom.

Ralph Lauren Home’s Sudan Weave wallpaper wraps the kitchen above Carrara marble countertops. Decorative painter Topher Carnes executed the graphic floor.

Silk wallcovering and mosaic tiles make the spa-like master bathroom a luxurious retreat.

A series of black-and-white photographs lines the wall above the master bed.

Contemporary abstract art and animal-print upholstery share space with a traditional exposed-beam ceiling and paneled walls in the family room.

The airy living room has a casual, breezy feel that reminds the homeowners of California, where they previously lived.

Driftwood lamps and a hide pillow lend an organic touch to the custom headboard and nightstands in the master bedroom.

A sectional sofa and antique bench dominate the living room in Tiffany Eastman’s Stamford apartment. Asian touches in the lacquered side table, metal bamboo chairs and a Chinese Chippendale mirror lend age and sophistication to the new space.

In the posh master bath, honed Carrara marble countertops and polished nickel hardware give the custom vanities an added dash of elegance.

A smattering of well-placed color enlivens the family room without upsetting the neutral palette’s serenity. Accessories are primarily limited to books and natural elements like green plants and pickings from the garden to maintain the airy ambience. A saw-horse table by Waldo’s Designs serves as a handy desk, while John Boone’s upholstered club chairs and welcoming sofa guarantee comfort.

In the garret office, bright light and white walls and upholstery are important to Hodge’s work. The antique lantern was a long-ago antiques shop find.

The curved fronts of the master bathroom’s vanities make it easy to lean into the mirror while shaving or applying makeup.

The entryway connects the home’€™s two discrete pavilions.

The master bath’€™s plantation shutters offer peek-a-boo views of the home’s lush surroundings.

The renovation included raising the ceiling to make room for a dramatic two-story entry.

Hand-picked marble slabs surround the tub and line the shower in the master bath.

Marble countertops complement the three-dimensional kitchen tiles.

Like many rooms in the six-bedroom house, the master bath offers great views of the pond and the ocean.

Conversation (or kicking back) is encouraged, thanks to a custom sectional and reupholstered vintage Italian armchairs.

An inviting sitting area is grounded by a custom hide rug and leather ottoman.

The master suite is another study in neutrals.

Even the breakfast nook is elegant; a curved banquette in the bay window mirrors the cove ceiling, while wicker chairs dial down the formality of the space.

White-on-white works in the kitchen with its smooth Calacatta marble counters.

The designer favors a neutral palette both for its soothing qualities and to showcase her antiques.

Lewis uses her collections of creamware and art to create interesting compositions throughout her home.

Serafini built out the wall behind the bed in the master bedroom to create a walk-in closet.

The slipper tub was added to the small master bath.

The master bedroom’s personality is serenity itself.

A palette of soft blue, taupe and ivory creates elegant comfort in a living room seating area.

The covered patio sports an alfresco dining area.

The shimmer of silk and velvet adds a posh factor to the living room’s serene sitting area.

The kitchen’s glossy surfaces reflect light.

A Russian painting called "Peasants after the Harvest" hangs above the fireplace. The collection on the mantel includes a cluster of vintage alabaster grapes.

In addition to refinishing the original staircase, the couple sanded and stained the foyer’s pine-board floor to awaken its sleeping beauty.

A built-in upholstered headboard maximizes space.

The Boston apartment wears a contemporary palette of grays, taupes, and gold. Vintage lamps add a layer of history to new pieces, such as the richly textured gold sofa by Paul Gaucher of Icon Group.

Glorious city views take center stage, thanks to a design plan that keeps the living room furniture below windowsill height. A pale color scheme gets interest from textured fabrics such as linen velvet on the sofa and chenille on the lounge chair, geometric patterns in rug and pillows, and a smattering of animal prints.

A custom wood-veneer shade tops the midcentury Scandinavian lamp that sits on the Natuzzi sideboard in the study.

Heirloom lithographs depicting farm scenes hang above the study’s fireplace.

A Pottery Barn Teen cupboard with cutouts, lavender drapery fabric from Duralee, and a John Robshaw quilt give eleven-year-old Emma’s room an edge.

A palette of cool blues creates a soothing atmosphere in the master bedroom.

Silver travertine replaced the red-brick surround of the fireplace in the family room. Glick redid the cocktail table with walnut stain, stripped the sofa of its fussy skirted upholstery, and added a new sisal rug and gray velvet lounge chair from Lillian August.

In the master bedroom, Glick achieved both serenity and glamour by covering the ceiling with crushed-mica wallpaper and outfitting the custom headboard in silk and mohair.

Dark-green granite counters gave way to white Calacatta marble in the kitchen. Glick swapped out a country pine table for the contemporary dark-wood table and surrounded it with streamlined chairs in white leather.

Designer and homeowner Susan Glick replaced the cozy dark tones of her living room with dusty grays and amethysts. A sofa that once wore olive-colored fabric was reupholstered in gray velvet and paired with new custom-made wing chairs.

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.

The recess in the kitchen pantry cabinetry was meant to display art, but the client’s need for entertaining space led to the last-minute purchase of swivel lounge chairs.

Living room seating by B&B Italia is suitable for large crowds or intimate groups. The chairs, featuring a sculptural shape and sexy zipper up the back, were chosen for good looks when seen from any angle.

A built-in banquette in white matte lacquer gives the dining area a casual, restaurant-style feel.

A cluster of baubles hanging from the coffered ceiling and a console with scrollwork details elevate the dining room to what the homeowner calls the "most beautiful room in the house."

Designer Honey Collins opted for casual, but not outdoorsy, furnishings for the sun porch because the space is open to the living room.

Guests enjoy their own deck with postcard views. Following the roof lines, the room’s sloped ceilings conjure intimacy. Matouk linens and Bennison fabrics-stripes on the beds and floral at the windows and on the armchair and ottoman from Reddick’s private label-enliven the space.

A master-bedroom window seat covered in a dreamy Peter Fasano fabric makes an additional perch for reading or resting.