OhBaby!

Conversation Pieces (this page) Visual Comfort & Co.’s Mill chandelier hangs over a colorful seating arrangement in the great room. A Jonathan Adler cocktail table makes waves amid a sea of pretty pieces, including a pair of blue lacquer table lamps from the Collective, and a custom sofa and chair. Happy Blues (opposite page) McNell had the breakfast nook chairs upholstered in Katie Ridder’s Bluebell Peony and Jab Anstoetz’ Great Gatsby fabrics. The table from Hive Palm Beach is perfect for large gatherings. See Resources

Designer Whitney McNell and her client were both on pretty tight timelines for this Rowayton project: The homeowners wanted to have it ready for the summer, and McNell wanted to get as much done as possible before the fast-approaching due date of her first baby. McNell’s Dallas–based clients—a couple with three children—had just sold a second home in Palm Beach, Florida, and were eager to replace it with something a little farther north. They were familiar with Rowayton, which happened to be situated within a couple hours of their two older girls’ colleges—and provided a great spot to enjoy a sea breeze while escaping the Texas heat.

Within a couple weeks of closing on this waterfront property, the homeowner found McNell, of McNell Interiors, on Instagram and sent her a message. Was she interested in taking on the project? That message arrived in March. The client wanted the home to be move-in ready by mid-June. McNell was due in mid-April. Talk about a quick turnaround! But she couldn’t resist. “I had a really good feeling about the homeowner,” says the designer, “and I just knew this project could be something really great.”

With an eye toward a not-too-distant future, the designer and her client got right to work. Over a long lunch in Darien—their only in-person meeting— they looked at a whole bag of fabric samples, with McNell making note of preferences and potential combinations. “It was totally fast and furious,” says McNell. The homeowner was, thankfully, very decisive and in possession of great taste. She imagined a cheerful aesthetic for a home where family and friends could convene over the summer, the holidays and shorter school breaks. Perhaps most notably, she asked for the great room to be like a hotel lobby, with lots of different vignettes for family and guests to sit, chat or spend time separately, together.

When it came to color, she was all-in, though it was a big departure from the family’s primary residence in Texas. “Our house in Dallas is all neutrals and grays,” says the homeowner. She came to the right place for a new look: “I’ve never designed a room that’s neutral,” says McNell. True to form, she built layered color stories for each room, and found the perfect places to work in some great pieces the homeowner was sending up from Palm Beach.

Through a lot of texting, the pair were able to lay an incredible amount of groundwork in just a few weeks, so by the time McNell delivered her baby in

April, most elements had been found, ordered or were being fabricated. Given the timeline, you might think that custom furniture was an impossibility, but McNell’s trusted furniture maker, Luis Muralles (“a miracle worker,” says the homeowner), was able to put together quite a few pieces for the project.

You might also think McNell would need some downtime after welcoming her new family member. But after spending a few weeks at home with her newborn, she was back on the job site to oversee the installation, with little Tucker in tow.

Though the home is structurally much the same, there are new details everywhere, giving each room energy and life. “Whitney really leaves no surface unaddressed,” says the homeowner. “Even the closets have really fun painted woodwork.” They updated the floors, added whimsical wallpapers and painted every room. Familiar shapes like waves and curves are repeated throughout the house, making spaces feel playful yet harmonious. “When you walk in, it’s a complete sense of calm,” says McNell.

The goal was to get into the home for summer, “but we enjoy it just as much on a cold and rainy day,” notes the homeowner. “It cozies up so nicely.” Though the project was completed quickly, what they came away with—designer and client both—is sure to bring long-lasting joy. ✹

Primary Colors

(opposite page) In the primary suite, McNell created a cozy space with a round marble table from CB2 and a custom banquette.

Red, White & Blue

(this page) In a sunny bedroom, a vintage nightstand found on Chairish complements Serena & Lily striped bedding and a custom roman shade. See Resources