New England Home March April 2014 by New England Home Magazine LLC

Celebrating Fine Design, Architecture, and Building

Let In the Light!

Lively interiors with a dash of drama for sophisticated, comfortable living

California Style in the Back Bay A Crumbling Gatehouse Goes Colorful PLUS: DESIGN CLASSICS AND THE POWER OF ARCHITECTURE

March–April 2014

MARCH–APRIL 2014

Display until May 12, 2014

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IN THIS ISSUE

March–April 2014 Volume 9, Issue 4

106

88 122

FEATURED HOMES 88 KINDRED SPIRITS A mother-daughter design team brings the power of two to impart a light, airy elegance to a traditional Boston brownstone. TEXT BY MEGAN FULWEILER PHOTOGRAPHY BY GREG PREMRU PRODUCED BY KYLE HOEPNER

96 LET THERE BE BRIGHT

106 LOVE AT FIRST SITE

114 THE LIGHT WITHIN

Rescued from near ruin, an old gatehouse on the Rhode Island shore enjoys new life as a sunny, vibrant family home.

A casual Internet click leads to a made-inheaven match between a homeowner and the perfect designer for her suburban Boston house.

Applying a modern architectural vernacular to a traditional brownstone in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood is, in a word, illuminating.

WRITTEN AND PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL PHOTOGRAPHY BY TRIA GIOVAN

TEXT BY SUSAN KLEINMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL J. LEE PRODUCED BY STACY KUNSTEL

TEXT BY KRISTINE KENNEDY PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL J. LEE

OTHER FEATURES 122 Special Focus: Landscape Design These five lovely landscapes may be quite different, but they share an emphasis on simplicity, elegance, and an intimate relationship with their sites. TEXT BY PAULA M. BODAH

ON THE COVER: Ruhl Walker Architects gave a unit in a traditional Boston brownstone a decidedly bright, modern look and feel. Photograph by Michael J. Lee. To see more of this home, turn to page 114. MARCH–APRIL 2014 NEW ENGLAND HOME 13

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In This Issue

52 29

199

18 From the Editor

Art, Design, History, Landscape 29 Elements: As Good As New Timeless pieces for the home that still look fresh and up-to-date. EDITED BY CHERYL AND JEFFREY KATZ 36 Design Destination: Snug Harbor Farm, Kennebunk, Maine. 40 Artistry: Branching Out New Hampshire artist Leah Woods, already acclaimed for her furniture making, is now using her medium to express more-abstract ideas. By Lori Ferguson

46 Suburban Style: Across the Great Divide Moving from the city doesn’t have to mean giving up sophistication, as this home outside Boston proves. By Louis Postel / Photography by Michael J. Lee

167

52 In Our Backyard: Playful Classics Two design-minded women who couldn’t find the stylish, fun furniture they wanted solved the problem by starting their own home furnishings business. By Regina Cole

People, Places, Events, Products 167 Perspectives Special touches that bring glamour to the powder room. EDITED BY PAULA M. BODAH

176 Trade Secrets: The Art of Listening Comings and goings (and a few surprises) in New England’s design community. BY LOUIS POSTEL Special Marketing Section: Great Landscapes and Outdoor Living 59

184 Design Life Our candid camera snaps recent gatherings that celebrate architecture and design. 188 New in the Showrooms Unique, beautiful, and now appearing in New England shops and showrooms. BY CATIE PARRISH 193 Premier Properties Notable homes on the market in New England. BY MARIA LAPIANA

Special Marketing Section: Inspired Before and After 135

199 Gallery Architectural details add the magic to these New England homes. 209 Resources A guide to the professionals and products in this issue’s features. 214 Advertiser Index 216 Sketch Pad A hand-painted ceiling embellishment brings a special touch to a reading nook in a Victorian house.

14 New England Home march–april 2014

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Photographer: Sam Gray Architect: Morehouse MacDonald & Associates

e s t

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CHN C . H .

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B U I L D E R S,

I N C.

Fine Homebuilding Architectural Millwork Estate Care BOSTON

CAPE COD

508 . 548 .1353 chnewton.com 2013 Silver Prism Award Winners for Best Single Family Home Over 5,000 sq.ft Best Historical Restoration NEWPORT

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Sean Litchfield Photography

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From the Editor

Hornick/Rivlin Studio

From comments of that sort we can, over time, gauge just how well we’re serving our mingled audience of design lovers and design professionals. Occasionally, what we learn from criticism isn’t precisely what the critic intended. An example: interior designers almost invariably feel we devote too much space to covering architecture; architects think we are too slanted toward interior design. So I figure that, if those observations arrive in roughly equal numbers, we’re probably getting the balance about right. And balance is important to us. Most of the decisions we make while putting together an issue, I’d say, hinge on balance. Are we including enough, or too many, Shingle-style houses? Are we finding a good high-low mix of hardcore luxury items and their more reasonably priced, yet still design-worthy, confreres? In our profiles of New England’s artists, are we achieving the proper ratio of painters to photographers to sculptors to video artists? The same would go for formalcasual, city-suburbs-country, exterior-interior, mountain-waterfront, bold-refined, loft-townhouse, colorful-neutral, and dozens of other aesthetic or practical criteria that could be arranged on a scatter plot or sliding scale. We’re always looking for the mix of words and images that will best convey the full range of ideas, personalities, and resources available to help make your home a place of beauty and comfort. So by all means continue to tell us if what we do adds to the pleasure in your life. But also don’t be afraid to let us know if there are ways New England Home could be more useful, or better cover the kinds of home design that matter to you. After all, we can’t learn from what we don’t hear. And it is your feedback, on balance, that keeps us in balance.

Feedback on Feedback

ompliments are wonderful. When nice notes come in from our readers, or a recently featured designer gushes on Twitter about how happy he is with his story, it’s just great. We members of the magazine’s editorial team treasure and share those posts and emails. They keep us going, they brighten the week. But compliments, by and large, aren’t the things we learn from. Painful though it may be, we learn much more from criticism. When someone says something nice about New England Home, it usually boils down to “Gorgeous, love it!” Rarely does a compliment go into specifics: “Putting those two photos next to each other really brought the space to life for me.” But for people who are displeased, detail is what it’s all about: “Why don’t you show more Rhode Island houses?” “Your photo captions are too small. I can’t read them.” “I want more paint colors.”

—Kyle Hoepner

Find more at

nehomemag.com + Our editors and a fascinating lineup of guest bloggers share beautiful photography, design ideas, and advice five days a week on the New England Home Design Blog. + The site also features ongoing content updates, where you’ll encounter house tours, interviews and commentary, before-and-after stories, and other special items for lovers of great home design. + Sign up for our Design Discoveries editorial e-newsletter and get weekly updates on luxury home style, including the latest products, upcoming events, and green ideas. /////

For subscriptions call (800) 765-1225 or visit nehomemag.com Pin us on

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18 New England Home March–April 2014

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Editor-in-Chief Kyle Hoepner khoepner@nehomemag.com Homes Editor Stacy Kunstel skunstel@nehomemag.com Senior Editor Paula M. Bodah pbodah@nehomemag.com Art Director Robert Lesser rlesser@nehomemag.com Online and Market Editor Lynda Simonton lsimonton@nehomemag.com Managing and Copy Editor Susan Kron skron@nehomemag.com Contributing Editors Cheryl and Jeffrey Katz candjkatz@nehomemag.com Karin Lidbeck Brent klidbeck@nehomemag.com Louis Postel lpostel@nehomemag.com Contributing Writers unningham, Regina Cole, Caroline C Megan Fulweiler, Lisa E. Harrison, Robert Kiener, Susan Kleinman, Maria LaPiana, Catie Parrish, Nathaniel Reade Contributing Photographers Trent Bell, Robert Benson, Bruce Buck, Tria Giovan, Sam Gray, John Gruen, Keller + Keller, Michael J. Lee, Richard Mandelkorn, Laura Moss, Michael Partenio, Greg Premru, Eric Roth, James R. Salomon, Brian Vanden Brink /////

Subscriptions To subscribe to New England Home ($19.95 for one year) or for customer service, call (800) 765-1225 or visit our website, nehomemag.com.

Custom Home Building Renovations & Additions Historic Renovations

Editorial and Advertising Office 530 Harrison Ave., Suite 302 Boston, MA 02118 (617) 938-3991 (800) 609-5154

Landscaping & Site Work Solar Energy & Energy Conservation Small Jobs & Maintenance

Recipient of the 2013 Remodeler of the Year Award from the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston (BRAGB).

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26 New Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02138 • 617-876-8286 www.shconstruction.com • www.facebook.com/shconstruction Proud sponsors of NPR, BSA, the Cambridge Housing Assistance Fund (CHAF), ASID and the Ellis Boston Antiques Show.

Editorial Submissions Designers, architects, builders and homeowners are invited to submit projects for editorial consideration. For information about submitting projects, e-mail edit@nehomemag.com. Letters to the Editor We’d love to hear from you! Write to us at the above address, fax us at (617) 663-6377 or e-mail us at letters@ nehomemag.com. Upcoming Events Are you planning an event that we can feature in our Calendar of Events? E-mail information to calendar@nehomemag. com, or mail to Calendar Editor, New England Home, 530 Harrison Ave., Suite 302, Boston, MA 02118. Parties We welcome photographs from design- or architecture-related parties. Send high-resolution photos with information about the party and the people pictured to pbodah@ nehomemag.com.

22 New England Home March–April 2014

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ADOLFO PEREZ ARCHITECT Publisher Kathy Bush-Dutton kbushdutton@nehomemag.com Sales Managers Jill Korff jkorff@nehomemag.com Roberta Thomas Mancuso rmancuso@nehomemag.com Kim Sansoucy ksansoucy@nehomemag.com Robin Schubel rschubel@nehomemag.com David Simone dsimone@nehomemag.com Marketing Designer Jared Ainscough jainscough@nehomemag.com Production Manager Glenn Sadin gsadin@nehomemag.com Marketing and Administrative Manager Kate Koch kkoch@nehomemag.com /////

Advertising Information To receive information about advertising in New England Home, please contact us at (800) 609-5154, ext. 713 or info@ nehomemag.com. Editorial and Advertising Office 530 Harrison Ave., Suite 302 Boston, MA 02118 (617) 938-3991 (800) 609-5154 /////

NCI Corporate Offices 2 Sun Court NW, Suite 300 Norcross, GA 30092 (800) 643-1176 Home Design Division President Adam Japko Vice President, Sales & Marketing Holly Paige Scott John Horner Photography

Production Managers Shannon McKelvey, Judson Tillery Circulation Manager Kurt Coey Newsstand Manager Bob Moenster

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President/CFO Gerry Parker Senior Vice President Adam Japko Senior Vice President, Finance & Administration Diana Young Group Vice President, Interactive Stuart Richens

24 New England Home March–April 2014

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The things that make great spaces

Elements

DURSTON SAYLOR

EDITED BY CHERYL AND JEFFREY KATZ

1950s

It wouldn’t be surprising to find this Diego Giacometti lamp or grass-green tufted sofa today in a Beacon Hill apartment or a house on Narragansett Bay. But the library at High Winds, designed by Syrie Maugham for her clients Lila and Dewitt Wallace more than half a century ago, affirms that the best decorating is timeless.

AS GOOD AS NEW Recently we were invited to a friend’s apartment for dinner. Given her impeccable credentials— a former editor at a prestigious shelter magazine, a ten-year stint in Paris, a decorator with an impressive client list—we knew her home would be a wow. As we suspected, the apartment felt positively up-to-the-minute. But during the cocktail hour, we realized the space spanned more than two centuries of decorating history. From the André Dubreuil

Spine chair designed in 1986 to the Le Manach curtain fabrics first seen in the 1800s, our friend had assembled a truly timeless collection of furniture and accessories. Here, in the spirit of that delightful surprise, is a collection of pieces that have remained in continuous production (or have been reintroduced while remaining faithful to their original design intention) for a long time. We think they look as good as—maybe even better than—new. MARCH–APRIL 2014 NEW ENGLAND HOME 29

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ELEMENTS

1950s

From Baker Furniture comes a reintroduction of the three-panel Paris Snowflake Screen designed in 1951 by the multitalented Tony Duquette. The screen is finished in 14-karat gold leaf, shown, or silver leaf. 36½″ W × 75″ H. $26,250. Boston Design Center, (617) 439-4876, bakerfurniture.com

1920s

Imagine the parties that might have been held in rooms lit by this gilt-silver and crystal chandelier. Le Bourgeon, back in production by the French luxury lighting company Baguès after a ninety-year hiatus, originally hung in the entrance of the Pavillon de l’Elegance at the 1925 Paris Exposition. 1.5m H × 1m D. $49,500. Blanche P. Field, Boston Design Center, (617) 423-0714, blanchefield.com

1960s

For more than half a century, Clarence House has supplied fabrics for preeminent museums and countless historic houses. An example is the Tibet Small Scale, taken from a Tibetan carpet motif that dates back hundreds of years yet still looks contemporary. 51″ W. $528/yd. The Martin Group, Boston Design Center, (617) 951-2526, martingroupinc.com 30 NEW ENGLAND HOME MARCH–APRIL 2014

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ELEMENTS

1950s

Arne Jacobsen designed the Swan Sofa— an adaptation of his Swan Chair— for the Royal Hotel in Copenhagen. Today, the sofa, with its graceful, satin-finished aluminum base, is made in Denmark by Fritz Hansen, and comes in a wide range of colors and fabrics, including the Hallingdal pink fabric shown. 144cm W x 79cm H. $9,194. Lekker, Boston, (617) 542-6464, lekkerhome.com

1960s

Pour water from the Gurgling Cod pitcher and you’ll understand why it is so aptly named. The fins, gills, and scales of the native New England fish depicted on the pitcher are anatomically correct. The pitcher comes in three sizes and four colors. Shown, the large pitcher in Nantucket Coral. 10″ H. $95. Shreve Crump & Low, Boston and Chestnut Hill, Mass., (617) 267-9100, shrevecrumpandlow.com

1940s

Tony Duquette (see his screen on the preceding page) dazzled audiences with his uses of baroque patterning. The tableware manufacturer Mottahedeh was taken with them as well. Partnering with Hutton Wilkinson, the creative director and president of Tony Duquette, Inc., they have released a set of dinnerware—such as the service plate here—based on designs found in Duquette’s sketchbooks so many years ago. The plate comes in Malachite, Lapis, and Tortoise Shell, shown. 12″ D. $215. LCR Collection, West Hartford, (860) 231-7742, design.lcrcollection.com 32 NEW ENGLAND HOME MARCH–APRIL 2014

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Experience a gallery where you are the artist. Where you can see, touch, and feel your home the

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ELEMENTS

1940s

The Chemex Coffeemaker, the result of a chemist’s modifications to his lab equipment, is in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art and other museums. The classic carafe has been manufactured in Western Massachusetts since the 1970s. In 3- to 10-cup sizes. $37.50–$45.50. Pittsfield, Mass., (413) 499-2370, chemexcoffeemaker.com; George Howell Coffee, Acton, Mass., (866) 444-5282, georgehowellcoffee.com; and fine kitchen stores throughout New England.

1890s

1960s

In the mid-sixties, Warren Platner began designing a collection of seating and tables using nickelplated bent wire as a structural and decorative element. While many of his pieces have been in continuous production since then, the easy chair and ottoman, shown here, were just recently reintroduced by Knoll Studio. Easy chair, 39 3⁄ 8″

At the end of the nineteenth century, Reed & Barton, the Taunton, Massachusetts– based manufacturer of silver pieces, debuted this Pointed Antique flatware pattern as an authentic representation of the original design by Paul Revere. Still in production, the five-piece, heavy-gauge, sterling-silver place setting includes a salad fork, place fork, place knife, place spoon, and teaspoon. $668/ setting. Springer’s Jewelers, Portland, Maine, (800) 725-5404, springersjewelers.com, and MJ Harrington & Co. Jewelers, Newport, N.H., (603) 863-1662, mjharrington.com

W × 37″ D x 38 3⁄ 4″ H, $8,989; ottoman, 25 3⁄ 4″ W × 26 3⁄ 4″ D × 16 7⁄ 8″ H, $2,576. Knoll, Boston, (617) 350-0811, knoll.com

34 NEW ENGLAND HOME MARCH–APRIL 2014

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Snug Harbor Farm Kennebunk, Maine ///

Really? Really. It was a Saturday night in mid-January when we decided to check the weather forecast for the following day. In the magazine world, printer deadlines mean stories need to be researched months before they appear in print. Which is why we were checking the forecast. And why we were skeptical about our decision to visit Snug Harbor Farm that Sunday. Snow was predicted. Not a windswept, drifting snow that might have been excuse enough to reschedule, but just enough of a dusting to make us fear we wouldn’t be seeing the greenhouses and shop at Snug Harbor Farm (not to mention taking photos for this spring issue) in the best light. We needn’t have worried. Even in the dead of winter, on a cold, gray day, the place is nothing short of magical. Rows of Lemon Cypress (or, in the true spirit of Snug Harbor, Cupressus macrocarpa) topiary were bright green. Fuchsia-colored blooms sprung out of hand-thrown terra-cotta pots designed especially for the farm. And all manner of succulents were hardy and handsome, creating a luxurious carpet of infinite green. Inside the shop, a charming 1850s farmhouse, bright blue watering cans stood silhouetted against white enamel dishware. One-of-a-kind terrariums surrounded a porcelain sink. A wall of mirrors reflected the olio of carefully curated natural objects. Bursts of plants were everywhere. By the time we left, the sun shone as if it were a spring day. 87 Western Avenue, Kennebunk, Maine, (207) 967-2414, snugharborfarm.com. Open daily, 9 a.m.–5 p.m. —Cheryl and Jeffrey Katz

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Artistry

Bill Tr

uslo

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ARTISTRY

Branching Out New Hampshire artist Leah Woods, already acclaimed for her furniture making, is now using her medium to express more-abstract ideas. ///////////

By Lori Ferguson

eah Woods has long been known for her exquisitely wrought, functional pieces. The sinuous lines of her cabinets, desks, and tables convey a captivating lightness and whimsy and reveal a great technical facility with wood. Lately, though, the New Hampshire– based artist has thrown her design skill

into giving concrete form to abstract ideas, trading physical functionality for a metaphorical functionality. For a recent series of works, Woods looked to women’s dress forms and undergarments for inspiration. In Untitled #3: Dress Form in Mahogany, for example, a tight cylinder of red oak veneer is enlivened by thin incisions

sweeping upward in graceful curves, much like the seams of the corset that inspired it. The piece is informed by CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Untitled #3: Dress Form in Mahogany (2011), mahogany, red oak veneer, 51″H × 28″W × 28″D; detail of In and Down and Up and Out (2013), butternut, maple, 60″H × 72″W × 13″D; Hall Table (2008), maple, white oak, satinwood veneer, brass hardware, 42″H × 59″W × 23″D.

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Artistry

Left, Right, and Top: James Schuyler

Lisa Nugent

historical context and imbued with conflicting emotions. Corsets were designed to enhance female beauty, but they did so by reshaping a woman’s form in unnatural, uncomfortable ways. The success of the work lies in its ability to suggest both sensuality and rigidity. Woods first ventured into the arts as an undergraduate art history major at De Paul University, in Chicago. In her senior year, she enrolled in a 3-D design class and began working in steel, clay, and wood. “There was something about the materials and the three-dimensional nature of the work that I connected with,” she recalls.

“Since letting go of the work’s functional component, I’ve been able to delve more deeply into the feelings and emotions I want to evoke. It’s challenging and it feels risky.”

Not long after graduating, Woods saw an ad for woodworking classes. Although she wasn’t sure why, the classes appealed, and before she knew it she had completed a series of basic woodworking courses and was on her way to earning a master’s degree in woodworking and furniture design at the Rochester Institute of Technology. In retrospect, Woods believes she was set on her creative path by a passing remark from her 3-D design professor. “He said something to the effect that, ‘When making art, the best work uses materials that we all understand, but presents them in an unexpected way.’ I’ve never forgotten that,” she says. While she felt the siren song of abstract forms for many years, Woods was initially reluctant and somewhat anxious about moving away from furniture making. “I’m formally trained in furniture design, and I didn’t want to disrespect my education,” she explains. But a 2009 residency at The Center for Art in Wood, in Philadelphia, gave her the confidence to change direction— indeed, it proved liberating. “Since letting go of the work’s functional component, I’ve been able to delve more deeply into the feelings and emotion I want to evoke. It’s challenging and it feels risky—I’m constantly asking myself, ‘How do I transform the idea in my head into a tangible piece of material, and when I do, will anyone understand what I’m trying to say?’” Back and Forth, Woods’s first creation in her Navigation series of sculptural maps, is a compelling example of the new turn the CLOCKWISE FROM far LEFT: Clothe

Cabinet (2006), cherry, maple, fabric, 54″H × 11″W × 10″D; For Rose Bertin (2007), maple, anigre, brass hardware, 38″H × 52″W × 46″D; detail of Off Course (2014), white oak, ash, 60″H × 60″W × 18″D; Secretary Desk (2009), walnut veneer, African satinwood, leather, 52″H × 48″W × 48″D. FACING PAGE: The artist at work.

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artist’s work has taken. Strips of walnut and bleached mahogany seem to writhe with nervous energy, surging upward with an outbound sense of exploration in one area and, in another, turning in on themselves as though seeking safe harbor. Here is the excitement of discovery, tinged with the fear and uncertainty of the unknown, all expressed through the manipulation of line, plane, curve, and space. The desire to coax the unexpected from the familiar drives Woods today, both as an artist and as a professor of woodworking and furniture design at the University of New Hampshire. In the classroom, she helps students achieve their creative vision through the application of realworld techniques. In the studio, Woods challenges herself to make objects that offer viewers an initial entry point via a familiar material, and then surprise them. “I love working in wood. It’s in our lives in many ways, so it offers me a way to attract people’s attention,” she explains. “Once I’ve got their eye, they begin to explore the subtleties of the piece, such as movement, form, or subject matter. “When people encounter my work, I want them to sense emotion,” she says. “If someone sees a piece and experiences feelings of constraint or turmoil, for example, I’ve succeeded in making an emotional connection, and that’s immensely gratifying.” • Editor’s Note: To see more of Leah Woods’s work, visit her website, leahkwoods.com

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Suburban Style

Across the Great Divide Moving from the city doesn’t have to mean giving up sophistication, as this home outside Boston proves. ///////////

By Louis Postel Photography by Michael J. Lee

or a certain stylish crowd, the phrase “moved to the suburbs” may as well mean “moved to Vladivostok.” The fun couple everyone used to hang out with is now gone, lost to malls and endless carpooling. But that mind-set is changing. It turns out you can have comfort, some acreage, a kid-friendly house, plus a whole lot of style—and do it in the ’burbs. You just have to know the right designer. Jeff and Meghan Swenson knew the right designer—Marc Langlois. A year

after they met him while he was working for neighbors at the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Boston, where they lived at the time, they called him to help them with their new home outside the city. “It was daunting for these clients to move from a clean-lined, minimalist home to an 1894 Victorian in Wellesley,” says Langlois. “At first, Meghan wanted a contemporary look, everything white. I said, ‘You know, contemporary scares me.’ Think of the dirt coming in with three kids.” Langlois thought a transitional decor

would complement the house and be more family-friendly. “Many of the original architectural details were exquisite—the leaded glass windows welcoming you inside, the hand-carved banister post with antique gold lights overhead, heavy pocket doors, and beautiful millwork everywhere,” he explains. “I said, CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE LEFT: The dining room exemplifies designer Marc Langlois’s suggestion for a transitional decorating plan. In the entry, trees in a photo are a subtle take on the verticality of a hand-carved newel post. A cozy cocktail room, with a carved mahogany fireplace, opens off the dining room.

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“I knew Meghan really didn’t like patterns, but I need to push clients out of their comfort zones now and then,” says Langlois. “She loved this geometric design.”

‘Let’s think transitional, mixing old and new, high and low, while keeping that open feeling that you had at the Ritz— monochromatic with a touch of color, wherein every room flows naturally into the next.’ ” Meghan and Jeff agreed, and Langlois set to work. Walk into the completed project and it’s clear you’re not in Vladivostok. From the entry, the eye immediately trav-

els a long way back to the dining room’s “anchor wall,” as Langlois calls it, the wall that stylistically holds up the rest of the space. A pair of white lacquer mirrors above twin mirrored buffet tables flank a window draped with simple pleated panels, gently holding the eye and framing the scene. Langlois’s “natural flow” leads guests through pocket doors into the sitting

room for cocktails before dinner, drawn to the carved mahogany fireplace the designer painted white, a transitional “New Victorian” statement or, more precisely, understatement. A left turn leads to the more informal family room, dressed for comfort with shag carpet, bamboo shades, faux fur–covered ottoman, and Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams sofa. A nook surrounded by windows holds a curved banquette, casual dining table, and Chippendale-style faux-bamboo chairs Langlois bought at auction and had spray-painted white. A deeply coffered ceiling helps prevent this lovely array of laid-back from sliding into sloppy. “It’s all about composition,” says CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE LEFT: Langlois designed the architectural lamp table in the front sitting room. A corner of the master suite holds a quiet spot for reading. Kelly Wearstler’s Imperial Trellis wallpaper punches up the wall behind the Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams master bed. FACING PAGE: Black diamond tiles from Ann Sacks play off the curvaceous tub from WaterSpot.

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Suburban Style

Langlois, who, after graduating from the Rhode Island School of Design, became a photographer before launching his design career twenty years ago. “When I look at a room, I still see it as I learned to see through a lens, how to fill out a certain look,” he says. “Composition is still key, devoting time to figuring out the foundation before going on to furnishings. I would sketch this composition right on the spot for Meghan and then blue tape it to show Jeff when he came home from work. I always have to find out first where the anchor will be, the focus, the flow, and balance. I also need to work out how

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these forms I create will follow function—how my composition will work for my clients’ lifestyle.” The master bedroom shows how all these elements come together. The charcoal-and-white Imperial Trellis wallpaper by Kelly Wearstler behind the bed is something of a master stroke. “I knew Meghan really didn’t like patterns, but I need to push clients out of their comfort zones now and then, and this time it worked,” says Langlois. “She loved this geometric design.” The color of the painted walls—a tonal match with Wearstler’s charcoal—is decidedly urban chic, as is the sleek upholstered bed and the pale gray carpet. Langlois has closed the urban-suburban divide as smoothly as those pocket doors downstairs. Urbanites take note. •

RESOURCES For more information about this home, see

years

n e r ati o

ST B E of

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In Our Backyard

Playful Classics Two design-minded women who couldn’t find the stylish, fun furniture they wanted solved the problem by starting their own home furnishings business. ///////////

By Regina Cole

oes high-quality furniture have to be brown? Delia Langley and Amanda Price Irvine don’t think so. “We saw a hole in the market,” says Irvine, the marketing muscle behind the duo’s fledgling company, Priley Lane. “When we shopped for furniture, we could not find well-made pieces that are utilitarian yet playful, that incorporate color, style, and interesting texture, but don’t cost the moon.” So, despite the fact that launch-

ing a furniture company is a notoriously difficult proposition, the two women did just that. In November, they birthed Priley Lane with a website that sells a line of colorful, stylish, and livable pieces designed by Langley and manufactured in Massachusetts. (Priley is a blend of the women’s last names, and, says Langley, “Lane connotes home.”) From an initial offering of fifteen pieces, including tables, bookcases, mirrors, and consoles, the duo hopes to grow into the wider world of home furnishings with a complete line of furniture and accessories and retail stores on both coasts. Irvine and Langley became friends post-college, when both were living on Beacon Hill. Langley, a graduate of Boston Architectural College’s interior design program, had been fascinated Every piece Priley Lane offers can be ordered in a multitude of colors and finishes. LEFT: Brighton Bamboo dining chair. ABOVE, CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: Lexington table, Cambridge desk, Hanging Feather pendant lamp, Germaine table, Spring table.

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In Our Backyard

by furniture since childhood, when her grandfather owned Waterhouse Furniture, in Webster, Massachusetts. “I took a furniture class in school. Immediately, I knew that that’s what I wanted to do,” she says. Irvine, who has a degree from Boston University in applied statistics and psychology, describes herself as “a business maven by day, design obsessive by night.” She had long wanted to open her own home furnishings store. As the two friends talked about their dreams, they came to realize how well their ambitions dovetailed. The germ of Priley Lane took form when Langley decided she wanted a console table wrapped in turquoise-colored alligator leather. “Of course, I could find no such thing, so I made it myself,” she says. “It cost me $80. It was an amateur-

ish job, but when it was finished, I looked at it and said, ‘Why should this be so hard to find, and then, why should it cost $5,000?’” To start the company, Langley developed fifty-two designs. Then, with the

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Germaine, a round pedestal dining table, was inspired by the granite balls on the pillars that flank the Charles Street entry to the Boston Public Garden. Upton builds the furniture with the aid of his assistant, James Rodgers. “We met with other manufacturers,” Langley says, “but we connected with Ben, and we were impressed with his capabilities. When I saw the first finished pieces, I cried.” Upton points to his pride and joy, an Omni Tech CNC machine, which enables youthful, yet classic sensibility. The Amagansett bookcase features a series of quatrefoils, the classic shape that is also Priley Lane’s logo. Hanover, named after the North End’s famous street, is a substantial trestle table on an X base. Dauphine is a demilune table as delightful as its namesake street in New Orleans’s French Quarter. The curvaceous base of The collection includes decorative accents as well as furniture. FROM FAR LEFT: Silver-leafed Carbonado Chip Webster_CI13_.5h_v1:Layout 1 table lamp, ancient decorative horse statues, Stamp Collection artwork, tall version of the Amagansett bookcase, short version of the Mott dresser.

a selection of brass and chrome feet and nailheads, castors, and various fanciful pulls. The more traditionally minded buyer can opt for one of four wood stains. Langley describes the women’s own living spaces as perfect examples of the Priley Lane sensibility. “My Beacon Hill living room is black, white, turquoise, and poppy,” she says. “Amelia’s New York City loft is more neutral, with wood tones, cream, and sage. Amelia has a lot of family antiques, while my things are

Priley Lane took form when Langley wanted a console table wrapped in turquoise-colored alligator leather. “Of course, I could find no such thing, so I made it myself.” him to cut, with perfect precision, the compound turns and complex shapes of Priley Lane’s deceptively simple designs. “Before this machine, producing something like the sides of the Amagansett bookshelf would have required the expensive skills of a wood carver,” he says. Pieces are12:54 made PM to order, 4/23/13 Pageand 1 each surface treatment is available for each piece. Customers can also choose from

more contemporary.” Yet their furniture looks fabulous in both homes, she says. “We both love a fresh combination of modern, traditional, and classic. If you do it right, it looks great!” • Priley Lane Boston (617) 279-0135 prileylane.com

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Great Landscapes Outdoor Living

SUDBURY DESIGN GROUP

SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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Great Landscapes

Outdoor Living

a Blade of Grass

After an exciting 2013 season during which a Blade of Grass received several awards including the APLD Gold Award for Residential Design and Best of Boston Home Lawn and Garden Service, we are thrilled to be starting our twentieth year in business. We would like to thank our clients, vendors, families, and friends who have

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supported us over the last twenty years! In 1994, James Douthit, owner of a Blade of Grass was searching for inspiration to name his company. The following quote ﬁt his vision: “The moment ones gives close attention to anything, even a blade of grass, it becomes a mysterious, awesome, indescribably magniﬁcent

world in itself.” – Henry Miller It is not surprising that twenty years later, the quote still infuses our approach to garden design, installation, and maintenance. We pay great attention to the details of our clients’ objectives as well as the natural subtleties of the site. Those nuances combined with our experience and imagination then motivate us to create fresh, dynamic landscapes. The most important aspect of a Blade of Grass’ process is the longstanding relationships we form with our clients. Whether it is through design, installation or maintenance, we cherish the opportunity to share our knowledge and passion so that your outdoor spaces remain a source of enjoyment and beauty.

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EQUESTRIAN FARM, WESTON MA; PHOTOS DEVIN HEFFERON

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Gregory Lombardi Design Incorporated is an award-winning, twenty-person landscape architecture practice specializing in highly detailed design for private residences and outdoor spaces. We are skilled in all aspects of landscape architecture, from overall site master planning to the detailed design of landscape structures, landforms, plantings, and custom elements in wood, stone and metal, and the selection of accessories and site furnishings. Eschewing any single style, our design philosophy calls for the fresh interpretation of classic, timeless principles of order and proportion to create meaningful spaces for our clients. Whether the project is a Boston roof terrace, a Cape Cod compound, or a family home

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Great Landscapes

Outdoor Living

Gregory Lombardi Design

NEW ENGLAND

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outside the city, our aim is to create environments that enhance their surroundings, inspire their inhabitants, and awaken the imagination. We craft every detail, believing that within each small moment of clarity the soul of a project lives. Recipient of the Bulfinch Award in 2011 and 2012 from the Classical Institute of Architecture & Art, Gregory Lombardi has recently been honored with the 2013 New England Design Hall of Fame award, an award recognizing individuals who have had especially significant careers in residential design in New England and whose work and influence have set them at the pinnacle of their profession. The firm is also proud to be recognized with an award for Best of Boston by Boston Home magazine 2014.

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Great Landscapes

Outdoor Living

Marc Hall Objekt is a unique urban garden boutique located in SOWA, one of Boston’s historic neighborhoods in the bustling South End. Marc Hall and his team of designers travel the globe collecting objects for the store while establishing personal relationships with artisans from different cultural backgrounds. People will invariably associate Marc Hall’s name with that of Marc Hall Design, his sister company, and his role as “ambience creator” at events and parties that incorporate luxury ﬂorals, and his own creative world of lifestyle and design. Objekt’s creative team carefully executes the stylish and luxurious Marc Hall aestetic where peace, rhythm and harmony all play a vital role, inevitably creating a link between inside and

outside. They work closely to inspire professionals such as landscape architects, garden designers, florists and interior designers as well as a clientele who are passionate about gardening, with an affinity for flora and fauna. The intimacy of the store allows for personalized service. The staff of Marc Hall Objekt conduct site visits to client’s homes and gardens, in an effort to help them select the perfect component to complete a vignette. Objekt also has a program that allows a client to take home any item on approval to ensure it is the best choice for their setting. The diverse collections featured in the store are inspired by the world of international design that can be imagined in both a chic interior and a well-appointed outdoor living

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Marc Hall Objekt

environment. The wide selection of hand-selected tabletop accessories, furniture, lighting ďŹ xtures, and vessels are produced in stone, reclaimed wood, hand-blown glass, metal and laser cut work. These works are acquired from Sempre (Belgium), De Castelli (Italy), Naga (France), Balmuir (Finland), International Art Properties (USA), Schlittler (Switzerland), DK Home (Netherlands) to name a few. Inspiration for Innovation in the home and garden can be found everywhere at Marc Hall Objekt, artfully displayed in an ever-changing botanical environment.

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Outdoor Living

Pellettieri Associates, Inc. | Warner, NH 03278 (888) 826-2275 | pellettieriassoc.com 66 Special Advertising Section

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Pellettieri Associates, Inc.

Pellettieri Associates is a New England-based design/build ﬁrm with more than thirty years of experience providing skilled, creative and comprehensive services to clients throughout the region. From site assessments and master planning, to plant selection and perennial gardens, they produce enduring environments for discerning clients and exceptional residential, commercial and institutional properties. What sets them apart is their widely respected staff of awardwinning, licensed landscape architects who consistently maintain the highest standards of achievement. The Pellettieri difference is that they help your property ﬁt into its

surroundings—so that the morning light ﬁlters into your master bedroom or shines on the outdoor gathering area just at that perfect moment in the day—allowing you to enjoy the beauty of family and nature. Their passion lies in making these things become part of the natural beauty of your home. Their landscape architects’ knowledge of site planning, natural processes, construction materials, codes and regulations provide solutions that satisfy client objectives and the regulators alike, in an efﬁcient and environmentally friendly manner.

Their multidisciplinary team efforts and extensive experience in site analysis and conceptual planning prove especially valuable during the earliest stages of site and master planning, as this is when they can most efficiently work to minimize problems associated with grading and drainage impacts, loss of specimen trees and poor view relationships. More than thirty years of experience in all facets of landscape construction and installation have resulted in one of the most highly qualified design/build firms in New England. Special Advertising Section 67

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Great Landscapes

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ARCHITECTURE BY MEYER & MEYER; PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAMIANOSPHOTOGRAPHY.COM

Pressley Associates Landscape Architects 135-136 Lewis Wharf Boston MA 02110 (617) 725-0011 pressleyinc.com

The West Lake Residence in Skaneateles, New York, and its grounds were designed to evoke the grand summer residences of the Gilded Age. The entire property is sloping toward the lake at an average 14% grade. As such, it was imperative to incorporate terraces and walls to allow for the creation of usable, level spaces in the landscape. The resulting level areas became garden “rooms,” each with its own theme and purpose. The Lawn Terrace is a green patio located directly off of the ground ﬂoor of the house. A limestone balustrade that overlooks the lake and Water Garden deﬁnes its tightly clipped lawn. This terrace is used for hosting events that spill out from the house and for everyday play space for children. It also serves as a landing on

the grand staircase that connects the Great Waterside Lawn with the entry level of the home. The Lawn Terrace overlooks the Water Garden. The limestone balustrade, a 24’ tall evergreen hedge, and a limestone and wood pergola frame this sunken garden. The pergola covers a vintage bluestone patio that is used as an outdoor living room, dining space, and on special occasions, a performance stage. The elliptical pool is planted with water lily and lotus. This symmetrical garden is planted heavily with blocks of perennials, shrubs and bulbs that transform as the growing season progresses. Antique cast iron urns establish a formal axis from the pergola to the promontory at the lake end of the water garden. This garden

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Pressley Associates Landscape Architects

has been covered with a dance floor on special occasions. Adjacent to the Water Garden is the Ellipse Garden. The Ellipse Garden is meant for the owners’ everyday use (lawn games, sunning, and barbeques) and also as space for special events, including those that may require a tent. This space is comprised of an elliptically shaped lawn, perennial borders, evergreen hedges, and a bluestone patio that leads to the imposing edifice dubbed “The Grotto.” Twin sweeping staircases that link the street level with the Ellipse Garden flank the grotto where musicians perform. The structure is topped with a limestone balustrade that creates an overlook with a sweeping view over the Ellipse Garden and down the 18-mile lake. Special Advertising Section 69

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Great Landscapes

Outdoor Living

R. P. Marzilli & Company is a full service landscape contractor that builds and maintains the ﬁnest residential landscapes. Since 1985 our skilled team of landscape professionals has delivered the highest

quality and best value for our clients. Our projects are built on country estates, oceanfront bluffs, suburban gardens, and city courtyards. Our services include complete site preparation, planting of specimen trees and shrubs, flower and vegetable gardens, lawns and wildflower meadows, irrigation, and landscape lighting. We build pools, spas, waterfalls, sports and recreation areas, outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, and entertaining areas. Our team builds the masonry structure of the landscape

including walls, driveways and auto courts, patios and terraces, steps, and walkways. We also provide masonry for interior projects such as wine cellars and other architectural stone work. Our horticulture team maintains ﬁne gardens, lawns, trees, and seasonal ﬂowers in containers or planting beds. We prepare your property for special events, install enhancements, and manage all of the landscape to meet any clients’ needs or the inevitable change of seasons. We are dedicated to the daily beauty and long term integrity of the landscape. Through consistent focus on our clients’ expectations we have developed trusted relationships with landscape architects, designers, architects, general contractors and homeowners.

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R.P. Marzilli & Company

R. P. Marzilli & Company has been recognized with several national and local awards year after year by the professional landscape community. Our greatest recognition comes from the many clients who enjoy and admire their outdoor living area during all of New Englandâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s beautiful seasons.

R.P. Marzilli & Company 21-A Trotter Drive Medway, Massachusetts (508) 533-8700 rpmarzilli.com Special Advertising Section 71

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Outdoor Living

Sudbury Design Group

Sudbury Design Group has long been recognized as one of the leading landscape architectural ﬁrms in the region, working with a variety of

residential and commercial clients throughout New England for more than ﬁfty years. To assure the best results for their

clients, Sudbury Design Group relies heavily on a uniﬁed team approach. Their belief is that for any project to be truly successful, the landscape architect, architect, and interior designer should work together from the project’s inception. This relationship fosters the pursuit of a common goal, “the client’s best interest.” Sudbury Design Group is renowned for their comprehensive master planning and design paired with the unique ability to manage the implementation process to a meticulous level of completion. The staff is comprised of highly skilled award-winning landscape architects, designers, and craftsmen including the area’s ﬁnest masons and horticulturists. Whether the project encompasses

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a small garden landscape, a backyard pool and patio, or a complete site renovation, Sudbury Design Group will work with you to ensure that the end product meets your expectations, is completed on time and on budget, and provides added value to your home. The ﬁrm’s reputation for excellence is further exempliﬁed through their commitment to social responsibility including frequent participation in community projects, charitable endeavors, and LEED based environmental practices.

740 Boston Post Road Sudbury, MA 01776 (978) 443-3638 sudburydesign.com Special Advertising Section 73

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Triad Associates, Inc. 100 Downing Avenue Haverhill, MA 01830 (978) 373-4223 triadassociatesinc.com

Custom designers and installers of all hardscape features including pool decks, outdoor entertaining areas, driveways, walls, patios, and walkways. Also offering complete decorative concrete services. For more than twenty-ﬁve years, Triad Associates, headquartered in Haverhill, Massachusetts, has earned the distinction of being one of new England’s premier hardscape design and installation companies. Triad services Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and west to adjoining areas of New York. They work with homeowners, custom builders, architects, and landscape architects on both residential and commercial installations. The Triad team includes designers, construction supervisors,and some

of the country’s most experienced hardscape artisans. This group works in unison to help customers from the concept through final design stage, through layout and construction, to a finished product that is ready for the finishing touches of landscaping and your furnishings. Triad’s experience goes beyond standard hardscapes— such as pool decks, patios, driveways, walls, and walkways—to include the creation of complete exterior environments which can include custom water features, unique fire features, and customized cooking areas. Triad’s work has been featured on “This Old House” and in the pages of design magazines. They are very proud of the fact that their largest source of projects is from a combination of repeat customers or referrals from

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Triad Associates, Inc.

their customers to other family members and neighbors. This says a lot, not only about the quality of their work but of their crew’s attention to detail and respect for your project. Whether your project is simple patio or a complex exterior design, a Triad crew will give it full and professional respect. Triad prides itself on a simple yet vital philosophy: “Just do it right.” The invitation from Triad is to bring them your ideas, magazine clippings, sketches, or complete design and they will work with you to make it a reality. You’ll see the result in the high quality of your ﬁnished project.

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Great Landscapes

Outdoor Living

ZEN Associates is an award-winning ﬁrm providing a full range of services in landscape architecture, construction and interior design, plus care and maintenance. For more than thirty years, we’ve helped residential and commercial property owners throughout New England develop truly special landscapes and outdoor spaces, integrating form and function to

create modern designs that are at once memorable and livable, beautiful and practical, natural and cutting edge. Our design team delivers unmatched technical expertise and hands-on experience to each project, engaging clients early and working closely at every step of the creative process. Whether for a serene courtyard garden, a lively landscape for entertaining or a spectacular rooftop terrace, each space must reﬂect our client’s lifestyle and personality. So we start by listening. Then by talking: ideas, inspirations, best practices—and how best to achieve the vision.

We believe there must always be a strong connection, both visually and physically, between the indoor and outdoor environments. Our award-winning portfolio reﬂects this belief, demonstrating how dynamic, functional, and beautiful landscapes and living spaces can be with projects like: • Cutting-edge pool and spa designs • Commercial and residential rooftop gardens • Traditional and contemporary Japanese gardens • Private residential retreats • Modern New England landscapes The ZEN Associates team extends beyond landscape architects to interior designers, construction managers, and whichever construction trades are necessary to get the job done. We

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ZEN Associates, Inc.

often work collaboratively with many of the areaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s other leading design professionals, including architects, landscape architects, interior designers, and builders. ZEN Associates works throughout New England, up and down the coast, and across the rooftops of Boston and New Yorkâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;or wherever you might be.

ZEN Associates, Inc. 10 Micro Drive Woburn, MA 01801 (800) 834-6654 zenassociates.com Special Advertising Section 79

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Outdoor Living

Zuri 1441 Universal Road | PO Box 1058 Columbus, OH 43216 (800) 232-5690 zuridecking.com

Like a beautifully crafted piece of fine furniture, Zuri™ Premium Decking is designed for people with a discerning eye for exquisite detail. No other PVC or wood composite product comes close to capturing the authentic colors and natural grain textures of exotic timber. Zuri gets its incredible appearance from a well-intentioned feat of engineering sorcery. Our proprietary manufacturing technology replicates the unique beauty of exotic wood, resulting in five textures and colors that create decks that truly set homes apart. In addition to its inherent beauty, what further sets Zuri apart is its durability. And while it always attracts attention, Zuri never demands it. Our premium decking is backed by two twenty-five-year warranties against the damaging effects of exposure and time.

Our twenty-five-year Structural Performance Warranty reflects our confidence that Zuri won’t rot, split, crack, warp, twist, cup, box, blister, flake, peel, delaminate, or suffer loss of structural properties due to termites, microbiological growth, or other decay. And our twenty-five-year Color Fastness Warranty demonstrates that color shifting will not exceed five units on the Hunter color scale. Zuri is as sustainable as it is durable, which underlines the fact that sometimes what you spend is not nearly as important as what you save. The sustainability of the planet’s dwindling hardwood forests is more crucial than ever. By using new technologies to replicate the natural, exotic colors and textures of hardwoods, we’re helping to preserve

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Zuriâ&#x201E;˘ Premium Decking

these natural resources for future generations. The closer you look, the better Zuri looks.

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Outdoor Living

CBA Landscape Architects LLC

SUSAN TEARE

For more than twenty-ﬁve years CBA Landscape Architects LLC has excelled at the design of residential landscapes, ranging in size from city gardens to multi-acre estates and located in urban, suburban, and rural settings. Founded and led by Clara Couric Batchelor, CBA creates beautiful and functional spaces balancing man-made elements with natural features. Each design is highly contextual, generating rich compositions that have been published in Landscape Architecture Magazine, Landscape Architect and Speciﬁer News, Garden Design, and numerous regional magazines. CBA prides itself on designs that are carefully conceived and thoroughly

detailed, enabling each client to make the most of his or her budget. We work for homeowners directly, or as a member of a design team with architects and engineers. Complete project management including construction administration ensures the realization of a beautiful landscape that meets or exceeds each client’s expectations.

CBA Landscape Architects LLC 24 Thorndike St, 4th Floor Cambridge, MA 02141 (617) 945-9760 cbaland.com

ROBERT BENSON

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Great Landscapes

Outdoor Living

db Landscaping, LLC Springtime is the perfect time to begin transforming a landscape. Whether designing a new home with a spectacular oceanfront terrace, infinity pool, spa, and outdoor kitchen or a simple secluded lakefront pathway, db Landscaping, LLC, has the expertise and experience to make dreams a reality. Founded by horticulturist and designer Daniel Bruzga more than ten years ago, db Landscaping, LLC, is an award-winning landscape architecture design-build company. Each site and landscape is designed according to clients’ specific wants and needs. All details of each project, from obtaining permits to final construction, are managed by the company. The db Landscaping team of experts includes talented stone masons, horticulturists, and designers trained as landscape architects. “When designing landscapes for new homes,” Bruzga says, “our most successful projects are those where we work in the early stages of project design in concert with the client and architect. The client not only gets a superior product, but also saves time and money.” The results speak for themselves.

PHOTO CREDIT HERE

db Landscaping 3 Alpine Ct. Suite 1 PO Box 356 Sunapee, NH 03782 (603) 763-6423 dblandscaping.biz Special Advertising Section 81

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Outdoor Living

Morgan Wheelock Incorporated Morgan Wheelock Incorporated is a Landscape Architectural firm with offices in Boston, Massachusetts, and Palm Beach, Florida. Since 1978 our work has encompassed a broad spectrum of projects including the planning and design of residential estates, corporate and institutional campuses, arboretums and botanical gardens, resort and residential communities, and thoroughbred and equestrian facilities. We specialize in the organization, programming, planning, design and implementation of projects, which will physically change the land and environment. Sensitivity to client needs and objectives, both philosophical, and financial, is the basis of a sound and successful approach to environmental change. Morgan Wheelock Incorporated strives to harmoniously balance the client’s aspirations and the dictates of the land to create designs characterized by timeless, understated elegance. Our designs offer clarity and renewal, as they are based upon a belief that human experience is enriched by the diverse and intimate contact with the natural world.

PHOTO CREDIT HERE

Morgan Wheelock Incorporated 625 Mt. Auburn Street | Cambridge, MA 02138 p (617) 776.9300 | f (617) 776-9333 morganwheelock.com 82 Special Advertising Section

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Great Landscapes

Outdoor Living

Parterre Garden Services Parterre Garden Services was created in response to a need for highly trained and skilled gardeners to protect and enhance the considerable investment people make in their properties. From jewel-box city gardens to seaside estates, Parterre provides professional garden maintenance, property management, design, and installation throughout the Greater Boston Area and Cape Cod. • Fine Gardening • Garden Design • Garden Installation • Property Management • Container Gardens • Ecological Services With our “Single Point of Contact” approach, your Parterre ﬁeld manager will work with you to develop a comprehensive plan to bring your property to its most verdant potential. Through our extensive partnerships with green-industry professionals, we will identify, direct, and manage all of your property’s needs including irrigation, pest and disease control, and arbor and lawn care. Please call to schedule a courtesy consultation.

PHOTOS BY STACY BASS

2235 Massachusetts Avenue Cambridge, MA 02140 (617) 492-2230 parterregarden.com Special Advertising Section 83

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Outdoor Living

terraink landscape architecture + planning

Welcome to terraink… where we are driven by our passion for quality design, craftsmanship, and our desire to help each of our clients expand the footprint of their home by rediscovering their landscape.

terraink is a landscape architecture ﬁrm that offers an extensive range of design services from the initial design consultation through the project’s implementation. We offer a comprehensive approach to site planning, together with innovative landscape solutions, to promote environmentally sustainable materials that ultimately realize, and exceed, our client’s ambitions. We bring a true passion for our natural, built, and social environments to each of our projects. Our commitment to a collaborative process is evident by our eagerness to listen to our clients. Our enthusiasm, when combined with intuitive design

and technical proﬁciency, prompts an enjoyable process that results in lasting distinction, elegance, and artistry for your home. We look forward to sharing our passion with you…

terraink landscape architecture + planning 7 Central Street Arlington, MA 02476 (781) 316-1595 | terraink.com

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Available at: Studio 534; One Design Center Place, Suite 534, Boston | Scalamandre; Atlanta, Los Angeles, and Hollywood, FL | The Coco Shop; Antigua, West Indies | antillesdesigns.com

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Kindred Spirits A mother-daughter design team brings the power of two to impart a light, airy elegance to a traditional Boston brownstone. Text by Megan Fulweiler + Photography by Greg Premru + Interior Design: Catherine Skaletsky and Danielle Mc Clure, Catherine & Mc Clure Interiors + Produced by Kyle Hoepner

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Walls painted in marine blues and white complement an art collection that includes works by Boston photographer Debby Krim in the living room and a painting by Atlanta artist Susie Pryor in the foyer. FACING PAGE: Classic nineteenthcentury architecture defines the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s elegant facade.

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Linen, silk, and gossamer wings aside, there is nothing more finely woven than the mother-daughter relationship. When it’s good it’s a lifelong blessing. Boston-based interior designers Catherine Skaletsky and her daughter, Danielle McClure, have always been kindred souls. But just imagine what a happy occasion it was several years ago when they made the decision to merge talents and become Catherine & McClure Interiors. “Four eyes are better than two,” says Mom, “and Danielle is my muse.” Of course, it’s really not surprising that both parties would be creative when you consider that, according to Skaletsky, most of her family has been involved in the industry in one way or another. That the women share similar tastes only goes to show that fortune must have meant for them to work together. Passionate and energetic, they’re the sort

of designers, they confess, who often show up in jeans, never afraid to get their hands dirty. This previously renovated duplex in an 1872 Back Bay brownstone, though, was a dream project—no plaster dust involved. “It had great bones and all the character you could ever want, including twelve-foot ceilings and wonderful moldings,” Skaletsky says. Having known the owners—a pair of super busy professionals—for a decade and worked on their previous homes, the designers intuitively grasped what kind of nest the couple hoped for. The wife, in particular, has become a special friend. This time around, she gave the designers carte blanche, certain the results would be glorious. The designers’ starting point was fabric, or, more specifically, the colors of fabrics they found themselves selecting. “Homes tend to seem a bit dark in this area of the city. We wanted to produce a light and airy ambience with a hint of California to dispel any gloominess,” says Skaletsky. Hues that might conjure

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CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: A hefty

coffee table lends the airy living room gravitas. A chaise, accompanied by a Restoration Hardware floor lamp and stone side table, turns a corner of the room into a quiet nook for reading. The dining area tucks into a bay window at one end of the living room.

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LEFT: The designers kept the kitchen’s sculptural hood but gave it a fresh backdrop of beachy-colored tile. ABOVE: A French tigermaple dresser and an antique lamp heighten the master bedroom’s sumptuous air. FACING PAGE: Custom sconces flank a walnut bed outfitted in chic Les Oiseaux fabric, by Marvic.

thoughts of cloudless Monterey skies inspired the blue walls, for instance. In no time, the duo was off and running—a sandy-colored carpet here, an oysterhued throw there—spreading a spirit-lifting, subtle West Coast vibe from room to room. Rain or snow at the windows, it doesn’t matter. Step from the gracious foyer into the living room and the overall feeling is blissfully luminous. White trim

THE MASTER BEDROOM WAS ONCE A LIBRARY, SAYS SKALETSKY. “WE WANTED IT TO HAVE THE TONE OF A PRESIDENTIAL SUITE IN A FINE HOTEL.” framing the azure walls enhances the brightness. The furnishings, from the corner chaise to the sofa, are deep and comfortable. Sure, there’s contrast, in the generous-sized dark wood coffee table, for instance, and an antique Italian chest topped with limestone lamps. But the deft designers use these as well-placed

anchors and keep everything else, from the carpet to the curtains, soft and lush to ward off the New England chill. The home lacked a dedicated dining room. (Two parking spots—in parking-space-challenged Boston!—was a trade-off the homeowners could live with.) But the designers remedied the situation so cleverly, devising a dining area at one end of the living room, that no one misses a more traditional space. Mindful not to upset the living room’s tranquil, open tone, Skaletsky and McClure positioned a table alongside the bay window and flanked it with custom banquettes. “We entertain a great deal for business and social reasons,” says the wife. “We can turn the banquettes around and use them for seating, too.” Either way, it’s heavenly for guests, who, when they aren’t admiring the fireplace with its mantel salvaged from an historic Boston mansion, revel in the art. A surplus of wall space makes room for an ever-growing, carefully chosen collection. Not too long ago, in fact, the wife and her design team made a trip to the Pryor Fine Art Gallery in Atlanta. Two of gallery owner Susie Pryor’s descriptive paintings have since joined a mix peppered with works by local artists. Wander into the kitchen and the sunlit mood continues. It wasn’t always so cheery. True, the

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THE COZY GUEST BEDROOM, INSPIRED BY THE WIFE’S FONDNESS FOR RALPH LAUREN’S STYLE, HAS A PERSONALITY ALL ITS OWN. existing appliances were top-notch. But despite large windows, yesterday’s space seemed devoid of light, and dark granite counters didn’t help. The designers dramatically altered the mood, swapping the granite for pale marble and installing a light, pebble-colored tile backsplash that climbs to the ceiling. At the same time, they brought in a marble-topped table for casual meals—often the best kind, with a newspaper to share, perhaps, and Sunday omelets in the making. “We use this room all the time,” the wife says with a happy sigh. The master suite’s decor most definitely evokes the same keep-it-airy feeling. “This room was once a library,” says Skaletsky. “We wanted it to have the tone of a presidential suite in a fine hotel.” And, certainly, even the room’s approach, a hall with gleaming, lacquered walls for one more light-infusing touch, has that. The custom walnut bed upholstered in dreamy yellow toile, the velvet love seat, and

sensory-pleasing wool-sateen drapes make for a luxurious environment. It’s the kind of room where the lady of the house, on those rare occasions when she has time, might happily relax with a cup of tea. Guests invited to spend the night are in for a charming surprise. Their cozy quarters, along with a library and an office, are located on the ground level. Inspired in part by the wife’s fondness for Ralph Lauren’s classic style, Skaletsky explains, these rooms have a personality all their own. Walls are painted a rich, glossy brown as a backdrop for an array of time-

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less furnishings, including a handsome leather chair, an antique French iron bench, and a cowhide rug. The guest bath follows suit, with Nina Campbell’s elegant Lomasi wall covering depicting sprigs of fluffy lilac against a chocolate-colored background. In the end, the designers wanted this urban home to be as comfortable as it is stylish for their dear friends. “It was a labor of love,” Skaletsky admits, and judging by the beautiful, livable outcome, it succeeded. •

ABOVE: Natural materials—fiber shades, leather

chair, and cowhide rug—make the guest room both handsome and cozy. The antique iron bench is an auction find, while the bedding is by Ralph Lauren. LEFT: The designers updated the guest bath with an eye-catching Nina Campbell wallpaper.

Resources For more information about this home, see page 209. MARCH–APRIL 2014 New England Home 95

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Let There be

Br ght

rescued from near ruIn, an old gatehouse on the rhode Island shore enJoys new lIfe as a sunny, vIbrant famIly home

Written and produced by Stacy Kunstel Photography by Tria Giovan Interior design: Jocelyn Chiappone, Digs Design 96 New eNglaNd Home MARCH–APRIL 2014

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Organic and geometric shapes mix in the dining room. FACING PAGE: The first thing the new owners did was refurbish the aquarium in this old coastal Rhode Island carriage house. Designer Jocelyn Chiappone added a bubbly Currey & Company chandelier and a sculptural table by House Eclectic.

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“I realized this couple was open to taking a bit of risk

in the design,” says Chiappone. “I wanted to help create a space to reflect their fun-loving personalities.” 98 New England Home MARCH–APRIL 2014

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o hear Jocelyn Chiappone tell it, it was like walking into a war zone. Exposed wires protruded from walls. Chunks of plaster littered the floors. Broken bits of mirror that had been applied to the ceilings hung like hundreds of years of bad luck waiting to happen. The raccoon that had recently occupied the upstairs bathroom was probably the best tenant the abandoned house had seen in more than a decade. But in the midst of the chaos was a perfectly clean aquarium, fish happily swimming around, watching the beginnings of a major renovation. That was what struck Chiappone about the brokendown structure—once the gatehouse for a larger estate—sitting close by the road that winds along the ocean in Narragansett, Rhode Island. “I realized this couple was open to taking a bit of risk in the design,” she says, “and I wanted to help create a space to reflect their fun-loving personalities and passion for life.”

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Jim and Becky Durkin had watched the house deteriorate as potential buyers came and went. They finally put in their own bid, thinking they might use the house as a rental property for their company, Durkin Cottage Realty, or perhaps just restore it and sell it. Jim had visited the house as a child and remembered the aquarium. It sat in the wall, framed like a painting, floating above the floor long before anyone had The exterior of the house, which sits very close to the road, is little changed from its thought about flat-screen teleearly days. FACING PAGE: A vintage hand chair visions or even flush-mount is the first thing to greet visitors to the house. appliances. Gazing at it was An Angela Adams rug picks up on the blues of the Global Views lamp on a West Elm side table. like looking through a window

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into another world. No one else in Narragansett had anything like it. Serving as their own general contractors, the couple took on the monumental task of restoring the house. They began with the aquarium, and soon a small school of swimmers had its own fish-eye view of the renovation. “It was easy and it was a focal point,” says Jim, of his decision to restore it first. As work progressed, Jim and Becky found themselves thinking beyond business. “Jim would be talking to one of our builders about adding a pool,” says Becky. “We started to sound like people who were going to live in the house, not flip it.” Black floors were sanded to reveal original quartersawn oak, and brown-and-tan terrazzo, likely added in the Custom banquettes turn the 1950s, was such a novelty and space just off the entry into a peaceful in such great condition that resting spot. Facing page: A shag rug and a Josh Urso resin coffee table bring the couple decided to keep it. a 1970s vibe to the living room. But odd interior spaces and changing floor levels called for professional advice. They approached Chiappone, owner of the Rhode Island–based interior design firm Digs Design, to help knit together the spaces for their family of five. Rather than try to bring it back to the traditional

bungalow style it probably once had, Chiappone suggested aiming for a fun, funky feel. “Let’s just embrace the ugly,” she said of the terrazzo floor,

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“I wanted to pay homage to the ’70s vibe,” says Chiappone. “We kept the living space fun and lively with a modern sensibility.”

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“The brightness Jocelyn brought into the house isn’t something

we’d have done on our own,” says Becky. “I would have done something much more neutral. It would’ve been boring.”

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which runs from the tiny front entrance, across the aquarium nook, up two steps to the living room, and on into the kitchen. In the living room, a blue sofa and mismatched chairs—one upholstered in a multigreen stripe, another in Pucci-esque paisley— gather around a glass-top table that looks as if it’s balancing on a cube of coiled rope. The arrangement rests on a green shag rug. “I wanted to pay homage to the ’70s vibe,” says Chiappone. “The low-back sofa, funky shag carpet, and great lighting really create a ‘wow’ factor. We kept the living space fun and lively with a modern sensibility.” The shag rug is not without practicality. The living room sits in front of a pair of sliding glass doors that open to the pool area. It’s often the landing spot for the Durkins’ three children, who range in age from middle school to college. The

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rug is polypropylene An old strip of stone balustrade recalls the home’s former life as part of a (read: indestructible). larger estate. FACING PAGE: Chiappone gave Outside, the Durthe dining room a casual, beachy feel with kins added a saltwater a floral-inspired chandelier from Roost, painted bamboo chairs, and a sisal rug. pool accessorized with a wicker dining set and a pair of chaises. The bar in a niche on the side of the house was embellished with a new foot rail, lighting, and an acrylic barstool. Inside, Chiappone framed the dining room’s arched window with flat drapery panels hung from medallions set in a configuration that plays up the curve of the arch. The fabric, a modern flower print in soft blue with a glint of metallic, gives off a casual, beachy air that the designer enhanced with painted bamboo dining chairs, a sisal rug, and a mirrored sideboard. When the weather—or the mood—calls for surroundings of a cozier nature, the den on the

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opposite side of the house obliges. Chiappone took her design cues from the original Craftsman-style woodwork, creating a seating area that brings together an eclectic collection of linen, leather, grasscloth, basket weave, and carved wood. Instead of drapery panels, shutters cover the bottom half of the windows. Upstairs, Chiappone freshened up the bathroom, installing striped wallpaper with touches of lime green and turquoise where the expected beadboard would be and painting the wall above a tangy citrus yellow. Becky’s mother’s vintage swimsuits add to the room’s sunny disposition. While some spaces came with gifts, such as the den’s unique paneling, others offered a challenge, particularly the area just off the

The den takes its design cues from the original Craftsman-style woodwork. Instead of drapery panels, shutters cover the bottom half of the windows. entry where the aquarium resides. “It was really a no-man’s land,” says Chiappone. “It was just this square room with nothing going on but a fish tank.” She turned the space into a destination by making the most of its one strong point— the large half-circle window that welcomed wonderful light. She tucked two curved, built-in banquettes below the window, dressing them with long pillows in a Manuel Canovas fish pattern in keeping with the room’s Keeping the original theme. A chandelier of Craftsman-style paneling in the den and papering aqua crystals hangs above above it was another way of a small circular table. The retaining the home’s quirky space now makes a cozy charm. Lots of texture— leather, basket weave, linen, reading nook, or just a and grasscloth—enhance stylish place to stop for a the room’s coziness. Chiapmoment for a bit of fishpone found the vintage leather chair at Cottage & watching. Garden in Newport. “The brightness Jocelyn brought into the house isn’t something we’d have done on our own,” says Becky. “I would have done something much more neutral. It would’ve been boring.” The collaboration between designer and couple went so well they’re embarking on another project together, a sixteen-room boutique hotel slated to open in Narragansett this summer. And yes, there will be a fish tank. • Resources For more information about this home, see

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Designer Katie Rosenfeld chose solid upholstery fabrics so that furniture can be moved from room to room for entertaining. Bold drapery and pillows add just the right amount of pattern, and sisal underfoot keeps things casual. “I love the interplay of an informal rug with formal architecture,” Rosenfeld says.

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L ve at first site

A casual Internet click leads to a made-in-heaven match between a homeowner and the perfect designer for her suburban Boston house. ... Text by Susan Kleinman + Photography by Michael J. Lee + Interior design: Katie Rosenfeld + Architecture: Lisa Abeles, Abeles & Associates Architects + Produced by Stacy Kunstel

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AMY Lipton found love on the Internet.

The chef and her family were preparing to relocate from coastal New Jersey to Wellesley, Massachusetts, when a routine emailblast from the design website Houzz.com landed in Lipton’s in-box. She clicked on a featured room by interior designer Katie Rosenfeld, and felt the unmistakable zing that lets you know you’ve found “the one.” Another click—to Rosenfeld’s own website—deepened Lipton’s feeling that she had found the perfect decorator for her new home, a 100-year-old colonial perched high on a hill surrounded by greenery. “I loved every picture in Katie’s portfolio—her sense of color, the way she mixes traditional furnishings with bright colors, the mix of patterns, and the way everything seems to click through,” says Lipton. So she couldn’t believe her good luck when it turned out that although Houzz features designers from all over the world, Rosenfeld lives in neighboring Weston. Lipton contacted Rosenfeld immediately and scheduled a meeting for Some colors her next pre-moving trip carry from north, and from the first room to moments of their lunch, the room—what duo’s happy fate as client Rosenfeld and decorator was sealed. calls “thread“Katie exudes creativity ing the color and warmth,” says Lipton, “and that was the feeling I needle.” wanted for our new home.” The two soon put their heads together, collaborating on exactly the sort of surprising yet entirely comfortable mix of colors and patterns that had initially drawn Lipton to Rosenfeld’s work. The hues of blue and green that Lipton favored are common choices, Rosenfeld says. But to the designer’s delight, her client was game for snazzing things up with the bright colors in the fabric Rosenfeld suggested for the familyroom drapery. “That fabric was mind-blowing to me,” says Lipton. “As soon as Katie showed it to me, I knew I had to use it.” With the color scheme and signature fabric selected, Rosenfeld moved on to choose a mix of coordinating materials to complete the look. Some colors carry from room to room—what Rosenfeld calls “threading the color needle.” Other shades appear just in one space or another, but can be relocated as needed. “The way Katie designed the color 108 NEW ENGLAND HOME MARCH–APRIL 2014

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Rosenfeld custom designed a shallow but comfortable sofa to fit the long, narrow family room. FACING PAGE, TOP: One of the oldest homes in Wellesley, Amy Lipton’s 100-year-old house is entirely traditional on the outside—and a riot of playful colors within. FACING PAGE, BOTTOM: Trellis-back host chairs complement Lipton’s old dining chairs, now re-covered in teal velvet; the blue-green buffet was an Internet find.

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The beaded chandelier above Lipton’s old kitchen table was chosen to coordinate with orange pendant lights installed by the home’s previous owners (facing page, top). FACING PAGE, BOTTOM: After living in Japan for several years, Lipton and her family decided to have a “shoeless” house. Well-designed storage in the mudroom allows them to stow their footwear neatly.

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scheme,” says Lipton, “I can move furniture from room to room when we entertain, and everything is complementary.” Complementary, yes—but not what Rosenfeld calls “matchy-patchy.” Variations in patterns and textures, along with a high-low mix of formal and more-casual pieces, new objects and old, ensure that the interiors look fresh and original. And the one-of-a-kind feeling is heightened by a melange of vintage and antique pieces—some, like the kitchen table, brought from Lipton’s previous residence, and others purchased expressly for this space. “Very few clients actually let me use as many vintage pieces as I like,” says Rosenfeld. “Most people are skittish about things that have patina or wobbly doors, but I believe there should be that crust so that your home feels bespoke. So when someone gives me the freedom to do that, it makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up in excitement. With Amy, I’d see something on 1stdibs.com or OneKingsLane.com, and she’d let me buy it without any hesitation. She was at a Red Sox game when I emailed her a picture of the buffet I saw on OneKingsLane and wanted for her dining room. It was the most shocking shade of teal, and she told me to just go for it.” Besides its arresting hue, the buffet was a winner because of its Eastern influence, a favorite look of designer and client alike, for aesthetic reasons and for the fond memories Asian design evokes for both of them. Rosenfeld’s father lived in Japan for a while, and the home in which she grew up featured chinoiserie and a collection of Japanese woodblock prints. Lipton was an exchange student in Thailand during high school and in Japan during college. She returned to Japan from 1996 to 2000 with her husband, an investments professional, and their two children. Other Asian touches “People are skitin Lipton’s new home, tish about things including a vintage that have patina chinoiserie console or wobbly doors, with a black lacquered but I believe finish in the entry hall there should be and a pair of antique that crust so that Japanese Foo dogs on the living room coffee your home feels table, lend the exotic bespoke,” says influence she wanted Rosenfeld. without looking out of place amid the classic New England architecture. “Chinese-spirited pieces go with anything,” says Rosenfeld. “Modern, antiques, contemporary art.... That encaustic piece above the buffet is MARCH-APRIL 2014 NEW ENGLAND HOME 111

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something Amy had in the house in New Jersey, and after we bought the buffet we tried the painting here and it worked perfectly.” Indeed, about half of the art in Lipton’s new home came from her previous residence, and Rosenfeld worked hard to incorporate other favorite pieces, like the dining room chairs, which she reupholstered in teal velvet and supplemented with two trellis chairs at the host and hostess ends of the table. While Rosenfeld worked to create exactly the interior Lipton dreamed of, architect Lisa Abeles reconfigured the master bedroom, bath, and dressing room, continuing renovation work she had done for the home’s Architect Lisa previous owners a few years Abeles reconfigearlier, when she updated ured the master the kitchen and family bedroom, bath, room. Now, thanks to the and dressing master-suite overhaul, a room, continuing series of Palladian windows renovation work that had been broken up by a wall installed in the 1970s she had done for are reunited, enhancing the the home’s pregracious feeling of the space vious owners. and taking better advantage of the views out to the home’s beautiful property. That landscape is easily enjoyed from several outdoor venues, including two patios. And because the family does spend so much time outdoors, Rosenfeld made sure that the interiors look beautiful not just from within, but also when glimpsed through the windows from outside. Start to finish, the redecoration project took less than a year, an unusually swift timetable for a house this size, and a testament, Lipton and Rosenfeld both say, to their shared vision and to the friendship that started during their first conversation and deepened as they worked together. “I was really just struck by lightning,” Lipton says about her reaction to those first pictures of Rosenfeld’s work she saw online. “And this project proved what I have always believed: you really have to follow your gut instinct.” • RESOURCES For more information about this home, see

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A pergola-covered patio is furnished very simply. “When the backdrop is this gorgeous,” Rosenfeld says, “plain furniture looks pretty.” FACING PAGE, TOP: Built-in storage keeps clutter at bay in the master suite. FACING PAGE, BOTTOM: White Calacatta marble gleams in the master bath.

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the

within

Applying a modern architectural vernacular to a traditional brownstone in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood is, in a word, ILLuminating.

TEXT BY KRISTINE KENNEDY + PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICHAEL J. LEE + ARCHITECTURE AND INTERIOR DESIGN: RUHL WALKER ARCHITECTs + BUILDER: M. HOLLAND & SONS CONSTRUCTION

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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.

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The door opens and “you’re flooded with light, unexpectedly, in the middle of this building,” says Walker. 116 New England Home march–april 2014

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he classic facade of this nineteenth-century Back Bay brownstone belies the scene within. A climb up three flights of the building’s common stairwell leads to the fourth floor—and bottom level—of a young businessman’s home. Crossing the apartment threshold is like stepping into another world. “You’re in the darkest, middlest, lowest part of the apartment,” says Brad Walker, a principal at Ruhl Walker Architects, “but then you’re flooded with light, unexpectedly, in the middle of this building.” The light washes down through a new atrium that soars three stories to the roof. Walker, who led the team in charge of the renovation and interior design, used the atrium to solve a challenge inherent to the classic brownstone: a long, front-to-back footprint that results in windowless middle rooms. Now the apartment’s front door opens into

a bright dining room. “You have this wide open space front to back and this wide open space top to bottom,” says Walker. “It suddenly feels very large compared with what you’ve come from.” The owner, a single man in his early thirties, gave Walker and his team remarkable flexibility to create a home that suits him. He does a lot of entertaining—everything from small dinners to “big, boisterous parties,” some of which Walker has had the pleasure of attending—so creating a floor plan that maximized circulation was important. The owner’s preference for clean lines and simple materials directed the interior design, which Ruhl Walker also took on. “It was a special opportunity for us to do 90 percent of the interiors work in addition to the architecture,” says architect and project manager Keith Case. “It was

ABOVE, LEFT: Whimsical Tom

Everhart lithographs hang above a sofa. The dimpled coffee table is one of a pair. ABOVE, RIGHT: The atrium’s second-level glass bridge, framed in dark-gray steel, connects the guest suite to the master suite and delivers light from the skylight to the apartment’s bottom level. FACING PAGE: A built-in banquette in white matte lacquer gives the dining area a casual, restaurant-style feel.

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The abundance of light also dictated surfaces. “You don’t understand the light until you have something for it to reflect off of,” says Walker.

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a unique opportunity to enact a complete idea.” Settling on the atrium as the apartment’s defining feature helped dictate room layout and traffic flow; every spot in the apartment is oriented toward the new column of light. On the bottom level, the entry and dining area sit at the atrium’s base, flanked by the living room at the front of the building and the kitchen at the back. On the second level, a transparent footbridge spans the atrium from the master suite at the front to the guest suite at the back. The top level holds a study at the front and a media room at the back. A final set of stairs leads to a furnished roof deck. The abundance of light also dictated surfaces, particularly the three-story wall in the atrium, which wears a gray stone tile that glints with flecks of mica. “I wanted to make something of all the light by giving it something to land on,” says Walker. “You don’t necessarily understand the light until you have something for it to reflect off of.” The team took every opportunity to create places for the light to reflect. Even the third-level staircase “floats,” letting light hit the wall all the way down.

The showcase tile wall stands out because other surfaces are calmer. The design team outfitted the home with white walls and red oak flooring with a gray finish, then used mid-tone wood veneers, textural cerused finishes, and lacquer for cabinetry and custom pieces. With all the modern additions to the home, Walker had to figure out how to handle historic district-approved windows, which are new but look just like the old windows and occupy their

ABOVE: The roof deck has plenty of seating for warmweather parties. BELOW: The top-level home office opens to a small copper-lined terrace overlooking the Charles River. FACING PAGE: 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.

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original openings. “In the living room, I felt like two little windows at the end of the room would be too insignificant for the scale of that space,” says Walker. So, in a technique he used throughout the house, he recessed the windows into a blackpainted shadowbox that reads as one large unit instead of two smaller ones. Recessing the windows required pulling the exterior walls forward six inches, giving him the opportunity to hide the low-profile radiator system and mechanical privacy shades. Scale was also an issue with the livingroom fireplace—a tiny, brick firebox that couldn’t be dramatically altered, because it houses the chimney for the lower floors. Making it seem more important took some sleight of hand. First, the team visually expanded the firebox by containing it in a big slot lined with black granite with a flat finish. Then they surrounded the firebox with gray marble and extended a cleanly detailed, built-out fireplace wall above. Ruhl Walker designer Paul Commito took the lead on furniture and accessories selection. “We didn’t want to add a lot of bright things to

lighten up the space, because we really didn’t need to. The overall goal was a crisp, muted, masculine palette,” says Commito, suitable for the contemporary space, but hardly devoid of warmth thanks to pieces like the live-edge, blackwalnut dining table. “Everything architectural is kind of minimalist and gray and white and black,” says Walker in reference to the table. “I wanted something that felt livelier and less machined.” To further ramp up the warmth, Commito surrounded the table with orange-hued leather chairs that have a unique three-leg design. “When everything is parked in place, it’s a clean line,” he says. When the palette is neutral, texture takes on a greater importance, as it does here. “I always worry a little bit that in a modern, clean-lined interior, people feel like they’re in their office,” says Walker, who tries to use texture in a restrained manner. In the living room, the shag rug looks gray, but is actually a combination of silver, white, and gray, giving it a more dimensional effect. That room’s metal basket has rust on it; the two metal stools are topped with wool felt. Organic shapes—such as a free-form coatrack and Easter Island head in the entryway—also add warmth. “We felt like we needed to lighten things up a little bit,” says Walker. The overall effect is one of volume and light, but with a welcoming and human touch. Says project manager Case: “You open up this door, and you feel like it’s a calming breath. It feels like you’ve really escaped from the city.” • Resources For more information about this home, see page

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The goal was a crisp, muted, masculine palette, suitable for the contemporary space but not devoid of warmth.

ABOVE: 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. LEFT: Horizontally slatted radiators look of-a-piece in the window wells. FACING PAGE, TOP: The Moooi pendant light above the glass footbridge matches the pair above the dining table. FACING PAGE, BOTTOM: In the smallish master bathroom Walker built an eightby-ten-foot wet room to hold both shower and tub.

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Special Focus:

Landscape Design These five lovely landscapes may be quite different, but they share an emphasis on simplicity, elegance, and an intimate relationship with their sites. text By Paula M. Bodah

/////

Greg Bilowz, Bilowz Associates, Sterling, Mass.

Landscape architect:

Landscape construction/installation:

Francisco Tavares, East Falmouth, Mass. Architect: Denise D’Ambrosi Bonoli, East Falmouth Builder: Cataldo Custom Builders, East Falmouth

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Resources

For information about the professionals, see page 209.

Simply Sublime

Courtesy of Bilowz Associates

This is the iconic Cape Cod summer home, a place where extended family and friends descend for weekends of fun, camaraderie, and—especially— relaxation. For landscape architect Greg Bilowz, that translated to a backyard plan needing minimal upkeep. “They want to enjoy their landscape, not be a slave to it,” he says. The focal point, a circular granite terrace with a curved wall set at just the right height for sitting, can accommodate a crowd. Chairs pulled up close to the gas-run fire pit turn the space cozy for an intimate evening of storytelling and cider. Stone steps to the beach are artfully woven into the embankment. Softness, color, and texture come from perennials like lavender, sedum, Russian sage, and roses chosen for hardiness and low maintenance. —Photography by Eric Roth

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Special Focus:

Landscape Design

///// Landscape architect:

Laura Kuhn, Arlington, Mass. Landscape installation:

D.P. Lenox Landscaping, Acton, Mass. Architect: Dewing Schmid Kearns, Concord, Mass. Builder: Kistler and Knapp Builders, Acton

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Rooted in History This Sudbury, Massachusetts, property has been a farm of one kind or another for more than two centuries. Noting its recent past as a horse facility, landscape architect Laura Kuhn describes it as “squares all over the place,” with fence-lined paddocks separated by rigid strips of grass. The new owners planned to grow vegetables to supply local restaurants. But this was to be their home, too, so they wanted it

to be both beautiful and functional. Kuhn’s miraculous transformation turned muddy paddocks and flat pastures back into rich agricultural land. And to satisfy the owners’ request for beauty, she surrounded their living quarters with a series of curvaceous, tiered walls, walks, and gardens teeming with lush ferns, cushy groundcovers, fragrant evergreens, and flowering perennials. —Photography by Rich Pomerantz

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Special Focus:

Landscape Design

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Night Lights So enamored with the outdoors are these suburban-Boston homeowners, they charged Dan Gordon with devising a space they could use day and night, in every month of the year. Gordon obliged with an “outdoor room”—a bluestone terrace anchored by a pergola that covers a fully equipped kitchen, complete with bar seating and a flat-screen TV. On summer days, the terrace can welcome plenty of guests, thanks to its multiple seating options. A fire pit heats up crisp autumn evenings. In winter, intrepid family members have been known to watch the Super Bowl from the warm comfort of the spa. Hardy perennials and ornamental trees provide colorful blooms, while a hedge of arborvitaes offers privacy. And, when the sun goes down, a carefully conceived lighting plan gives the whole space a gorgeous glow.

///// Landscape architect:

Dan Gordon, Dan K. Gordon Associates, Wellesley, Mass. Builder and landscape installation: Paragon Landscape

Construction, North Marshfield, Mass.

—Photography by Greg Premru

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Special Focus:

Landscape Design

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///// Landscape architect and installation: Pellettieri

Associates, Warner, N.H.

Private Paradise This little piece of Eden sits in a neighborhood of close-set Colonialera homes along a main road in New Castle, New Hampshire, yet it feels gloriously isolated. The house offers stellar views of the Piscataqua River. But the very best vantage point— especially at sunset—is the stone terrace just off the back of the house, says landscape architect George Pellettieri. In this space, bordered by a stone wall and surrounded by perennials that include lusty Sarah Bernhardt peonies, the feeling of seclusion is total. Gardens of ledge rock—some deposited by nature and some added by Pellettieri—are blanketed with an array of colorful blooms and descend the sloping lawn to the water’s edge. A granite stairway winds from yard to house, and a rustic fire pit awaits a marshmallow-toasting party. —Photography by James R. Salomon

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Special Focus:

Landscape Design

Beach Beauty

///// Landscape architect:

David Hawk, Hawk Design, Sagamore, Mass. Landscape construction/ installation:

Schumacher Companies, West Bridgewater, Mass. Architect and builder:

Polhemus Savery DaSilva Architects Builders, Chatham, Mass.

“We were trying to do justice to a beautiful coastal environment,” David Hawk says modestly about the landscaping plan for this Cape Cod house. “We wanted to keep it elegant, with simple forms.” Those simple forms include a circular terrace of Brazilian porphyry set into an island of grass and surrounded by a perennial border that, come summer, creates what Hawk calls “one big colorful view.” Too often, a swimming pool dominates the landscape, but here the pool sits about eight feet below a courtyard at the back of the house, leaving water views from the house uninterrupted. “There are lots of neat places on this property,” Hawk says, no doubt thinking about another terrace, this one anchored by a covered porch and bordered by low-growing grasses, lavender, and evergreens. —Photography by Mitch Harper

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MICHAEL J. LEE

B O S T O N | 6 1 7 . 7 2 1 . 2 6 8 3 | W W W. K R I S T I N E M U L L A N E Y D E S I G N . C O M

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FAMILY OWNED AND OPERATED SINCE 1977 CARPET • HARDWOOD • LAMINATE • VINYL • AREA RUGS CERAMIC TILE • STOCK-ROLLS • REMNANTS • INSTALLATION RUNNERS • Carpet & Upholstery Cleaning

NATICK 599 Worcester Road | (Route 9 West) | (508) 652-0770

BURLINGTON 136 Cambridge Street | (Route 3A North) | (781) 272-7600

www.ajrosecarpets.com

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Legacy. B U I L D

PhotograPhy: Brian Vanden Brink

seadar.com Building trust one project at a time

full page.indd 1

Boston MA | 617.423.0870 Osterville MA | 508.419.7372

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Before & After

INSPIRED

PATRICK AHEARN

BEFORE SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION

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I N SP I RE D

Before & After

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The Goal: This renovation was all about giving the homeowners the home they always dreamed of living in - one with a smart, stylish and fluid layout. Their dream kitchen was to have more open space with a restaurant look and function, natural light and smart storage space. Additionally we needed to create a connection from the kitchen to the great room.

The Challenge: Adding height and light and opening up the rest of the house were the two biggest challenges of this space. The kitchen was small and dark and the great room was accessible only through the master bedroom. Storage space was limited so we planned to create a mudroom, laundry room and dedicated home office to add more efficient storage.

The Design Summary: Higher ceilings, transom windows and corner windows infuse natural light whereas the stainless steel elements, butcher block, and clean lines bring the kitchen its professional chefâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s appeal. Incorporating a new transition hall has allowed the kitchen to open up the house and become the central hub that connects all the rooms. Efficient storage has been created throughout the new space.

BEFORE

8 Faneuil Hall Marketplace Third Floor, No. 326 Boston, MA 02109 (617) 699-9462 | chrisicos.com

Best of

2014 SATISFACTION

KAT HI E C HR I S I C O S

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I N SP I RE D

Before & After

BEFORE

The Goal: To transform this dark outdated kitchen into an open airy space with improved efficiency and storage all the while keeping a simple but clean look.

The Design Summary: The walls separating the kitchen from the sun room and living room were removed to open the space and provide stunning natural light into the new kitchen. Cherry cabinetry and a light granite countertop

were selected to lighten the kitchen. This kitchen has 50 percent more storage, with all appliances and accessories stored in the cabinets, leaving the countertop clean and beautiful. The kitchen has eye candy

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in every direction, from the corner range and sinks to the wine storage and glass cabinets. All design elements are in keeping with the clean simple style that was requested. A Dream Kitchen was born!

Dream Kitchens 139 Daniel Webster Highway Nashua NH 03060 (603) 891-2916 adreamkitchen.com

NI N A HAC KEL

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I N SP I RE D

Before & After

BEFORE

The Summary: The renovation of this waterfront home demonstrates the impact of modest alterations. Built in 1985, the gable structure was modern in detail and in need of a refresher. A series of simple gable additions along with traditional rakes and eaves provide aesthetic and functional improvements, keeping the original character of the home while addition the touch of elegance and drama the home deserves.

The Starting Point: The oceanfront setting is the visual and emotional draw for this home.While the house offered panoramic ocean views, low rooflines, a ceiling crowded with bleached beams, and leaking skylights distracted from the stunning views beyond.

The Challenge: Although the family had grown accustomed to the narrow entry, crowded courtyard, and underwhelming family room of their beloved summer home they could not overlook the toll the ocean weather was taking on the home. The nearby shoreline and a tight lot required the team to minimize impervious surfaces, including the buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s footprint.

The Turning Point: A cantilevered one-foot gable addition allowed the team to retro-fit a steel frame within the existing house to support against strong ocean winds. This beam system combines with new lattice detailing on the ceiling to showcase the stunning ocean views. A new tower addition expands this horizon of ocean views as it protrudes out into the landscape.

J A N G L E YST EEN

Jan Gleysteen Architects Inc. 888 Worcester Street Wellesley, MA 02482 (781) 431-0080 jangleysteeninc.com

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I N SP I RE D

Before & After

The Backstory: One of the most rewarding experiences about being a designer is to watch your clients grow and change through the design development process. We were originally hired by this client to do a cosmetic makeover to their family room space, a concise and well-defined scope. Through the planning process, the client began to address the fact that her personal design aesthetic had evolved so much over the past decade and it was time to tackle the project of updating her entire home to reflect her sophisticated and cosmopolitan spirit.

The Goal: The goal of this master suite renovation was to create an elegant, clean, and timeless environment. The clients obviously wanted the end result to be a reflection of themselves, and a space that they would enjoy. However, they wanted the space to be timeless enough for it to appeal to prospective buyers, should they choose to sell the home in three to five years.

The Challenge: The vaulted ceilings posed some technical challenges with venting and lighting while also making the task areas of the bathroom feeling exposed. As a result, we created well-defined zones: shower area, tub area, water closet area, and vanity area which felt like spaces within a space and kept a sense of intimacy.

BEFORE

J E N N I F E R PALU M BO

Jennifer Palumbo, Inc. 246 Walnut Street, Suite 403 Newtonville, MA 02460 (617) 332-1009 jenniferpalumbo.com

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The Starting Point: Originally built in the early 1900s, the homeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lakefront location offered exceptional possibilities, but the house needed to be expanded to suit the homeownersâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; current lifestyle and serve as their weekend retreat. Two neighboring parcels were acquired, and Meyer & Meyer, Inc. collaborated with Pressley Associates, Inc. to achieve a lakeside manor that feels like a Newport Estate.

The Challenge: The design challenge was that the front of the house and the back of the house needed to be perceived equally, but differently. The front, street side of the house, is quiet and discreetly tucked into the neighborhood. The lakeside, back view is extraordinarily prominent, especially from across the lake. All interior floor levels offer spectacular water views.

The Elements: Few houses demonstrate the skill of modernday craftsmen with such charm and grace. Quality materials such as limestone, carved timbers, copper, and slate, combined with stone foundations and triple-pane windows provide the new owners with worry-free maintenance. The property boasts formal English gardens complete with an underground tunnel leading to a wine grotto.

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BEFORE

CHRISTIAN PHILLIPS PHOTOGRAPHY, PRESSLEY ASSOCIATES, INC. LANDSCAPE

The Summary: The magnitude of this project was unique and the home was recently featured in Architectural Digest. Meyer & Meyer, Inc. enthusiastically brings its creative talents to projects of all sizes and scopes, from the simple to the grand.

J OHN MEYER

LA UR A MEYER

Meyer & Meyer, Inc. 396 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA 02215 (617) 266-0555 meyerandmeyerarchitects.com

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BEFORE

The Goal: The homeowners wanted an open, well-lit, and well-appointed kitchen area that would allow for a view of their beautiful backyard and pond while they prepared meals. The kitchen also needed a highly efficient layout to offer them better “workable space.”

The Process: We tore out the existing kitchen and turned that space into an open formal dining area. We built out an addition for the new kitchen space, emphasizing a bank of four windows directly overlooking the pond. Next we created a central island with storage space and additional surface area for food preparation and informal dining. The island also provides a sense of enclosure for the kitchen while allowing generous natural light into the adjacent formal dining area. We used superior quality elements such as stainlesssteel appliances, custom-built cabinetry, and new plumbing and lighting fixtures to modernize and beautify the home’s appearance. Special features include honed black granite countertops and a contrasting wood surface on the island, appliance garages with stainless steel doors that minimize clutter, and a custom-built wood and glass cabinet that encases a window and allows light to come in while preserving the view to the outside.

The Summary: The remodeled kitchen offers spaciousness and natural light, in striking contrast to the previous design. In addition, the remodeled kitchen provides a layout that is both functional and aesthetically pleasing. The end product is a dramatic transformation which exceeded the homeowners’ dreams.

TOM MI TCH ELL

Mitchell Construction Group, Inc. 511 Main St. Medfield, MA 02052 (508) 359-7904 mitchcogroup.com

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The Goal: The goal and primary objective of this significant transformation was to create a classic New England seaside vernacular cottage based on the superstructure of a 1960s contemporary ranch house.

The Challenge: The fundamental obstacle of the Little Harbor House was the restrictive site conditions. Topography, zoning, and conservation concerns complicated the conditions necessary to maintain the footprint, foundations, and floor levels.

The Process: The solution was to fill in the topography, which created a new opportunity for the architectural design. The structure of the deck shows how we negotiated the topographical and architectural design in which the site disallowed for the deck to be conventionally supported by columns and required that we develop a significant bracket system, all while complementing the design of the cottage.

The End Result Once the roof of the ranch was removed and the landward side topography was transformed, we were able to create the classic gambrel forms that from an interior perspective gained meaningful cathedral ceiling height in the primary bedrooms and clearstory dormer right above the French doored central studyâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;all overlooking the inlet below and the ocean in the distance. The Little Harbor House, in Cohasset, Massachusetts, has become recognized for its preservation of the original South Shore houseâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nautical design aesthetic as a quintessential New England-style cottage on the bluff.

Patrick Ahearn Architect, LLC 160 Commonwealth Avenue Boston, MA 02116 (617) 266-1710 Patrickahearn.com

PAT R I C K AHE AR N

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The Goal: Our clients, a young, sophisticated couple with a passion for wine, moved from Manhattan to a small, sleepy town. They wanted to create a space in their home that recalled the merriment of evenings in the bistros and wine bars of the Upper East Side.

The Challenge: After a massive heating upgrade eliminated a tangled web of steam pipes, the basement was the perfect place to create a world-class sanctuary for savoring a few libations. Peeling back multiple ceiling layers, we exposed the spectacular fir floor joists. Sanded, stained, and polyed, the dramatic ceiling was now the backdrop of the wine room.

The Elements: Light slate-gray tiles balance the deep rich canopy of exposed joists. We gave the old fireplace a facelift with a gas insert. A grand structure took shape with a Boston blend stone veneer. For the cabinets we chose hickory with a natural finish. A recreation of antique larder style hutches allowed us multiple levels of storage. The wine theme takes center stage with a wine-box collage wall.

The Summary: Our client enjoys this truly unique bespoke space in their home. A wondrous burrow where they can collect rare wines and create the finest memories!

E R I C CL E M EN T E

BEFORE

Pywell Contracting Services 9 Webster Street Winchester, MA 01890 (781) 729-3433 pywellcontracting.com

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The Goal:

The Solution:

The new owners of this home wanted to transform a warren of small rooms into a spacious, open main floor that would hold a kitchen, sitting room, dining room, powder room, and mudroom. They wanted a space that would be suitable for everyday family activities as well as frequent entertaining. And, of course, they wanted to maximize the views of the harbor that sits behind the home.

Interior walls were removed, and a powder room located to incorporate support beams and mechanicals, all hidden behind gracious curving walls. Space stolen from existing laundry helped expand the kitchen, which now opens to dining and sitting rooms. Low cabinetry, cleverly concealed appliances, and a neutral palette unify the whole, creating an open, attractive space that serves multiple functions.

BEFORE

CA ME R ON M . S N Y D E R , CK D

JU LIE LYO N S

Roomscapes Luxury Design Center 40 Reservoir Park Drive Rockland, MA 02370 (781) 616-6400 roomscapesinc.com

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The Back-Story: The 1,300-square-foot cottage in Essex, Massachusetts, was built in 1935 for Irene Hammond, wife of prolific inventor John Hammond. She used the cottage as a retreat from their main residence, Hammond Castle, in West Gloucester. The renovation was featured on eleven episodes of the thirty-third season of PBS’s This Old House.

The Summary: Our clients wanted to restore the “original bones” of the gingerbread-style structure that had been lost under a maze of additions projects over the years. With the intent of creating a home for their aging parents, the owners also asked SpaceCraft for a univeral design that maximized accessibility and blended with the natural contours of the land.

The Elements: The floor plan features a master suite and laundry on the first floor, and a second floor with two bedrooms for visits from the grandkids. To bring “the outside in” we created a large stone patio that flows, without steps, into the house and a four-season sun room with the feel of a screened-in porch. The house is situated so that all the windows have great views of the rolling landscape and the ocean beyond.

BEFORE

S A L LY D E G A N

SpaceCraft Architecture 5 Raymond Street Lexington, MA 02421 (781) 674-2100 SpaceCraftArch.com

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SHELLY HARRISON PHOTOGRAPHY; TERRAINK LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE + PLANNING

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The Starting Point:

The Finale:

Because of its prime location, just blocks from the beaches of Newport, Rhode Island, this single-story cottage was the perfect candidate for a major renovation. The challenges were many; the existing footprint of the home and its lot coverage had to stay virtually unchanged and the homeowners—new parents in desperate need of more space— needed to live in the home during construction. By focusing on the opportunities rather than the limitations, architect Alec R. Tesa, AIA, was able to create a 3,000-square-foot Shingle-style home.

A L E C R . TESA, AIA

A. Tesa Architecture 174 Bellevue Ave. | Suite 305 Newport, RI 02840 (401) 608-2286 atesaarchitecture.com

Because of the footprint restriction Tesa opted to build up, adding a second story to the existing house. A great room, added to the rear of the home, includes stairs to the new upper level. By keeping the home’s existing roof intact, the owners’ lives went uninterrupted by the construction. The additional height, which provided the homeowners with much-needed extra living space, was offset by incorporating flared gable ends, giving the home a fully custom look. A newly added rooftop deck is the perfect complement to home’s Shingle style.

BEFORE

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The Transformation:

The Collaboration:

This project shows the metamorphosis of a plain, simple 1950s ranch into a modern, bright, open plan home with exquisite finishes and a contemporary palette of natural materials. The architecture creates flexible, multi-use spaces: open to the entry, cozy and formal for entertaining, informal for TV watching. Vaulted ceilings and new expansive windows bring in light and add drama.

Architects Mary Horst and David Buchanan brought in interior designer Andra Birkerts early in the process, before construction began. The synthesis of architecture and interior design produced a smooth blending of space, finishes, color, and furnishings. It takes a wise and committed client to agree to an integrated approach, but the results are at once dynamic, harmonious, and naturally comfortable.

BEFORE

Horst Buchanan Architects Inc

ANDRA BIRKERTS

DAVID BUCHANAN

MARY HORST

Andra Birkerts Design 47 Church St Wellesley, MA 02482 (781) 235-7073 andrabdesign.com

Horst Buchanan Architects Inc 88 Prince Street Jamaica Plain MA 02130 (617) 942-1004 horstbuchanan.com

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The Design Problem:

The Solution:

Bring character to a non-descript 1980s spec-home by reconnecting it with the site, using European inspiration to create open living spaces inside and out. Assigning definition to the exterior through classic Georgian style, juxtaposed with a soft natural color scheme, enhancing the connection to its secluded six acre site. Develop a formal arrival sequence with a “quiet” front façade while activating the rear façade with a larger terrace, gardens, paths, new barn, and sugar shack to establish stronger presence in the landscape.

Use texture and architectural elements to enhance details, surfaces, and spatial zones. The interior scale and texture was altered with the use of exposed heavy timbers, carved stone fireplaces, large windows and an oversized 5’ x 8’ front entry Dutch door. Rusticated wood siding on dormers and accentuated exterior trim create contrast against the brick and improve the structure’s scale and massing on the exterior. A raised terrace connects indoor and outdoor living spaces using various degrees of enclosure. Brick screen walls, porches and a timber pergola filter sunlight allowing the new landscape to frame views of the new outbuildings and nearby conservation land.

BEFORE

Colin Smith Architecture, Inc. 1666 Massachusetts Avenue Lexington, MA 02420 (781) 274-0955 colinsmitharch.com

COLIN SM I T H

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The Starting Point:

The Challenge:

The first iteration of this corner office space incorporated a brilliant sky-blue paint color and a gallerystyle arrangement of nine cool-hued paintings. A mix of feminine and masculine elements, it functioned as a serene spot to tend to daily mail and bills. The curved lines of the chair, ivory-colored accessories, and small bouquet of roses helped soften the clean lines of the desk.

As a retail space, we are constantly pushed to reinvent vignettes throughout our showroom so we can bring our customers new ideas. We needed to convey the same function of the workspace but with a totally different look. The challenge was finding the right combination of elements to create a warm and cozy aesthetic vs. a cool and cosmopolitan one.

BEFORE

The Elements: The deep gold paint color and single painting on the wall completely transformed this corner. This compact workspace is now full of vintage flair thanks to the campaign-style desk with brass hardware and antiqued-gold finish on the table lamp. The sturdy desk chair with a plush seat ensures maximum comfort. It’s amazing to see what “elegant” can look like just by using different design elements.

Dayton Home 276 Washington Street Wellesley, MA 02481 (781) 772-1630 dayton-home.com

LYNN D AY T O N

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The Back Story: This home was originally a two family carriage house on the Flat of Beacon Hill and had been converted to a single-family home by the previous owner. The home still had many of itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s two-family quirks, which needed to be addressed. The most important was relocating the kitchen from the second floor to first floor and creating a more inviting and livable first floor.

The Starting Point:

The Challenge:

The front of the house was closed off and dark, with a narrow entry and a bedroom. The kitchen was on the second floor, and made bringing in groceries and entertaining on the first floor difficult. Our design relocated the kitchen to the space occupied by the bedroom, providing a comfortable and casual arrival into the home, perfectly suited for the character of a carriage house.

BEFORE

The kitchen did not have a very wide footprint or high ceilings, yet the owners desired an eat-in kitchen suited for entertaining friends and family. Because the kitchen was also off of the foyer, it had to be welcoming and beautiful. The center island and breakfast nook added the right elements to make the kitchen a success.

DNA Architecture 40 River St | Boston, MA 02108 (781) 718-8009 | dna-architecture.com

D UST I N N O L I N

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The Challenge/Goal:

The Solution:

The existing home is one in a series built by Harvard University in the 1950s as faculty housing. These midcentury jewel boxes create a rhythm on the street like strands of a necklace. Our challenge was to polish the jewel and break out of the box. Our goal was to honor the midcentury origins while reinterpreting the architectural elements, redefining â&#x20AC;&#x153;modernâ&#x20AC;? for a new century.

Massing, material selection, and detailing each play a part in achieving our goals. The addition steps back in deference to the original structure and maintains the brick corner that defines the rhythm of the street. The wood rain screen both delineates and unites old and new. The horizontal roof eaves extend to embrace the modest additions and to further marry original and new structures. Working closely with our clients, we created a design that maintains the modest scale of the home, yet opens up the small boxy rooms to an open plan that suits the needs of their growing family and makes the home uniquely theirs.

BEFORE

Foley Fiore Architecture 316 Cambridge Street | Cambridge, MA 02141 (617) 547-8002 | foleyfiore.com

BEFORE PA U L F I O RE AN D DAV ID FO LEY

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INSPIRED

Before & After The Backstory: This 1920s colonial home with original, small, outdated kitchen was in desperate need of a facelift for todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s living and entertaining.

The Happily Ever After: The family dreamed about a space that was cozy enough for weeknight family meals yet spacious enough for entertaining in style. We enlarged their kitchen to include an informal eating area for weeknight meals, beautiful cabinetry, and a substantial island for all of their needs.

BEFORE

Hampden Design & Construction PO Box 180 Newton, MA 02468 (617) 969-1112 hampdendesign.com

D AVI D C O HEN

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The Goal: To create a cozy seating area where this husband and wife could end their long day in the privacy of their master bedroom. The furnishings were a bit mis-matched and the couple were struggling to find the right look and feel for a comfortable and inviting space. The grass cloth wallpaper was the first element to start the transformation. Then one layer was added and then another and the result is a cohesive collection of textures to delight the senses.

The Elements: When designing a space itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s always fun to incorporate elements a client already owns and loves. These chairs were too comfortable to part with but were in need of updating. Enter this stunning geometric metallic print that offsets the traditional quality of the fireplace mantel and adds just the right amount of edge. The artwork is also from the clientâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own collection and sits perfectly above this carved fireplace. The texture of raw wood art with the crackled glass on the sconces, carved mantel and alpaca fur rug make this a texture story from top to bottom. What a place to end your day!

K ATE MALO N EY

BEFORE

Kate Maloney Albiani KMID | Kate Maloney Interior Design 875 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 547-1550 kmidesign.com

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The Backstory:

The Elements:

Snow and Jones worked with Thorson Restoration on this beautiful historic renovation. This home was built in 1811 and at one time was the townâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s first fire station. One wing was in ill repair and lacked modern functionality. The historical commission and builder deemed the structure a hazard and it had to be rebuilt, but as historically accurate as possible while salvaging elements.

The new bathroom features historically authentic Grohe and Kohler faucets and fixtures that offer modern conveniences such as the luxurious rain shower. By working with the expert showroom staff at Snow and Jones the client was able to select fixtures that met the demands of the historical society but offered all the luxury a custom renovation demands.

BEFORE

Snow and Jones 85 Accord Drive Norwell, MA 02061-1605 (781) 878-3312 snowandjones.com

PATTI J ONES

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Expert Art and Furniture Restoration: Treflerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s talented painting conservator, with more than twenty-seven years of experience, can restore your painting with no risk of damage to the piece. We can work with paintings on canvas, wood, leather, or glass and we specialize in restoring and preserving reverse paintings on glass.

K ATHL E E N M . H EGART Y Director of Sales & Marketing

Treflerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s | 29 Tower Road Newton, MA 02464 (617) 965-3388 (x226) cell- (978) 828-4114 | trefler.com

BEFORE

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The Back Story: Our refinishing clients entrust us with their most sentimental possessions. This sweet little vanity chair was the client’s mother’s and came to us needing extensive repair and refinishing. This client is fun, loves color and appreciates form. The combination made for a dramatic transformation.

The Summary: Our expert team stripped the chair for ideal adhesion , blended the exact white lacquer to match the client’s fabric and then developed a custom glaze to enhance detail. All was applied in perfect balance to the fabric. There is a piece of original fabric stitched to the bottom and the client now has a piece that honors her mother and reflects her own creative personality.

BEFORE

D E B B I E A N D WAYN E T O WLE

Wayne Towle Master Finishing & Restoration, Inc. 178 Crescent Road Needham, MA 02494 (781) 449-1313 waynetowle.com

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New England designers share their favorite resources EDITED BY PAULA M. BODAH

Perspectives The Powder Room Sink

SARAH STEINBERG

American Standard Retrospect Console Table PATRICIA MCDONAGH

///

Waterworks Universal Washstand

“This wonderful little console is classically elegant, petite enough for tiny spaces, and functionally provides the benefits of a much larger vanity. It’s always the perfect fit.” At fine bath

///

“I love the proportion and balance of this washstand. The openness keeps the powder room airy and spacious in feeling. It is an historic form, but it works beautifully with an updated aesthetic, too.” Boston Design Center,

showrooms throughout New England, americanstandard-us.com

(617) 951-2496, waterworks.com

JENN SANBORN

Kasos Round Decorative Vessel from Kallista ///

“The gorgeous classical form of this marble vessel transports me back to my time in Greece last summer. It would be stunning atop a vintage chest or cabinet repurposed as a vanity.” Ann Sacks, Boston Design Center, (617) 737-2300, annsacks.com

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PATRICIA MCDONAGH

PERSPECTIVES

The Powder Room Wallcovering

Porter Teleo Inkblot Wallpaper ///

“This paper enlivens a space with its bold scale. It’s witty and unique but still very refined. Hand-painted and printed on Japanese paper, it is wallpaper and fine art in one.” The Martin Group, Boston Design Center, (617) 951-2526, martingroupinc.com

SARAH STEINBERG

Hand-Painted Koi Wallpaper from De Gournay ///

“I love the idea of a powder room being an immersive experience— something surprising and delightful. This wallpaper turns the powder room into an underwater wonderland.” Through Steinberg Custom Designs.

JENN SANBORN

Brocade Tile from Julep Tile Company

KRISTINA O'BRIEN

///

After a college career that took her to Japan and Spain to study art and architecture, Sarah Steinberg worked for two high-end kitchen and bath showrooms before starting her own business, in 2007. Steinberg Custom Designs, Cumberland, Maine, (207) 8294433, steinbergcustomdesigns.com

“Designed and handcrafted by a small, women-owned studio, this ‘modern vintage’ pattern was inspired by French textiles. Featured on a full wall, it would create a fresh, decorative backdrop for classic white-porcelain fixtures.” Portico Fine Tile & Design, Greenland, N.H., (603) 964-3383, porticofinetile.com

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SARAH STEINBERG

PERSPECTIVES

Custom Pulls by Fuzing

The Powder Room Hardware

///

“Whimsical hardware can be a fun surprise on a powder room cabinet. It can make a basic cabinet feel highly custom and personalized. Themed hardware is like wearing great earrings. It makes everything look more stylish and put together.” South Berwick, Maine, (207) 475-5290, fuzingglass.com

PATRICIA MCDONAGH

Nanz No 8999 Midcentury Ring Pull ///

“The simple finger-loop ring pull is based on an antique design and is suitable for a variety of uses. I love the chamfered detail on the backplate, and the exposed screws give it a little edginess. It’s both polished and playful.” Through Patricia McDonagh Interior Design.

JENN SANBORN

KEVIN O’CONNOR

Rocky Mountain Hardware Quatrefoil Knob Patricia McDonagh believes that good design is a “happy merger between form and function, beauty and pragmatism.” In designing spaces both modern and traditional, she is drawn to the grace and simplicity of classical design. Patricia McDonagh Interior Design, Boston, (617) 338-8958, patriciamcdonagh.com

///

“I’m drawn to this shape derived from tracery patterns found in Renaissance and Gothic cathedrals. The hand-cast brushed white bronze has a glowing, mellow patina and feels wonderful to the touch.” Selectwood, Portsmouth, N.H., (603) 436-9663, selectwood.com

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authenticity, stability and tradition …followed closely by the freedom to try new things, go new places and change our minds. It’s what most of us want – and what Dover rug & Home delivers: the lowest price protection, lifetime trade in guarantee on every hand-knotted rug, free inhome rug trial and the largest selection of rugs in New england.

721 Worcester Road Route 9, Natick, MA 508.651.3500 www.doverrug.com

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PERSPECTIVES

The Powder Room Mirror JENN SANBORN

Currey & Company Elkmont Square Mirror ///

“I spied the authentic hickory branches of this new collection at the fall High Point Market. Paired with a textural grasscloth, it would add a whimsical touch for a nature-inspired retreat. Best of all, it’s made in the U.S.A.” Red Bird Trading, Newburyport, Mass., (978) 462-5566

PATRICIA MCDONAGH

Duke Mirror from Michael Smith ///

“This mirror from Michael Smith’s Jasper collection has the glamour of an antique Venetian mirror in a restrained silhouette. The shape is clean and unfussy, but the craftsmanship is subtly beautiful. It has drama and presence in a small space without competing with other finishes.” Studio 534, Boston Design Center, (617) 345-9900, s5boston.com

SARAH STEINBERG

Metallique Brushed Nickel Framed Cabinet from Robern ///

WYNNE PHOTOGRAPHY

“A beautiful mirror that can also provide hidden storage is a bonus in a small powder room. With its simple, classic look, this one would suit either a traditional or contemporary powder room.” At fine bath Combining her appreciation for architectural tradition and attention to detail, Jenn Sanborn designs spaces whose comfort and charm is meant to lift the spirit and enhance the daily lives of her clients. Sacris Design, Amesbury, Mass., (978) 388-5948, sacrisdesign.com

showrooms throughout New England, robern.com

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Bold is a wealth of possibilities. Make a striking design statement in three simple steps. Choose a spout, Artifactsâ&#x201E;˘ collection to create a look all your own. KOHLER.com/Artifacts

UNCOVER THE POSSIBLITIES AT YOUR LOCAL ULTIMATE BATH STORE

Concord, NH 603.224.1901

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Trade Secrets

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Hornick/Rivlin Studio

the process and what it will take to achieve the results they have agreed upon.” Nobel was glad to see designer Sharon McCormick of Durham, Connecticut, who had taken one of his “Design Trust” trips to Paris, a week devoted to making that hub of luxury more accessible and less intimidating while improving business at home. “The streetscapes, dining, fragrances, and shopping can be pure inspiration,” says Nobel, “though the underlying theme is helping improve a designer’s business through discovery, culture, and entrepreneurship.” /// Culture, whether in Paris or here at home, is constantly

The Art of Listening ///////////

By Louis Postel

ow do you market to the affluent? In the old days, according to design marketing maven Steve Nobel, people hired a designer or an architect to achieve a certain look. No longer. Today, it’s all about the customer. Successful designers listen to their clients, Nobel says, “really getting inside their heads and hearts.” Nobel, the author of Aiming at Affluence: Marketing Interior Design to Luxury Clients, says that if getting inside clients’ heads and hearts is number one, coaching them so they can make better decisions (and make them on time) is number two. And number three is the notion of transparency. “The veil,” he says, “has been taken off the design business.” Back in December, some 200 designers attended Nobel’s presentation called “Hug Your Client: Rediscovering the Art and Science of Delighting Clients and Keeping Them Coming Back for More,” at the Boston Design Center. “Today, the designers who are winning projects earn their clients’ trust from the very beginning,” Nobel says. “They respect their time and money—being transparent about

changing. Donna Terry of Boston Design and Interiors notes that one current cultural shift—the more extended, less nuclear family—calls for more adaptive spaces. “Kids are returning home after college,” she says. “Meanwhile, elderly parents are moving in. One couple I work with is looking at upsizing, rather than downsizing.” As a onetime set designer, Terry is no stranger to changing a scene. “We’re remodeling a powder room we just did into a full bath to Donna accommodate this changed situation,” she Terry says. “We’re adapting the dining room to double as a study, and we adapted a studio into a bedroom with customized chaises and matching ottomans that can become a giant bed—a new twist on modular.” /// Does anyone remember the windows of Cashmeres of

Scotland at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel on Arlington Street before it became Chanel back in the 1980s? Kimberly Merritt did the styling. “Now I live in the woods,” she says from her home in Peterborough, New Hampshire, where she teaches and writes about design. And even there among the birches, Merritt hears the same call for

Parisian Party Designers approach the Chateau de Vaux Le Vicomte on one of Steve Nobel’s invitation-only Design Trust trips to Paris. “This trip opened my eyes to colors, details, architecture, and fine art in a way that no amount of reading could ever accomplish,” says Sharon McCormick. “It was a oncein-a-lifetime experience.”

keep in touch Help us keep our fingers on the pulse of New England’s design community. Send your news to lpostel@nehomemag.com. 176 New England Home March–april 2014

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multifunctional spaces as Donna Terry hears downtown. “People can and should use their homes in any way they like, as opposed to what’s expected,” she notes. “A chandelier doesn’t have to be in the center of a dining room. That space can double as a home office, with the chandelier over some banquettes closer to the wall. After all, a dining table is the perfect space for spreading out.” /// One thing

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is one thing—sticking to contractor white on every ceiling is another. “A beautiful ceiling can transform a room and make it very special,” says Michael Cebula, whose design studios are in Newburyport, Massachusetts. “We’re stenciling on ceilings, adding silver and gold leafing, and using grasscloth. One house we just did looks Michael positively ecclesiastical Cebula after stenciling between the coffers on the ceiling.” Another treatment: wrapping the wall color, or a paler version of it, up onto the ceiling. “The rooms look so much taller,” Cebula says. /// Even the most affluent client wants to

save money on energy. For that reason there’s a lot of coaching involved with the latest energy-saving technologies, notes custom home builder Tobin Peacock of Bar Harbor, Maine. “There’s a surge in innovative products such as nest thermoTobin stats, touch faucets, and Peacock geothermal heating,” he

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THE-BAC.EDU / PCE says. But there’s a downside to the marvels of innovation, Peacock says. “It’s the assumption people have that the answer to every building question is no further away than their smartphones. Clients call us Saturday night for an estimate on changing a kitchen layout, and they expect our answer on Sunday morning.” Memo to Steve Nobel: how do we educate clients that some things take time? /// Given that the stock market is up sub-

stantially from last year, the affluent are in a mood to celebrate. It’s understandable, then, that accessories are dominating the heads and hearts of many a client these days. How do you satisfy the yen for beautiful accessories while avoiding clutter? Meryl Santopietro, of Lincoln, Rhode Island, says it’s all about scale. “People often buy objects that are just too small—especially online,” she says. “My advice is to buy big— just a few large, meaningful pieces to bring life to minimal, toned-down spaces. I just found a Ron Dier charger plate at Webster Meryl & Company in the BDC. Santopietro It was finished in gold and looks perfect on a stand on a client’s bedroom armoire.”

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the same—boring.” Driscoll travels the world in search of quality and uniqueness. “I often fly to Brussels and then head northwest for Bruges and the countryside,” she says. “Right now Belgium is a fabulous place to

shop. It hasn’t been cleaned out like the rest of Europe. I also have a container of artwork and sculpture on its way from a shopping trip to South Africa.” /// Steve Nobel mentioned three keys to

marketing high-end residential design: listening to clients, coaching them to make better decisions, and transparency about

New and Noteworthy Massachusetts—not to mention a nationwide reputation for their impeccable taste and the quality of their offerings.

» People who love stylish things for the home

» Richard Wills closed out 2013 with more than one reason to celebrate. His firm, Royal Barry Wills Associates, moved into new quarters in the lovely old Park Square Building (a big change from the one-room studio Wills’s father worked in when he started the company in 1925), and published At Home in New England: Royal Barry Wills Architects 1925 to Present. Although the 192-page hardcover book, from Rowman & Littlefield, features houses going back to the beginning of the venerable firm, examples from the recent past leave little doubt that the founder’s aesthetic lives on, beautifully.

(and who doesn’t?) have a host of new places to shop in and around Boston. On Charles Street, Paula and Kate McCusker, of Theodore & Company, have opened Kate and Theo, a boutique offering custom upholstery and lighting, pillows, accessories, candles, and more. Evolve Residential is a stylish new addition to the South End with its mix of contemporary furniture and art and early-nineteenth-century Evolve Residential

Sean Litchfield

»Estes/Twombly

Warren Jagger

Architects came away the big winner in residential design at the 2013 AIA Rhode Island design awards. The Newport firm took home four awards for homes in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Providence-based 3SIX0 Architecture scored a win for a cottage in rural Foster, Rhode Island.

» Twenty-five years ago, Mitchell Gold and

contemporary broadloom traditional

Bob Williams started a small furniture company in North Carolina. “We wanted to have a small company that only did business with nice people,” Gold says. Little did the design duo imagine that by their silver anniversary they’d have 600 employees in stores all over the country—including in Boston and Natick,

antiques, all displayed in an elegant, high-ceilinged corner storefront on Shawmut Avenue. Jonathan Adler plans to open his second Boston-area boutique—this one in Chestnut Hill—in March. The new store will showcase Adler’s fashion accessories collection as well as the complete range of his furnishings and accessories for the home. Finally, don’t fret over the December closing of Diseño. We’re happy to report that Frank Campanale spent the winter scouring South America for products to fill his new store, slated to open in March, on Thayer Street in the SoWa neighborhood. The new store will have a similar look and feel, but will focus less on larger furniture and more on accent pieces and accessories. “You can expect more of what we do best: designer hide carpets, lots of leather, hide and fur, pillows and throws, as well as colorful vintage textiles from the north of Argentina,” Campanale says.

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Steve Nobel

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time and money. We’d add a fourth element: the human element. Personal connection, positive energy, a sense of fun and adventure—all make for that hug Nobel used to introduce his talk last December. •

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super cool,” she says of her space, in a 1930s building on Washington Street in Wellesley, Massachusetts.

» Landscape architect Julie Moir Messervy is as devoted to showing people how to create beautiful gardens as she is to creating them herself. Messervy’s seventh book, Landscaping Ideas that Work, published last fall by Taunton Press, offers lots of essential information, including beforeand-after photos and case studies, to help homeowners plant the gardens of their dreams.

» Given how much time people spend in their offices, it only makes sense that workplace furniture should be as well made as what we sit on at home. Massachusetts-based Furniture by Dovetail thinks so, too, which is why it’s expanding into the corporate market. In recent years, Dovetail has produced furniture for a number of universities—including Yale, where the company recently finished a $3.5 million project to furnish the new School of Management—so the leap to the executive suite seems like a natural next step. —Paula M. Bodah

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Find Your Design Inspiration Amazing ideas are just a click away. Check out these blogging experts from New England’s luxury residential industries and get inspired!

Architects

Brooks and Falotico blog.brooksandfalotico.com David Sharff Architect, P.C blog.davidsharffarchitect. com Spacecraft Architecture blog.spacecraftarch.com TMS tmsarchitects.com/blog HOME

Archia Home blog.archiahomes.com

Leslie Fine Interiors, Inc. lesliefineinteriors.com/blog Leslie Saul & Associates blog.lesliesaul.com Shari Pellows Interiors blog.sharipellowsinteriors. com Shell Décor blog.shell-decor.com The Linen Shop blog.thelinenshop.co Wainscot Solutions blog.wainscotsolutions.net KITCHEN & BATH

Country Club Homes blog.countryclubhomesinc. com

Klaff’s Design blog.klaffs.com

Horner Millwork blog.hornermillwork.com

NuKitchens blog.nukitchens.com

J.W. Construction Inc. blog.jwconstructioninc.com

Snow and Jones blog.snowandjones.com

LaBarge Homes blog.labargehomes.com

Landscape

Sage Builders sagebuilders.com/blog

Marvin Gardens marvingardensusa.com

Tiefenthaler tiefenthaler.com/blog

Triad blog.triadassociatesinc.com

Total Care of Wilton Design blog.tcwilton.com

Zen Associates blog.zenassociates.com

FURNISHINGS

A.J. Rose blog.ajrosecarpets.com Cottage and Bungalow blog.cottageandbungalow. com Furniture by Dovetail furniturebydovetail.com/blog Hwang Bishop blog.hwangbishop.net MWI Enterprises, Inc blog.mwifibershield.com Richard Oedel Fine Furniture & Cabinet Makers blog.finefurnituremaster.com

HOME INSTALLATION

Audio Video Design avdesigns.com LIGHTING

Casa Design blog.casadesignboston.com Cutting Edge Systems blog.cuttingedgehome.com Lifestyle

Real Kids Shades blog.realkidshades.com

INTERIORS

Ana Donohue Interiors blog.anadonohueinteriors. com Chrisicos Interiors blog.chrisicosinteriors.com

LET US HELP YOU CREATE A SOCIAL MEDIA STRATEGY Expand your social media footprint and let New England Home take the risk and complexity out of content and social media marketing. Our Digital Sherpa service will create and manage your blog, Facebook, and Twitter pages to maximum effectiveness. Contact your local sales manager, or Kathy Bush-Dutton, publisher at 800.609.5154 x 704 or email kbushdutton@nehomemag.com

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MOULDINGS

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Design Life

Out and about in celebration of design and architecture in New England 1

Matthew Quiet

The New England Chapter of the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art presented its fourth annual BULFINCH AWARDS. Named for Charles Bulfinch, America’s first native-born architect and the designer of the Massachusetts State House, the awards honor the work of architects and designers who contribute to the creation of classical and traditional architecture in New England.

BULFINCH AWARDS

(1) Jacob Albert and John Margolis (2) Karen Muncaster, Sheldon

Kostelecky, and Jane Toland (3) David Malmquist and Stuart Meurer (4) Brian Lafauce, Ryan Newton, and Jim Radcliffe (5) Budd Kelley and Todd Riley (6) Barbara

Professionals in the world of residential lighting gathered at the Allston, M assachusetts, showroom of Wolfers for the 2013 LIGHT FAIR. The industry’s top vendors showed off the latest in lighting products and hosted seminars on the newest lighting techniques and the most up-to-date news about green living and sustainable design.

2013 LIGHT FAIR

Sallick, John Margolis, and Alyson Dick Zamith (7) John Canning and William Barry (8) Barbara and Jan Gleysteen and David Andreozzi (9) John Margolis and Gary Adriance (10) Scott Pumphret, John Margolis, and Gerald Pomeroy (11) John Kelsey, Ivan Bereznicki, and Marianna Chaikovsky

(1) Steve Brand, Karen Duffy, and John Cuoco (2) Bonnie Forbes,

Jonathan Raith, Kathleen Corso, and Edwin Yeung (in background) (3) Kellie Hollenbeck and Jeff Seigal (4) Keith Hendricks, Susan Arnold, and Jim Ratto

Should your party be here? Send photographs or high-resolution images, with information about the event and the people in the photos, to New England Home, 530 Harrison Ave., Suite 302, Boston, MA 02118, or email images and information to pbodah@nehomemag.com. 184 New England Home march–april 2014

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Design Life

MANTELS AND MISTLETOE

Diane Parazin

It’s almost spring (and not a moment too soon!), but we’re still fondly recalling some of our favorite holiday events, like Van Millwork’s

MANTELS AND MISTLETOE. Area design-

ers decorated spaces within the company’s Needham, Massachusetts, showroom, setting a festive scene for guests, who brought a toy or clothing as a gift for a child in need. The event was a benefit for three charities that help Boston-area children.

(1) Carin Coyne, Tanya Capello, and Meg Hovsepian (2) Elena Marsland and Kathy Joseph (3) Kathleen

An enthusiastic crowd gathered at the Seaport Hotel in Boston for the

McVicar, Lisa Burke, Renee Phillips, and Laura Schellenberg (4) Sally Wilson and John Almquist (5) Diane Parazin, Holly Joe, and Lisa Fabiano (6) John Van (7) Sean Abely and Lisa Fabiano (8) Paul and Meg Hovsepian, Lisa Burke, and Renee Phillips

2013 PRISM AWARDS GALA. The awards, hosted

(1-3) Valerie Larsen Photography, (4-8) McCardinal Photo

by the Builders and Remodelers Association of Greater Boston, celebrate achievements in building and design. This year’s gala raised money for Housing Families, a Boston-area organization that provides safe, temporary shelter and quality affordable housing to homeless and at-risk families.

2013 PRISM AWARDS GALA

(1) Daniel DiPierro, Charles Aggouras, and Nick Aggouras (2) Chelsi Christensen and Soni Christensen (3) Susan Howell, Kristina Crestin, and Steve Howell (4) Rachel Rodman MacDonald and Tommy MacDonald (5) Michelle Roberts, Steve Whitney, and Emily Grandstaff-Rice (6) Beezee Honan, Lorraine DeVaux, and Stephanie Morrison (7) Alex Weiss and Robert Fasanella (8) Gerry-Lynn Darcy, Eileen Caplan, and Ted Mahoney

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New in the Showrooms

Unique, beautiful and now appearing in New England’s shops and showrooms

American History It’s an exact reproduction of a late-eighteenth-century design, but the Horn of Plenty Chandelier from Authentic Designs strikes a beautiful balance between traditional and contemporary. West Rupert, Vermont, (802) 394-7713, authenticdesigns.com

Timeless Treasures Landry & Arcari believes the

rugs from its Mamluk Collection are sure to be the antiques of tomorrow. Let’s see: they’re hand-knotted in Turkey, woven with centuries-old techniques, and made of the highest-grade handspun wool. . . we’d have to agree! Locations in Salem, Massachusetts, (978) 744-5909; and Boston, (617) 399-6500, landryandarcari.com

Play It Again The highlight of Twelve Chairs’s new batch of pieces from Redford House is this bookshelf and console, which can be combined with drawers and cabinets to create the entertainment center of your dreams, with space for your electronics and plenty of pretties, too. Boston, (617) 982-6136, twelvechairsboston.com

Garden Party Inspired by porcelain vases of the Far East, the embroidered Misaki Pillow from Company C features every hue you’re craving for spring—fuchsia, lime, lavender, and aqua. Even the back boasts a periwinkle surprise. Locations in Massachusetts, Maine, and New Hampshire, (800) 818-8288, companyc.com

Tuft Love With its juxtaposition of vintage charm (antique markings and nailheads) and deconstructed details (grain sack–esque fabric), the Sorrell Settee at Arhaus walks the line between rustic and refined. Locations in Burlington, (781) 273-2800, and Natick, Massachusetts, (508) 655-9050, arhaus.com

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New in the Showrooms

Fine Design The Bristol Console Table at Dunn proves that slim-profile furniture can still pack a big style statement. Place it in a space where it can be admired from all angles. Providence, (401) 400-0206, studiodunn.com

Tale Spin For a design-world Cinderella story, look no further than bloggerturned-home-furnishings-creator COCOCOZY. Then, shop her cheerful collection of fabrics at Charles Spada Interiors and live happily ever after. Boston Design Center, (617) 204-9270, charlesspada.com

Superb Interpretation CR Laine’s spool chair—in tangerine as well as a slew of other colors, fabrics, and finishes—is a fresh take on late-seventeenth-century bobbin furniture. It’s available at Summer House Furnishings. Rye, New Hampshire, (603) 319-1655, summerhousefurnishings.com

Warm Up Everyone should experience the glow of an exquisite floor lamp. With its chocolate linen shade, antique gold finish, and sculptural base, this one is perfect in every way and available at Comina. Locations in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Rhode Island, (860) 599-5878, comina.com

Under the Sea Take your adoration of all things ocean to the deep end. For a marine motif that’s elegant, not kitschy, check out Caskata’s Horseshoe Crab Bowl at Hollies on the Avenue. Barrington, Rhode Island, (401) 2450090, holliesontheavenue.com

Surface Area It offers ample storage, yes, but the real star of this four-door Timber Sidecase is its 3-D veneer and solid-wood, textured face. The handcrafted beauty is designed by Sherwood Hammill, a co-founder of Angela Adams. Portland, Maine, (800) 255-9454, angelaadams.com

—Catie Parrish

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BOSTON DESIGN WEEK CONCLUDES WITH

SEVENTH ANNUAL

March 27-30, 2014 The Cyclorama, Boston Center for the Arts 539 Tremont Street in Boston’s South End Weekend Show Friday 1pm-8pm, Saturday 11am-8pm, Sunday 11am-5pm Admission $15 Special Guest speakers and programs. Café by Jules. Valet parking.

Gala Preview - March 27 to benefit

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50 select exhibitors offering modern to contemporary fine art, jewelry, vintage and studio furniture, sculpture, photography, fine prints and more at the only show of its kind in New England.