Rhapsody with Blue Harriet Treitz channels the sprit of an English country home sprinkled with touches of whimsy Written by Bridget Williams Photography by Andrew Kung
Interior designers savor the rare occasion when their clients, looking for a fresh start, seek their expertise on a project from conception to completion. Such an opportunity was presented to interior designer Harriet Treitz of the Lee W. Robinson Company when a couple endeavored to build a new home with an old house feel. While the homeowners had a distinct vision for certain aspects of the home, they agree that the creative process was a true collaboration, with all parties receptive to one another’s input. As empty nesters that welcome frequent visits from their grandchildren, the floor plan of the home is ideally suited for comfortably accommodating everything from dinner à deux to savoring fine wine in the unique cellar or movie nights in the lower level theatre room. The entryway is distinguished by a substantial roundtop single door that imparts a feeling of rustic elegance to the exterior of the newly built home and alludes to the interior 70 slmag.net
design aesthetic. A simple bell jar lantern illuminates the tiled entry foyer, which is open to both the formal living room and the dining room, where the flooring transitions to handsome handscraped wide plank hickory hardwood. “We wanted the home to feel very rustic and comfortable,” said the wife, who is quick to praise Treitz’s skill incorporating her favorite color – blue – to varying degrees in every room, including the formal living room. Defined by beadboard wainscoting, the space represents an artful interplay of color and texture and is one of the few rooms with pieces of furniture – namely an antique secretary positioned in one corner, a pair of wing chairs and a corner chair – that were carried over from the couple’s prior home. Te homeowners are big proponents of having a ceiling fan in every room when feasible, so Treitz carefully selected unique fans that complemented the feel of each room, such as the plantation-style example in the living room.
