Good bones is industry speak for homes with solid foundations, but in need a practiced, professional hand to infuse character and personality. In this case, Marty McDevitt and Joanne Turner of Elements Interior Design in Westfield brought their collective expertise to bear on a newly constructed home for a young, energetic family. “Our clients wanted a home that reflected their colorful and vibrant personalities. They love the bones of their newly built home, but the all-white aesthetic just didn’t reflect their style. We wanted to give them a home that brought joy and good vibes,” says McDevitt.
The home’s open-concept design meant each room had to work with the rest, yet the designers wanted each space to have its own distinctive look and feel. To that end, wallpaper played an important role in the home’s transformation. “With 10-foot ceilings, heavy trim and an open concept, the walls were screaming for energy and movement,” says the designer.
The dining room was a prime opportunity to add color and pattern. Located in the front of the house, it is one of the first spaces guests see when they enter the home. Since the family doesn’t use the room daily, it was the perfect room for a high-impact look. The design team added a black-based wallpaper called Euphoria Secret Garden from Romo. The playful monkey pattern is complemented by a leopard-print Roman shade and color-washed wainscoting and trim to create a dramatic, sophisticated statement that is simple and unfussy.
In the kitchen, color took the lead. “We knew a bold color choice was a must for their cabinets, and Farrow & Ball’s Brinjal was our favorite from day one,” says McDevitt of the deep aubergine hue, which also frames the window, making it a seamless continuation of the cabinets. The designers added quartz countertops and outfitted the stone as a backsplash on the walls for an uninterrupted look. Honey-bronze hardware, a stainless-steel faucet and sculptural pendant lights over the large island converge, creating warmth and visual interest. A pop of teal-blue tile behind the range draws in the colors of the adjoining mudroom and powder room.
“With three young kids, two dogs and a lizard, the mudroom was a must,” says McDevitt. “The kiddos have everything they need in this space when coming in from outside play.” The room has low-mounted coat hooks and individual locker space for their shoes and backpacks. On the walls, Thibault’s Windsor pattern incorporates fanciful birds and flowers with a deep blue-gray background, which the client loved, even saying that she felt the pattern was “her” in wallpaper form.
The finished design creates an environment of personality that brings color, texture, drama and striking pattern together cohesively.
