The deep, rich colors in this primary-suite sitting room have a warm, enveloping feel. Photo: Brian Wetzel
When a Somerset County couple decided it was time to refresh their home for their next phase of life, the semiretired grandparents wanted their new home design centered around spaces to host and entertain their children and grandchildren. To execute their wish list, they turned to designer Nicole Cole and her team at Philadelphia-based Vestige Home.
The homeowners had redecorated the house, built as new construction in the 1990s, more than a decade ago. “Everything was in great condition, but all browns and dark colors. It was really ready for new color, more character and layering to give the space more depth,” Cole says.
Wallpaper is accented by lighting (“the jewelry of the home,” says Cole) that is both classic and contemporary. Photo: Rebecca McAlpin
Together with Cole, they identified the key concepts and palette for their vision. Blue, the couple’s favorite color, would be the foundation, but Cole would use it in an array of harmonious hues. “It would not be boring,” she says of the plan to employ a full spectrum of the color—blue greens, bluish purples, gray blues, the whole gamut—so that the look would be complementary, not monochromatic.
Cole established the home’s theme from the front door. By painting the spindles on the staircase black, the uninspired builder lines of the entry was immediately upgraded. A round marble table set on a textural graphic rug set the stage for the mix of color, texture and shapes to come.
A graceful entrance sets the theme for this home, which is imbued with shades of blue, organic shapes and warm woods for an updated, modern look. Photo: Brian Wetzel
Central to the plan was the family room revamp, where tall Palladian windows provided a solid architectural backdrop. Cole outfitted the windows with woven wood shades, creating a thread of consistency repeated in other rooms. The fireplace, once a red-brick colonial style, received a facelift with Zellige tile, a handmade, unglazed, matte, terracotta tile that introduced earthiness to the room. Set vertically for a modern look, the tile was enhanced by a black-marble hearth and wraparound wooden mantel. Furnishings like a contemporary aubergine upholstered chair, an L-shaped custom sectional and an ottoman (perfect for grandkids to climb on, says Cole) finish the space.
Photo: Rebecca McAlpin
A subtle collection of details converge in the sunroom, where the flood of natural light is grounded by painted black window casings, a rattan armoire (ideal for storing grandkids’ games and toys), and a suite of organically shaped metal tables that favor lily pads. “We wanted to bring nature in, and these [tables] can be grouped or moved around to be used for dining,” Cole says. The sunroom, which has skylights, in addition to abundant windows, is furnished with indoor/outdoor pieces that are fade resistant. In the living room, the motifs continue with blue-gray upper walls and lower walls in a deeper shade separated by a chair rail. Freestanding rattan display shelves leave room for personal touches, and the homeowners’ overstuffed chairs reupholstered in a bold floral tapestry of greens, blues and creams, add to the ambience. “It’s always great to reenvision a client’s favorite pieces,” says Cole. “We gave the chairs a new look with a fabric that contains all the elements we are working with—texture, color and pattern—and adds complexity.”
In the primary suite, the undulating headboard, ribbed nightstands, and carpet with a raised nap achieve layers of interest. Photo: Brian Wetzel
Upstairs, the primary bedroom continues the theme with soft blue walls, an undulating custom headboard, and fluted, dark-wood nightstands with sturdy, organic bluestone tops that anchor the look. The adjacent sitting room is centered on a shapely chaise, while touches of rattan and dual round tables in contrasting woods contribute to the laid-back look.
An organically shaped powder-room mirror is modern and playful. Photo: Rebecca McAlpin
Repetition of design elements, from dimensional rugs to organic shapes and color, create a whole-house symmetry that fulfilled the homeowners’ vision.
