Dreamy views and architectural details shine for this family of six
Helping this Somerset Hills family design their custom home, which is also their forever home, is a true honor and privilege. To fulfill every want and see it through each stage of the process is exhilarating for an interior design professional.
This home at the top of Bernard’s Mountain offers dreamy views as well as every amenity a family of six could want or need — that’s the joy of a custom home! The priorities for the design were making timeless choices with regard to moldings and finishes, ample entertaining space, and understated decor that allowed the architecture to shine.
Also requiring consideration were heirloom-quality pieces of furniture the family acquired, and in some cases, made themselves. Unlike many designers, I find working with existing special pieces a unique challenge and one that I enjoy.
Whether art, rugs, or furniture, a client who trusts your eye to use these treasures in a new home, in a new way, is exciting! They get to see the items in front of a fresh backdrop (like the blue and white guest bedroom bed and nightstands) as well as alongside more contemporary or unexpected furnishings.
The traditional and up-scale moldings immediately draw the eyes high and give the house importance. To add unity, the majority of the trim is painted Benjamin Moore’s Simply White. The walls are finished in a combination of quiet Benjamin Moore whites and subtle textured wallcoverings. The only exception is the powder room which received HollandLac high-gloss paint from Fine Paints of Europe.
The restrained decor is not without lots of detail. Most rugs are simple tone-on-tone wool except for the entry and living room, which feature a richer color and pattern. Metal finishes are mainly of a deep patina in those spaces, and fabrics have a bit of sheen. It’s a custom home whose architectural details dazzle, and this editing process achieves the harmonious balance the family desires.
The restrained decor is not without lots of detail. Most rugs are simple tone-on-tone wool except for the entry and living room, which feature a richer color and pattern. Metal finishes are mainly of a deep patina in those spaces, and fabrics have a bit of sheen. It’s a custom home whose architectural details dazzle, and this editing process achieves the harmonious balance the family desires.