When Alexa and Prosper Vignone moved their family from Manhattan to Bronxville, they did so with serious style.
Though their home is full of grown-up glam, with three young children, “having a house that was livable was super important for us,” says Alexa. “But at the same time, we wanted it to reflect our personal style. I love that Andy made it stylish and beautiful, but comfortable and practical.”
“Andy” is designer Andrew Suvalsky. After getting to know him through some of his other longtime clients — Alexa’s parents — the Vignones knew he was the right person to deliver on their design dreams. Suvalsky’s love of color and penchant for pulling elements from different design eras helped him create just the right balance for the 1900s English-inspired abode. The bones of the house already had tons of architectural character, so they dove right into décor, using juicy hues and special details to create a glamorous, colorful home that captures the essence of the young family.
Throughout, the design is vibrant, fresh, and fun, while every space has its own personality. “Each room has a level of distinction,” says Suvalsky. “People aren’t one dimensional; their house shouldn’t be either.”
Dining Room
To give each room its own feel, “a seed of inspiration takes hold, and then I build out from there,” says Suvalsky. In the dining room, a hand-painted de Gournay wallpaper depicting a jungle scene — a nod to Alexa’s love of animal print — drove the design with a playful color palette that Suvalsky pulled in all directions. The melon color continues onto the trim and ceiling, and a multicolored oriental rug is layered over a deep blue sisal. Vintage dining chairs, which were recovered in hues of diamond-quilted velvet and edged in gold trim, add more visual flair.
“I want every room to feel like something more magical is happening than just bringing pretty things together,” says Suvalsky, “so I care a lot about small details.” It’s those little, unique touches that make this room, and this house, a place that feels fantastic for everyday life, as well as a perfect spot to celebrate special occasions. An antique mirror behind the fireplace reflects an oversized glass chandelier with feathery glass petals, which lightens up the more traditional elements in the room.
Foyer
The couple love the color blue, so they decided to make it a focus in the foyer, which links the dining and living rooms. The initial plan was to paint all the original paneling in the space in a high-gloss blue, but ultimately, they decided not to cover up the gorgeous French oak walls. Instead, the team took great care in refurbishing the wood, and then let the ceiling really sing in an ultra-high-gloss Wedgewood Blue lacquer. Ombré roman shades, a large oriental rug, and a pair of custom-designed upholstered benches in tones of blue echo the drama above.
Living Room
Suvalsky deepened the dining room’s more tropical palette in the formal living room with jewel-toned fabrics that look extra luxe against the oak walls. Furniture pieces in midcentury-modern shapes were covered in traditional fabrics in colors like deep peacock green, amber, and ruby, which all play off the historical architecture of the room. Since the space is most often used for entertaining, Suvalsky used custom pieces to create seating arrangements, or “mini moods,” that work independently or all together, giving the family flexibility for hosting. Guests can sit and enjoy the fire from the club chairs covered in a Siberian tiger print, or chat with other guests sitting on the sculptural gold tête-à-tête or rounded sapphire blue sectional across the room.
Breakfast Nook
A softer mood emerges for the kitchen and curved breakfast nook design, created with a mix of creams and blues. Roman shades featuring a Foo Dog motif and a brass-and-glass pendant light pair nicely with a modern Knoll tulip table and Kartell Ghost chairs.
Butler’s Pantry
Off the dining room, the butler’s pantry gives glammy English-pub vibes. Dark blue cabinets and wood countertops are balanced by the antique mirror backsplashes and a pale blue 1960s Murano glass light fixture. Gold leaf wallpaper on the ceiling picks up the ornate brass hardware and sink. A series of black-and-white prints of Prosper’s favorite rock and roll artists add some edge — and a personal touch — but are framed in more traditional-leaning gold and ebony style.
Primary Bedroom + Bath
The primary bedroom is a mix of soft color and subtle pattern. Suvalsky used different prints in similar tones to create a calming, unified look. The bed skirt and valance feature a Moroccan-inspired motif, the drapes an Art Deco design, and the wingback chair and decorative pillows a finer-print fabric in different shades of gray. A lotus leaf light fixture and lapis bedside table lamp offer a more feminine feel. Suvalsky added even more subtle depth by using two hues in similar color values, painting the walls a pale mint and the ceiling a soft sky blue. In the ensuite bath, an antique oil painting of Venice in the bathtub niche provides a moment of whimsy.
Alexa’s Office
Working from home gets a lot more glamorous in this space. “My office is pretty rad,” says Alexa. “It’s feminine and powerful at the same time. I fully expect one of my two girls will try and steal it as they get older.” Suvalsky embraced the quirky upstairs space with a vibrant wash of high-gloss color on the sloped ceilings (courtesy of Phillip Jeffries’ Paint It Pink lacquered paper) and a honeysuckle print below. A waterfall-edge burlwood desk and 1960s vintage desk chair are illuminated by a textured glass pendant light from Urban Electric. Nestled into a corner niche, a custom-designed sleeper sofa is covered in a regal purple velvet.
Adirondack Room
The all-season Adirondack room, off the family room, also serves as Prosper’s office. Suvalsky catered to his more minimalist, midcentury-modern taste and let the architecture share the spotlight in the design. With its large stone fireplace, wood-paneled ceiling, and hilltop view, it feels “like a Scottish retreat,” says Suvalsky. He pulled a palette of primary colors from the stained-glass windows and used a few well-chosen furniture pieces, including a squared-off sofa and Eames lounge chair from Design Within Reach, to keep the look clean and cozy.
Family Room
The primary palette continues in the family room, where Suvalsky leaned further into deeper blues in the painted ceiling paneling and the large, custom, U-shaped sectional where the family can relax or watch TV. A palm-print ottoman fabric and pop art pieces keep things fresh and fun.
Mudroom + Powder Room
The mudroom makes for a fun and cheerful entrance with Clarence House’s colorful Sole wallpaper, blue ceramic tileflooring, and a tangerine-colored light fixture. In the adjoining powder room, Suvalsky continued the color with a whimsical diver print and contrasting trim painted in a bright teal.
Guest Bedroom
A guest bedroom exemplifies Suvalsky’s passion for design history. He went for a full-on 1940s inn aesthetic with soft colors and cozy details to make this a welcoming, comfortable room to relax in. The arched channeled headboard, quilted bedspread, octagonal walnut nightstand, and vintage jade lamp all feel of the era without going overboard.
The Team:
Andrew Suvalsky, Designer
Martin Bourne, Stylist
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