When a young family decides to make the pilgrimage to the suburbs after years of city living, they don’t often have a huge stockpile of furniture. These Yorktown Heights homeowners were no exception, so they enlisted Elana Tenenbaum Cline, founder and creative director of Southport-based Carta Creatives, to help them invest in pieces that would reflect their contemporary style while standing up to preschool-aged children. “I’m getting this ask a lot from my clients who have small kids,” Cline explains. “How can we dial up spaces that make sense to do so and create a home that feels buttoned up and put together, but not too precious?”
Thankfully, the house was move-in ready, so Carta Creatives was able to prioritize furnishings and décor, upgrading light fixtures, and adding some paint over any major renovation. The homeowners loved being involved and picking things they could sit-test to approve, so sources like Soho Home and Jaipur Living were favored over custom options.
An element the clients did bring along from their city life was an incredible plant collection. “One thing that is not talked about enough,” the designer notes, “plants are like art. They take up space and have a color and texture.” Throughout the home, Cline designed spaces around the plants (like a fabulous fiddle-leaf fig), instead of throwing them in as an afterthought.
Living Room
For this light and airy space, Cline selected neutral pieces that wouldn’t compete with the view from outside. “This space is amazing … The ceiling heights are big, and you take a step down into the room,” the designer explains. “The height of the windows brings in as much light as possible, so we had to balance that with the functionality of the room.”
A large U-shaped sofa from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams can seat a crowd, and an oversized Lulu and Georgia lounge chair was perfect for nursing a new baby. It has “a nice home” in one corner, while the homeowners’ large fiddle-leaf fig claims the other window corner. A high-traction space for kids, the living room features performance fabric. Cline opted for a black coffee table over something with wood that would show water marks and spills. And the round silhouette has no sharp corners to worry about.
A sculptural chair and side table from Soho Home are in view when you walk past, offering a found statement and dose of texture.
Entry
“The entry has a nice tall ceiling and is quite grand, so I had this idea of branches coming up the stairs,” Cline explains. “We brought in these olive tree branches for a sense of greenery and bringing the outside in.” An Annie Selke rug, Pottery Barn bench and planter, and basket from The Citizenry complete the welcoming vibe.
Bourbon Room
A dramatic juxtaposition to the rest of the house, this dark and moody room leaves an impression. “This is where the late-night entertaining ends up,” the designer adds. To make a statement, Cline wrapped the entire space in black Farrow & Ball paint. “If a ceiling in a room doesn’t connect with the adjacent hallways, I think it’s really cool and modern to coat an entire room,” she says. “It has a modern effect and creates a cool monolithic backdrop for the furniture.”
To complete the library aesthetic, the client’s father (a former woodworker) helped the couple execute an Ikea hack to create built-in shelving and stone-topped cabinetry. Dark green curtains and Soho Home chairs add rich hues along with a brown area rug. The Lulu and Georgia sofa, Otto Copenhagen table, and Katie Skelton sconces add contemporary touches. (see pg. 38–39 for more details)
Dining Room
The private dining room offers a respite for adults, and its double-point access from the kitchen offers a nice opening to view the space. An Arhaus extendable dining table and chairs allow for lots of hosting, and linen Zara Home drapes add to the textural, open feel. “What I love about the dining room is that there’s a sense of being modern and refined but also approachable,” Cline says. An Anthropologie light fixture and CB2 planter add sculptural interest.
Dining Nook
Opposed to the more formal dining room, the dining nook is a high-traffic space for everyday meals. A Ruggable rug can go right in the washing machine, and the oval Soho Home table is ideal to fit highchairs and toddler chairs while offering a soft round edge to fill the space. Chairs are Rove Concepts, and the artful light fixture is Crate & Barrel.
Primary Bedroom
An Arhaus headboard echoes the bourbon room’s green velvet curtains, but the rest of the main bedroom remains neutral. Linen drapes, bedding, and a lumbar pillow add dashes of texture throughout the room, all from Parachute. A sculptural CB2 desk adds a contemporary statement, as well as a respite for the wife to work from home or do her makeup. The final statement? Round, marble-topped nightstands from Soho Home.
Elana’s Tips for Designing with Plants
A fiddle-leaf fig is always good for high light. It adds a lot of drama thanks to its leaf size and growth.
Branches are a great way to fill the volume in a space without worrying about maintenance. Never discount a dramatic branch! And don’t be afraid to forage from your own backyard.
Planters are another design opportunity: Be intentional when it comes to your containers and be mindful of a dish and proper drainage. I always love to get something bigger than the plant base to allow for growth.
Search antique fairs for a one-of-a-kind vessel. It’s a great way to incorporate vintage or found pieces.
A tabletop plant can be a centerpiece, and easily changed out for seasonal entertaining.
Related: This Bronxville Home Embraces a Grown-up Glam Style
