This contemporary home will wow you. Photos by Adam Kane Macchia
See how Tami Wassong of Tami Wassong Interiors brought new life to a Westchester home — and how you can steal her looks for your own.
Westchester couple raised their children in a Tudor in Larchmont that featured dark wood paneling and jewel tones. “At that time, they loved it and felt it worked for their lifestyle,” says Tami Wassong, founder of Tami Wassong Interiors, who worked with the family on that home. Once the kids left for college, the couple bought a contemporary house with water views on a cul de sac in Mamaroneck’s Orienta Point and hired Wassong again.
Their life stage — and tastes — had changed. “They wanted a clean, fresh, light, airy feel — the complete opposite of what I did previously,” says Wassong. Here, a peek into the shore-chic home.
Welcome to the Beach
The 6,000-sq ft house features cedar shingles, water views, and rooftop terraces. Inside: an open floor plan that’s perfect for casual living and entertaining. “Everyone feels comfortable there,” Wassong says.
Rooftop Entertaining
A lounge area lures guests to the rooftop terrace, which has views of the Long Island Sound.
Zen Feeling
“You feel a breath of fresh air when you walk in,” Wassong says. “The house keeps pulling you forward and drawing you in. It’s very relaxing and Zen.” Carefully planned vignettes throughout the house, such as this mix of tactile materials in the foyer — a cement-feel table, hair-on hide rug, velvet ottomans — add interest.
Gorgeous Neutrals
The overall palette for the house combines white, cream, beige, gray, and pops of blue — the couple’s favorite color. Highlights of the formal living room include slipper chairs upholstered in cotton velvet for “a watery look,” a custom coffee table designed by Wassong, and neutral walls that provide a backdrop for pieces from the couple’s extensive art collection.
Mixed Mediums
In the dining room, a solid walnut table, classic Saarinen chairs in durable ultrasuede, a lacquer and walnut sideboard, a custom light fixture, and a rolling bar cart invite family and friends to sit down and enjoy time together. The ceramic bottles on the windowsill were sourced in the Berkshires.
Secret Passageway
A vestibule off the bedroom conceals his and hers closets with frameless doors. “We wanted it to feel like a jewel box,” Wassong says.
Capture the Sunrise
It was important to the couple to be able to see the sunrise in the morning. Mission accomplished! The bed floats in the room and is tilted toward the windows. The window treatments in a purple gray, diaphanous fabric filter light filter into the seating area. The custom, oval nightstands feature docking drawers that are powered from the floor.
Bedroom Turned Den
An upstairs bedroom became a den with reupholstered furniture from the family’s previous house. The two chairs are from West Elm, and the corrugated copper light fixture hung over the pool table in the first house. “I thought it looked amazing in this space and added another color and texture,” Wassong says. The photographs were taken on the family’s African safari.
A Facelift in the Kitchen
The kitchen layout wasn’t changed, but cabinets were refinished from a purple blue shade to white. Wassong added new quartzite counters, seating, and lighting. The dark blue faux-leather seats are easy to clean, and the custom blue light fixture “draws your eye to a certain spot and also looks like a piece of art,” Wassong says.
Casual Look and Feel
“The family room is a great place for hanging out and being together,” Wassong says. The walnut coffee table has an oval carved into it, the small tables are from Design Within Reach and can be moved around. The rug is a piece of wall-to-wall carpeting that Wassong had bound. “It cuts down on cost when you’re working with a large size,” she says. “It’s durable and looks great.” Three photographs on the wall lend a serene feel.
Stairway to the Stars
This staircase goes all the way to the rooftop. Cubbies on the way up display books, art, and collections from the family’s travels. The open, wiry light fixture is made out of fiber and has one light bulb in the center. “It glows and looks like a big moon,” says Wassong.
The Team
Designer: Tami Wassong, Tami Wassong Interiors
Contractor: Hanley Group
Millwork and Built-Ins: Lauren Paul Woodworking
Related: This Scarsdale Bathroom Renovation Is Sophisticated and Zen
