The owners of this century-old home were captivated by its historic charm when they first moved there in 2014, but it took a renovation and redesign to make it really feel like their own. Though they have an affinity for older homes and love the character that age brings to this house, they found that some of the dated and closed-off spaces didn’t suit the lifestyle of their energetic young family.
“We were looking for a balance between style and practicality,” says the homeowner, “something beautiful yet durable and compatible with the pace of family life.” So they enlisted designer Kristen Kells, an expert in creating family spaces, who got their vision right away. “I have young children myself, and it impacts almost every decision I make as a designer,” says Kells.
To achieve that perfect balance of form and function, Kells and her clients spent time thinking through how each space worked in the present, and how the home would grow along with the couple’s two school-age daughters. The clients had already opened the kitchen to the family room since moving in, and Kells helped them make the area into a sunny, modern gathering place that encourages conversation. She improved the flow and use of the space with a new furniture layout and additional seating around a big, circular wood coffee table. “We’re in love with the new family room,” says the homeowner. “It’s warm and welcoming, the lighting is perfect, and the large coffee table has become the centerpiece of most evening activities.”
Kells incorporated durable, easy-to-clean performance fabrics everywhere, and stayed away from too many hard corners or edges. “I like family spaces to have a softness,” she says. The color palette also reflects that ethos, with calm blues and grays taking turns as the dominant hue. In the dining room, a new table from Lulu and Georgia is complemented by the clients’ existing dining chairs, reupholstered in a dusty blue performance fabric from Stout Textiles. Custom window treatments elevate the space with a perfectly coordinated pattern that picks up the blue from the chairs. It feels elegant enough for a grown-up dinner, but still appropriate—and properly stain-resistant—to host Friday night pizza parties.
Across the hall in the living room, Kells added millwork in a nod to the architecture of the original home, and treated the walls and trim to Benjamin Moore’s cool-toned Bachelor Blue. The Fabricut sofas are clad in gray performance fabric, which makes this living room much less formal and well, more livable. “Kristen’s design transformed it into a space that feels open, inviting, and spacious,” says the homeowner. They find themselves using it even more than expected. Kells also relocated the off-center fireplace to create better balance and symmetry in the room, and the homeowners now regularly enjoy family time by a crackling fire on chilly evenings.
The color palette is soft, with calm blues and grays taking turns as the dominant hue.
For Kells, customizing spaces for her clients also means curating an artful mix of high and low, which keeps rooms looking polished without being overly precious. A sturdy and stylish sideboard looks great while concealing board games and spare china—but if your kids are still using your couch cushions for fort-building, it may be smart to skip the designer pillows for a few more years.
Even so, “kids don’t stay little for long, so, you need rooms that are going to grow with them,” adds Kells. The playroom is a perfect example. Right now, it’s more of an activity room, with games, art supplies, and a performing space. Since both girls are into theater and love putting on shows, Kells created a stage with a curtain and a built-in bench across the room where their parents can watch their performances. But as they grow up, they’ll be able to use the space for homework, hangouts with friends, and more. “We’re excited to see how it evolves over time,” says the homeowner. Kells added storage everywhere she could, including under the built-in “theater seating” bench. A washable rug from Ruggable can weather any art project, and the color on the pretty blue cabinets (Benjamin Moore’s Harbor Haze) is a classic that will be on-trend forever.
“Kristen’s design transformed it into a space that feels open, inviting, and spacious.”
In the primary suite, Kells took advantage of the opportunity to skip the kid-friendly fabrics and create a luxurious oasis. She pulled in the colors from the sky, lawn, and a big, beautiful cherry blossom tree just outside the window to inspire her happy palette. Walls painted in Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee are trimmed in Buxton Blue, selected to match the custom Lee Jofa window treatments. Curvy green bedside lamps flank a bed from Maiden Home, with a blue velvet headboard and lots of plush pillows from Serena & Lily. “It’s a very calm but joyful room,” says Kells.
The ensuite bath got a major upgrade too, with a custom-made double vanity in white oak, a soaking tub, and textured vinyl wallpaper from Phillip Jeffries. A new custom closet completes the luxurious space.
“The house has a sense of polish, but there’s a casual comfort and usability with everything,” says Kells. It also feels just right for her clients—who now truly have not just a house, but a very personal, family-friendly home.
“It’s warm and welcoming, the lighting is perfect, and the large coffee table has become a centerpiece of most evening activities.”
Related: This Historic Home in Larchmont Receives a Family-Friendly Update
