For their longtime clients, designers Cami Luppino and Alana Irwin created a sophisticated home in Rye with something special in every single space. The lulu HOME duo had gotten to know the couple and their four young children while working on their previous home, and this one, with its generous proportions and abundance of natural sunlight, called for a pared-down design and a soothing color palette that wraps the homeowners in style and comfort. “They are such an active family, we wanted to give them a refuge,” says Luppino. She and Irwin tweaked architectural plans to make the layout a bit more open, while making sure that each room maintained its own identity. Though every space has a “wow” moment, the designers kept the overall vibe very cohesive with repeating motifs and colors, and a largely neutral palette with some touches of deeper tones throughout.
They treated the lighting as artwork, sourcing pieces from all over the world, to complement the rest of the curated art collection they created with commissioned pieces. And though the design feels very elevated, they made family-friendly choices with fabrics and furniture. It’s architectural but breezy, edited but cozy. “What we put in every room was really artful,” says Irwin. “It’s very purposefully less is more.”
Kitchen/Great Room
Sleek stone in the kitchen and great room helps integrate the connected but separate spaces. The designers didn’t want any seams in the marble waterfall-edge island, so they designed the length based on the largest slab they could find. The homeowners spend a lot of time in this space having family dinners and entertaining friends, so Luppino and Irwin were very thoughtful about making everyday flatware and glasses easily accessible. The kitchen opens to a great room with lots of vertical drama, from the Parisian alabaster-and-leather light fixture hanging from the wood plank ceilings to the floor-to-ceiling limestone fireplace. Sheer, automated drapery from Holly Hunt diffuses the light from the full-height windows across the back of the house.
Desk Area
Off the main hallway, the designers gave the busy mom of four a command center carved out of the main circulation space of the home. The tonal mix of light and dark wood shelves and a modern black-and-white chair in a slim silhouette gives her a polished perch where she can answer emails and manage schedules while keeping an eye on what’s happening in the rest of the house.
Entryway
The architectural white-oak and metal staircase connects all three levels of the home and highlights the mix of lighter materials and deeper tones used throughout the design. Though lighter, airy colors make the spaces feel fresh and open, Irwin and Luppino used richer patinas to ground the rooms. Across the hallway, a custom-designed bronze-and-oak console sits in front of an oak feature wall with matching oak-cased openings to the formal entertaining room on either side. The custom rug, also a mix of light and dark, was custom-made by Fayette Studio in Greenwich.
Butler’s Pantry
The butler’s pantry houses some of the less-used dining ware, crystal, and wine glasses, but its proximity to the dining room makes everything easy to retrieve for holidays and more formal entertaining. A hand-painted custom wallcovering from Holland & Sherry adds a little marble-like texture to the cabinets, painted in Farrow & Ball’s Pitch Black.
Dining Room
Striking and subtle details mix in this space off the entry. A stunning temperature-controlled wine room feels like an architectural feature, and for the collector couple, allows them to grab a fresh bottle without leaving the party. The walls are adorned in a soft suede, and chairs are covered in a subtle ombre mohair, with each chair a slightly different shade. The dark dining table was designed by lulu HOME for the homeowners’ previous house and continues to be the scene of many family meals and holiday gatherings. Floating above is an intersecting light fixture of glass and leather, which gives the room a little grit in a refined silhouette.
Primary Bedroom Suite
Lulu HOME decorated this restful retreat with a very tonal palette and lots of custom-designed texture. A hand-knotted rug created with L&M Carpets and an oversized headboard in a sumptuous mohair brings the luxury, and an ombre bed throw breaks up the lighter hues. Generously sized leather-front custom nightstands with ochre horn-and-brass pulls have lots of space for storage, plus integrated USB charging. Two swivel chairs mark the entrance to the sitting room, where the couple can grab a midnight snack from the mini-fridge or a morning espresso from the built-in coffee station. The ensuite bath has a hand-applied limewash on the walls, and features a floating tub, storage niche for towels, and oversized limestone slabs on the floor and shower walls. Linen curtains from Rosemary Hallgarten add a touch of color. “We love putting drapery in the primary bathroom,” says Luppino. “It really softens up the space.”
Formal Entertaining Room
This room used primarily for entertaining and cocktails by the fireplace is a master class in “less is more.” The designers used a beautiful, leathered Taj Mahal quartzite for the large fireplace surround and floating benches, and repeated patterns with an expert eye. A showstopping light fixture hangs above an intersecting pair of coffee tables by Lee Broom, both echoing the style of the overlapping dining room chandelier. Touches of sage green in the glass side tables, artwork, and custom carpet deepen the creamy oatmeal palette. On one wall, artist Lindsay Chambers’ “Love Note” took inspiration from the couple’s wedding vows. “The power of the room is in the restraint,” says Irwin.
Home Office
A muted Phillip Jeffries grass cloth wallcovering and deep navy rug give the husband’s office a very executive, professional look. The space was laid out so that he could work at his desk, or swivel around to enjoy the view outside. Newsy artwork by Paul Rousso adds a splash of color and personality.
Lower-Level Bar
The speakeasy-like lower-level bar is a fun surprise for guests and a great place for after-dinner drinks or entertaining. Dark stone, chic furnishings, and mood lighting make it feel like a really special spot. The large, four-seat bar and the caramel-colored floor-to-ceiling upholstered banquet have space for more friends to relax and continue dinner-party conversation over a cocktail.
