When it comes to her bold, graffiti-style paintings, Jenn Lewis clearly has a distinctive style. Here’s how interior designer Lynn Biase helped bring that outsized creative spirit to the artist’s new home in West Harrison.
Mixed media artist Jenn Lewis is known for her vibrant, often provocative, paintings and collages. “Jenn has an elevated sense of style,” says designer Lynn Biase, “and she’s not afraid to take risks, in her art or in her home. She likes to make a statement.” Lewis bought a new home and wanted it to be a fun and comfortable space for herself and her two teenagers—as well as a place where she could host casual get-togethers and holidays. Having worked with Biase on her previous home, Lewis called on the designer again to reinvent the rooms and create a family-friendly design.
The home’s layout naturally lends itself to entertaining, with airy rooms that are all connected. High ceilings and expansive windows make them feel sunny and light—ideal for displaying artwork. Every piece in the home is by Lewis, who says, “some of the rooms almost felt like they were designed for it; the colors that Lynn used really lent themselves to my work. It felt really organic.”
Though the spaces reflect Lewis’ unique contemporary aesthetic, Biase was able to work with some existing design features in the home. “I’m a big believer in the high/low approach,” says Biase, who often creates custom pieces to get just the right look but loves using a mix of sources in her projects. In the foyer, she kept the natural grass cloth wallpaper from the prior owner and designed a custom graphic stair runner to make a dramatic splash. The bold carpet stretches into the upstairs landing, where she created a special family area. Lewis’ son loves playing chess, so Biase found a games table with a built-in board and outfitted the shelving behind it with sculptural accessories from Current Home.
“Jenn has an elevated sense of style,“ says designer Lynn Biase, “and she’s not afraid to take risks in her art or in her home. She likes to make a statement.”
In the formerly neutral powder room off the foyer, an arched Arteriors mirror and patterned wallpaper from Kelly Wearstler totally transformed the space. Biase made little swaps with big impact in the kitchen, including a unique black and brass faucet and modern black hardware and pendant lights over the island. Biase suggested the bright yellow chairs in the kitchen breakfast area—a departure from the grays Lewis tends to go for. “It’s gorgeous, and really adds life to the room,” says Lewis. They also brought the sunny hue into the adjoining family room with fluffy throw pillows. Lewis wanted a soft place to put her feet up, so Biase created a custom coffee table with a fabric center to match the large cream-colored sofa from RH.
The sunny dining room features watercolor-inspired wallpaper from Emma Hayes that complements the tones of gray in the table and the light fixture. Dining chairs from Arhaus offer a glint of antique brass that add spark to the neutral palette. In the living room, Biase began her design theme with another bold wallpaper, and brought in a comfortable, rust-colored sectional for visual contrast.
Several of Lewis’ pieces hang in her office, which Biase painted a cool gray that both creates a perfect backdrop to her work and highlights the sheen of the walnut desk and the texture of the wool patterned rug. Off the serene primary bedroom, a sitting room features Lewis’ painting of a bookshelf that looks made for the space.
The family is delighted with the results. “Lynn really helped me accomplish this very fresh, new, and warm home,” says Lewis. “It feels like I’ve always lived here.”
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