An Outdated Colonial Home Is Reborn to Suit a Young Family’s Needs

This historic Connecticut estate has a fun and modern interior perfect for contemporary family life.

January 04, 2021

By: Meredith Rosenberg

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Photo By: Wes Tarca

21st Century Living

When a young family decided to buy Stone Lawn, a 1910 Colonial Revival in Greenwich, Connecticut, they knew it would require a major overhaul. Designer Susan Alisberg from Alisberg Parker took the lead on the massive project, helping to reshape it to suit 21st century needs while preserving its historic character.

Clean Contemporary

Designer Susan Alisberg is a firm believer in first impressions, so she opted for a simple color palette and curated decor in the foyer as a proper introduction to the home's clean and contemporary design aesthetic. She also wanted to highlight the home's original staircase.

High Drama

"The existing main staircase of the house is an architectural triumph, and the only element of the project that was kept as is," Alisberg says. But preserving it meant an intensive restoration effort. The finished result provides high drama, while the contemporary stair runner and gem-shaped light fixtures bring it into the modern age.

Form Meets Function

Beyond the foyer and staircase, Alisberg helped redo the entire 12,600-square-foot home. "It had undergone several renovations over the years, which left it with a series of poor architectural decisions, each one compounding the last and creating a tortured interior totally unsuited to today’s lifestyle," Alisberg explains.

The kitchen is a great example of what a young modern family needs, from its open layout to plentiful seating. "A sociable kitchen is the heart of every home," Alisberg says. In this situation, that meant adding a curved banquette and oval Saarinen table, perfect for quick breakfasts and casual meals.

Color Infusion

This kitchen's practicality continues with a large island that functions as both prep space and informal eating area. But practical doesn't have to mean boring, and Alisberg wanted the kitchen to be beautiful as well. Here, the white elements and marble counter provide an elevated feel to an otherwise hard-working space.

Though subtle, blue shelves inside the glass-front cabinets are an unexpected way to infuse some bold color into an otherwise simple palette (along with the green-lined light fixtures and blue-and-green elephant window shades). The kitchen is a good preview for how the rest of the home is decorated.

Learn More : 58 White Kitchens That Are Anything But Vanilla

Quiet Sophistication

"They say the devil is in the details," Alisberg notes, and this is where nods to the home's original architecture come into play. Though the refrigerator and freezer seamlessly blend into the wall, a closer look reveals a custom grille pattern above them. Alisberg explains this pattern comes from the original windows.

She points out that the same pattern appears on the glass cabinet doors. "This echo of pattern brings unity to the design as a whole, and is a level of quiet sophistication that belies an otherwise simple-looking design," she says.

Learn More : 30 Luxury, Sophisticated Kitchen Designs

Luxe Layers

"Every grand house deserves a grand dining room," Alisberg opines. She pulled that off here by carefully layering paneled walls and draperies to add depth and texture. Compared to the kitchen, a stronger green appears here, and provides a nice contrast against the darker walls.

Calming Effect

Alisberg broadened the green theme into the chic living room to add some life. For extra interest, the green is complemented by black-and-white decor, texture and a geometric-patterned rug. (Watch out for the bursts of orange to appear elsewhere.) Though there's a lot of visual interest happening, the overall effect is actually calming.

Learn More : 13 Refreshing Ways to Decorate With Apple Green

Larger Than Life

"Well-chosen art will always lend a space real character," Alisberg advises. She points to this large pair of monochrome knights in the living room as an example. "They add interest, yet also blend perfectly with the decor, adding depth to the room's appeal rather than fighting for dominance." Well-chosen art is also the perfect conversation starter when hosting guests.

Learn More : Start With Art: How to Use Wall Art to Decorate Any Space

Family-Friendly

The family room offers a more casual environment, but still features fun decor like this quirky light fixture and green pillows. Undoubtedly the fireplace is the main focal point, thanks to dark gray painted millwork panels and a modern stone fireplace surround.

Originally an addition that connected the home's formal and informal spheres, this space now leads to the screened-in porch that has become a popular hangout for the family.

Color Contrast

This cute room used to be a narrow porch, so Alisberg's team decided it would work better as an intimate sitting room. "It is a great place to read a book on one’s own, or entertain a small gathering away from the main throng of a big party," she says. Like the living room, the contemporary artwork is attention-grabbing, plus it adds just the right amount of color.

Orange Crush

Heading upstairs to the master bedroom (one of seven bedrooms), a strong orange replaces the green shades favored downstairs. "The stunning orange window treatments are all the color needed in the otherwise calm and natural space," Alisberg says.

Learn More : 15 New Ways to Decorate With Orange

Parisian Fantasy

Welcome to this home's dream bathroom, modeled after a Parisian hotel. "A master bathroom should be elegant, sophisticated and above all, luxurious," Alisberg says. The Parisian mood is channeled via rich marble walls and mirrored vanity, while the free-standing, nickel-plated tub provides a touch of whimsy. "The Albert Hadley-inspired zig-zag floor motif adds some fun and brings us back to Connecticut," she adds.

Detail-Oriented

Talk about attention to detail — the custom vanity and medicine cabinets used a stain-grade oak that was tinted to match the veins in the marble. Beyond that, Alisberg notes how the mirrored surfaces enlarge and lighten the space: "Sometime the oldest tricks are the most effective," she says.

Butterfly Magic

Orange continues in the child's bedroom, which "should be an aspirational space to fire the imagination of a young mind," Alisberg says. "What could do the job better than a wall of multicolored butterflies? The pinks and oranges from the Schumacher wall covering are echoed in the window treatments, the bespoke bedding and the upholstery to bind the whole room together."

Pretty Pastels

Alisberg opted for a muted pastel palette and high-end linens in this guest room. "It’s a host's job to entertain their guests, but they should also be given a feeling of comfort and relaxation when on their own," she says. The decor is also a good example of how a neutral color scheme isn't limited to beige or gray.

Learn More : 35 Tips for Turning Your Guest Bedroom Into a Retreat

Primary Playroom

Alisberg helped to make this playroom feel both sophisticated and fun. "A children’s playroom should be a blank canvas for the imagination — the primary colors in a bright sunny space make this room feel open and inviting," she says. The rug is a nice contrast to the color, and is reminiscent of the one used in the living room. Besides putting careful thought into the colors, Alisberg chose built-in storage cabinets for toys and games, freeing up valuable floor space.

Learn More : Kid-Approved Playrooms That Grown-Ups Love Too

Welcome Addition

The backyard reveals a generous balcony addition outside of the master bedroom and a spacious patio below. Though hidden, the patio structure includes motorized screens to keep bugs out in the summer.

Family Favorite

Taking a closer look at the patio, the brick fireplace is an attention grabber, and allows the space to be used beyond summer. It's nicely framed by light fixtures that channel a medieval vibe. This comfortable and inviting dining area is completed by a small bar for maximum convenience.

In fact, the family cites this spot as one of their favorite parts about the renovation, and fans and heaters ensure its use (almost) year-round.