An Interior Designer Turns a Historic Tudor Into a Bright, Kid-Friendly Space

Designer Courtney Sempliner spent seven years in London — where she earned a master’s degree from the Chelsea College of Art & Design and tackled high-profile commercial and residential interior design projects around the world — before she and her husband, William, decided to move back home to the States. A 1920s Tudor on the north shore of Long Island offered them the best of both worlds: proximity to loved ones and New York City and the English-cottage charm they had enjoyed on weekends in the Cotswolds.

It also offered less-desirable features like ill-advised renovations and outdated features, so Courtney threw herself into making her new home a perfect fit for her growing family (she and William have sons Augie and George, now six and four, as well as Cockapoo Blueberry [left] and Irish doodle Rory [right]). She preserved its Old World romance by streamlining rather than gutting it — and the bright, cozy result is just right. Come on in for a closer look.

“This family room is really the heart of our home and where we spend the most of our time as a family, so we wanted it to be cozy and inviting for all ages, but without sacrificing style,” Courtney says. The sectional sofa is from Interior Define — it was very important to me that the sofa had a fitted back and seat, which meant it would always look relatively tidy since the kids couldn’t throw the cushions everywhere. The ottoman is one of my favorite pieces ever.”

“The vintage US school map was a find from a garage sale in Brooklyn from twenty years ago, now reframed in a large acrylic box. This piece definitely helped to inspire the color palette of the space,” Courtney says. As for another significant subject of this shot — her 13-year-old Cockapoo, Blueberry — what would Courtney say to someone who doesn’t let their dog sit on their furniture? “You only live once! Enjoy the cozy snuggles and furniture can be cleaned!”

Styling shelves to be easy on the eyes, personal and practical is no mean feat — nor is it a decorating move that should feel set in stone. Courtney isn’t shy about rearranging her displays (those clever linen-bound versions of Scrabble and Clue disguised as books, for example, move all over the place). “This space rotates constantly, as I’m always coming across new pieces that I love and want to incorporate,” she says. “It’s definitely a challenge to strike a balance between the shelves, and mix personal items such as family photos with decor and accessories. I love books in general and love the layers they add to shelving, and these books were selected for both color and size.”