Sound & Color
Scope: Foyer, Dining & Living Room, Primary Bedroom, Den
Location: Lakeville, CT
Photographer: Abby Cole
Stylist: Sophie Randall
Musical Narrative: Sound & Color, Alabama Shakes
This Lakeville lakeside retreat was reimagined with a fresh palette and thoughtful spatial planning, transforming a sun-filled home into a vibrant yet refined escape. By layering color, texture, and carefully scaled furnishings, the design brings warmth and personality to the interiors while avoiding traditional nautical references.
From the start, it was clear that the client was very interested in color but wasn’t quite sure how to express it within the space. Because this home serves as a lakeside retreat, we wanted to explore color in a thoughtful way while avoiding a Hamptons or nautical theme.
We began with the foyer, where the client expressed that they wanted something bright and colorful. By selecting a runner from Roger Oates and sconces from Pooky, we were able to achieve that goal and set the tone for the rest of the house.
Throughout the home, the existing wall paint was a beige tone that had not aged well, particularly with the amount of natural sunlight that pours into the space. We switched to a cooler gray, which immediately freshened the interior and provided a neutral base for the remaining updates.
In the Dining & Living room, we created a new layout that felt much more appropriate for the room’s proportions. Because the Living and Dining areas are open concept with very high ceilings, my goal was to fill the space with furniture in a way that felt intentional without making it feel crowded.
We replaced a sectional that was too small for the scale of the space, with an armless sofa, reused a pair of existing club chairs, reupholstering them in a Studio 4 NYC fabric, re-utilized the existing square burlwood coffee table, and finished off with a bench and two colorful ottomans.
The styling of the bookshelves by our stylist, Sophie Randall, ultimately became a defining element of this space.
In the bedroom, we completely reoriented the bed and introduced a subtle floral wallpaper. We added nightstands, Pooky table lamps, and a shearling chaise in the corner. One of the most charming features of this home are the series of small porthole-like windows scattered throughout the house. In this space, we chose to highlight them by placing a reading chaise nearby.
Finally, in the den, we embraced a moodier palette. The space plan was reworked to take advantage of an existing niche, which became the TV area, while the taxidermy was thoughtfully repositioned within the room. The walls were painted a deep, dark blue, creating a dramatic backdrop for the collection. To maximize seating, the existing sofa was replaced with a nearly wall-to-wall sectional, complemented by a few bean bag chairs for the kids. Underfoot, the wall-to-wall carpet was updated with a Missoni striped pattern in warm neutrals, while accents of mustard and brown were layered throughout to complete the space.
