It’s a testament to our trust in interior designers that we’ve had them on hand for almost 20 years, not just to help with your home’s initial renovation, but to help you upgrade your space as needed. .
Designer Emily Winters Posselt of Peabody’s Interiors not only helped the home’s owners renovate it 20 years ago, but she has also watched the home and the family within it grow and evolve. So when the young family she designed their first home for grew up, it was only natural that they embarked on a second major renovation for this new stage of life.
(Image credit: Margaret Radzik)
“They have been my long-time customers and their children are now grown and out of the house. I have had the privilege of watching it grow,” Emily explains.
“They originally hired me years ago to help furnish the house and make things more functional for the ever-changing needs of their young family.” After many years and collaborative projects, it was time to reimagine the kitchen, dining room, and master bedroom.”
“With four kids growing up there, the house was looking a little tired. This space needed a breath of fresh air and the sophisticated approach that came with designing for an empty nester.” Their thinking may change from, “What is best for my child?” “What would best fit this house?” And what would bring the most interest?”
(Image credit: Margaret Radzic)
The 4,500-square-foot home was originally a convent built in the 1930s, but Emily renovated it decades ago and, as she said, has been close to her family, it’s already familiar territory. It had become. This time, the homeowners wanted to renovate the house to make it suitable for hosting their children (now grown and moved out) and grandchildren.
“The master bedroom needed an overhaul as there was no closet space and the master bathroom lacked both vanity storage and a proper shower.The kitchen seemed very disconnected from the rest of the house. It felt like the dining room was almost unused,” explains Emily.
Emily says her client loves to cook and entertain, so the kitchen and dining room were at the top of their renovation list. We needed better flow between the two spaces so we could host, prepare, and socialize at the same time
“My client loves entertaining, is a great cook, and wanted a comfortable space to cook and entertain,” Emily explains. “As her children are now raising their own children, she envisions a more open dining room in the kitchen, sophisticated enough for formal entertaining but comfortable enough for everyday life. Her words were: Do what you do best!
(Image credit: Margaret Radzik)
“The sink, range, and refrigerator were in their original locations, but the rest of the kitchen was extensively remodeled. The old kitchen had two small island carts, but we got rid of them and replaced them with storage and seating. We installed one long kitchen island with a 4-foot opening in the dining room to create a more natural flow between the two spaces,” says Emily.
“We added a bar sink to the kitchen and created a walk-in pantry/wine storage just beyond the kitchen. The original kitchen had rotating cabinets to create a cooking area and then a separate coffee/wine storage The way we created the kitchen and baking area made it feel like two separate spaces, with cabinetry around the perimeter of the kitchen and an island in the middle, leaving a dedicated area for tasks but still cohesive. We were able to create a space that
(Image credit: Margaret Radzik)
“To create a more sophisticated look, we did away with the small mosaic tile floor in favor of high-contrast marble flooring.The dark cabinet color (Sherwin Williams SW7069 Iron Ore) was selected for Mainly because I wanted something very classic rather than white.The kitchen we worked on previously was navy, so black seemed like a natural choice. “I thought so,” Emily continues.
“Except for the metal tile on the coffee bar sink, most of the countertops and backsplash are quartzite. We thought the backsplash could be a neutral spot in the room for the eye to rest. We thought, “A different pattern here would distract from the moment created by the floor and ceiling patterns.” We worked with local craftsmen to create the range hood and island seating edges. I made the metal leg detail.
(Image credit: Margaret Radzik)
The clients loved color and pattern, so as well as making the home more practical and suitable for the whole family, Emily wanted a place that could reflect their bold tastes. Under her guidance, they chose gorgeous Thibault wallpaper to bring drama to the kitchen ceiling, and the high-contrast marble tiles on the floor nearly mirrored that pattern onto the floor.
“In both spaces, we wanted to add pattern to the ceilings (in the kitchen and new dressing room) and the walls to be primarily woodwork or cabinetry to add warmth and texture to the spaces.” Both spaces had an edge to them. I needed some kind of pattern to add to it. Ceilings are often overlooked, but I find that doing something unexpected with them can add a lot of visual interest. ”
(Image credit: Margaret Radzik)
“We wanted to respect the bones of the Tudor home, so we tried to avoid incorporating anything that felt ‘too old and stuffy’ or ‘too new and modern.’ It’s a delicate balance! We also worked hard to find the best way to incorporate storage in a visually pleasing way. Our amazing architect, Meg Baniukewicz, helped us create beautiful storage solutions,” Emily adds.
(Image credit: Margaret Radzik)
“What I loved most about this whole project was the excitement it brought to the client. Our long-standing relationship gave us the creative freedom and license that doesn’t come with every project. The result was a space that was very reflective of my client and her personality, adding even more excitement to the finished product.”
