“The timing of this project aligned with a really meaningful chapter in my clients’ lives,” notes designer Calla Cane, who helped a young couple give their Greenwich home an update they can grow into. The house was built in the mid-1990s and was due for a renovation to accommodate the lifestyle of the couple, their two dogs, and their first baby on the way. “They had a clear vision for how they wanted to live,” explains Cane, and it centered around spending time with their growing family and friends.
Cane worked with TP Greer Architects and builder Jon Cebulski on a major overhaul to improve flow and function. They expanded the narrow footprint and created a more open floorplan that supports the togetherness sought by the clients. New windows admit abundant natural light and also allow the homeowners to enjoy better views of their property. “Every single wall of the house was removed,” says Cebulski. “It was basically a new house built around the old one.”
The kitchen is a gracious gathering space, with double islands and barstools for relaxed meals. Since it’s open to the living room, Cane created thoughtful closed storage solutions, so every pan, pot and utensil has a place, and things always look organized and pulled together. Caesarstone countertops were chosen for their ability to stand up to future school art projects and mealtime spills. Cane also carried that durability into the rest of the house, choosing more forgiving fabrics and colors for the areas where kids and dogs would be spending the most time.
The kitchen countertops are Caesarstone, and the sink is illuminated by a DeVOL lighting fixture.
In the library, a Herman Miller chair is paired with an Audo side table.
In the wife’s office, glass sconces by Sophie Lou Jacobsen from In Common With flank a mirror from Pamono. Custom candle sticks from the Shop at Calla Cane top a dramatic marble fireplace mantel.
Cane worked with Arden + White Gallery to source much of the artwork, such as Luke Diiorio’s Concord Waters, where it’s paired with a sculptural light fixture from In Common With.
The design for the husband’s office includes a Gubi chair from Design Within Reach.
An Elsa Foulon lighting fixture through 1stDibs sets the tone in the primary bedroom, which is grounded by a plush wool rug from Armadillo.
In the living room, the chair is from Matter, the vase on the table is by Cym Warkov, the pillows are by Sien + Co., and the rug is through Armadillo.
The client found the vintage clawfoot tub in the primary bath from the Round Top Antiques Show.
The primary bedroom suite was also thoughtfully planned. For these homeowners who love to read, the team transformed a hexagonally shaped bathroom off the primary bedroom into a two-story library with dark wood paneling. “The vertical nature of the space allows it to feel both cozy and expansive at the same time,” says the designer. To soften the room’s angles, Cane outfitted it with shapely furniture pieces like a Herman Miller lounge chair and rounded marble side table. Additionally, a door was added from the primary suite directly into the nursery to make middle-of-the-night wakeups with a newborn a little easier to manage.
Though the design is clean and modern, Cane leaned into a warmer neutral palette to make the spaces comfortable and inviting. The homeowners were inspired by the “cultivated wild” interiors they saw at the Hudson Valley hotel Inness, and as a result Cane incorporated more details like molding, trim and dramatic marble to deliver that refined rustic charm and coziness. “It’s quiet but layered,” says Cane. “We worked in textures and colors that would be easy to live with.” The wife is a lover of antique and vintage finds, and enjoyed searching for special pieces for her home, including the clawfoot tub in the primary bathroom, which she found at the Round Top Antiques Show in Texas.
Those personal touches bring unique character to a project, and Cane’s curated design is meant to welcome more additions in the future. “One of the things I really enjoy as a designer is leaving room for homeowners to grow into their spaces and personalize them over time,” she says. In the library, art sconces are ready to highlight pieces still to be collected by the couple. A wall in the mudroom was left blank for a future mosaic of framed children’s artwork.
With more change on the horizon for the homeowners, they now have a home that will serve as a beautiful backdrop to the evolution of their family, with lots of room to live and grow.
