You really want to walk in and say, ‘wow’ when you come home,” says Lynn Morgan, of Lynn Morgan Design, about what defines a successful interior. An easy task it seems for Morgan and her team including designer Jim Ribaudo, who are known for a traditional approach with a touch of whimsy and a colorful, coastal flair. When former clients approached her because they were empty nesters and downsizing—but wanted something completely different from their current interiors—Morgan and Ribaudo were up for the challenge.
The clients, relocating from Darien to Rowayton, found a shack on a sliver of land, tore it down and hired Darien architectural firm Bridger AAD to create an open-plan house made for entertaining. “They [the clients] came to us with a vision and wanted us to put it together for them,” says Ribaudo.
The couple wanted classic black and white, but they wanted it with a twist. “They are sophisticated and well traveled, they wanted black and white—chic and elegant but not stark and cold,” says Morgan. “They also love to entertain and are super fun people—they wanted the interior to reflect that. This was a departure for us, but we said: Bring it on.”
A Moke electric vehicle parked in front of the house is “like the exclamation point to the house,” says designer Lynn Morgan.
A custom black and white wool runner from A.T. Proudian covers the staircase, and the Champagne-glass art tucked under the staircase is custom through Lynn Morgan Design.
In the foyer, a sapphire blue mirror from Made Goods hangs above a custom Lynn Morgan Design black lacquer console.
A Williams Sonoma bench in the entry is upholstered in Clarence House’s cobalt Jammu boucle.
A Visual Comfort fixture that hangs over the kitchen island is a cheeky nod to Champagne bubbles; the bar stools are from RH.
A custom table with brass details was made by Old Mill Road Tables, and the channel-back banquette is covered in an Arnitex faux leather, while the chairs boast a C&C Milano performance weave.
Office furnishings include a Laura Davidson desk chair, while a Caroline Cecil wallpaper covers the ceiling.
In the living room, a Caroline Cecil fabric through Lee Jofa covers the club chairs, while the custom sectional wears a Perennials fabric, and the rug is through Stark.
The living room doors open completely up to the outside.
The backyard features a pool and plenty of lounge seating.
The pool house doubles as a bar for entertaining.
The primary bedroom windows are dressed in a print from Schumacher, the rug is through Stark, and Robert Abbey lamps top Jonathan Adler side tables.
Custom hot pink stools accent the guest room; the mirror is from Pottery Barn.
In the guest bath, a striped shower plays well with the clients’ choice of bathmats.
The foyer floor is clad in black-and-white checkerboard and opens up into the back of the staircase. Its underside is painted white, and once the full stairs are revealed, it presents as more of a graphic sculpture, with black metal stringer, risers and treads covered in a cabana-stripe runner. Through the entrance, a glimpse of the pool in the back is visible, which the designers used as a jumping point to punctuate the palette with blue hues. “They aren’t afraid of color,” says Morgan. “And you can’t do a house in a coastal town without a little blue!” Ribaudo adds: “We kept the palette limited but did want to have some fun. Upstairs, we punched the primary bedroom up with turquoise and a guest room with hot pink.”
Coffered ceilings and a Venetian plaster fireplace in the living room add some serious architectural detail, but Morgan and Ribaudo’s mix of fabric and scale keep the room from feeling formal. A graphic Caroline Cecil print covers a pair of arm chairs and repeats itself on pillows on the white sectional in a performance fabric. The small scale balances the cabana stripe on the porch awning, which NanaWall doors open on to. “This couple is fun and sophisticated, and the house reflects that,” says Morgan.
A dining nook has a custom oak table with brass details and a Caesarstone top. “It’s yachty but also modern,” notes Ribaudo. The channel-back banquette is covered in faux navy leather, while an asymmetrical light fixture with hand-blown discs that mimic the delicate curve of a Champagne coupe hangs above.
“It’s essentially all one space, and everything had to speak and relate to each other,” says Morgan. “They want everyone to have a good time and feel comfortable.” The designers did indeed have fun with the lighting: In the kitchen and foyer, glass globe fixtures sparkle like Champagne bubbles, and a glass lighting fixture cascades from the wallpaper-covered ceiling in the office.
In the back, a pool with black and white tile at the waterline is bookended by a chic pool house. “It’s animated, but it’s also quiet in a nice way,” says Ribaudo. “This project was a departure in the way we do things, and it was nice to have something somewhat unidentifiable to LMD. The clients brought their vision and were so easy to work with.” Morgan adds, “I love being pushed in a different direction.” Her favorite thing about the project? “When you walk in, you say: ‘WOW.’”