Contemporary and classic elements work together harmoniously in this elegant Long Island home that was re-designed and decorated by designer Jennifer Cohler Mason. We spoke with Jennifer about what went into the design process in creating this warm and comfortable space.
ASPIRE: If you could start off by discussing the materials used throughout the home. The wood on the floors and the ceiling of the living room certainly stand out, as well as the tile in the bathroom. What sort of tone do you think the materials convey throughout the house?
Jennifer Cohler Mason: We wanted the materials we used throughout the house to feel organic, as though they have always been there. The wood beams on the living room ceiling were existing, we decided to embrace them and refinished them in a dark stain. We replaced all of the flooring with wide plank repurposed wood in a dark stain to play off of the beams on the ceiling. We designed the master bathroom as a wet room, the walls and floors are all clad in a large scale ocean blue vein tile, two oversized rain heads are the center of attention in the shower and a double cantilevered vanity made of black resin ground the space.
ASPIRE: How do the textures and color palettes of the furniture add to the tone established from the building materials?
Jennifer: We wanted the furniture to relate to the organic feel of the rest of the house and did so by using linens and other natural fabrics and materials in a neutral color palette to reflect the colors in nature outside the house.
ASPIRE: What was your inspiration/goal in designing this space?
Jennifer: The house is a weekend getaway for a NYC couple, we wanted the home to feel warm and inviting, a place where the owners could feel transported once inside. We totally gutted and reimagined the interior while keeping the quirky stucco exterior, immediately upon entering you feel enveloped by the warmth of materials, textures and the beautiful grounds surrounding the home.
ASPIRE: What are some of your personal favorite elements used in the home?
Jennifer: The custom branch light fixture we designed for the living room, the oversized custom limestone fireplace in the living room, the floating staircase and the tumbled stone tile floor in the family room and kitchen which feels like it came straight out of a villa in Tuscany.
Photography by Marco Ricca.
For more like this Long Island home, be sure to check out this London townhouse.
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