A punch of color comes in the way of a custom designed and made built-in coat and storage unit painted in Benjamin Moore’s lively Citrus Burst 364. Made in Spain, the random pattern of the Riazza Hex by Soho Studio flooring offers the look of poured terrazzo. The stylized floral wallpaper in the bath is Mythic Black Floral by Brewster.
Among the greatest chameleons as far as color schemes go, black and white in combination can be and do just about anything. In a home design for a young family with a modern and playful style, designer Nina Seed used the power combo to create varied areas that run the gamut from sophisticated adult spaces to family-oriented places to gather to playful spots with a kids-first spirit.
“This was about re-inventing a well-loved, dated home for its new owners, a young family whose style is modern and playful,” explains Seed, who is principal of Nina Seed Interiors. “We wanted to run with a predominantly black and white scheme that would also be warm enough to make this an inviting and approachable home for years to come.” The designer notes livelier elements of color, pattern, and texture were woven into the house’s overarching palette to showcase the family’s fun and bold style. The goal was to make “each space unique and specific to them, while making sure nothing was too precious and would be able to withstand young children and animals.”
In the kitchen, classic white cabinets gain some glamour with soft gold hardware that is echoed in the black tile’s gold studs.
The kitchen, bathrooms, and mudroom were gutted and redesigned to address function as well as aesthetics, like the kitchen’s black tile backsplash, which gains wow factor with its gold stud accents, and the dog feeding and watering station that was incorporated into the design.
In the communal space that incorporates the dining room, kitchen, and family room, the use of color is more restrained, but bold patterns and interesting materials in the window treatments, upholstery fabrics, wallpapers, and artwork give the space its personalized feel. “In the family room, it was important to sit as many as possible and as comfortably as possible while making sure that smaller pieces in the scheme were child friendly,” the designer details.
Designed for gathering, the Crate & Barrel sofa in custom fabric offers ample seating, while the shining kidney bean coffee table from Phillips Collection and the sleek Livello side table from CB2 lend sophistication to a comfortable space.
“Every client comes to the table with a creative wish list. It’s always about how you collaborate and communicate with the client in order to uncover their best vision and execute it in a polished and exemplary manner.” — Nina Seed
Continuing the theme, a sleek chandelier from the Nodes collection by Kelly Wearstler for Visual Comfort casts a modern glow over the dining space.
“It’s important in any decorating scheme to keep some theme or repetition in communal spaces,” Seed says of the black and white base, “but as a complement to that, there are always separate spaces or rooms where one can pull in unexpected elements that create a special moment. These are often areas where I push clients a little out of their comfort zone and invariably those spots end up being the most loved by clients.”
Spaces for young girls to grow into, the kids’ rooms continue with the black and white scheme, with more feminine and playful touches peppered throughout. The patterned paper on the ceiling (right) is Pompeii by Savannah Hayes.
For this young family, the cohesive base palette will allow them to make changes to their home along the way without having to work a complete redesign. “It was a question of balancing some invigorating ideas that would retain their impact over time without being or becoming immature,” Seed shares. “Even in the young girls’ bedrooms, where we have layered pattern, the selections we made will allow the rooms to develop over time as the girls age and still retain that unique vibe.”
Photography by Tamara Flanagan.
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