So long to gaming consoles and homework nooks—these new empty nesters gave their home a face-lift with serene colors, inviting reading corners and everything else necessary for an adult oasis.
Mixing patterns and rich colors, the designer weaved in artistic elements like blue velvet chairs and fun curtains.
After 30 years as a family home for their two children, this project needed a revamp for the clients’ empty nester lifestyle. Enter Mary Maloney of Bee’s Knees Interior Design (beeskneesinteriordesign.com), who took the house from kid-friendly to the ideal adult sanctuary. “Updated, warm, welcoming, not fussy, not too formal… that was the vibe they were going for,” Maloney explains. The designer and her team finished upgrades to the first floor of the house and will begin working on phase two this year. Downstairs, “light and bright” was the motto as the main entertaining areas turned from a kids’ hangout spot to a relaxing space for the couple. Natural hues were used throughout to complement the exterior palette along with splashes of yellow and green. In the family and living room, vintage rugs from Landry & Arcari (landryandarcari.com) were the inspiration pieces. “We found a rug that we were doing cartwheels over,” Maloney says. “It had [the clients] written all over it.” Complementing the perfect find are brown leather chairs, Serena and Lily (serenaandlily.com) accent pillows and an ottoman with thin green hexagons. Above the fireplace, a painting by Vermont artist Elizabeth Ricketson (elizabethricketson.net) depicts children playing in the yard with their dog, a relatable scene for the family and their beloved four-legged family member, Strider. “Anytime you can add those elements that are so personal, it just makes such a big difference,” the designer adds. The family room—a long and skinny space—posed the biggest challenge for Maloney in terms of functionality. She resolved this by adding built-ins around the brick fireplace and a Samsung smart TV (samsung.com) to create the illusion of a gallery-filled room.
The home features many green hues like this space’s built-ins, couch and ottoman
But with the flip of a switch, that night’s game is displayed across 43 inches of high definition, giving the couple the best of both worlds. The ability to entertain was a must for the clients, so designing a dining room their guests won’t want to leave was an essential part of this project. Here, a Redford House (redfordhouse.com) table seats six, while pops of color in green walls and a sunshine-yellow console table are splashed across the room. Right off the dining room, the living area opens up to a sophisticated retreat. Eyes are immediately drawn to the new grand piano, a surprise gift from the husband to the wife during the project. Surrounding the space are oversized Wesley Hall (wesleyhall.com) and Redford House (redfordhouse.com) chairs, where friends and family members can gather and listen to soft melodies played by the homeowner. However, the best part of the project for Maloney was hearing the owners’ feedback on how they continually love and appreciate their new space. The renovations fit their new lifestyle, and they told the designer they hope to enjoy it for at least another 20 years.
Photography by: TAMARA FLANAGAN
