More than a decade ago, a Wynnewood couple’s search for an interior designer who could give their 1930s stone Colonial a modern update, led them to Lisa Stone. What started with a makeover of the master bedroom and bathroom turned into a 12-year relationship with Stone, who’s worked on every room.
The homeowners’ vision was clear. “They wanted their home to have a classic feeling, but with a fresh, vintage-modern blend, void of the cookie-cutter design formula that’s so popular today,” says Stone.
With two young sons and a dog, the owners also needed high-end design that was livable. “I really work hard to get this beautiful blend of textures, finishes, materials and color, so your eyes want to keep exploring and studying,” Stone says.
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Eye Candy
Stone achieved what she calls a “collected” look by mixing vintage furnishings with custom-designed furniture. Incorporating a variety of vendors, from antiques stores to trade showrooms, also helped to keep things visually interesting.
Fabric is another eye-catcher. In the living room alone, Stone estimates that she used about 30 different fabric vendors. The large space allowed for two separate seating areas, with room for plenty of furniture, which dictated the need for the abundance of fabrics. Staying true to the home’s palette of soft neutrals—with a nod to the owners’ favorite color, blue—fabrics are both appealing and easy to care for.
Although the furnishings are more formal, they’re not untouchable. The family often uses the room as a retreat, where they can spend time together in a quiet space without television or other distractions. A limestone fireplace provides a cozy spot to read and relax.
Right off the living room, the sunroom is another tranquil gathering area. Stone walls with multiple arched doorways make it a true indoor/outdoor space. Repainting woven-wicker furniture in a taupe hue and reupholstering cushions gave the existing pieces new life. A gorgeous terra-cotta floor is original to the room.
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Domestic Hub
The final phase of the project included a kitchen and home office renovation. “[The owner] wanted a vintage-inspired kitchen with a modern twist,” says Stone. “We needed to make sure we didn’t go too retro so that it would feel out of character with the classicism that already existed in the other rooms.”
Blue-gray cabinets with satin-brass hardware are a refreshing change. The island, with its white cabinet base and Carrara-marble countertop, gives the eye a place to rest. The Danish counter stools suit the vintage feel of the space, and a pair of spherical glass pendant lights hang above the island.
A commercial-style BlueStar range topped the owner’s list of appliances. BlueStar offers over 700 color choices for its ranges, which are handcrafted in Reading. The owner opted for a dark gray with brass finishes. “She loves to cook, so the space is not only pretty, but it is well used, too,” says Stone.
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In the breakfast nook, Stone outfitted the entire space to make it feel like a room within a room. A custom banquette covered in a rich, light-gray Pollack mohair fabric rests in the corner. Any concern over spills are alleviated by the fact that it’s an indoor/outdoor fabric. A round Theodore Alexander table, with hand-hewn wood in a chevron-pattern parquet, is set in front of the banquette with two vintage-inspired chairs from Artistic Frame.
Hanging above the table is a dynamic fixture: a satin-brass Patrona chandelier from Tech Lighting. A custom built-in with open shelving displays artisan craft pieces, books and collectibles. Floor-length drapes in a gray Victoria Hagan chevron fabric frame the windows.
“The family uses the space for eating meals, and the kids also love to do their homework at the table,” says Stone. “It’s an area that’s always occupied.
Office Space
A small room off the kitchen doubles as an ideal home office for the lady of the house and a homework area for the kids. Custom white polyresin cabinetry throughout gives the space a crisp, clean look.
Stone satisfied the owner’s desire for a hex pattern somewhere in the design with her discovery of the Riverside Drive Hex Grey marble mosaic tile from Artistic Tile for the floor. The woven blinds on the windows provide an organic juxtaposition next to the high-sheen cabinetry. The Lucite-like chairs that sit at the desks on either side of the room were bargain finds from IKEA. “Sometimes we’re lucky to find pieces that are inexpensive but still great design,” Stone says. “Now finished, the kitchen and the office are the heart of the home.”
Interior Designer: Lisa Stone Design, (610) 525-3091, www.lisastonedesign.com.
Kitchen and Office Renovation: Dave Swingle, DCS Design Group, (610) 692-9824, www.dcdesigngroup.com.
