Michele Green, designer and co-owner of The Open House in downtown Rye, loves a good afterward, after many a beforehand.
Michele Green, designer and co-owner of The Open House in downtown Rye, loves a good afterward, after many a beforehand.
When hired to add her signature design to a very traditional house with a dark overall feel, her first thought was “Update!” But in a transitional style, using lighter, brighter colors with a much fresher feel. “The pieces chosen still have very classic lines so the living room, den, and bedroom will have longevity,” said Green.
One of the challenges in the den, said Green, was the built-in cabinetry the new homeowner wanted to remove. “It was something of an eyesore, but by painting all the trim and millwork, including the cabinetry, the same color as the walls, the cabinetry seemed to disappear and didn’t have the same awkward feel. I also rearranged the furniture in this room to orient the seating area toward the focal point of the fireplace.”
In the bedroom, Green had to figure out how to deal with the awkward spaces on either side of 
the bed. “They were recessed due to the chimney going up through the second floor. The previous homeowners tried to disguise the space as fake windows, but that didn’t seem like an ideal solution to me. My idea was to build in bookcases on either side of the chimney to get rid of the awkward recessed space and add an interesting architectural detail to the room, plus additional storage.”
Again, the room was updated with a more transitional style, and a soothing scheme of blue and white throughout.