Sharing Success & A Relaxing Retreat

I don’t often ‘toot my own horn’ but something happened this week that I am just beaming with happiness to share - my design project was on the COVER of the Boston Globe Sunday Magazine! For Interior Designers, our first and foremost desire it to please our clients. They are the reason for our being! And then, when doing what you love, you receive this kind of recognition, it is the icing on the cake!

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Read the full story here on the Boston Globe’s website. If you have access issues I have the article on my website too.

The project in Sherborn was one of my favorites in recent memory. A post-modern stunner on a lake whose owners were fully trusting and willing which allowed the team and I to go bold with design and art and to bring their incredible vision to life.

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I thought it might be fun to share the story behind the story…

When my clients bought their home about eight years ago, it was primarily purchased for the location -- on the water with a spectacular view. I had the pleasure of working with these clients at their first house in Sherborn and they called on me again when they made the move into this “new” house on the water. Originally, we simply brought over all of their existing traditional furniture and adjusted things to fit for the time being. They lived in it for 5 years, really listening to the land, understanding how they lived in the space, and figuring out how they wanted to make it their own and celebrate the view. 

The original house, built in the 1950’s, was a true mid-century home and they wanted to keep this architectural design as it complemented the landscape. The lines and layout of the home on the land just seemed right for the property, but it was dark and dated. After their ‘trial’ period in the home they were ready to craft a new vision and create something fresh, calming, and wholly uplifting.  It is a treat and a real compliment, as a designer, to be called back to help clients with their next project and bring their new vision to life.  

Being a mid-century we all knew the house would be filled with windows and a plethora of natural light, but the real star of the show was the setting and the view. That being said, they still wanted the interior of the home to come to life with vibrancy, color and texture. They wanted to create a take on the post-modern that allowed for calmness with vivacity. It was quickly understood that none of what they had moved into in the 1950’s home was going to be used. It was time to start fresh, new, clean and alive!

The new architectural design kept the mid-century, post-modern feel intact with beautiful updated modern details. These details set the stage and were key in guiding my role in helping make it a welcoming, relaxing, dynamic home.

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What did I do when faced with a blank slate as beautiful as this one? We turned to art first. I have always said that you buy art because you love it, not because it matches your décor. However, in this case we took a really different approach and went for it first and I have to say it was a wonderfully exciting experience. I needed the art to inspire the rest of the space. I called in Jacqui Becker Fine Arts, shared my vision and asked for her help. We set out to determine my clients’ “Art Personality”, so instead of having the furnishings lead their decision making, we encouraged them to have a clear and open mind and to “go with their gut” on what art they loved. We wanted them to tap their own personal passions and aesthetics rather than thinking of only function. We all worked together to find art to fill very specific spaces and then allowed that art to set the tone for the rest of the design. 

By allowing the art to lead the way we were able to craft spaces that balance the calmness and vivacity inherent in the art pieces. From our textile choices to our finishings everything struck a composed, bright, and balanced chord much like the mid-century post-modern architecture itself…clean lines, organic curves, and contrasting materials.  The resulting design created a home that is the epitome of contrasts it is both calming and alive, clean and rich, functional and eclectic. 

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After a long year of quarantining this home has truly nurtured my clients and their family, the outdoor space with its beautiful views and natural splendor has brought peace and the indoor space with its form, function, and freshness has brought a sense of calmness, harmony and order in this challenging and stressful time in our shared world. 

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The incredible team that brought this vision to life:

Turkel Architects – Architect 

Sherborn Development Corporation – Builder

Jacqui Becker Fine Art – Art Consultant

Michael J. Lee - Photographer

Thank you for sharing in my excitement!

Let’s Design for good,

Kim

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