Metropolitan Life
Clockwise from above: The
got us straight away. We didn’t interview anyone else; we just went with our gut instinct.” For his part, Duffy was intrigued by the project. “It’s a modest home with three floors, sitting right off the sidewalk, in a neighborhood of similarly plain, wooden structures,” he says. “It was newly renovated, but had no personality. “For inspiration, they showed me photos of very cool, edgy, chic hotel rooms they’d stayed in,” he adds. “They wanted the home to be sophisticated, but comfortable. Contemporary but not austere.” At forty and thirty-five, respectively, Craig and Lara say they’re not quite through with their nomadic existence, so they wanted to be sure the house wouldn’t be outdated by the time they are ready to move in for good. Life aboard a yacht definitely informed the couple’s decisions. Says Lara: “The yacht’s owners have a beautiful concept
of interior design. Everything is always meticulously clean, with fine lines and no clutter. We wanted that, but also wanted color and patterns that invited people to relax.” The challenge for Duffy, who typically designs larger homes, was starting from scratch. “They didn’t have anything at all, and these were small, irregular spaces,” he says. The renovation was well done, Duffy notes, with architectural details suited to
the look the couple was after. They opted for an overall neutral palette with a few colorful surprises and mostly custom furnishings. The open-plan first floor features wainscoting and wide-plank pine floors; Duffy covered the walls with a textural hemp grasscloth. The living area in front is anchored by a custom sofa, built to fit the snug space and covered in natural linen. The case goods, including a media cabinet designed specifically for Craig’s
Top left: Bob Moore
homeowners were drawn to the unassuming facade of the house. A home office is tucked in under the third-floor eaves. A Restoration Hardware chaise got a new covering of cushy taupe suede. The L-shaped bedroom was made more intimate and modern with a tufted, upholstered headboard, deep purple walls and green and lavender accents.
42 New England Home July–August 2013
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