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rom day one, designer Michele Dunker realized this Provi-
dence remodel would extend beyond the basement-level redo the homeowners Roger and Mary Jo Dahle had initially considered for their family. “Projects naturally evolve,” says Dunker who ended up gutting the entire 6,300-square-foot Tudor-style house down to the studs. The renovation included everything from reinforced floor joists and updated electrical to an altered floor plan and reconfigured rooms. “Once you start, you just know you’ll keep moving further into the house,” Dunker explains. And, of course, the décor was transformed. Working closely with her clients, Dunker replaced the home’s traditional Tudor-style elements with others befitting the homeowners’ refined tastes and desire for something lighter and more spirited. “Mary Jo and I were on the same page from the start,” says Dunker who describes her client as casual and glamorous. “We both like Gucci, Chanel and Tom Ford; we relate on a fashion level.” With her client’s level of taste established, Dunker directed the focus to interior icons, familiarizing Mary Jo with the likes of designers Donghia, Christian Liaigre, Thomas Pheasant and Barbara Barry. “This allowed me to zero in on exactly what
Above: In the large drawing room, a sofa covered in a Rogers & Goffigon’s Violetta fabric sits in front of broad windows overlooking the gardens. Subtle accents of gold gleam throughout the space while architectural treatments on the walls and ceiling wrap it in timeless style. Left: Michele Dunker, principal of Dunker Beal Interior Design
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