colors from the Oriental rugs that can be found throughout the home. Decorative moldings and faux finishes were also used liberally, especially on ceilings, like the one in the dining room, which is part of the original home and lower than the ceilings in the rest of the house. “It has darker antiquing along the outside and goes to a lighter tone as it comes toward the center to give the illusion of height,” says O’Neill. “It also glimmers with a shimmery finish.” The home took two years to decorate, in large part because the homeowner enjoyed shopping with the decorator for furnishings, often visiting antique stores in New York City and Bergen County, where O’Neill is based, and closer to home in Red Bank, Long Branch and Rumson. Both designer and homeowners wanted something interesting to behold in every corner of the house. Take, for example, the coffee table in the foyer. It’s a solid brass sculpture of musical instruments that the homeowner turned into a table by adding a glass top. “The basic design is quieter, but we added a lot of whimsy,” says O’Neill. It may have taken a while, but the project was a labor of love for everyone involved, and the homeowners couldn’t be more pleased with the way it turned out. “It’s classic and beautiful, which is exactly what they wanted,” says O’Neill. “She was able to put her touches on it, and we were able to use their extensive art collection, so it all came together perfectly.” The homeowners were so happy with O’Neill that they asked her to design their 15,000-square-foot, ocean-front Palm Beach estate. That home features the same traditional design of their New Jersey abode—just the way they like it.
Opposite: The homeowners’ daughter’s room features built-ins for a computer and a TV, two double canopy beds and a 5-foot-round ottoman. “When she has sleepovers, guests can sleep on that too,” says designer Una O’Neill. Above: An antique bed in the guest room off of the kitchen is warm and welcoming in shades of green and cream. The green mirror and the chest of drawers next to the bed are antiques.
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