This home began as many homes of its era do: beautiful, but burdened by weight. Dark woods, deep colors, and a heavily Tuscan vocabulary created a series of spaces that felt more like a cavern than a gathering place. The clients loved their house and the memories it held, but they were ready for an interior that reflected the season they are in now. With grown children who return often, they wanted light, invitation, and a sense of modern ease, without losing the substance of the original architecture.

Our objective was twofold. First, to brighten and visually lift the home while honoring its stone, arches, and timber details. Second, to transform the upstairs into a true destination for the couple and their family, rather than a pass-through. We focused on contrast, texture, and rhythm, using tone-on-tone layers and reflective surfaces to move the house from “old world and heavy” to “comfortably modernized.”

Upstairs, the gameroom and bar became the heart of this new chapter. A custom shuffleboard table grounds the space and sets a quietly playful tone. Sculptural lighting, moody art, and tailored upholstery create a lounge-like atmosphere that feels both elevated and relaxed. We introduced croc-inspired textures and subtle metallics as a unifying thread, a refined nod to the couple’s love of their team that reads as pattern and polish rather than theme. Wallpaper on the ceiling and bar walls softens the architecture, catches light, and pulls the eye upward, giving what was once a darker zone a gentle glow.

The adjacent bar was conceived as a jewel box. Deep grey seating, a textured credenza, and glass surfaces work together to reflect light across the room. Custom art and curated accessories layer in personality without clutter. The result is a space that transitions effortlessly from quiet evening cocktail to family game night, always anchored by a sense of intimacy and story.

Downstairs, our task was to lift the “dungeon-like” feeling of the main TV room, foyer, and living areas while preserving the warmth of the existing stone and wood. New wallcoverings, rugs, and soft furnishings introduce a lighter palette that speaks to air and movement rather than weight. In the living room, we edited rather than erased, pairing the client’s existing pieces with new seating, a thoughtfully scaled rug, and sculptural accessories. The fireplace wall remains the architectural focal point, but now the room reads as calm, bright, and quietly grand.

Throughout the project, every decision served the same vision: bridge old and new, soften the edges of a once-heavy interior, and create spaces that invite this family to linger. The home now holds their history while clearly expressing who they are today. It feels like them, in this chapter of life, with the doors open, the lights on, and room for everyone to come home.