An Empty Nest Inspired by the Sky

It’s not uncommon for couples to lose a little bit of themselves in parenthood. When you spend most hours of the day thinking about your children, your home and your life start to look a little bit less (sometimes a lot less) like a reflection of who you are. When clients in Great Neck, NY, called on Monica Lederman of My Gingerland to update their primary bedroom to something less dated that would remind them of their favorite vacations, they were so delighted with the results, they ended up updating almost the whole house. 

“Their children are grown now, and they wanted the home to feel elegant for entertaining their family and friends for the holidays, but still comfortable for when their son and daughter return for visits,” says Lederman. 

In keeping with the home’s traditional architecture, Lederman selected a design for each room that would highlight the elegance of the space. “The inspiration was ‘a breath of fresh air,’” says Lederman, who took elements of the couple’s trips to Greece, Italy, France and the Caribbean to infuse the home with the couple’s personal style. She chose a color palette that was light and reflected the colors of the sky at different times of day.

Lederman is also an artist and supplied much of the artwork in the rooms she designed. “The process of adding the artwork to the space was, and always is, delightful,” says Lederman. For each room, Lederman wanted to create a focal point and atmosphere all its own. 

Private Dining

In the dining room, she wanted the space to be elegant, almost like dining out. “The couple let me know they often dine in the dining room, even when they are not entertaining, and it was important for it to feel stylish and updated,” says Lederman. To choose artwork, Lederman “brought several existing pieces over and we played with placing different options on the mantel and holding them up in the dining room,” she says. They settled on a piece titled “Tu Luna, Luna Tu,” which gives the room the feeling of dining at sunset. 

Simple Pleasures

For the small den, the couple wanted a hang-out for their college-age students to retreat to with friends when they are home for breaks. Lederman chose a fog-like palette—neutral, forgiving and interrupted only by the bright artwork in the corner titled “Bare Necessities.”

“The art brings life and energy to the space when it is not filled with friends,” says Lederman. 

Positive Energy

The large sun-filled family room has a star-like ceiling light that Lederman says feels energizing and bright. The space opens to the back patio and provides a large sectional for family and friends to gather. With lots of windows, Lederman chose power window shades and full-length drapes so the family could ready the room for movie nights but let lots of light in when hosting gatherings.

Amazing Grace

Gracefulness was the goal in the living room. “We wanted the space to be plush, soft and welcoming,” says Lederman. Drapes are made of an embroidered stripe fabric by Cowtan & Tout in a sky-like palette. The sofa and swivel chairs are poised for conversation. Above the fireplace, Lederman’s own “Ooo La” painting anchors the room. Accents are modern and elevated. 

Pretty in Pink

The dressing room is on the top floor and really gives a feeling of a private oasis. While the homeowner had some reservations at first about selecting Orleans Violet for the walls—a soft dusty pink from Benjamin Moore—she ended up loving the results. “Painting the angled ceiling created a warm, well cared for feeling, with all of her favorite belongings around her,” says Lederman. The room is accented by a vanity chair in a bold French fabric that plays off the colors of the clothes and handbags surrounding it. 

“I’m proud of the success of the color palette,” says Lederman of the project as a whole. “It really is refreshing!”

GET INSPIRED

Soft pastel colors are elegant and serene in any space and this home designed by Monica Lederman of My Gingerland really captures the elegance and sophistication of dining at sunset on a European vacation. We took a tip from this sky-inspired décor and found a few accents that reflect