Blend Color and Design Seamlessly

Decorating brand new rooms following a full-dress home renovation can be daunting, especially when the project involves an open floor plan, a busy family and a homeowner with a penchant for bold color.

dining room — Cool wall colors and window treatments (fabrics from Holland & Sherry), a versatile dining table and stuffed toy closets make the “homework room” a place where the kids like to hang out.

“The living room was part of the original house, but everything else was reconfigured, or new,” says interior designer Douglas Graneto, of the transitional home he decorated for a client in Greenwich, CT. “She loves color. She absolutely loves blue, and is drawn to bright happy hues, so it was a matter of giving her what she wanted, while still creating a sense of serenity.”

reading area — The library is outfitted with custom cabinetry and a comfortable chaise; the designer opted for a toned-down, mushroom color for the walls.

It was important to the client that her kids (ranging from 3 to college-age) have dedicated spaces that feel integrated into the floor plan. So, a blue-on-blue family room (with a sink-in-worthy sofa) opens to a library and a “homework room,” both the domain of the children. And because the homeowner’s palette and materials of choice include bright blues and greens, textures, patterns and prints, Graneto says he kept the rooms cohesive by using consistent trim throughout.

Formal living room — Family heirlooms blend with newer pieces in the elegantly appointed living room. Pastels reign, and the walls are painted with a striae finish in this very feminine space.

The all-new dining room, the living room and the master bedroom suite are more classic, elegant and subdued.The furnishings are a mix of old and new. The designer, who is well known for thoughtfully melding vintage, traditional and contemporary styles, believes that “combining the two gives personality to a room and a house. After all, a home is about the family, not the decorator.

“This home’s decór works well for this particular family,” says Graneto. “It’s bright and cheerful but very functional. And yet, it has a nice serenity about it.