Rumsey
Residence
“A young family lives here and the original layout of closed-off rooms wasn’t conducive to how they used the space,” she says. Zoe and her team reconfigured the first floor by opening up the entry hallway, adding an island to the kitchen and removing a wall between the living and dining rooms. The new open-plan made the 2,200 sq-ft home seem even bigger. “It had more flow and it maximized the exposure to natural light,” says Zoe. “It also allowed the common areas to become an open social space that’s suited to the energy and back and forth of family life.”
The new floor plan’s expansive feel influenced the décor. “I wanted to capture a bright but welcoming style and was inspired by the warmth of Scandinavian interiors,” Zoe says. “The rooms often look minimal but always inviting, like you can imagine living in them.”
The design relied on natural materials, including white oak, travertine and marble, along with bespoke finishes to achieve the look. “I chose this mix of elements to makes the house feel more modern, but also cozy,” Zoe says.
A fluted white-oak island anchors the kitchen and echoes the treatment of the living room walls for subtle design continuity. the finish extends itself to the ribbed fronts of the kitchen cabinet doors. The soft ivory palette and clean-lined cabinetry amp up the airiness. Finishes, from the backsplash tiles to the smooth countertops, are texturally balanced. There are fun items, too. “I chose a whimsical pendant light, brushed-brass hardware and a sculptural faucet to introduce a bit of contemporary glam to the neutral space,” says Zoe.
In the living room, vertical white-oak paneling and custom built-ins frame a contemporary, sculptural fireplace. Its dramatic lines are softened by armchairs that invite lingering. The room’s neutral palette is echoed in the abstract artwork which enlivens without being distracting. Zoe says, “Every element in this room, from the layered muted tones to the mix of natural textures, contributes to its cohesive feel and palette.” And it’s not just form at play, as function is incorporated in the open and closed storage offered by the cabinetry.
Throughout the house, there are visual treatments that pop, amongst the neutral scheme, including patterned wallpaper in the children’s rooms, textured paint finishes in the ensuite bathroom, dramatically veined marble accents and an original stained-glass window in the entry that was preserved as a nod to the home’s traditional provenance.
“I think this house is atmospheric without being grandiose,” says Zoe. “It evokes that Scandinavian calmness and, through natural textures, muted tones and curated details, that connection that speaks to everyday family living in an elevated way”
