Although water damage to a house in Brooklyn’s Ditmas Park neighborhood called for a mere refresh, local studio JAM decided to take a more thorough approach and completely gutted the first floor. “We added an area rug when you first walk in to let the gorgeous new floors have good visibility, a bright and cheerful stair runner, colorful textiles and art, and a comfortable bench with plenty of room to sit and put shoes or drop bags on,” says JAM cofounder Megan Prime. “We feel it’s important to set the vibe for the interior of the home from the moment you open the door. The style can vary, but warm and welcoming is ultimately what you want.”
There’s a neoclassical-meets-modern allure to the new-build residence in Dallas’s Highland Park that local designer Kara Adam crafted for a family with three small children. “We wanted the furnishings, art, and decor to feel fresh for our fun, young clients who love to entertain,” she says. To set the tone immediately, Adam invigorated an expansive staircase with a custom Stark runner, added a bespoke light fixture from the Urban Electric Company, and covered the walls with paneling. “A touch of the unexpected always piques one’s interest when entering a home,” she explains. That notion led her to weave in sophisticated layers like geometric rug on the marble floor and a painting by Danish artist Tal R. above the sofa.
While keeping the stunning original architectural details intact, Los Angeles designer Georgia Tapert Howe infused a prewar apartment on New York’s Upper East Side with a decidedly contemporary vibe, beginning with the foyer reminiscent of a boutique hotel lobby. “This particular entry was quite big and the rest of the apartment flows from it, so we wanted it to be a taste of what’s to come throughout,” recalls Tapert Howe. “We also wanted it to feel as light as possible, which was a challenge with no windows.” The solution? Anchoring the space with a three-legged Moving Mountains table and adding a pair of chic benches and swaths of abstract floral wallpaper from Calico.
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