Open-concept homes sometimes get a bad rap for being too open. Over the past few years, working and learning from home has made us appreciate the privacy that a few walls provide and made us think harder before knocking them down. But what if you didn't have to choose between freedom and the comfort of your home? In this six-bedroom family home outside New York City, Emily Del Bello proves that an open-plan concept can make sense, be smart, and feel downright cozy.
The homeowners left the big city behind to build their dream home. It's a transitional-modern marvel with elegant spaces for entertaining guests and stylish yet kid-friendly zones for spending time with their son and daughter. The owners had a few specific requirements for their custom retreat. An inviting bar area was essential. As husband and wife love to collect wine from their international travels and celebrate with friends, they also needed an office to work from home. “Every member of the family needed to have private spaces that reflected their personal style and needs,” Del Bello recalls. “We wanted the home to be livable yet exude style and sophistication.”
The finished floor plan is spacious yet full of hidden surprises. The marble-clad kitchen, with custom white oak cabinetry by Mark Piacenti of Highland Organization Corp., is centered around an oversized island with dining stools and sculptural pendants. The kitchen opens to a breakfast area surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows, which leads to a family room with a sectional sofa that invites TV watching (yes, there's a big screen on the opposite wall).
Flanking the two-story foyer is every commuter's dream speakeasy-style bar, ready to greet visitors. It even features a U-shaped “hidden” banquette, the perfect spot for at-home happy hour. Plus, it even conceals a secret passageway to the husband's home office. Other private spaces are minimal in color but maximum in texture. The master bedroom is swathed in plush fabrics (including the ultimate Target finds), giving it a “Zen retreat” feel, says Del Bello.
There's no formal living room. Instead, the house has “playful areas, like a bar,” and a family “room,” the designers say. “It's more open-concept than many of the other homes we've done, but it still feels like a warm family home. And most importantly, it's cozy.”
Stairs
Gieves Anderson
The 22-foot ceiling height “makes it a really great entry point to the home,” Del Bello says, “but it's not traditional; rather it's very fresh and open concept, and it plays into the design of the rest of the home.” The walls are covered in wide shiplap painted Benjamin Moore Super White. Armchair: Sean Woolsey. Side table: Cassina. Art: Alina B.
family room
The photo above.
“This space is for family relaxation,” says Del Bello. Coffee table: Custom. Sofa: Homenature. Carpet: Patterson Flynn. Art: Christopher Yockey. Walls: Limewash, Heather Jozak Studios. Ceiling: White oak, Bona finish.
A place for conversation
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The barroom's cozy banquettes are “the perfect place to host friends,” says Del Bello. Tableware: Amanda Hamms. Cocktail table: Matter. Banquet fabric: Pollack. Lighting fixtures: Allied Manufacturers. Wallpaper: Philip Jeffries.
kitchen
Gieves Anderson
Del Bello used Arabescato Corchia marble from BAS Stone as a “statement element” throughout. Cabinets: Cerused Lift White Oak with a gray stain. Cabinet hardware: Emtek. Pendants: AND. Bar stools: Thomas Hayes.
Breakfast Area
Gieves Anderson
Because it's the first space guests see when they enter the home, Del Bello chose eye-catching, “dramatic and sculptural” lighting fixtures by Anony and “show-stopper” Wentz Tela chairs in Matter. Table: Moooi. Paint: Super White, Benjamin Moore.
Bar Room
Gieves Anderson
Perfect for a nightcap, this space's grooved white oak island is backed by an XO ice maker and two refrigerated drawers for drinks. Wallpaper: Phillip Jeffries. Countertops and backsplash: Calacatta Vagli marble, BAS Stone. Sink fixtures: Franke. Bar stools: Lawson-Fenning. Pendants: Visual Comfort & Co.
Master bedroom
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Del Bello calls this room “probably the most comfortable room we've designed.” The chambray throw is a great find from Casaluna at Target for under $100. Bed: custom, with fabric by Holly Hunt. Nightstands: custom. Pendant: Studio Van Den Akker. Stool: Cassina. Rug: Patterson Flynn. Wallpaper: Phillip Jeffries.
Main Bathroom
Gieves Anderson
“We wanted it to feel light and fresh, with interesting floor tile, but also timeless for years to come,” says Del Bello. Wall and floor tile: Studium NYC. Cabinetry: custom by Marc Piacenti of Highland Organization Group. Bathtub: Victoria + Albert. Tub water heater and fixtures: Kallista. Stool: Cassina. Sconces: Circa. Medicine cabinet: Robern. Curtains: custom with Kravet fabric.
Entrance hall
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Question-and-answer session
House Beautiful: When did you get involved with the project?
Emily Del Bello: This was a new build that we started pretty fresh after COVID-19 subsided and people were able to build at a normal pace again. We were hired from the very beginning and had the opportunity to work with the architect to nail down all the details of the floor plan, choose the window style and color, exterior colors, and even the interior details of the home. This interaction from the very beginning allowed us to add custom elements to the design based on the needs of the family.
HB: What were your clients looking for in a home?
EDB: The family wanted a modern, open floor plan that would be sustainable as they grew. Every member of the family needed to have private space that reflected their own style and needs. Most importantly, it needed to exude not only livability, but style and sophistication, and incorporate conversation areas when the homeowners had guests.
HB: What was the biggest challenge in bringing this project to fruition?
EDB: Delays with building materials were inevitable. The windows took longer than expected. They're a really key item. Overall, that was the biggest hurdle to overcome. Once the house was handed over to us, we were able to install them right away and watch the design come together, which is great. We were very efficient with the timing and staggered the orders so that everything was stored in that area and ready to be installed as soon as we got in. It's really amazing to go from an empty house one day to a finished space in just a little over a week. The instant gratification and being a part of this transformation is what I enjoy most. They're busy, but they're the best days!
Styling: Martin Born
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