One thing that so many people struggle with is how to integrate family heirlooms with modern elements to update their homes. That blended approach to design adds depth and character to the home, and it honors the family history by giving it a modern feel. There is something special about walking into a house that feels collected and lived in. My Morningview project was a new build, but we wanted this home to feel like it had a personal history and a curated style. Let’s take a tour and see how I achieved that!

Living Room

The art in the home inspired the beautiful palette of blues, giving the home a serene style. We took traditional forms, like the club chairs, and gave them a more modern update with sleeker lines and new fabrics. Even the new pieces, like the custom sofa from Massoud, look like they have a history.

Dining Room

The open plan of the living and dining spaces means that these rooms need to have a coordinated feeling. I selected the wood chairs from Theodore Alexander because they look like antiques, but they’re new. That gives the room its collected feeling while also allowing actual heirlooms like the dining table, chairs, and buffet to blend in. Sleek custom drapery and a modernized chandelier from Visual Comfort offer those modern touches to the room’s decor.

Kitchen

Remember that this home is brand new, but I wanted it to have the feeling that it has a history and character that most new builds do not have. In the kitchen, we did that with finishes and forms, using a wood finish on the kitchen island and pantry door, lovely wood floors, and classic cabinetry styles. But we modernized a lot of the elements, like a more simplistic lantern pendant design for the lighting from Visual Comfort, and sleeker bar stools from Vanguard.

Study

In the study, there is a lot of traditional millwork on the walls, but I drenched the room in a moody slate blue/gray to give it a more modern feeling. It’s a room that offers a cozy place to work, with an inspiring design.

Primary Suite

The primary bedroom is a perfect example of how to blend those heirlooms into a modern space. The bed and nightstands are antiques and I used the finish color almost as another paint hue in the room’s palette, highlighting it with the beautiful original art from Kevin Gillentine. Then I introduced modern lighting and fabrics that have a pared-down and more modern style. It’s a chic and updated look that continues through to the bathroom, where traditional wood cabinetry balances modern lighting and fixtures.

Bunk Room

One of the most fun spaces in the home is the bunk room that’s specifically designed for the kids in the family. I created custom bunk beds with traditional motifs like the railing’s design, and adding modern details like the steps and the reading lights. An antique chair and table set complete the vintage vibe in this room.