This Eclectic Retreat Got a Modern Refresh
When the new homeowners of this historic European eclectic home in Westport, CT, reached out to the team at Innate Studio to help them transform the space into a comfortable family home, they knew they wanted to honor the unique spirit of the property. Originally the studio of American sculptors James Earl and Laura Gardin Fraser, the space had a lot of artistic history and beautiful original details. It was important to the Innate Studio team to maintain and highlight its character while showcasing the client’s style and adjusting the function for their needs.
The Innate Studio team set out to create a beautiful modern country home centered around the couple’s love for entertaining their friends and family, one-of-a-kind pieces, and vintage textiles.
After understanding the project’s needs, Innate Studio began sourcing and planning for the project and renovation. The intention was to create a completely comfortable home while standing up to the life of a young family with pets and young children — durability was key. In collaboration with their clients, Innate Studio sourced pieces for the home with a previous life and history aligned with the unique property.
Design: Innate Studio | Photography: Read McKendree & Regina Calderone
A Charming Dining Nook
The Innate Studio team designed a built-in banquette, painted in Benjamin Moore’s ‘Rever Pewter’ and upholstered in Schumacher’s Arbre Chinois fabric. A full-height pantry cabinet provided much-needed storage, making a sizeable off-center window original to the home feel intentional. This addition provided a wonderful light-filled eat-in area, utilizing an existing refinished table that has become one of the family’s favorite hangout spots.
A Whimsical Primary Suite
When the project began, the primary bedroom housed a lovely blue grasscloth wallcovering that the clients wanted to keep. However, sconces on the bed wall didn’t work with the preferred bed configuration. To allow for the installation of new sconces and covering up the grasscloth patching, the team designed a custom upholstered headboard and bed that covered the entire wall. The incredible blue Schumacher fabric tied in beautifully with the existing wallcovering and made a whimsical statement in the room.
The Reimagined Bar Area
The team collaborated with Karen Berkemeyer in the main living area to rework an existing bar area in the home’s primary gathering space for entertaining guests. A custom-designed bar clad in a beautiful Calacatta marble sets the tone, while the client’s found bone-inlaid mirror highlights the metalwork of the original windows.
Scroll through the gallery below to see more from this home and shop the look!
BY: ANASTASIA CASEY