DREAM HOME
BOLD & bright
INTENSE COLOURS AND VIBRANT PATTERNS HAVE TRANSFORMED THE WHITE INTERIOR OF MARY JOHNSON’S NEW ENGLAND HOME INTO A JOYFUL AND EYE-CATCHING SPACE
Bootroom
‘This cheerful space makes us feel ready to both start and end the day in a good mood,’ says Mary.
BUY THE KEY PIECES Woodwork in India Yellow full gloss, £71 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Wallpaper, Indus Tice, price on request, Pierre Frey
HOME NOTES
WHO LIVES HERE? Mary and Paul Johnson live here with their children Amanda, 13, Chris, 10, and Victoria, seven.
THE PROPERTY A seven-bedroom colonial-style house built in 2018 in Connecticut, USA.
B eforemoving to their new home, the Johnson family lived in a charming brick Georgian house with high ceilings, original features and bags of character. So when Mary first walked into this simple, colonial-style house for the first time, she knew immediately that she wanted a complete change. ‘It was very “vanilla” with lots of white rooms,’ she remembers. And although the bare bones of an attractive house were there, ‘We had to do a lot of cosmetic work to achieve the more modern and sophisticated look that we were going for.’
A few minutes’ drive from the centre of Greenwich, Connecticut, the property’s perfect location swayed the family. ‘We wanted to be closer to our children’s new school and also have plenty of outdoor space,’ says Mary. ‘What I also love is that the house is quite close to town, and yet it feels secluded.’ To transform the property, Mary called on interior designer Monica Fried who spent five months refurbishing some of the more dated elements, such as the shiplap cladding in the kitchen/family room and old-fashioned mantle in the living room.
Kitchen/family room
‘With the island as its focal point, this space is the hub of our house,’ says Mary. ‘We updated the original cabinets with an understated grey.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES Units in Purbeck Stone modern eggshell, £77 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball. Try Boyd pendant, £62, Habitat. Milden table, £649, Glasswells, has this look. Try Tatum chair, £199, Barker & Stonehouse
WOW MOMENT
A pulley pendant light creates an intimate mood over the dining table
Living room
‘This space is perfect for curling up with a good book or enjoying cocktails with friends.’
BUY THE KEY PIECES Green Smoke estate emulsion, £52 for 2.5ltr, Farrow & Ball, has this look. Coco armchair, £845.75, Graham & Green is similar. Bespoke sofa, Nathan Anthony; for a similar look, try Luciano left-hand facing corner sofa in Texas Tan leather, £2,550, Made
WOW MOMENT
A paint shade continued over the ceiling creates a cocooning feel
Dining room
‘We
