This 1800s Boston Home Was Once Completely Gray – Now Every Room is Filled with Bold Color and Layers of Pattern

The clients had been living in this 1800s home – located in the idyllic Boston suburb of Newton, Massachusetts – for ten years when they turned to the interior designer Cecilia Casagrande to realize their color- and pattern-centric vision. 'They were ready to take on each room to the absolute max with no detail left out,' Cecilia says.

Before Cecilia embarked on the project, the house was largely decorated with a palette of gray, which felt out of alignment with the more eclectic tendencies of the family living there. 'My client loves colorful and very stylish fashion, and they had been living among the gray for too long. They wanted to make their home truly reflect their bright, playful personalities and their love of color for at least the next ten years.'

Pattern and art were both central themes in the home's redesign, since the homeowners had an 'extensive and very eclectic art collection,' and personal connections to pattern: 'They love to travel, stay at beautiful hotels, and appreciate pattern because his parents founded a well-regarded fabric company many years ago.' And so, the brief for Cecilia was to bring this sentiment to life.

Beyond the rich wall colors and statement patterns that bring the home to life, the success equally lies within the decorative details, many of which nod to European influences. 'I am half British and look to British and European design for lighting and fabrics as inspiration in magazines like Homes and Gardens,' says Cecilia. 'I travel a lot and always stay at small boutique hotels that are also very inspiring.'

The complementary colors of orange tones and blue bring a sense of fun to the TV room, which began with the patterned window treatment fabric. 'The key decision was to stick with that simple palette of turquoise and rust to make the room very warm and inviting but not overwhelming,' the designer explains. 'The sofa fabric is a brown with rust and turquoise speckles in the tweed.'

While the Queen Anne Victorian bones of the home provided a historic starting point, the redesign cleverly blends traditional and modern elements. 'We paired masculine simplicity with woods, and slim lines with very traditional fabrics,' Cecilia explains. 'Also, my clients' passion for true artistic craftsmanship was a must in almost everything we chose,' she says. 'Knowing the provenance for antiques, where each piece was crafted, and the artisans was very important.'

The layered color palette in the living room was chosen to complement the room's existing art collection. Pops of fun color are added through the rusty red sofa and the patterned armchair, whereas the darker London Clay on the walls grounds the room.

The dining room 'started with an Art Deco dining set owned by the family and the original paneled walls', recalls Cecilia. Pattern welcomes unconventionality here – used on the ceiling and upper portion of the walls, which helps the room to feel immersive and cocooning. 'We based the color palette on the client's incredible plum-colored dinnerware,' she adds. The room's lighting makes a statement, while tying in with the home's architecture, described by Cecilia as a 'modern nod to Victorian'.

The entryway was cleverly decorated to provide a moment of calm between the richer color palettes of the adjoining rooms. To do so, Cecilia turned to color drenching with Farrow & Ball's Light Blue, which feels restful. To keep things interesting, Farrow & Ball's Beverly was chosen to coat the antique dresser – a rich, statement green paint.

The home's original kitchen cabinets and appliances remained in situ for the project, but they were given a new lease of life with a fresh color palette (Farrow & Ball's Oval Room Blue) and refreshed details. 'We painted the cabinets, put in new stone countertops, lighting, backsplash tiles, hardware, furniture and lighting,' Cecilia explains.

Much like the entryway, the kitchen follows a similar approach with a cool color scheme, lending a tranquil feel. 'We chose a lot of rich jewel tones and warm colors throughout the home, breaking rooms with cool blues in the hall and kitchen,' she says.

'This is the room the family spends the most time in, so the focus was on the seating,' says Cecilia. In addition to the mossy green velvet sofa, two leather and walnut chairs ground the room, while the Bancha walls add warmth.

The bedroom takes on a more romantic, soft feel, filled with textured fabrics, quiet patterns, and warm neutral tones. 'The design directive was romantic: Parisian and still artful,' says Cecilia. This room also includes her favorite pattern in the whole home: the headboard, which she describes as 'a cut velvet depicting Venice’s gondolas by Pierre Frey.'

And while the classic elements of the room bring charm, modern details bring it to the present day. 'The very traditional wallpaper was complemented with modern art and a bespoke modern cabinet.'

Bathrooms are all too often decorated with a palette of 'safe' neutrals, but this one embraces color and pattern, from the rich plum zellige shower tiles to the caramel-toned floral wallpaper. 'The inspiration was an old European villa with the green marble mosaic floor,' Cecilia recounts.

The bathroom is a project highlight for Cecilia. 'Everything was bespoke,' she says. 'I love all the materials from the Pierre Frey stool fabric to the rich walnut vanity to the Moroccan tile and British taps.'

The best powder rooms don't play it safe; they welcome a moment of drama. In this case, it's described by Cecilia as a 'hidden gem under the stairs'. The wallpaper (which was used on the ceiling as well as the walls) feels whimsical and moody at the same time, teamed with an electric blue ceiling light.

The success of a home's design goes beyond how it looks right now – it's about the longevity it offers for years to come. This one has been designed thoughtfully and lovingly to do just that. 'After the project, I received the greatest compliment: “I now want to never leave my beautiful home as I thought I would eventually. Now it is truly us, and I am so happy.",' says Cecilia.

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