A global pandemic, a massive flood, and two different designers – this project, its designers, and its owners went on a journey to get to the colorful family home you see now

It's often a good backstory that makes for a beautiful home, and this home has a rollercoaster of a backstory. The house was built in the early nineteenth century and had some stunning original features and buckets of charm, but when it was bought by a young family, it was in need of a contemporary update and some major TLC. So far, so straightforward.

The pandemic of 2020 was the first spanner in the works as it meant lead times were long and progress was slow, then as things started to return back to normal in the wider world, a flood caused by a burst pipe caused lots of damage and homeowners were forced to move into a temporary home. Sounds like enough drama for one renovation project, but the third part of the story, and the happy ending here, is due to the designers behind the space.

This home was, in fact, worked on by two designers, Nashville-based Sandra Funk and New Jersey-based Campbell Minister. And they worked together seamlessly at different points throughout the renovation to create a home that honors the charm but also works for a modern young family. Let's take a tour and hear more about the project (and its challenges).

'The home was built in 1915, and is in a suburb 13 miles outside of Manhattan,' explains Campbell Minister, who worked on the second part of the renovation. 'Located in an area where Dutch settlers came in the 18th century, and artists and other creatives tend to live and commute to work from.'

'The clients are busy parents of three children, and both work outside the home. They wanted to capture a sense of whimsy and interest with color selections throughout the project, and reflect the personality of each person's individual space.'

Designer Sandra Funk was originally brought in at the very start of the project. She worked on the living room library, the dining room, the bathrooms, and the den. However, when the homeowners got back in touch with Sandra to work on a kitchen remodel, Sandra was in the middle of a relocation to the Northeast and had stopped taking on clients on the East Coast.

However, Sandra instantly had the solution. She recommended a designer who was perfect for their vision, and that is when Campbell Minister took over the kitchen, pantry, and bathroom renovation.

'The interiors reflect a sense of the family's lifestyle and an appreciation for family heirlooms, which honestly, Sandra did an amazing job curating from her early work there,' says Campbell.

She explains that the look she wanted to achieve after taking over the remodel was 'lived in but elevated. Bookshelves painted in a high-gloss lacquer but showing the patina of the home. Cozy blankets by the fireplace, but layers of window treatments for both privacy and beauty.'

'The handoff was seamless. Sandra’s team was wrapping one section of the renovation while our work began in another space. Using the same contractor helped with this transition.'

'Because of the flood, some existing items like the stair runner had to be replaced. Sandra’s team handed off the paperwork, and we took it from there. Our team felt a strong sense of appreciation and responsibility to match the level of service the client had received with Sandra.'

'In many ways, it helped serve as a guide for how to work with everyone so we could skip the building trust phase. It was already there! On the whole, our design styles actually are different, but the areas we worked in the house allowed that to be a non-issue. The scope was perfectly matched for each of our unique perspectives.'

'My style is classic. Personally, I have a deep love of English antiques and aged/worn furnishings. My grandparents lived in a neighborhood near Kensington Gardens for many years, and traveled the world collecting furniture. Many of those pieces remain in my home today. At the same time, I like to infuse colorful art and textiles into layer the space. Ultimately, I aim for classic and timeless design that will last,' explains Campbell.

The two styles come closest, literally, in the kitchen and dining room. These spaces are adjoining and Sandra designed the dining room in the first part of the project, and therefore, Campbell had the task of ensuring the rooms felt connected and there was an effortless flow.

Campbell took the colorful elements of the dining room, adding pops of bold color to the kitchen areas. The green lacquer kitchen table, the bold blue island, contrasting orange stools and of course that vivid green pantry all continue the playful color scheme that's used throughout the home.

The client’s antiques and trinkets were also used in all of these rooms to add a layer of interest and personality, plus brought in Campbell's own love for decorating with antiques.

Sandra designed the iconic blue living room/library. It was the first job on the project, and arguably the most important, since the family came with a huge book collection, all of which was meticulously categorized.

The bookshelves were custom-made to blend seamlessly with the original features of the room. All the trim was matched with what was already there, so it looks like the library has been in the house since it was built. And to give it a fun, modern feel, Sandra color drenched the whole space in a glossy teal lacquer.

Sandra explains that her style is 'all about soul, grit and emotion. I want to feel something in a space that I design. I lead with how the client wants to feel in the space, then layer in touches of soul and grit. Soul, in this context, is all about the humans who live in the space. Who are they and how can we make sure that the vibe of the space matches who they are. Grit is about age, patina and gravitas.'

'I don't like spaces that feel delicate or dangerous – like you are afraid to sit on the sofa or drink anything other than a clear beverage. I'm always looking for surfaces that get better with age. Lastly, a big part of my design philosophy is to balance spaces regarding age. So an older home gets some modern touches, vibrant color, lacquer surfaces, a bold wallpaper, while a new home gets tactile surfaces like plaster and sisal, as well as a hefty dose of antiques. This benefits the soul of the home.'

Two designers working on the same project, both with differing styles, did have the potential to be yet another problem this renovation would need to overcome. But the collaboration worked perfectly, and arguably made the home more characterful, visually layered, and rich.

And Sandra was still very involved in the project, even after handing it over to Campbell, and they even overlapped while Sandra finished her section of the renovation. This project is truly a lesson in collaboration over competition, and all involved really benefit from the coming together of the two designers.

'On the client side, they received the benefit of two perspectives from professionals in the field. From my perspective, I felt an innate sense of confidence with decisions because I already had a colleague's support,' says Campbell.