A Fresh Start
Written By Carrie Edelstein
Photography By Alise O’Brien
We’ve told the stories of empty nesters wanting to downsize, individuals building dream homes and condominiums small and large, and families moving a life of early childhood memories into a more elegant space for the high school years. But this time, we found a couple wanting a fresh start for a new lease on life. After a recent health scare, they wanted an oasis.
The homeowners found what started as a spec home smack dab in the middle of where their two grown children live– one home to the left and one home to the right, although several miles in between. They wanted to “downsize, not downgrade” they said, from the family homes where they raised the kids. Yet in doing so, they also wanted to expand their living quarters to include a vacation condo in Florida and a “sanctuary for him” on a farm a bit farther from the metropolitan area.
Now onto the “sanctuary for her.” The homeowner was attracted to the vibrancy and lively styles she saw in some of the work by April Jensen of ADJ Interiors. When she inquired about the firm stepping in to start from the ground up, Meagan Cooperman was available for a whole home project. Ironically, over the course of the year it took to create “the fresh start,” Meagan also welcomed her first child.
“I came in to make this builder-grade home one of a kind. The homeowner wanted it to be extremely special in every little space,” says Cooperman. Her first task was to quickly make some minor architectural changes as the spec build started, like moving doors and opening up windows. The homeowner wanted everything new to which Cooperman delightfully embarked on what she says was truly “a labor of love.”
“I wanted to walk in my front door and just have this sense of calm come over me. We’re at a point in our lives where we just want to play and relax and not have so much responsibility,” the homeowner says. She says she gave Cooperman a list of her favorite colors and the rest was a beautiful collaboration.
“She really took the perspective of ‘this is going to be my house, I’ve done the family thing, I’ve done my husband’s style, I’ve been more traditional, but this is going to be more for me,’” says Cooperman. The goal was to have less space, but to use it at full capacity, and in a more functional and practical approach to daily living.
The foyer makes a bold statement with black finishes and metallic accents. Upon entry, one can tell the homeowner often enjoys the tranquil essence of scented candles, fresh flowers and music.
The foyer invites a dramatic and bold look into the home with black statement doors, Phillip Jeffries metallic grass cloth wallpaper and an upholstered table by Vanguard Furniture. More durable vinyl wallpaper is used in the laundry room which connects to a mud room, complete with cubbies and a special welcome space for the dogs of the house. A guest suite is just off the entryway and a long hallway leads to the great room and kitchen.
There are elements of drama, like the massive light fixture from Fine Art Lamps, touches of black that are softened with smaller, more refined accessories in the great room. The zen-like and luxurious vibe is accomplished with a single paint usage: “Creamy” by Sherwin-Williams. Stationary drapery hangs to the sides of the doors leading to the indoor/outdoor living space to also provide a sense of softness. The brick fireplace is a handmade tile from Fireclay, and also offers a hint of ice which is picked up in the fabrics on the couch and pillows along with pastels and even black and white. A mix of Romo pillows and custom-made Chanel-inspired pillows blend well atop the couch outfitted in Kravet performance fabrics Cooperman selected through KDR Designer Showrooms. The artwork is from a family member, floated in an acrylic box with a white frame around it.
Hardwood floors continue into the kitchen where the style transitions into bold tones with softer finishes. “We did a rich stained island and table,” says Cooperman, adding “the countertops are quartzite with several shades of grey and blue with hints of black.” Creamy cabinets by Beck/Allen Cabinetry conceal a Sub-Zero side-by-side refrigeration unit with freezer drawers just beneath the double doors. China is on display in glass cabinets in what Cooperman describes as an “open-style” butler’s pantry. A Calacatta marble backsplash by Waterworks through Immerse is installed in a chevron pattern above the Wolf range.
“It’s all the bells and whistles but it’s very streamlined. There’s no clutter. Everything has a place and it’s very useable for the homeowner’s lifestyle,” says Cooperman. The stools come from an online vendor called Modshop, which remind the homeowners of their nearby country club they like to enjoy.
The outdoor living space– a three-season room– is used as the dining room.
The glass doors in the great room lead to the outdoor living space which is considered a three-season room. “Instead of using what was planned as a dining room in a conventional way, we switched it up and made it their cozy comfy den. It even has two modern Hancock and Moore recliners, a TV and a card table,” Cooperman explains. The homeowner calls them the “upscale Edith and Archie Bunker recliners.”
Cooperman selected Cowtan & Taut’s line of indoor/outdoor textiles from KDR, choosing a higher-quality brand to create a more serene look. All of the furniture and the area rug is indoor/outdoor grade. The Made Goods cocktail table is a concrete piece painted flat white. The homeowner chose two driftwood pieces with test tube vases to set atop the wooden dining table. She often changes out the fresh flowers in those vases she says to “make it more organic in there.” A pair of living moss arrangements by John Richard hang on the walls and accentuate the fresh florals.
Designer Meagan Cooperman gave the room a feeling of peace and romanticism with soft textures and quiet colors.
In the master bedroom, those stationary drapes are seen again to add a little soothing and softness without actually having a function like the silhouette shades do. Cooperman says, “Our drapery work room pleats them just like on a normal drapery but then they are mounted onto a wooden board. It’s custom drapery without custom hardware.” Cooperman uses this cascading fabric to create a clean look without hardware to intrude onto the wallpaper. “It just kind of adds calm this way.”
The wallpaper was the final selection in the bedroom that Cooperman found, creating dramatic contrast to the creams and light blues already in the room. It’s actually a dark navy. Shimmers of gold are picked up in the chaise– a place the homeowner describes as “romantic, quiet and peaceful”– which is a lovely medley of pale blue and some metallic velvet striping. The Lillian August stools at the foot of the bed are upholstered and coordinate with the mirrored Caracole nightstands and ivory dresser.
The homeowner enjoys the tranquil nook in the master bedroom that is just large enough for a desk to pay bills and write letters.
Double doors lead to the master bathroom where another piece of artwork the homeowner selected was mounted on the tile wall. Cooperman hand chose the 24x24 tile slabs of porcelain so “nothing is too uniform and to achieve a more natural, marble look.” The top deck of the bathtub and vanities are quartzite. “We used the same wood and stain finish from the vanity cabinets to frame a mirror to size and mount a fixture onto the mirror to create a more custom look.” Another set of double doors lead into the walk-in closet.
“It still feels really grand even though it’s on a smaller scale,” reflects Cooperman of the one level living space that accommodates the empty nester lifestyle. She adds, “You can downsize and not have to spare yourself an ounce of luxury.”
The homeowner would concur, adding that Cooperman turned a feeling– to want a fresh perspective and be zen– into a style.