Rye Beach House, New Hampshire

Converting a formal home to a casual entertaining space without major construction work was the client’s directive, which was achieved through the clever use of paint, color, comfortable furnishings and reassigning spaces to new functions to reflect the client’s tastes and create better flow for entertaining guests.

The dining room was converted into a living area suitable for conversation and reading fireside. A dining table was added adjacent to the living room so that the owners could interact with their guests during dinner parties. To conceal the generous depth of the crown molding in the living/dining room, paint was extended up the wall, making it less prominent.

To bring warmth and interest upon entering, the foyer was reworked with an eclectic mix of pieces including a framed vintage fabric from Italy, an Art Deco bookcase and a French country entrance table. The metal scroll balusters on the foyer stairs were replaced by a simple mid-century modern design.