Photo by Michael J. Lee

Funnily enough, although the clients wanted color, Brad went with gray paint throughout the house. It makes a great backdrop for the saturated furnishings. Above, in the formal living room, he used a relatively dark shade, Benjamin Moore “Rock Gray.”  Brad says, “Formal spaces benefit from darker colors; it decompresses your energy, makes you want to stay longer for conversation.” This is one of three rooms in the house that he tags as moody.

Indian rug from Mohr & McPherson in Boston;  ”Fillmore” sofa from Thrive; barley twist chairs from Zimman’s near Boston, upholstered in “Prospect” ikat by Thom Filicia for Kravet; starburst mirror from Zimman’s; coffee table from Horchow.

The family room, above and below, is huge. The walls are a lighter gray, Benjamin Moore “Wales Gray.” (By the way, Brad started out as a professional painter; he swears by and only uses Benjamin Moore, preferring its Regal Select line with a matte finish.) They used a three-dimensional, dried black lava stone tile for the fireplace surround. He calls the handmade, Brazilian chevron cowhide rug, from PureRugs, a “god-like” material, saying, “Everything and anything washes out of it.” Chairs from Circle Furniture; trio of acrylic tables from Wayfair.

A 14-foot-long Flexform sofa from Showroom in Boston dominates the main portion of the family room. Thomas H. Little Upholstery in Southboro, MA crafted the round ottomans and throw pillows. As for the juju hat installation, the client, who is from Congo, had the orange one. Brad and Kendra asked her to bring back “as many as she could carry” went she went to Africa to visit her mom. They admit they had no idea what they’d do with them all, but in a fit of inspiration, they clustered them on the wall

Photo by Michael J. Lee

The sunroom boasts an amazing collection of indoor/outdoor pieces by Paolo Lenti from Montage in Boston. The sofa is actually three individual chairs that can be moved around (or dragged out to the deck). They originally purchased the ensemble for the basement playroom, but in an Aha! moment, Kendra realized they’d be perfect for the sunroom. The indoor/outdoor rug was a steal for $150 at RugsUSA, a welcome addition after the splurge on furniture. Continuing the high/low mix, there’s also a “Martini” side table from West Elm and a trio of cage pendants from CB2.

In the stairwell, nine brass and stainless steel pendants with rope cords and Thomas Edison filament bulbs by Lunabella, purchased at Zimman’s. We hear the electrician was none too pleased to have to hang them all.

Photo by Michael J. Lee

The master bedroom is done in a glamorous scheme of black and magenta, with Benjamin Moore “Rock Gray” on the walls. The bed, which the clients first saw in an apartment they rented in Paris, is B&B Italia by Max Aalto, purchased from  Montage in Boston. It’s black-stained wood, with a gray tweed upholstered headboard and platform. The ottoman is West Elm and the ikat rug from Wayfair.  The Horchow fainting chaise came in gray velvet, but Brad and Kendra had it reupholstered in a magenta fabric by Iman for Kravet that they’d had their eyes on for years.

 Photo by Michael J. Lee

The client was hot for a vanity. Brad and Kendra couldn’t find one they loved, so they pieced together its components using the Jonathan Adler “Channing” console, an inexpensive acrylic chair, curvy “Cattaneo” mirror from Horchow, and chrome sconces with black shades from Lamps Plus. I love the Senegalese storage basket from Serena & Lily, presumably used as a hamper.

The master bath is done with a 3D tile on the floor, inspired by Manhattan bathrooms of the 1920s, and staggered oversize marble tiles on the wall. The egg-shaped tub was a splurge, and caused a bit of a ruckus with the plumber, but they finally got it right.

 Photo by Michael J. Lee

The client, pictured here, is expecting a baby. Luckily, they were able to use all the pieces from her now two-year-old’s nursery from their prior home to create a new gender-neutral nursery. The walls are a grayish blue, Benjamin Moore “Sterling.”  The chartreuse lacquer dresser is the “Latitude” from CB2, the sleeper sofa from Room & Board, and the crib is Stokke. The stuffed animals are from Africa and the animal photographs purchased online from The Animal Print Shop, finished in frames by Room & Board. The chevron rug was created from FLOR carpet tiles. The cuckoo clocks over the crib were Brad & Kendra’s (you may recognize them from their living room), purchased a while back for 99 cents each at Urban Outfitters.

The guest room, above and below, is done in the punchy black and white “Feather Fan” wallpaper by Cole & Son. “Wood Tiled” whitewashed dresser from West Elm; assorted carpet tiles by FLOR.

“Window” headboard from West Elm and “English Garden” comforter set from Target.

Finally, the daughter’s bedroom is done with a hippie chic, boho bibe, in a slight departure from the rest of the house. Brad says, “I want her to feel like she is carried to a far away land when she steps in.”

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Shop Serena & Lily for beautiful kids’ rooms. 

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I arrived in Truro on Friday afternoon.
I found one pinky-orange rose in the back garden.
[CB2 tray table - West Elm rattan coaster - Urban Outfitters glass]

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Shop jewelry & decor at Zhush.

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I always take life with a grain of salt, …plus a slice of lemon, …and a shot of tequila. 

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Serve up summer, shop Layla Grayce.

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This is the 24^th year of the all-you-can-eat extravaganza, with more than 120 chocolate combinations. The spread features stations with varying levels of chocolate intensity and flavors – from white to dark and plenty in between. There’s a never-ending supply of cupcakes, truffles, brulées,  bread pudding, crepes, whoopee pies, all created by Executive Pastry Chef Jed Hackney. There are also rotating items withseasonal ingredients, such as September’s lemon madeline with ivoire cremeax and strawberries, and a caramelized white chocolate torte with banana and sesame. There are nut-free options, and even some vegan ones.

There’s even alcohol. A chocolate cocktail menu features cocoa-infused martinis like the “Chocolate Decadence” with raspberry vodka, dark chocolate Godiva liqueur, and Frangelico, and there’s the “White Coco” with vanilla vodka, dark chocolate Godiva and white crème de cacao with cream. My favorite station, year after year, are the made-to-order crepes. Sinful.

Fleur de sel caramel with dark chocolate cremeax

Orange marmalade varrine

Manjari mousse with creme fraiche and Espelette pepper

Bitter chocolate and cinnamon custard varrine

French almond macaron with dark chocolate buttercream

Izzy, my friend’s daughter, basically in heaven

Peanut brittle

Whoopie pies

Vegan blueberry cobbler

Ice cream sundae bar toppings

Sundae sauces

White chocolate peanut butter bombe

Mint and white chocolate mousse torte

Lemon crunch satine with white chocolate

Le creperie

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Are you a cooking family?
Shop Sur La Table >

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Benjamin Moore “Temptation” paint  -  ”Three Ball” lamp by Joe Cariati in Lavender Berry at Swank Lighting – Madeline Weinrib Greek key rug – Baker Furniture dining table – Hickory Chair “Chelsea” side chairs by Thomas O’Brien – Oly Studio “Sohpie” zebra chair   –  Dwell Studio yellow pillow – Robert Allen yellow silk buffalo check drapery fabric – Arteriors Home “Zanadoo”  chandelier at Zinc Door

Vintage cobalt blue goblets  -  Marc Blackwell wine goblets with gold trim  from Barney’s New York  -  Janus et Cie votive holder  –  Studio A “Bloom” candle holders

Haviland “Laque de Chine “ amethyst charger  - Kate Spade “June Lane”  salad plate  -  Matouk “Mirasol” placemats  -  Sferra hemstitch napkins  -  Succulent pots from Winston Flowers  –  Gold daffodi planter  from Anthropologie

Worlds Away “Wearstler” chest  - Juliska compotes  -  RabLabs “Espera” gold nut bowl  - Lunares tray

 Worlds Away lacquer faux bamboo bar cart  -  ”Three Ball” lamp by Joe Cariati in Lavender Berry at Swank Lighting - West Elm yellow lacquer box – Martini shaker from Target –  Blue & White Conatonware from Neiman Marcus - L’objet candle holders

Global views silver hurricane lamps  -  Juliska “Harlette” covered urn  -  Carver’s Guild “Tuxedo” mirror

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Deck out your dining room. Shop Zinc Door.

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