Designer Colleen Simonds works with a like-minded client to update a traditional New Jersey farmhouse while retaining its inherent charms.
Colleen Simonds Updates a Charming New Jersey Farmhouse
Working on a home’s interior design during the pandemic should have, in theory, been a nightmare for interior design Colleen Simonds. But the client who reached out had a similar background, working as an executive for a women’s fashion brand, a position Simonds had once had early in her career. “We have very much a shared language around color and pattern. Both, of course, are very relevant to design. That’s what made this work so well — she and I were on the same page,” she says.
The work began with the living area, but it all went so well that it turned into a full house project. The two women worked in sync, coordinating complicated deliveries and installations over the phone with few hitches, getting everything done efficiently. (Simonds emphasizes that working remotely over COVID was by no means easy. “It would probably never have worked with anyone else, but it did work with her.”)
Diving Into a Whole House Project
The client, who shares the house with her husband and children, had moved from Manhattan for additional space, a yard for the kids to play in, etc. She appreciates color and pattern as well as unique finds —and wanted an exuberant feeling overall. Simonds envisioned a mix of vintage pieces and new designs, a balancing act she felt important for a house with old bones. Sometimes this took the form of reupholstering antique finds in more modern fabrics, layering in color and pattern while retaining more traditional silhouettes
Comfortable seating was key for the living room, a long, rectangular space Simonds broke into two seating areas, one with four armchairs in Katie Leede fabric in front of the fireplace and the other anchored by a large Hickory Chair sofa in Isobel fabric. “It was about finding fabrics the client loved and patterns that resonated with her.” The house is intentionally not granny; rather, it’s a fresher take, pairing shapes and patterns that aren’t all matchy-matchy. “I wouldn’t call it modern, but it definitely has a bit of an edge.” Angular side and coffee tables in neutral solids balance the curvy florals and zigzags of the upholstery.
Adding a Splash of Color Everywhere
Graphic wallpaper from Peter Fasano wraps the dining area, which features a long sideboard from William Yeoward and Palacek dining chairs. The long, custom table from O&G Studio in Rhode Island is stained a very dark navy, which adds color and interest without competing. The last piece of the puzzle was the rug, which is the opposite of how things typically go. “It was a bit like finding a unicorn, but it’s perfect.” It’s a vintage Haroonian from the Rug Warehouse in Los Angeles.
Near the living room, the sunroom is an oasis of calm in blues and neutrals with a splash of yellow. “We went all in on the color, especially with the rug,” says Simonds. It’s a beautiful shade from Radici, and it makes an interesting ground for the Rogers & Goffigon upholstery on the sectional. Bright side tables from KRB in New York and a scattering of charming pillows makes the space cozy and relaxing but not in the least drab.
Still Crafting a Calming Atmosphere
For the children’s playroom, on the ground floor, it was important that it be something they could grow into. It is also directly off the living room, so it needed to live in harmony with the rest of the decor. One prominent feature is the very large fireplace, and Simonds decided to paint the mantle and the window trim a vivid purple, and to use a Stark chevron rug in pale shades to maintain visual interest but not to overwhelm.
A major challenge with the primary bedroom was an abundance of dormer windows and angles. Simonds chose a small, organic William Morris paper that lacks a pattern direction, allowing it to blur the hard edges. The client loved the way the custom lavender-hued bed with an Alice Sergeant fabric-covered boxspring, Christopher Spitzmiller-sourced table lamps, and vintage chairs upholstered in Imogen Heath fabric all work together with the yellow of the paper.
The project has been such a success that Simonds and her client are working on the next phase, an addition to the house. “When you find someone that compatible and that easy to work with, it’s incredible.
Story by Stephen Treffinger
Photography by Emily Gilbert
Interior Design by Colleen Simonds
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