My Houzz: Tropical-Chic Style in a 1950s New England Home
Black-and-white glam pairs with beachy vibes in this fashion stylist’s Colonial-style family home in Massachusetts
Stuffed pink flamingos function as decorative pillows, immediately setting the tone for the living room. “My goal was to make all the spaces casual enough for my boys, homey enough for guests and visually appealing to me,” Kapinos says.
The black-and-white images above the sofa were scanned from some of the couple’s coffee table books and from past pages of Vogue magazine.
Mariner striped rug: discontinued, Kate Spade; side table: HomeGoods
Browse black and white area rugs
The black-and-white images above the sofa were scanned from some of the couple’s coffee table books and from past pages of Vogue magazine.
Mariner striped rug: discontinued, Kate Spade; side table: HomeGoods
Browse black and white area rugs
The living room is the last space Kapinos finished decorating. “It took me three years to complete it, but I’m so happy that I took my time,” she says. Kapinos draws interior decorating inspiration from her favorite designer, Kelly Wearstler. “I’ve loved her style for many years and try to incorporate her aesthetic into each of my rooms.”
Bergen accent chair: Rowe, Jordan’s Furniture
Bergen accent chair: Rowe, Jordan’s Furniture
A malachite-inspired tray holds a pretty display of items on an ottoman coffee table.
Geology 101: Malachite Madness | Browse malachite and malachite-inspired accessories
Geology 101: Malachite Madness | Browse malachite and malachite-inspired accessories
The family enjoys spending time together sitting by the fireplace in winter and roasting marshmallows. The framed artwork leaning atop the mantel is a vintage map of Hollywood that the couple bought on a trip to Los Angeles a few years ago. Kapinos had it scanned, changed to a pink color scheme and reprinted when she decided to decorate the room in a pink-and-green palette. Also on display is a collection of blue-and-white chinoiserie jars from various stores.
How to Try the Chinoiserie Trend at Home
How to Try the Chinoiserie Trend at Home
“Each room has a certain element to it that makes one room transitional into the next,” Kapinos says. The black and white of the striped rug in the living room repeats in the glamorous dining room with a checkerboard-patterned floor and playful Scalamandre zebra wallpaper. Kapinos had the contractor sand the original floors down, then painted them herself after two coats of primer. She finished them with a coat of lacquer.
Kapinos was hands-on in updating each space. “I painted all the windows downstairs, I hung the wallpaper in the dining room, the powder room and the master bath,” she says.
Kapinos was hands-on in updating each space. “I painted all the windows downstairs, I hung the wallpaper in the dining room, the powder room and the master bath,” she says.
A black-and-white photograph of a horse provides a smooth transition from the bold dining room into the crisp white kitchen. The blue painting is by the couple’s 4-year-old son, Max.
Table lamps, basket and horse print: HomeGoods; Marthe console table: Joss & Main
Browse console tables
Table lamps, basket and horse print: HomeGoods; Marthe console table: Joss & Main
Browse console tables
After. The couple worked with Euroline Kitchens for their new modern white cabinets. A large porcelain waterfall-countertop island provides plenty of space for packing lunches for the boys while they eat their breakfast.
Appliances: Yale Appliance + Lighting
How to Design a Kitchen Island
Appliances: Yale Appliance + Lighting
How to Design a Kitchen Island
French doors behind the island open onto the patio. “When it’s warm out, the first thing I do in the mornings is open the doors and it’s like eating breakfast alfresco,” Kapinos says. The bar stools’ white upholstery is leather for easy cleaning.
The kitchen features new appliances, a herringbone marble backsplash and lucite pulls for another touch of glam.
Like a typical New England Colonial, the home was segmented into small rooms with dark walls and old floors. The couple designed the layout so their sons could run around the downstairs and not feel confined to playing in one space. Two sofas with a durable neutral fabric hold up to both boys and dogs, who like to jump on them.
The kitchen opens into a family room where the boys like to play. Toys are corralled in baskets in the corner for easy access.
Sofas: Bernie & Phyl’s
The kitchen opens into a family room where the boys like to play. Toys are corralled in baskets in the corner for easy access.
Sofas: Bernie & Phyl’s
Max is pictured here in front of a gallery wall of family photos.
Flamingo plush animal: Melissa & Doug
Flamingo plush animal: Melissa & Doug
The existing 25-square-foot powder room needed updating when the couple moved in. They had the space gutted and it now features a statement black floral wallpaper. Its pattern inspired the look and feel of the rest of the space, including the scalloped pedestal sink with a gold-tone swan faucet found in New York. An ornate vintage mirror flanked by elegant wall sconces completes the look.
Wallpaper: Ellie Cashman
Wallpaper: Ellie Cashman
The couple’s sons share a bedroom upstairs.
Chesterfield upholstered bunk bed: Dorel Home Products; find more bunk beds
Chesterfield upholstered bunk bed: Dorel Home Products; find more bunk beds
A playful chevron-patterned rug warms up the hardwood floors. Kapinos made the dinosaur head art by spray-painting the heads and frames in vibrant colors.
Stuva storage: Ikea; rainbow shag rug: Safavieh
Stuva storage: Ikea; rainbow shag rug: Safavieh
Before. This original full bath upstairs was the only one in the house when the couple moved in. Goldberg and Kapinos wanted their two sons to share this one and wanted to add a master bath for themselves. “The upstairs only had one tiny bathroom, which wouldn’t work for our growing family,” Kapinos says. “But it had that great layout which allowed us to take out closets to create two beautiful full baths.”
After. The couple completely gutted the bathroom and a nearby closet to rearrange the footprint. New fixtures and a bold black, yellow and white color scheme give the space a whimsical yet luxe feel. Kapinos painted the graphic wall pattern by hand using a wide brush and bright yellow latex paint.
Sputnik sconce: Lucent Lightshop
Sputnik sconce: Lucent Lightshop
The master bedroom is mostly black and white, and on both sides of the bed are framed photos of family and past trips. Teddi’s black coat fits in well with the monochromatic color scheme.
Keegan tufted wingback bed: Safavieh, Overstock; bedding, nightstands and table lamps: HomeGoods; mirror gallery frames: discontinued, West Elm
Keegan tufted wingback bed: Safavieh, Overstock; bedding, nightstands and table lamps: HomeGoods; mirror gallery frames: discontinued, West Elm
In order to add a master bathroom, Kapinos and Goldberg took space from two closets, including their own. They added a large mirrored armoire to compensate for the reduction in closet space.
The new 84-square-foot full bath features marble floor tiling that extends up the wall to meet a graphic black-and-white-patterned wallpaper. Ornate mirrors and faucets add a glamorous touch.
Kapinos had graphic tile installed in front of each sink to look like small rugs. The custom glass shower is surrounded by marble, with multiple shower heads and an Italian stone tile floor.
Tile: Tile in Style
Tile: Tile in Style
The exterior maintains the same traditional feel it’s had since the home was built. Cemented on the front step is a penny from 1951.
See more of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
See more of this home
My Houzz is a series in which we visit and photograph creative, personality-filled homes and the people who inhabit them. Share your home with us and see more projects.
More home tours: Apartments | Small Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | All
Who lives here: Jeff Goldberg and Alisa Kapinos; their sons Levi, 7, and Max, 4; and their two dogs
Location: West of Boston
Size: 1,900 square feet (177 square meters); three bedrooms, 2½ bathrooms
Year built: 1951
From the outside, the 1951 home of Jeff Goldberg and Alisa Kapinos in a suburb west of Boston looks like a traditional Colonial-style home. Inside, however, it’s outfitted in a fresh palette of bold jewel-tone colors and dramatic patterns, with a style inspired by Hollywood Regency and Palm Beach chic.
Kapinos, a wardrobe stylist and fashion writer, and her husband bought the home four years ago when their second son was born. The home had been relatively untouched since it was built. The couple worked with general contractors Lev Simkhovich and Sons to renovate the kitchen and add a full bath upstairs.