This unoccupied home from 1890. on the North Fork was renovated to be completely canceled – Domino

When it came to transforming an 1890’s home. in the North Fork into a functional and inviting weekend getaway for a Brooklyn-based family of four, Nina Carbone understood the task. Homeowners sought out the interior designer for her historically conscious approach and signature relaxed style. “The house carried a deep sense of history and an automatic warmth,” says Carbone. But the black and white palette and messy floor plan left a lot to be desired. The clients, looking for a different feel from their more minimalist space in the city, craved color, comfort and whimsy in their Long Island abode.

Carbone spearheaded a renovation within the home’s existing footprint, making updates to reflect the family’s practical needs along with their desire to brighten the space while maintaining its original cozy charm. Carbone carved out a new walk-in closet and additional closets, and increased the number of sleeping accommodations (a sofa bed and bunk beds to the rescue!) so guests don’t feel crammed. Throughout, Carbone uses a light touch and his signature penchant for the ‘undone’ look – applying layers of contrasting textures, warm hues and durable furniture to create an environment that feels relaxed, lived-in and rich in character. The designer goes on to share how she transformed this 19th-century gem into a lasting haven that will be filled with family memories for years to come.

Color Palette Chart:

Because of the large farmhouse-style porch, the front of the home was dark. I didn’t want to fight the light, I wanted to lean into it. So we created a cave-like, cozy lounge by the entrance with a steel gray theme. Then, as you move towards the back of the house, the rooms become brighter and whiter. We folded some sea glass, colored blue and green, and a yellow tint of marigold. There is a natural flow to the coloring and painting schedule.

Texture playback:

We added zellige tiles to the living room fireplace, fircil tiles to the kitchen backsplash, grass wallpaper to the dining room and vintage textiles throughout. I wanted to create interest in the smaller moments, string the string pattern throughout the house in a loose way, and ensure that the color and texture was not just based on upholstery.

The reduction is payable:

We walked back and forth on the drapery in the living room. We ended up giving it up for budget reasons, but then we realized it would have been too much anyway, it would have felt too heavy. There was a lightness and joy in the house that we didn’t want to trample on. We put that money into the tiled fireplace instead. It was a good pullback that worked in our favor.

Assembling the kitchen:

We found this freestanding unit from McGee & Co. with the perfect color. We didn’t want to add more built-ins – we’d never be able to match the existing cabinets and it would have felt overdone. So we decided to use a cheaper and higher character here. It has become our storage savior.

Keeping the oddities:

We kept the existing hardware on all the doors, even though it was mismatched. Same with the floors. For us, these quirks echo the wonderful feeling of being in an old home.

Making more budget-friendly choices:

Children’s spaces were everything [getting our] bang for our buck. We used a Room & Board bunk bed and a game table from West Elm. Whatever kids do is so temporary, so we didn’t want to put money into things that might be transient. In the lounge, another family-oriented room, we didn’t want to add too much furniture, instead ensuring there was plenty of free space to play.

Guest Room Enlargement:

There is a small guest bedroom downstairs, but we wanted to be able to sleep more people. So we did a Pottery Barn sofa bed in the lounge and bunk beds in the atrium. Each space had to be multifunctional. And since the dining room is not large, we chose to emphasize the outdoor dining area and take advantage of the patio to entertain larger groups of friends.

Hacking heats up:

Exposed radiators pose a problem with two small children. Instead of splurging on custom millinery boxes, we found ready-made raffia sheets on Amazon and placed them in a simple paint box we made. We [also] ordered the fabric for the toilet sink skirt from a woman on Etsy for $30. We then purchased a tension rod from Amazon and had a ready, affordable custom design solution!