A primary residence that feels like a restful resort
Interior designer Andrea Schumacher’s career began with an unexpected twist. What began as an internship as a set designer on the soap opera Days of Our Lives evolved into a successful interior design career spanning more than two decades with degrees and accreditations along the way. Launched in 1999, Andrea Schumacher Interiors is now a highly sought-after design firm with a national clientele.
Schumacher’s signature style is modern, clean-lined upholstered goods mixed with antiques. Top notes include organic patterns and Asian-inspired adornments. The result is an effortlessly chic look this is actually painstakingly planned and carefully curated.
In this home, the clients had worked with Schumacher on two previous projects and trusted her to oversee the entire build process from start to finish, requesting a “mountain meets the Hamptons” vibe. Throughout the home, exquisitely tailored pieces anchor each room, allowing unexpected found objects to breathe life and personality to each space.
At the center of the home is the family room, resplendent with vaulted tongue and groove ceilings. The wood was given pickling treatment, which stains the wood in order to brighten the color and accentuate the grain. Th e beams, walls, and trim were coated in a creamy white, Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee OC-45. Schumacher explains, “For the structural elements, I like to use blacks and whites, then layer on pops of color.” In this central space, shades of blue are introduced in the artwork and accessories. The dual opposing mirrored sectionals allow you to enjoy every vantage point—whether looking at the fireplace, the beautiful exteriors beyond the accordion doors, or the towards the entertaining kitchen. The custom sectionals with added nailhead detailing are finished in an outdoor chenille, perfect for a busy family with kids and dogs.
The black marble surrounding the fireplace counterbalances the jet mist honed-granite used as the backsplash above the stove, across the room in the entertaining kitchen. A back kitchen houses additional workspaces, storage, and appliances. “I like to say that lighting is the jewelry of the home, and this fixture is like bangles,” laughs Schumacher.
Big, gorgeous, gold rings that add just a touch of bling and glamour. Above the kitchen island, two large pendants in mixed metals carry a distinct Hamptons sentiment. Schumacher’s take on mixing metals? “Mix your metals! It looks less contrived and less like a model home.”
Beyond the kitchen is the bar area and dining room. “Since guests tend to gather in the kitchen, the owners wanted an appealing space to draw people into when entertaining large groups,” says Schumacher. To define the bar space, an open and airy free-standing marble-topped bar counter is placed across from the built-in cabinetry. Directly above hovers a custom ironwork and glass shelving system, the shimmer of glassware beckoning the eye upwards to the 15’ coffered ceilings.
The walls and ceiling of the wine cellar are painted a matte black to create an alluring, restaurant-like feel. Chairs finished in a black and gold cut velvet fabric by Clark and Clark surround the live-edge black walnut table, and sit atop a custom wool and viscose rug by Shaver-Ramsey. A pair of matching yellow ginger jars lend a pop of color.
Schumacher’s skillful fusion of patterns and textures is also evident in the primary bedroom. A stunning hand-painted and embroidered wallpaper from Fromental adorns the wall behind the bed. “We originally intended to use the wallpaper in the entire room, but when we realized the total cost, we scaled back to just one impactful square,” shares Schumacher. The layout of the koi fish was carefully and exactingly planned to swim above the floating nightstands.
The dramatic canopy bed mimics the height of the room and was brought in from the owner’s previous home and reupholstered in the handsome black and white woven fabric. The bed pillows and bench are done in the epochal Chiang Mai Dragon fabric by Schumacher (the iconic fabric house—no relation to this Schumacher!). If you’re fearful of mixing patterns in your design, don’t be! Follow Schumacher’s advice, “Staying within your desired color palette, mix small-scale prints with large-scale prints for variation.”
Across from the bed, the soaring fireplace is clad in horizontal slats (please don’t call it shiplap!). Chairs in white linen with open arms allow light to pass through, keeping the seating area light and bright. A luxurious black Moroccan rug sits beneath a fuchsia tufted ottoman. The floors are a dark-stained white oak laid in a herringbone pattern.
Each element balances another, creating symmetry and a sense of calm—a restful retreat, indeed. If Schumacher’s style resonates with you, read on to find out you can achieve a similar look.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROGER DAIVES
~ This Refined Retreat article was excerpted from the pages of NEST Magazine…To subscribe to NEST, click here. For the full Winter 2023 issue, click through here.