The
kitchen, says homeowner Nadine Ginsberg, is now a “‘wow’ spot.” Designer
Emily Shakra made a number of changes, from countertop updates and
cabinet hardware to new paint and the addition of the two dramatic
Sputnikstyle lanterns by Hudson Valley, available from The Lighting
Showroom in Bedford.NADINE GINSBERG CHERISHES the nature surrounding her home
in Laconia, where she has lived with her husband, Martin, and cat
Mayzie for a bit more than a year.
They sold their Bedford home
and nearly all the furniture in it to downsize and start anew in this
idyllic lakeside spot, which abuts a state forest.
Nadine got more
than she bargained for, though, when she ended up eye-to-eye, more or
less, with a bear who had a hankering one night for the Ginsbergs’
birdseed. After Nadine was woken by a loud thud—“this was no squirrel,”
she knew—she saw the hulking quadruped feasting away on the deck, not
far from the bedroom’s open sliders. Claw marks on the deck’s support
posts mark the path the determined bear took en route to the feeder.
Nadine is all for wildlife but admits “that was a little too close.”
Over-eager
woodland creatures notwithstanding, Nadine is thrilled with her new
environs—inside and outside. When she and Martin bought the Laconia
house, they loved its architecture. Nadine could clearly envision how
she wanted the interior to look but felt she needed guidance from a
design specialist, so she contacted Emily Shakra of Emily Shakra Design
in Bedford.
“They
wanted the vibe of the home to be sophisticated yet casual,” Shakra
says, an atmosphere conducive to entertaining but also family-friendly.
To achieve those goals, Shakra says she and the homeowners cast their
net wide in the search for furniture, artwork, and other design elements
to include sources from New Hampshire, New York and North Carolina.
The
family room (pictured here and at right)—with its high, angular ceiling
and lake views— is a blend of modern and classic design. The idea, says
Emily Shakra, was to create a “quiet” interior that kept the focus on
the natural beauty of the lake.
The front entry sets the tone of the casually elegant home, Shakra says. The space is understated but punctuated by an oversized, gold flower-shaped wall mirror by Oly with a sleek hardwood buffet, also by Oly, below it.
The
house also has a practical but attractive mudroom entry with a bench
and plenty of hooks, one of Shakra’s signature elements. “I love hooks
everywhere,” she says, for their functionality and potential visual
interest. Above the mudroom entry’s hooks, a triptych lake scene with
loons by Dana Boucher of Bedford further embellishes the space and
includes the turquoise hue that appears throughout the house.
Transforming the kitchen into a “wow spot”
Stepping
away from the front entry and veering right behind a partial wall is
where some of the home’s most significant design changes occurred—the
kitchen. To accommodate Martin’s request for a convenient place to read
his daily newspaper, Shakra reconfigured the breakfast bar by lowering
it from bar height to countertop height. This enlarges the surface area
and makes the overall space more inviting for guests, who—in any
home—seem to be drawn to the kitchen. Capital Kitchen & Bath of
Concord helped plan and execute renovations,
and Key Stone Carvings in Hudson replaced the previous kitchen counters
with white quartz, providing an upscale look.
Finishing
touches in the kitchen included painting the peninsula’s woodwork in
Benjamin Moore White Dove as well as adding a decorative, custom
stainless border with nail-head trim, crafted by J.A. MetalCraft in
Wilmot, to the existing cooktop hood. Cabinet hardware was swapped out
by Fixtures, Etc. in Salem. “New hardware can make a big difference and
create a fresh, new appearance,” Shakra says.
Updates
were also in store for the kitchen’s lighting, with new LEDs that
illuminate workspaces and the peninsula. The showstoppers, though, are
two, large Sputnik-style lanterns by Hudson Valley, available from The
Lighting Showroom in Bedford. Designed with a mix of textured black
metal and polished nickel, these lanterns elevate the functionality and
look of the space, Shakra says.
It’s
clear that the homeowners, who initially had their doubts about
altering the peninsula’s counter height, are pleased with the results of
Shakra’s work. “She made the kitchen a ‘wow’ spot,” Nadine says.
Embracing the lake vibe
Adjacent
to the kitchen is a dining area. The gold-based, glass-top table
crafted by Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams is surrounded by custom chairs
upholstered in a diamond print from Company C in Concord. Nearby, a dry
bar is backed by glass tile in a bold, attention-getting design.
Steps
away, the family room—with its soaring, angular ceiling and view of the
lake—would in many people’s minds count as another “wow spot.” In
choosing furnishings for this room, “the lake vibe was important to keep
in mind,” Shakra says. She and the homeowners chose to blend the modern
with the classic as well as incorporate multiple textures while still
honoring a New England style. “Over the years, [this style] has been
transforming from very traditional to a more clean, transitional look,”
Shakra says.
Top
left: The upstairs hall space was cleverly turned into a cozy sitting
area. Top right, from left: Designer Emily Shakra and homeowner Nadine
Ginsberg are seated on the screened-in porch accessible from the main
bedroom. Above: Outside seating takes full advantage of the lake.
“We
chose a quiet interior to keep the focus on the lake view,” Shakra
says. The overall look in the family room is reserved but the textures
are lush, with rich materials and subtle motifs. The family room’s
palette of gray, off-white and gold contributes to the room’s visually
soothing effect, Shakra says.
Above: Neutral tones help make the bedroom a glamorous retreat. Beyond the sliding doors is a screenedin porch.
Right: On the landing, a custom ottoman is accented with white piping and pillows.
Shelving
provides a home for some of Nadine’s favorite books and accessories,
which are highlighted by soft lighting and grass-cloth wallpaper.
Nearby, a few pieces stand out: A John-Richard accent table is made of
acrylic with gold-leaf edges that catch the light. There’s also a
Company C floor lamp with variously sized, stacked golden circles that
climb the height of the lamp’s base, and a statementmaking Mitchell Gold
cocktail table whose tree-trunk bottom appears to be rooted in the
floor. “We tried to sprinkle organic shapes” and textures throughout the
home, Shakra says, to echo the natural surroundings of the house.
Long, sheer window
treatments with a leaf pattern and pale-gray border by J&R Langley
of Manchester add warmth to the room without detracting from the star
attraction: the view of the lake. Beyond the room’s expansive windows
and slider doors, ample seating beckons on the home’s deck.
A glamorous but soothing main bedroom
The
first floor is also where the main bedroom is located. Here, Shakra
wanted to create “a glamorous retreat,” she says. She filled the space
with neutral tones that repeat the family room’s color scheme. “When
designing a home, my favorite saying is ‘go with the flow.’ I like to
carry a main color throughout, echo architectural details or simply
repeat decorative motifs. This creates a sense of cohesion and harmony
between rooms.”
Neutral-toned
wallpaper highlights an accent wall behind the bed, while a scalloped
pendant light suspended from the tray ceiling casts light over a
gray-velvet bed covered in white-and-gray bedding from Mitchell Gold.
Two bedside sconces subtly repeat the curves of the pendant light. A
gray, shag rug provides softness underfoot, while custom sheers frame
the sliders and Hunter Douglas Silhouettes provide privacy and
light-filtering options.
A Y-shaped carpet by Mitchell Gold captures attention in the upstairs office.
Stepping
through the sliders from the main bedroom leads to a screened-in porch
with low-profile, Lloyd Flanders wicker; sisal carpeting; and a Company C
accent table constructed with branch-like pieces to blend perfectly
with the tranquil views of the
lake and surrounding trees. This is Nadine’s favorite room in the house.
“It’s our go-to place,” she says. “I love going out there in the
morning with a cup of coffee to see the sun rise and the birds at the
feeder.” (But hopefully no bears.) The views are “what got us,” Nadine
says, persuading the Ginsbergs to make the place their new home.
In
the main bath, a lovely arch curves over double sinks and cabinetry,
and an accent stool topped with a fun shag sits at the far end of the
space.
Space to work, play or simply relax
Heading
upstairs, the carpeting’s loose latticework pattern leads to a custom
ottoman accented with white piping and pillows perched on top—one of
which features a whimsical eye design by Jonathan Adler.
The
second-floor rooms include an office designed primarily for Martin.
Here, the carpet—with its bold Y-shaped design by Mitchell Gold—captures
attention and grounds the room. But there’s visual interest overhead,
too: a handcrafted, walnut ceiling fan.
Across
from the office, hall space provides a cozy sitting area for guests,
where they can watch TV or play a table game. When it’s time to call it a
night, two bedrooms provide a welcoming space. Turquoise lamps in one
of the rooms deliver a splash of color atop a nightstand that features
an eye-catching, antique mirrored look.
The
Ginsbergs couldn’t be happier with their Laconia home, especially as
they’ve discovered an important bonus: it entices their daughters to
visit more often. Like many busy, grown children, the Ginsbergs’ adult
daughters didn’t visit much when Nadine and Martin lived in Bedford,
Nadine says. The newly furnished lakeside home—with a boat and golf
nearby—has proven to be a great draw. It has persuaded the Ginsberg
daughters to spend more quality time with Mom and Dad, and it has helped
make Nadine’s vision of home a reality. NHH
RESOURCES
Apotheca • (603) 497-4940 • apothecaflowershoppe.com
Art 3 Gallery • (603) 668-6650 • art3gallery.com
Big Ass Fans • bigassfans.com
Dana Boucher • (603) 591-2299 • breathoffreshart.com
Capital Kitchen & Bath • (603) 226-4460 • capitalkitchenandbath.com
Company C • (603) 226-4460 • companyc.com
Emily Shakra Design • (603) 661-4969 • emilyshakra@aol.com
Fixtures, Etc. • (603) 893-6777 • fixturesetc.com
J.A. MetalCraft • (603) 782-6164 • jametalcraft.com
J&R Langley • (603) 622-9653 • jrlangley.com
Key Stone Carvings • (603) 230-6462 • keystonecarvings.net
Mavrikis Upholstery • (603) 883-6868
Mitchell Gold • (781) 552-5200 • mgbwhome.com
The Lighting Showroom • (603) 471-3299 • thelightingshowroom.us
