DESIGN by CHRISTINE J. BOOZER, SERENITY HOME STYLING
PHOTOGRAPHY by MEGHAN BALCOM
TEXT by NAYDA RONDON
If an entryway is a home’s chance to make a first impression, the entrance to an early 20th century Foursquare home in Westfield proclaims personality plus. Christine J. Boozer, founder of Serenity Home Styling in Scotch Plains, crafted a welcoming space that feels both storied and fresh, balancing beauty, historical character and contemporary family life.
The homeowners—a lawyer and an English teacher juggling three young kids, a dog and the daily swirl of everyday life—connected with Boozer through a local Facebook moms group. The first-time clients had clear priorities: organization, practicality and durability, all while preserving the home’s original Arts and Crafts woodwork.
“Our entryway was the first thing we fell in love with,” the wife says of the 1918 home they purchased in 2017. “The original staircase, the huge window and the open flow between rooms make the space warm and inviting—but also challenging to decorate.”
“The space was dark and neutral when we first met,” says Boozer. “For me, it was all about giving the home a more sophisticated vibe as well as adding life through texture and color.”
Wallpaper became the project’s defining feature. Inspired by English textile designer William Morris and the homeowner’s love of Victorian literature, Boozer and the client chose Morris & Co.’s Pimpernel pattern.
What began as a plan for one accent wall quickly expanded throughout the entryway, up both staircases and into the second-floor hall.
“As a longtime admirer of the Victorian writer and designer William Morris’ work, I found incorporating one of his designs incredibly meaningful,” the homeowner says. “Having design elements that reflect the house’s soul matters to me. I wanted brightness, color and cheer as well as tranquility.”
Practicality remained equally important. Boozer chose kid- and petfriendly materials throughout, including durable fabrics and a custom bound carpet remnant with navy trim from Hansel’s Carpets in Westfield, a stylish solution that could withstand muddy cleats, art projects and everyday family traffic. “I couldn’t be precious about a rug,” says the wife. “Christine found a solution that looks beautiful, is comfortable and soft but also durable, and is in a pattern that the shop has in stock often enough that should we choose to carpet a runner up the stairs one day, we can match it to the rug,” the wife says.
Custom window treatments from Ella Allure Interior Design Center in Westfield echo the wallpaper’s palette, while coral velvet trim adds a tailored finishing touch. Existing furnishings, including a 1980s Maitland Smith entry table, were refreshed with thoughtful touches: A faux floral arrangement by Nancy Conner Design in Plainfield and custom trade-sourced X stools bring color, whimsy and function to the space.
Layered details complete the composition: botanical bird prints from Ballard Designs animate a neutral wall; lush greenery and a relocated blue chair on the stair landing create moments of warmth and pause, giving depth and interest to transitional spaces.
The six-month transformation, completed from 2024 into 2025, reflects Boozer’s commitment to detail and personalization. “I love taking a single element—like wallpaper—and letting that inspire the entire design,” she says.
Today the entryway is far more than a pass-through. “Walking down the stairs makes me feel like I’m in an enchanted Edwardian children’s novel,” the wife says. “Even when the room is filled with the evidence of our busy lives—book bags scattered everywhere, mail piled on the table, coats that haven’t quite made it to the closet and are draped across the stools—the chaos feels joyful. It’s like the house can finally speak the language she was always meant to use.”