When Robyn and Alex Kelly and their five kids, then ages 5, 9, 12, 14 and 20, moved into their custom-built, 8,200-square- foot, New England shingle-style dream home in Westfield in 2012, they thought they had all the bells and whistles. With seven bedrooms, seven-and-a-half bathrooms, a three-car garage and 2.5 acres of landscaped property featuring a resort-like saltwater pool and multiple outdoor entertainment spaces, the home had been thoughtfully and lovingly designed for high-end living at its most spacious and inviting.
But it turns out the 1,800-square-foot basement wasn’t up to the style standards of the rest of the home. It was already three years into their move and the deep downstairs—featuring a kitchenette, a bar area, a play/craft room, a recreation room, a home gym and a guest suite with full bath—still failed to draw much family traffic.
“It was finished, but it was super dark and no one ever wanted to go there,” Robyn says of the space, which was painted in dark grays and decorated in a mismatched style with red cabinets and “all the leftover furniture” that hadn’t made the cut in the upstairs living areas.
Deciding it was time to call in creative reinforcements, Robyn asked interior designer Judy Sturdevant of Westfield-based Freeman Hall Design to help her turn her “dark and gloomy” basement into a “fun and bright space” where all the family members—especially the kids—would want to spend time. The two had met and clicked when both were involved in a show house charity event. By then Robyn’s home had already been decorated, but when the downstairs begged for an uplift, she immediately thought of Sturdevant. “I love Judy!” says Robyn. “She really listened to what I wanted and steered me in the right direction to be a little braver and do things I might not have done on my own.”
The rest of the elegant home was mostly decorated in subdued colors and patterns. But for this downstairs space, Sturdevant envisioned a breezier, more relaxed, fun feel with play-hardy performance furniture and fabrics and eye-catching pops of color.
“Robyn regretted selecting the red kitchen in the basement and wanted to know if I could choose a new paint color for the cabinetry,” Sturdevant explains. “But I loved the red and thought it was the perfect launching point to inspire the other downstairs spaces. The area felt very disjointed in terms of the kitchen and eating area relative to the TV room and playroom.”
To unify the rooms while also brightening the vibe, Sturdevant had all the gray drywalls replaced by shiplap painted with Benjamin Moore Super White, a brilliant, almost sparkling shade that evokes a sunny, carefree state of mind. “We were going for a fun and casual look, and I think that our use of materials really accomplished this,” the designer says. “I knew when I first saw the cabinetry’s red lacquer that we would be pairing this with turquoise and navy pieces for a laid-back, beachy quality.”
In the TV room, Thibaut window panels in Honshu Navy with coral, blue and beige were paired with a woven Roman shade for a view with visual pizzazz. Echoing the shade’s texture, the two Noir open wood and rattan peel chairs are covered in a perky turquoise Duralee fabric that perfectly punches up the sand-toned, custom-sized Thibaut sectional. The Schumacher lumbar pillow covers in a geometric linen/cotton blend called Mezza Luna further enhance the color story, while the Prestige area rug serves to frame the space. The Flor carpet tiles in shades of sea colors complement the children’s room while also connecting the two spaces. In the eating area, the banquette seats, covered in a vivid red Schumacher Fuzz II performance fabric, coordinate with the nearby red lacquer cabinetry, while subtle details such as the cherry-decorated glasses atop the peninsula serve up extra scoops of playful red accents.
“Have I mentioned how much I love Judy?” says Robyn. “She was very patient, kind and professional, and had lots of great sources to create many custom pieces and elements. When I found a piece I liked—for example, the tulip table—she went with it and worked it into the plan. She had a wonderful vision, but really allowed me to have a say in what I liked and what I chose for the space as well.”
Collaborating closely with the homeowner, Sturdevant sourced all of the fabrics and seating, as well as the sofa table, side table and rug. She had a carpenter build the kitchen bench seating and the long, lacquered cabinet under the TV, and guided the homeowner in choosing the custom-sized sectional with performance fabric from Greenhouse Fabrics with an eye equally to style, function and practicality. “It’s a perfect fit for the space; so pretty yet practical,” says Robyn. “What good is a great-looking sofa if the kids can’t jump on it and spill popcorn all over it?”
“She and I had so much fun selecting fabrics, collaborating on the shiplap/trim and designing the additional cabinetry,” says Sturdevant of the process, which—allowing for occasional breaks when the homeowner requested other projects elsewhere—took almost a year to complete. “Every decision was a team effort, and the finished product is really bright and cheerful. Ultimately the Kellys desired a cushy and comfortable downstairs space where they could watch their family movies, sporting events and have game nights together.”
Mission accomplished. The homeowners couldn’t be more pleased with the results. “It is just a happy, bright place!” says Robyn. “I love the light and airy feel. It doesn’t even feel like a basement. Our kids entertain their friends down there, and it’s where the whole family watches movies and sports. It’s the one place that we can all fit onto one couch!”
The designer clearly worked her magic and transformed the space from a place where no one wanted to gather into one of the most popular parts of the entire home, according to the homeowner, who wistfully notes that the family will soon be moving to a new home in North Carolina and thus won’t have much longer to enjoy their current downstairs space. However, on the bright side: she’s already enlisted Sturdevant to make their new spaces just as beautiful, happy and
inviting.
“Judy’s friendship and her continued positivity and willingness to help me make our home better for our family has been the biggest reward,” says Robyn. “If she was able to turn our dark and gloomy basement into a beautiful and appealing space, I know she’ll help me accomplish the same for our new home.”
Text by Nayda Rondon
Design by Judy Sturdevant
Photography by Vic Wahby