DESIGN by JESSICA FISCHER, JFD CREATIVE
PHOTOGRAPHY by ANDREW FRASZ
TEXT by NAYDA RONDON
New York City is exciting and fast-paced. But sometimes you just want to escape and savor life in the slow lane while reconnecting with family in a home-away-from-home setting. That’s what two brand-new empty nesters, a city-dwelling married couple, envisioned when they purchased a Rumson retreat. Sitting on 3.37 acres, the 4,338-square-foot riverfront colonial presented the perfect blank canvas to create their dream vacation/ weekend home.
“They wanted a relaxing home where they could come together and refocus on connecting as a family,” says Rumson-based JFD Creative’s Jessica Fischer of her clients, parents with two daughters—one attending college out of state, one a recent grad living and working in NYC.
The project—begun right before the start of COVID and completed about 18 months later after many pandemic-related sourcing delays—essentially involved starting with new pieces. To ensure an ultra-personal stamp, however, Fischer made certain to include existing items meaningful to the family.
“We were able to create personal spaces that spoke to the clients’ aesthetic by sourcing unique elements and incorporating important existing pieces,” says the designer. “My favorites were the vintage console and mirror in the entryway, since they were family heirlooms.”
Another distinctive touch was the wall gallery Fischer created out of a disparate assortment of family photos. “There wasn’t a distinguishable theme, so I opted to have them all scanned, resized and printed in black and white,” she says. She then had them reframed in various sizes and configurations, unifying all with a consistent navy frame. She left photos printed on canvas in color and included a portrait of one of the daughters painted by her paternal grandmother. “Despite introducing an additional medium, the subject matter worked perfectly,” Fischer says. “Now they’re thrilled to have a gorgeous wall of treasured memories.”
For the relaxed and refined feel the homeowners were seeking, Fischer went with Benjamin Moore Simply White on the walls, ceilings and trims; textile palettes in calming neutrals that reflect the river views; and white oak flooring throughout. For a dash of contrast and modernity, she added striking black elements. To satisfy her clients’ call for comfort and convenience, she opted for pieces such as the great room’s extra-deep Arhaus sofa, clad in performance fabric, and the area rug custom-made from durable wool. Combining art and function, the chandelier is large enough to serve as a focal point in the vast space, while its simplicity complements the room’s sophisticated minimalism.
Although smaller in scale, the dining room with its grand design is in no way underwhelming. “With most of the home so bright and airy, we wanted to create a space with a bit of drama,” says the designer. “Since it’s more intimate, the dining room was the perfect space to create a moody atmosphere.” The room is punctuated by Benjamin Moore Hale Navy. In contrast to the adjacent room’s double-floor ceilings, the dining room’s 8-foot ceiling—white oak panels in a perpendicular pattern—encloses the space, enhancing the sense of intimacy. The RH Maslow Spider round dining table encourages cozy conversations; the Wexler chairs represent refined modernity, while special accents—like decorative pottery crafted by one of the daughters—lend homey touches.
Also exuding cozy intimacy, the breakfast nook highlights Fischer’s mastery for mixing moods and styles. The Pottery Barn table’s trestle base gives a slightly rustic feel to promote warmth and charm. As a standout statement, she paired the geometric Thibaut wallpaper with the Lulu and Georgia bistro chairs. Overhead, the Ventila pendant features woven rattan intertwined with tropical palm strands. The full effect: a “mixture of rustic and refinement.”
In the kitchen, the vegan leather Fern NYC stools add interesting texture and natural elements. The simple silhouette of the light pendants blends in seamlessly even as the brass features add lustrous contrast. Popping against the white cabinetry, the brass hardware fixtures contribute to the luxurious feel, while the herringbone pattern of the tiles accentuates the space’s classic design.
Upstairs, the primary bedroom is in harmony with the home’s tranquil, organic feel. The coastal-modern vibe is evident in pieces such as the Four Hands king bed frame made from mango wood and woven cane panels, the RH vegan shagreen-wrapped nightstands and the Regina Andrew accordion table lamps, which incorporate birch and linen elements. On the bed, custom-made accent pillows “create a Boho, modern, organic, relaxed aesthetic,” Fischer notes.
“The clients wanted a home representative of them as a family, so I made it a point to infuse their personality into the furniture, art and fabric pieces,” Fischer explains. “They trusted my vision to design and source pieces that reflected their love of travel and their affinity for craftsmanship and handmade pieces. When the project was completed, the home was the perfect representation of their personal style.”