DESIGN by ABBY GRUMAN/ABBY LEIGH DESIGNS
PHOTOGRAPHY by DONNA DOTAN
TEXT by DONNA ROLANDO
A new-construction colonial in Tenafly was off to a good start, modern and elevated. Still, at least one of the new owners couldn’t wait to tweak the look. That’s no surprise, because homeowner Abby Gruman doubles as CEO of Abby Leigh Designs, and design is her life.
“We renovated different parts to make it our own,” says Gruman who, with backing from husband Jeremy, pursued this labor of love for a family that includes two school-age children.
The project essentially started right after their 2020 arrival and forged on through the summer of 2025 with a projection TV and a fireplace in a new outdoor entertainment zone.
Because the five-bedroom colonial already stood out as unique, Gruman was selective in where to infuse a personal touch. The dining room, one of the first rooms to greet visitors, had to “make a big statement,” she says. She accomplished that with hand-painted wallcovering by Porter Teleo in charcoal with golden lines.
She kept the drama going with gold and black lamps by Kelly Wearstler on a modern oak credenza by Bernhardt, which with its antique-border mirror from Arteriors declares that “Old meets new.” Metallic threading in a Holly Hunt fabric also glamorizes the Artistic Frame chairs without sacrificing comfort.
For the family eager to entertain, the gray oak table by Homenature was chosen not only for the warmth of wood but because it extends for gatherings—a functional must. More than eye candy, the bubble handblown-glass chandelier from Lindsey Adelman scores for not competing with the wallpaper, which the designer calls “the star of the show.” The kitchen was another opportunity to reflect individuality through lighting as seen in a polished-nickel bubble chandelier by Apparatus in the breakfast nook and three brass pendants by Kelly Wearstler over the dark-gray island.
“One of the reasons I bought the home was that I fell in love with the kitchen right away,” says Gruman. She was particularly smitten by the two-tone gray cabinets, a distinctive complement to the builder’s quartzite backsplash and counters. She also lets her taste shine by mixing metals in the lighting and handcrafted Desiron table of limewash oak over satin nickel. “It makes it more interesting, and it also adds that warmth that I really wanted,” she explains.
Comfort is king in the breakfast nook chairs, featuring a durable geometric pattern by Kravet, while the island barstools from Mark Albrecht are woven leather. Cascade Roman shades in sheer greige offer privacy and texture.
In the family room, the fireplace is the focal point—sitting below the TV in a people magnet of a space—but Gruman deemed the pre-existing black wall too dark and heavy. Lightening up the space is a limewash plaster finish, which also kicks in texture. For this hangout room to function, she introduced two contemporary sofas by Holly Hunt and swivel chairs by Homenature, all in a cream chevron pattern by Kravet and subtle enough to invite a pop of color. Look for blues in the handmade abstract rug by Stark Carpet as well as work by graffiti artist Sean “LayerCake” Sullivan. Horse photographs abutting the fireplace traveled from her former NYC apartment and give “every space a sophisticated feel.”
Finding boredom in convention, she also ventured “outside the box” with the custom coffee table’s organic shape. The redesign meets its mark of being family friendly yet sophisticated, she says.
Husband Jeremy’s favorite feature is the outdoor entertainment zone, “his haven,” which the family (and friends) christened this past summer, Gruman says. Taking center stage is the projection TV, flanked by vertical wooden slats, and a waterfall edge of quartzite topping the gray-porcelain fireplace. Black and white create contemporary contrasts for the viewing section, a nest of durable furniture from RH/Rove Concepts gracing a bluestone patio.
Jeremy also loves grilling in the outdoor kitchen, which provides a jet-mist, granite-slab countertop by Artistic Tile for cooking and savoring what’s piping hot from the pizza oven. Gruman pumped up party potential with a large oak table and counter area featuring mesh-seat barstools, hoping for what she calls “timeless design with a modern edge.”
“We’re so thrilled with how it came out and can’t wait until summer to use it again,” she adds.
After investing a few years in styling her home her way, Gruman is happy—but not ready to wrap it up. She is, after all, a designer, and there’s no place like home to redesign. Next up is the basement, where she imagines a movie theater, a gym and a built-in bar.
Looking back, designer-homeowner Gruman turns an obvious observation on its head. “I think when you’re designing your own home, there’s always a little added pressure,” she reflects. “Sometimes it’s easier to work for a client than yourself. I overcame that by taking risks—and by using color and a lot of texture.”
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