DESIGN by LIZ CURRY, LIZ CURRY STUDIO
PHOTOGRAPHY by AIMEE RYAN
TEXT by NAYDA RONDON
Creating a bridge between traditional and modern was the aim when Liz Curry, of South Orange-based Liz Curry Studio, was tapped to design the living and dining rooms of a 1930s Tudor in Millburn. The clients, young professionals with a toddler, two dogs and a cat, wished to respect the home’s character while imprinting it with their own contemporary sensibilities.
Moving into the four-bedroom, three-bathroom home, the homeowners were starting with no furniture and no must-haves when it came to style. With the hope of dipping into design mode gradually, they asked Curry, whom they’d found online, to concentrate on the main floor’s two most visible formal gathering spaces.
“The clients were looking for casual elegance; spaces that felt mature but still soft and kid- and pet-friendly,” Curry says. “They came with no preconceived notions and were very open to suggestions.”
Curry set about transforming the “tired, dated and drab” rooms into youthful visions of contemporary charm. “We wanted to bring the home into the present. We kept beautiful original features, but updated the color palette and chose bright, modern furniture and art that reflected the clients’ aesthetics.”
Going for a fresh feel, Curry selected light colors, not only to contrast the woodwork but to keep the rooms—both with north-facing windows—as bright as possible. To create balance, the hardwood floors were refinished from their original orangey-looking stain to a cooler tone.
Cynthia Pareja Dubin and a Copenhagen centerpiece vase from Global Views—keep things stylishly sparse.
The living room’s leaded window became a central focus. Newly repaired and refinished, its intricate detailing features sparkled with renewed vibrancy. Adding softness and privacy, Shade Store linen drapery was installed as an extra dress-up effect. Walls, baseboard and door casings were uplifted with Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace paint; doors were stained dark and original hardware was maintained. To refresh the wood-burning fireplace, an old mantel clock recess niche was covered up and a new marble
hearth—flush with the floor for safety—was installed.
“The vaulted ceiling and beams are absolutely spectacular, and restoring the original woodwork was very important,” Curry says. “We love the high contrast of the original beams, and many of our decisions were based on their dark tones. The new stain on doors, the dark coffee table and the dark dining table are all in response to bringing down the ceiling’s dark tones to the lower level of the spaces to provide balance.”
All fabrics and rugs were comfortable, ultra-durable and easy to clean. (“This was super-important given all the white chairs,” says the designer. “Just because it needs to be pet and kid friendly doesn’t mean it can’t be white.”) Side tables—such as the concrete Kenmore piece by the fireplace—are heavy and hard to tip, important child safeguards.
The Ethan Allen Emerson sofa—a “surprise” buy by the owner that Curry was quick to incorporate—injected an infusion of color. “Its rich blue tone helped ground the room, so we embraced it. Because it was in a more traditional style, it created a nice balance of old and new with the rest of the selections,” Curry explains.
Opposite the sofa, the lighter-toned Bernhardt Astoria fabric swivel chairs provide a pleasing juxtaposition and a welcoming hominess. “The chairs feel like a hug,” says Curry. “I love that they can swivel to face the fireplace.”
Between the armchairs, the Jayson Home wood-stump table pays homage to the ceiling’s beams while the dark-toned Artistica Home Rousseau coffee table helps ground the seating group. The Bernhardt Pisa ottomans, custom-upholstered in Rebecca Atwood fabric featuring a white stitch over navy background, supplement the other seating pieces. Decorative touches such as the Toral Patel painting from J. Nunez Gallery, the Lily’s Living marble disk sculptures atop the mantel and the Scala hand-forged floor lamp, enhance the room’s appeal.
In the dining room, the vibe is moodier, thanks to the warm, gray hue of Farrow & Ball’s Dove Tale paint. The Restoration Hardware Bre ton extension dining table offers ample seating and legroom to entertain in chic comfort. Arhaus Jagger side chairs with metal detailing and Pottery Barn Baldwin barrel back swivel head chairs complement without being matchy-matchy.
As requested, Curry completed the six-month 2023 project in time for her clients to host their first Thanksgiving in their new home in style. Thanks to the designer’s abundant creativity, the homeowners were able to gather with loved ones in newly welcoming spaces that equally celebrate honored traditions and the casual elegance they’d been seeking.
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