DESIGN by HILLARY K. COHEN, HCO INTERIOR
PHOTOGRAPHY by REBECCA MCALPIN
TEXT by NAYDA RONDON
As any parent will attest, pre-teen girls are notoriously hard to please, especially when it comes to their personal space. But Hillary K. Cohen, of HCO Interiors in Basking Ridge, nailed the challenge. Her bedroom and en-suite bath for the 2025 Mansion in May Designer Showhouse and Gardens at Chester Township’s Wildfair estate is so Insta-worthy it could make even the most particular ’tween grin.
The vibe? Grown-up cool meets pastel daydream. “The only consistent thing about pre-teens is their inconsistency,” Cohen says. “I wanted a room that could grow alongside its inhabitant, something adaptable to shifting moods and tastes.”
A neutral foundation—the softly patterned wallpaper—allows for evolving accent colors, while the mix of textures, patterns and tones keeps the space feeling alive and youthful without locking it into one specific age group.
Cohen’s deft balance of elements makes the space sing. She layered geometrics, playful hues and a blend of antique and modern pieces into a cohesive whole.
“There’s a lot going on, but it all feels harmonious,” she says. “Balancing pinks, purples and blues so they complement one another without going over the top was a delicate act, but it’s what gives the space its distinctive energy and warmth.”
The custom pink-velvet bed, dressed in a John Robshaw quilt and Stamattina sheets, claims the spotlight. The canopy—in lilac-hued linen Kravet fabric—practically begs for a Saturday morning sleep-in. Nearby, a custom corner banquette accented with perky pillows from Pepper Home provides a cozy perch for reading or chatting with friends. Decorative shelving above displays artwork and travel mementoes; the Alder & Ore marble nesting tables offer contemporary, space-saving style. A hidden vanity nook— formerly a closet—adds a surprise element. Over the fireplace, Dana McClure’s mixed-media artwork, sourced from Chatham-based CSM Art & Frame, blooms vibrantly.
In the bathroom, Cohen preserved the original hardwood floors and vintage clawfoot tub, rejuvenating them with Kravet’s Ronald Redding Canterbury Bells wallpaper. Scalloped Matouk towels, a custom bath curtain and matching lampshades in Thibaut fabric, brass fixtures from DXV and Grohe, a “bubbles” wall mirror and Visual Comfort sconces strike a chic balance between nostalgia and in-the-now style.
“We wanted the bath to feel like an extension of the bedroom—playful but poised,” Cohen recalls. “I imagined myself as a young teen living in this incredible estate. I wanted to design a space that felt like a little world of her own, almost like a mini studio apartment.”
To keep the energy vibrant, Cohen incorporated geometric motifs—from a diamond-patterned wallcovering to cut-velvet upholstery and a geometric-tiled fireplace surround— throughout.
“The palette is playful but refined: soft purples, pinks and blues grounded by neutrals to feel feminine but not overly girly,” Cohen explains. “Antique pieces honor the home’s history, while modern elements keep the overall design fresh and timeless.”
In the end, the project became personal. “It felt like designing for my younger self—the kid who was always rearranging her bedroom just for fun,” Cohen says. “This space is a joyful reminder of why I love design: It’s creative, personal and ever-evolving.”