Northshore Magazine

March/April

Northshore magazine showcases the best that the North Shore of Boston, MA has to offer.

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"When they told me what they wanted, I saw that they were very interested in richness and luxury and in the drama of this kind of space," Wilson says. "I said, 'I can see that you are more Continental than people have been perceiving.' Traditional design, which is John's and my spe- cialty, can have its roots in the American deco- rative arts, or it can spring from British, French, and European stylistic fashions." Clearly, a whole design education unfolds in this rambling home. It begins with a formal en- try featuring a classical floor composed of black and white marble squares. The collaboration be- tween client and designers began here, when Kel- sey devised a floor plan that moved the unwieldy workings of a new HVAC system from this grace- ful space and hid them in an upstairs closet. "When he resited that into what had been an unused tiny bath," Wilson says, "John hit a home run. After that auspicious beginning, Richard and Cheryl gave us carte blanche." Kelsey explains how flow and architecture in- tertwine, and how millwork works to define and ornament a room. "I do the architectural look," he says as he talks about the successful—some might say un- usually so—relationship that makes their firm a go-to destination for clients like the Durgans, who want to make a home both beautiful and en- tirely their own. "I do the layout, lighting, mill- work. Then, Sally comes and overlays all the dec- orative elements on top of that." Sally Wilson's quick, instinctive understanding of her clients' taste drove all design decisions from there on. "When Cheryl realized that she wanted it to look very French, I started to look at pictures of Versailles, took their spirit, and scaled them back to modern living," Kelsey says. "A challenge de- veloped when it proved that New England stock millwork profiles are Colonial, not European." Still, Kelsey found a source. "I happen to love millwork and cabinetry, and I relish researching and coming up with something for the client." The designing couple walks through the for- mal living room, pointing to other examples of the home's Continental sensibility, including a pair of gilded Parisian wall sconces, two tapestry- upholstered Italian chairs, and a massive, carved French Renaissance fireplace mantel. "As designers," Wilson explains, "we balanced ornate materials with simple forms. It requires a deft touch." opposite page, continental influence in the living room. this page, from top, gilded shell cupboards; a french chandelier defines the dining room. 130

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