Northshore Home magazine highlights the best in architectural design, new construction and renovations, interiors, and landscape design.
Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/660193
108 hen people walk into Lisa Duffy's 10,000-square-foot Shingle-style home in Prides Crossing, they know right away they're entering a place like none they have seen before. "They're going to see a lot of surprises. I love that," Duffy says. "I love knowing that nothing is cookie-cutter." For Duffy, who owns Savoir Faire Home, the elegant Andover interior design and home décor shop, those surprises take the form of unique, treasured items that spark curiosity and are personally meaningful. Duffy's home is interesting and comfortable, exuding an easygoing, Bohemian elegance that's welcoming and never stuffy. Although it's a large home, Duffy says she loves the way it doesn't feel cavernous, cold, or too big, thanks to its cozy layout. "It's sophisticated, but it's lived in. It's rustic and it's warm. I like textures and I like layers," she says. "I'm a risk-taker when it comes to designing. I don't mind trying new things." In fact, when it comes to designing her home, she says there are no rules, except for one: "I have a sense in my gut…does it feel right?" Duffy's home certainly feels right in its evocation of its natural surroundings. A path stretches from the seaside house right to the beach. "We have these spectacular ocean views," she says. For instance, the house's living room faces the wa- ter, and French doors open to the backyard. With that in mind, Duffy used cool, natural tones in the room's décor: lots of creams, grays, greens, and blues. The re- sult is a natural-feeling environment that "makes your shoulders relax." "Wherever you're sitting in the room you have a great view of the water," Duffy says. "I really wanted it to be an extension of the outdoors." Duffy also filled the room with interesting things that are showcased in thought-provoking and unexpected ways. "Very few books are on my bookshelves," she says. "I've used [them] more as display [cases] for my most favored pieces." There are naturally harvested turtle shells perched on metal stands and displayed along with thick, beautiful old books that are tied together with twine. Elsewhere, chunky shells and lovely sprays of blue and white coral sit atop apothecary bottles. "I love taking pieces of old, encrusted seashells and putting those on antique bottles to make them Accessories thoughout the house include, crystal geodes, cup coral, and several Swedish antiques.