A Fifth-Generation Family Estate Simply Bursting With Color
Jeffrey Bilhuber celebrates a family's heritage in the most unlikely way.
Jeffrey Bilhuber celebrates a family's heritage in the most unlikely way — by unleashing a riot of color from the root cellar to the rafters.
Sitting Area
The former living room in this New Jersey home now functions as a reception hall, with a big, comfortable custom sofa covered in Perennials' Nit Witty. A vintage American rattan chair faces a 19th-century English tray table. Walls in Benjamin Moore's Feather Down with trim in Pratt & Lambert's Obsidian. Jute rug from Patterson Flynn Martin. Painting by Julian Schnabel.
Living Room
In the new double-height living room, "the eye gravitates to that fearless David Hicks flash of color — the fuchsia sofas that flank the fireplace," says designer Jeffrey Bilhuber. They're covered in Malabar's Tabia. A French armchair is upholstered in Designtex's Parga. The exuberant blue-and-persimmon print on a pair of chairs is Tulu's Stella. Another sofa, covered in a corduroy from Sonia's Place, is placed against the old exterior wall of the icehouse. Curtains in Osborne & Little's Serenissima in the center, Schumacher's Kasari Ikat at the sides, and Malabar's Carom at the left. Hanging Schoolhouse lights from Rejuvenation add a casual touch next to a two-tier Classic Ring chandelier from Circa Lighting. Walls in Woodlawn Blue and ceiling in Winds Breath, both by Benjamin Moore. Carpet by Patterson Flynn Martin.
Dining Room
"In the dining rooms of fine old houses, you'll often see a small table in a bay window or off to the side," says Bilhuber. "It's a way to enjoy the room with just two or three people." An antique English gateleg table cozies up to a banquette covered in a navy velvet from Perennials. Pillows in China Seas' Lim Bamboo II and Schumacher's Kasari Ikat.
Bedroom
"I'm a pushover for gingham curtains," says Bilhuber. Made of Chelsea Textiles' Large Check, they create a focal point in the master bedroom. Custom Radius headboard upholstered in Martyn Lawrence Bullard's Kabba Kabba. Bedside tables, Restoration Hardware. Custom bench covered in Toyine Sellers's Quatre. Wing chair covered in HB Luxe's Natural Strata. Waitsfield rug by Woodard & Greenstein. Chandelier, Circa Lighting. Walls painted in Benjamin Moore's Colony Green.
The Designer
Owner Andrew Drexel Allen, his fiancée, Kathryn Ainsworth Long, and Jeffrey Bilhuber take a walk through the fields with a master of the hounds. Read more about the Bilhuber's inspiration for this home here. For more details, see Resources.
Produced by Senga Mortimer.
This story originally appeared in the February 2016 issue of House Beautiful.
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