Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: English Country Style in Massachusetts
A designer helps her clients repurpose their existing pieces, giving their traditional style an updated look
English country was the style these Dover, Massachusetts, homeowners craved when they fully renovated their home. While the wife had a clear vision, a wonderful art collection and lovely furniture and fabrics, she knew the value of hiring an interior designer. Enter Tracy Parkinson of Nest + Co., who enjoyed having a client who was a collaborator. “She was a real partner and we truly worked side by side on this,” the designer says. “She had a lot of really beautiful pieces and fabrics that we were able to incorporate or repurpose throughout the home.”
In the dining room, the wood and painted finishes, grasscloth wallpaper, caned chairs and floral drapery fabric nod to English country style.
“It’s important when you want to go toward a certain look like English country that you don’t go too far and wind up making it look like a Merchant Ivory film set,” Parkinson says. “You need to add some modern elements to make things look current.”
Shop for a chandelier
“It’s important when you want to go toward a certain look like English country that you don’t go too far and wind up making it look like a Merchant Ivory film set,” Parkinson says. “You need to add some modern elements to make things look current.”
Shop for a chandelier
A good example of this is how Parkinson repurposed the homeowners’ existing heavy wood sideboard. “Once we had the color palette down, we had it painted to freshen it up,” she says. She chose a color that played off the grasscloth wallpaper. She also added the homeowners’ frog lamps and artwork to finish off this area.
“My clients had a great art collection. All of the art we used they already had. I helped them find the right places to hang it,” Parkinson says. “She also had a lot of beautiful drapes from their former home, and we were able to repurpose a lot of those fabrics.” In this case, the drapery fabric is new, but that was rare for the project.
“My clients had a great art collection. All of the art we used they already had. I helped them find the right places to hang it,” Parkinson says. “She also had a lot of beautiful drapes from their former home, and we were able to repurpose a lot of those fabrics.” In this case, the drapery fabric is new, but that was rare for the project.
The dining table, chairs and chandelier are also new. These pieces add natural materials and texture to the space. The millwork around the fireplace was existing.
Find a local fireplace contractor
Find a local fireplace contractor
Across the entry space is the library, which the wife uses as her home office. She already had the rug and leather club chairs, so Parkinson selected a grasscloth wallcovering in a warm tone that complemented both. Across from this sitting area is a desk and bookshelves.
“This powder room was a challenge because it was very small,” Parkinson says. “We wanted to find a way to give them a sink and some surface space for things like soap.”
The builder custom-made the vanity from teak. There’s a shelf below the counter to stash things like extra rolls of toilet paper. The backsplash is a large-format slate tile that matches the flooring in the adjacent mudroom. Parkinson had it edged in black metal Schluter strips. Brass finishes and a fern wallpaper elevate the look.
Another small but significant detail is the power outlets and switches. “My client knew she wanted old-fashioned toggle switches throughout the house. I helped her land on oil-rubbed bronze backplates with brass switches,” Parkinson says. “She was just as excited about small details like this as we were, which was fun and really showed her design skills.”
Browse bathroom mirrors in the Houzz Shop
The builder custom-made the vanity from teak. There’s a shelf below the counter to stash things like extra rolls of toilet paper. The backsplash is a large-format slate tile that matches the flooring in the adjacent mudroom. Parkinson had it edged in black metal Schluter strips. Brass finishes and a fern wallpaper elevate the look.
Another small but significant detail is the power outlets and switches. “My client knew she wanted old-fashioned toggle switches throughout the house. I helped her land on oil-rubbed bronze backplates with brass switches,” Parkinson says. “She was just as excited about small details like this as we were, which was fun and really showed her design skills.”
Browse bathroom mirrors in the Houzz Shop
In the living room, most of the furnishings are new. But the homeowners’ existing drapery fabric with green polka dots, green ceramic lamps and side tables provided a jumping-off point. Parkinson had the wood side tables wrapped in leather. They have a poly coating on the shelves to provide an even surface.
The designer had new shades made for her clients’ existing lamps, adding leather trim to play off the side tables. And she repurposed the clients’ drapes so they would fit the windows.
The designer had new shades made for her clients’ existing lamps, adding leather trim to play off the side tables. And she repurposed the clients’ drapes so they would fit the windows.
The sofas and chairs have more modern lines, while the color palette is very English country. The rug is new but has a timeless look. The coffee table has a limestone top, adding a lovely natural material. “Also, with two teenagers and two dogs, we needed this tabletop to be indestructible,” Parkinson says. “They spend a lot of time in here hanging out and watching movies.”
Just off the living room is the breakfast and bar area. “Szalaji had already completed the kitchen layout. My role was finding the lighting, the furniture, the hardware and the cabinet paint color,” Parkinson says.
The cabinet paint is a warm tone, Brookline Beige by Benjamin Moore. The countertops are white quartz.
“This hardware is stunning. It has mixed finishes — the bars are oil-rubbed bronze and the rest of the pull is brushed bronze that plays off the light fixtures,” Parkinson says.
“This hardware is stunning. It has mixed finishes — the bars are oil-rubbed bronze and the rest of the pull is brushed bronze that plays off the light fixtures,” Parkinson says.
Outside the family room and kitchen, Parkinson helped break the vast patio into zones. She sourced all the furniture, accessories and rugs. “My clients wanted a table to have family meals out here and also for entertaining,” she says. The space also has an outdoor kitchen, not seen in the photos.
Parkinson created a comfy outdoor lounge next to the new outdoor fireplace. This was an opportunity to add more modern furnishings to the mix.
In the laundry room, an artichoke pattern wallpaper, green countertops and beadboard lend the English country look.
The house has five bedrooms, and the homeowners decided to make this first-floor primary suite the guest suite. Parkinson repurposed drapes from her clients’ former home to fit in the space, including cutting some of the fabric into the Roman shades that flank the bed. She chose a spring green paint for the walls that plays off the fabric. The linen-wrapped green dresser is new.
The designer was also able to repurpose the couple’s former bed for the guest room. “It had been a king, but we cut it down to a queen. We used fabric my client already had to reupholster it,” she says.
The nightstands match the dresser and provide storage. The clean lines of the nightstands and a pair of new lamps modernize the design.
The nightstands match the dresser and provide storage. The clean lines of the nightstands and a pair of new lamps modernize the design.
Opposite the French doors is this nook. Parkinson made it special with a beautiful wallpaper. “I had this chair my client already had reupholstered to turn this into a reading nook,” she says.
Check out our beginner’s guide to get started on your home project
Check out our beginner’s guide to get started on your home project
In the water closet of the en suite guest bath, Parkinson used the same artichoke wallpaper that’s in the laundry room. It can be seen here beyond the pocket door.
“The architect designed the cabinets and mirror,” Parkinson says. “I helped them with finishes like the lighting, colors, wallpaper and tile.”
“The architect designed the cabinets and mirror,” Parkinson says. “I helped them with finishes like the lighting, colors, wallpaper and tile.”
The shower stall has a stunning green tile with a pearlescent finish that reflects light. It coordinates with the other greens Parkinson used throughout the guest suite.
“These clients were very involved throughout the project and knew exactly what they liked and didn’t like,” the designer says. “Working with them and the beautiful things they brought to the project was a dream.”
More on Houzz
Tour more homes
Hire a local design pro
Shop for your home
“These clients were very involved throughout the project and knew exactly what they liked and didn’t like,” the designer says. “Working with them and the beautiful things they brought to the project was a dream.”
More on Houzz
Tour more homes
Hire a local design pro
Shop for your home
House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with two teenagers and two dogs
Location: Dover, Massachusetts
Size: Five bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms
Designers: On the Boards Design (architecture) and Nest + Co. (interior design)
Builder: Robert Lawrence Builders
When the homeowners bought this home for their family of four, they knew they would complete an extensive remodel right away. Both Parkinson and architect Mike Szalaji were on board from the beginning. Parkinson worked on colors, wallcoverings, indoor and outdoor lighting, furniture, draperies and all the other interior finishes. In addition to reworking the spaces, Szalaji designed the millwork and cabinetry, as well as the kitchen and bathroom layouts.
Parkinson used Houzz Pro software throughout the design process to share room boards, plans and image items with her clients; to send and track proposals, invoices and purchase orders; and to communicate with co-workers on tasks.
This gracious entry shows the home’s traditional design. The dining room is to the right, the library is to the left, and the family room can be seen at the back of the photo.
Hire local design and remodeling pros