When a couple with two young boys purchased a charming home in Montclair, New Jersey, it was filled with outdated fixtures, finishes and paint colors that screamed early 2000’s. But, they didn’t want to completely renovate the 1907 Tudor-style home — instead, they longed to play up its historic features, like the intricate woodwork, arched doorway and glass-paneled doors. Samantha Stathis-Lynch, founder of Samantha Ware Designs, took on the challenge of giving the property a modern refresh — even encouraging the homeowners to experiment with pattern and color.
Drawing inspiration from the existing architecture, Lynch and her team crafted warm, inviting spaces that play with the juxtaposition between light and dark. “With any project, there should be a silver thread that weaves through every space,” says Lynch. “In this home, you’ll find different tones of green and blue” — from the deep blue dining room to the subdued green bedroom and olive green kitchen island.
From room to room, tour this character-filled abode to spot the cohesive color palette and the many “quirky” architectural features that define the historic property.
Welcoming Kitchen
When the homeowners moved in, the kitchen design — complete with a mosaic backsplash and creamy yellow cabinetry — was outdated. Luckily, the cabinets were high-quality and a fresh coat of paint (a custom taupe) makes all the difference. Lynch and her team swapped in handmade Zellige tiles for the backsplash, a patterned window shade and a red runner rug for depth and character.
The design team also painted the kitchen island, topped with an elegant marble countertop, a custom olive green. Two counterweight pendant lights hang above, adding to the quirkiness of the space. But, the most striking part of this cozy kitchen is the functional fireplace. Previously, “the fireplace was tiled in a very boring gray tile,” says Lynch, who fell in love with the image of a brick surround.
Warm wood bar stools draw on the reddish brown of the bricks, adding to the charm. Wall scones with custom patterned shades and vintage artwork above the mantel complete the look.
Cheery Sunroom
Whether it’s enjoying morning coffee or engaging in casual conversation, the young family spends much of their time in this light-filled sunroom — especially during the warmer months. “This house is so quirky,” jokes Lynch, who says the sunroom is part of an addition by the previous owners and tends to get chilly in the colder months.
To pair with the wood-paneled ceiling and old-fashioned shutters, Lynch chose a vintage Persian area rug, an oak coffee table and a large custom sectional dressed with playful throw pillows.
Moody Dining Room
This bold dining room, located at the center of the house, lends itself to dark, moody shades. Rather than fighting it, Lynch says: “If there’s a room that’s not getting a lot of natural light, play into it and lean into creating that cocoon-like feeling.” The original paneling and trim (notice the old-fashioned picture rail) is painted a rich dark blue that perfectly coordinates with the Kelly Ventura floral wallpaper. Also original, the glass paneled doors make it easy to peer out at the rest of the house and notice the contrast between the spaces.
Above the organic round dining table, Lynch settled on an “ethereal” paper lantern light fixture, which brings a light and airy feel to the otherwise moody space. In an effort to preserve the room’s formal architecture, an oversized Louis Philippe mirror is displayed above the wicker buffet.
“Jewel Box” Powder Room
Akin to that of Harry Potter, the powder room under the stairs is small and quirky — but packed with personality. Lynch settled on a moody Zak and Fox wallpaper, installed a corner sink and hung a simple round mirror off to the side.
Fun fact: thanks to the previous addition, the small window opens up to the sunroom — luckily, ample natural light still shines through.
Primary Bedroom
Defined by subtle color and cheery patterns, the primary bedroom is a peaceful oasis for the young couple. The walls are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Gray Cashmere, a soothing gray with hints of blue and green. A mid-century modern bed, outfitted with striped green bedding, is opposite a vintage dresser and the main area’s only single window, which is dressed with a custom drape made from Meredith Ellis fabric. “He likes more traditional, while she likes kind of funky and mid-century, so we wanted to combine both styles to create a space that reflects the couple.” Another interesting detail? Through the bedroom, there’s a sun-filled office that overlooks the back garden.
Attic Living Room
In the colder months, the family heads up to the attic floor for game nights and movie marathons. The entire space, including the sloped ceiling, is painted in Sherwin-Williams’ Rockwood Shutter Green, a deep emerald green. A contemporary sofa is positioned next to a traditional coffee table, while a vintage leather armchair sits across the room — an example of how Lynch seamlessly blends old with new. The design firm weaved in shades of dark green and blue, which are a common theme throughout the home. Pops of orange add to the delight.
“This quirky space has a ton of random built-shelves, nooks and crannies,” which only enhances the home’s vintage charm. “It was an interesting space to work with, because there are so many architectural details,” says Lynch.
Through the arched doorway is a small sitting room that doubles as a home library. Most of the furniture is vintage (including the center table that doubles as a chess table) and the built-in shelf is full of antique books.
Alyssa Gautieri (she/her) is the associate lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers all things home and interior design. Prior to joining GH in 2022, she wrote for publications including ELLE Decor, Chairish, BobVila.com, Unique Homes Magazine and LODGING Magazine, in addition to crafting product copy for home brands like BrylaneHome and VIGO Industries.
