all photographs by Tim Williams
Story Street Studio Creates a Cozy and Colorful Family Home in Westchester
HOUSE BEAUTIFUL
by Nafeesah Allen
April 25, 2022
Having outgrown their Brooklyn apartment, Alexandra Willkie and Zachary Pasanen moved into a 3,359-square-foot stately house in Westchester, New York, right before the birth of their first daughter, Rosie. A professional designer had previously owned the Bronxville home, so its interiors were already beautifully put together. But the couple wanted to make it their own, so they asked Next Wave honorees Laura Stanley and Lizzie Bailey from Story Street Studio to personalize it for their family—which, of course, called for making it kid-friendly.
For Rosie, the design duo created a dreamy, pattern-filled room they describe as “cheerful, layered, and detailed.” And when the couple's second daughter, Etta, was born, the couple tapped them once more to transform their guest bedroom into a nursery.
Since the 1922 Colonial-style house provided a strong, formal foundation, no architectural changes or extensive structural design alterations had to be made. “It was a fun challenge to work with what was already there and to create something entirely new and fresh that better fit our clients’ style,” the designers note. By pairing boldly printed textiles with the clientst' extensive art collection, they created layered decor, adding newly sourced furniture and lighting to antique and vintage finds.
Tour the entire residence below.
Living Room
The cozy living room embodies the clients’ love of color and textiles. The beautiful blue grasscloth wallpapers were already in place, but Stanley and Bailey added complementary colors and rich textures to create a new but comfortable space. Leaning into the couple's love of global textiles, including a rich aubergine Chinoiserie Schumacher curtain fabric and a custom rug design based on a vintage Swedish design, the designers created a light-filled space for the whole family to enjoy.
Curtain fabric: "Yangtze River," F. Schumacher. Table lamp: Brass, Josef Frank, Svenkst Tenn. Chest of drawers: vintage. Artwork: Jonas Wood, George Condo, Marcel Dzama, Stanley Whitney. Coffee table: vintage, Harbinger. Pillow fabrics: "Cosima," Peter Dunham Textiles; "Trebizond," Carolina Irvin. Green pillow: KRB. Table lamp: Penny Morrison. Sofa fabric: Kravet. Rug:custom, fabricated by Elementos Argentinos.
Dining Room
The duo combine vibrant decor items with a vintage brass chandelier and bamboo china cabinet in the dining room. The red-and-blue, Indian-inspired curtain fabric recalls the home’s historical roots and ties in the existing wallpaper. This layered aesthetic is where the designers and the client were truly aligned.
Dining Table: Roche Bobois. Chandelier: vintage brass chinoiserie. Bamboo cabinet: vintage, Chairish. Rug: custom. Curtain fabric: "Semi Kalamkar," Pierre Frey. Dining chairs: Frames found on Chairish; reupholstered in Peter Dunham Textiles “Oona.”
Butler’s Pantry
The designers decided to wallpaper the sloped ceiling of the butler's pantry since it made "for an even bigger impact". Repainting the trim and cabinetry glossy blue ensured the small space would always leave a vivid impression.
Wallpaper: Josef Frank “Varklockor” through Svenkst Tenn. Runner: vintage kilim, Eliko.
Kitchen
The all-white kitchen had been updated by the previous homeowner and did not need much decoration. The space is open and bright; the potted plants ground the room in greenery. Keeping the classic lighting fixtures and reupholstering the owner’s vintage stools in a colorful stripe helped the designers refresh the area while prioritizing the budget.
Stools: vintage Cleo Baldon, reupholstered in a vinylized Schuyler Samperton Textiles Stripe.
Playroom
This bright and cozy spot reflects the designers’ efforts to mix bold patterns in a relaxed way. They wanted the room to be “a comfortable backdrop for the realities of home life with babies and dogs, without sacrificing chicness.” The custom sofa and vintage chair are both upholstered in performance fabrics and carry the colors of the neighboring living room, popping against the space's rustic architectural finishes.
Sofa: custom, upholstered in Sister Parish “Mahalo” fabric. Chair: vintage, reupholstered in China Seas "Malay Batik." Pillows: Penny Morrison “Gobi” outdoor (pair); Sister Parish "Burma" fabric; Tamam Turkish-embroidered green/red cushion.
Primary Bedroom
The primary bedroom is calming, with neutral walls and warm furnishings that ground the space. Continuing the theme of botanical elements running throughout the house, Laura and Lizzie sourced and framed the antique plant specimens hung above the bed—the only artwork not previously owned by the client. They kept the original wallcoverings, reused the bed from their Brooklyn apartment, and added pale blues, soft pinks, and muddy green for taste.
Client’s bed upholstered: "Calico," Carolina Irving Textiles. Bolster fabric: Robert Kime “Hanataba” with Samuel & Sons brush fringe. Curtain fabric: GP&J Baker “Poppy Paisley” through Lee Jofa. Botanicals: antique. Chair fabric: Penny Morrison “Tulka." Chair pillow: vintage embroidered silk from Tamam Campaign chest: Chairish. Bench: vintage, reupholstered in Walter G “Luxor” through Temple Studio. Sconces: Circa Lighting with Penny Morrison lampshades. Bedding: Matouk. Quilt: Clic. Armoire: antique, The Local Vault.
Office
The ceiling wallpaper technique makes a second appearance in this bright conservatory-esque office. “The office has a lot of windows and not much wall,” the designers explain, “so wallpapering the ceiling and even the sconce shades let us get more of this pattern—a favorite of ours and the client—in the space.” The nasturtium vine motif “brings the outdoors in and makes it feel as if the garden beyond has crept inside and surrounds you,” they note.
Wallpaper and lampshades: Lake August “Nasturtium” through Temple Studio. Chair: Candelabra Home, with custom upholstered cushions in Penny Morrison Ticking Stripe.
Powder Room
The hand-blocked, historic, Adelphi wallcovering really makes this powder room pop. Paired with a new inlaid mirror, the striking jewel box provides high impact and spirited style in a small space.
Wallpaper: "Pineapples," Adelphi Wallcoverings. Mirror: Butler Specialty.
Nursery
The rest of the house had already been completed when Willkie asked Stanley and Bailey to transform a guest room into a nursery for Etta. The designers leaned into soft purple tones and crisp patterns to create a distinct, royal space for the newest family member. Sweet lily-of-the-valley bouquets, painted by Susannah Garrod—another nod to the outdoors—and a lovely array of stuffed toy critters and toys from Willkie's online shop populate the room.
Glider fabric: “Edie,” Stroheim. Etagere: Crate & Barrel. Mirror: “Audubon Bamboo Sticks,” Fleur Home. Window shade fabric: Serendipity Delhi. Wallpaper: “Chantilly Stripe,” Quadrille. Toys and accessories: Willkie's.Throw: antique textile, Tamam. Lampshade: custom, shades from the Midnight Sun. Artwork: Susannah Garrod.
Girl’s Bathroom
The designers paired the existing black-and-white marble tiles with chic pink patterns to infuse playfulness into the darling space. With geometric wallpaper and a block-printed shower curtain, the bathroom feels sweet for a toddler today—but it will also be spacious and stylish enough for the tween she will soon become.
Shower Curtain: Les Indiennes.