ANOTHER WORLD

AN INTERIOR DESIGNER MIXED A VINTAGE SPIRIT WITH A CONTEMPORARY TWIST TO SHAPE A DREAM FAMILY HOME

-  KARINE MONIÉ

When interior designer Yana and her husband David saw their home for the first time there was one element that stole their hearts. “At the centre of the home, the glass atrium is more than just an architectural focal point,” says Yana. “It feels like the house wraps itself around the tree that grows inside, and the tree is somehow a part of everything.” But the home, carved into a sloping site, had more than one feature to seduce them.

The Mid-Century home, located in a suburb of New Jersey and originally designed in 1974 by architect Lawrence Stern, also provided a peaceful place to raise their three children, Ivan, 11, Peter, 7, and Anya, 3, after having lived in New York City.

“Much of the layout had great architectural bones, but the finishes throughout were in need of an update,” says Yana. “Coming from the city, we were excited to make room to entertain and wanted to create spaces that would transport our guests to a different era, while maintaining a contemporary perspective.”

During the renovation, the family lived on the lower level for two months. Then, they moved upstairs to begin work on the kitchen, which was closed off from the main living area. “We opened two portals into the main foyer and dining area, resulting in a sense of connection and preserving the traditional boundaries of the rooms at the same time.”