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Lavelle, a Parsons School of Design graduate who previously worked at David Scott Interiors before branching out on her own, took it upon herself to make them fall in love with the home, all 6,000 square feet of it. “I was nervous,” says Lavelle. “But I said ‘I’m going to prove that we can turn this into a cozy oasis.’”
The designer worked with architect Steven Helmes, of The Helmes Group, and began by adding 800 square feet to the ground floor to create a kitchen with an important island and a sitting area, where the family could gather and chat while meals were being prepared. She also upgraded the front and back patios to make them more suitable for lounging and entertaining. Stylistically, the exterior remained as it was, with Georgian Revival elements like sash windows, a pitched roof, and classic Grecian columns. Indoors, however, Lavelle imagined “a layered, comfortable space where you don’t know what time period you’re in.”