Meanwhile, Roxy Te Owens, founder-designer of Society Social, also managed lighting hurdles in her whimsical “dreamy garden escape” bedroom. “Our space is inherently dark, as the bedroom windows are situated underneath a grand, covered porch with views of the sprawling estate. In order to infuse light into the space while preserving the historic walls and molding, we opted to skip electrical hardwiring and instead selected battery operated sconces to be placed above our vanity moment and bed, in addition to table and floor lamps.” She and her team also “wrapped the walls and windows in a flow-matched wallpaper and fabric pairing, creating custom valances and drapery panels to artfully frame the historic windows.” But she couldn’t update the home’s old radiator covers, so, instead, Owens used a special Italian stringing technique, “gracefully pulling up” the drapery with hidden cords that “beautifully frame” Hunter Douglas Provenance Woven Wood Shades in the First Frost colorway. The choice allowed her to inject a bit more light into the otherwise darkened room. “We selected this artisanal offering as it was an organic way to infuse an extra layer of texture into our space while welcoming in the gentle play of natural light.”

Vignette^® Modern Roman Shades   Fabric: Siena  Color: New Mauve

The stairwell, reimagined by designer Arianne Bellizaire, of Arianne Bellizaire Interiors, provides another instance of modern melding with traditional — and a unique approach to capturing elusive light in the historic property. “While the formal sitting area downstairs is rooted in tradition with its blue damask fabric wallcoverings and historical details,” Bellizaire explains, “I loved the idea of juxtaposing a more modern aesthetic on the stairwell and in the landing area. The landing area also serves as the main source of natural light for the downstairs sitting room, believe it or not, so it was important to me to dress the windows in a way that added a decorative layer without blocking such a valuable light source.” Since the room only has a single ceiling light, accessing light from nearby windows was a priority for Bellizaire, who used Hunter Douglas Vignette^® Modern Roman Shades in New Mauve “as a touch of color and light control.”

“But the truly stellar moment,” she shares, “is the top-down/bottom-up orientation of the shade that lets us enjoy the light while also blocking the unattractive views of the rooftop. Adding on the motorized element just took this particular design element to another level. Win-win!”

Vignette Modern Roman Shades   Fabric: Siena  Color: New Mauve

The designers join a selection of brand partners that includes Farrow & Ball, Lee Industries, Minted, Phillip Jeffries, Sanderson, Serena & Lily, Visual Comfort & Co., California Closets, Hunter Douglas and more. In addition, House Beautiful is also collaborating with two notable organizations, Humble Design, a charitable organization based in Chicago that provides design services to families transitioning out of homelessness, as well as Wellness Within Your Walls, an internationally renowned group dedicated to offering education and guidance on toxins present in homes.

Experience Whole Home virtually on HouseBeautiful.com and in the November/December 2023 Renovation Issue, on newsstands November 28.