A MODERN-DAY
GREY GARDENS
PHOTOGRAPHY BY Christian Torres WORDS BY Sarah Moroz
ART DIRECTION BY Brit Ashcraft PRODUCED BY Megan West
Built-Ins Feel New Again
Fresh paint brings new life to the space’s vintage and patina decor.
In New York City, interior designer Chiara de Rege lives in an apartment that “has beautiful bones, high ceilings, plasterwork, and crown moldings.” By contrast, the cottage she escapes to in the Hudson Valley, amidst grazing cows and rolling hills, is characterized by its structural modesty. “In my apartment, I can let the architecture speak. In the cottage, I needed to give the room something to say.”
While the home’s prominent windows connect it to surrounding nature, notably a flower garden and vegetable patch, the dining room was less inviting—overall it was a nondescript hub “in desperate need of some love.” Facing northeast, the way it absorbed light “was cold and gray.” de Rege hung up vintage plates, hoping they would enhance the vibe, but really, they were more of a starting point. “I felt strongly that paint and color would bring this room to life,” she resolved.
From an exclusive collection of 200 new colors, de Rege selected Sherwin-Williams Emerald® Designer Edition™ paint in Pale Pink SW9696 from the Classic + Collected palette for the walls and ceiling, its softness yielding something subtle, but with a flawless finish. “It’s really white with a tinge of pink, which makes a very flattering, calm, soft color.” The light streaming in now bestows the room with a flush of radiance. “As winter months approach, I know the walls will stay warm and, while the glow will be different, the pastels will keep the room cheery and make me think of warmer months.”
On Luminosity and Seasonality
Sherwin-Williams Emerald® Designer Edition™ paint in Piedmont SW9657 from the Rustic + Refined palette was applied to the built-in bookcases for a mint green accent. De Rege was also relieved to mask the floors, as the chestnut wood’s reddish tint was too dominant and set the palette off-kilter. Now overlaid with Wishful Blue SW6813, the colorful floor is unexpected but complementary. Though independently vivid, together, the three colors brighten the space.
On Color Coordinating
“There is almost a Grey Gardens approach to this room,” de Rege notes. She loves patina, if in an admittedly more balanced manner. “I love that the furniture and elements inside are worn,” she says, citing her garden chairs with their unfinished metal frames, vintage chest of drawers, vintage floral curtains, and her daughter’s vintage piano. But, “I want my walls and cabinetry to look fresh,” she countered, nodding to the Emerald® Designer Edition™’s best hide yet. De Rege sourced all the furnishings locally—many items come from Montages Antiques and Hunter Bee in Millerton, New York.
On Patina
Nothing is too precious here,” she clarifies. Her six-year-old, Phoenix, “plays HARD! If she is not jumping up and down and running around, she is playing legos or building blocks or driving her Barbies on the floor, so surfaces need to be easy to clean and durable. I don’t want paint chipping or peeling.” As a result, deRege was drawn to Sherwin-Williams Emerald® Designer Edition™ paint for its color, hide, performance-driven formula, resistance to water streaking and spotting, and easy washability.
A ‘Live and Let Live' Approach
“
The dining room doubles as a library, a homey corner where Phoenix practices the piano, reads, and colors. “Since the kitchen is open, it’s nice for her to be there playing while I’m cooking, as she tends to chime in, or join me and we’ll cook together.”
Initially a perfect escape on the weekends, as quarantine carries on, deRege is now living in the cottage full time—and is, accordingly, trying to make everything fit the family’s needs. “We were not utilizing the dining room well. Now, I want to sit there while P plays the piano, and she and I use the space to do puzzles or play games. The paint has gone a long way—it’s given us a new room to escape to; it’s a room we want to be in.”
On Transformation
bring this room to life.”
pattern, and color would
“I felt strongly that paint,
a new room to escape
long way—it’s given us
“The paint has gone a
to be in.”
to; it’s a room we want
Every Inch to Make Old
Pink Walls, Green Built-Ins: Inside a Hudson Valley Cottage Beaming With Color
In New York City, interior designer Chiara de Rege lives in an apartment that “has beautiful bones, high ceilings, plasterwork, crown moldings, and lots of ‘frosting.’” By contrast, the cottage she escapes to in the Hudson Valley, amidst grazing cows and rolling hills, is characterized by its structural modesty. “In my apartment, I can let the architecture speak. In the cottage, I needed to give the room something to say.”
While the home’s prominent windows connect it to surrounding nature, notably a flower garden and vegetable patch, the dining room was less inviting—overall it was a nondescript hub “in desperate need of some love.” Facing northeast, the way it absorbed light “was cold and gray.” deRege hung up vintage plates, hoping they
would enhance the vibe, but really, they were more of a starting point. “I felt strongly that paint, pattern, and color would bring this room to life,” she resolved.
From over 200 new hues, de Rege selected Sherwin-Williams’ Emerald® Designer Edition™ paint in Pale Pink from the Classic + Collected palette for the walls and ceiling, its feminine softness yielding something subtle, but with a flawless finish. “It’s really white with a tinge of pink, which makes a very flattering, calm, soft color.” The light streaming in now bestows the room with a flush of radiance. “As winter months approach, I know the walls will stay warm and, while the glow will be different, the pastels will keep the room cheery and make me think of warmer months.”
On Luminosity
and Seasonality
“I felt strongly that
paint, pattern, and
color would bring
Sherwin-Williams’ Emerald® Designer Edition™ paint in Piedmont from the Rustic + Refined palette was applied to the built-in bookcases for a robin’s egg accent. deRege was also relieved to mask the floors, as the chestnut wood’s reddish tint was too dominant and set the palette off-kilter. Now overlaid with a lavender gray, the colorful floor is unexpected but complementary. Though independently vivid, together, the three colors brighten the space.
On Color Coordinating
“The paint has
gone a long way–
it's given us a new
room to escape to;
it's a room we
“There is almost a Grey Gardens approach to this room,” deRege notes. She loves patina, if in an admittedly more balanced manner. “I love that the furniture and elements inside are worn,” she says, citing her garden chairs with their unfinished metal frames, vintage chest of drawers, vintage floral curtains, and her daughter’s vintage piano. But, “I want my walls and cabinetry to look fresh,” she countered, nodding to the Emerald® Designer Edition™’s best hide yet. deRege sourced all the furnishings locally—many items come from Montages Antiques and Hunter Bee in Millerton, New York.
On Patina
“Nothing is too precious here,” she clarifies. Her six-year-old, Phoenix, “plays HARD! If she is not jumping up and down and running around, she is playing legos or building blocks or driving her Barbies on the floor, so surfaces need to be easy to clean but durable. I don’t want paint chipping or peeling.” As a result, deRege was drawn to Sherwin-Williams’ Emerald® Designer Edition™ paint for its performance-driven formula, resistance to water streaking and spotting, and easy washability.
A ‘Live and Let Live' Approach
