Modernizing the exterior without compromising the home’s integrity included updates such as the cedar shake façade and roof, along with larger scaled windows and doors trimmed in black. Photos by Laurey Glenn
When Kim and Bayless Ydel first walked into their Cape Cod-style cottage, “it had an energy that’s hard to describe, even now after four years,” Kim says. “It just felt like home.” But while the connection to the house was there, its functionality was definitely lacking. The flow of spaces didn’t fit the needs of this family of four. With a list of desires—the most important being a larger kitchen—the Ydels called on Leigh and Kevin Misso of River Brook Design & Construction for a makeover.
The Riverbrook team created a new formal entry by enclosing the front porch. “I am a lover of flea markets, estate sales, and antiques malls,” Kim says. “I had a bunch of treasures I wanted to highlight in this space.” A few of note: framed family crests that hang on the draped wall (opposite), and a large white lamp (above) perched on an antique buffet in front of a bank of windows.
Many of the home’s rooms were bathed in light, but the small kitchen only had a single window. Reorganizing the floor plan and bumping out walls here and there gave the family the space they wanted. Now, the new kitchen features windows on two sides and 22-foot vaulted ceilings. “There are no upper cabinets, so our view is not obstructed,” Kim says. “It feels more likeva living space than a typical kitchen. That has changed the way we live in the house.”
In addition to the kitchen overhaul, the Missos created a new entry by enclosing the original front porch. “I wanted a place to welcome guests that speaks to who we are,” Kim says. Leigh draped the walls and dressed the room with a custom-skirted table and a bench upholstered in navy velvet. The oak floor is stained to create a checkerboard pattern. Navy leather upholstery elevates a coat closet door. A hallway with a barrel-vault ceiling and architectural paneling extends to the rear of the house. “Scale-wise, it really makes a big impression,” Leigh says.
“We went contemporary with the casework, some of the furnishings, paint colors, and certain things that felt very bold. The introduction of antiques balances those modern appointments.” — designer Leigh Misso
An island with a built-in banquette serves as the main dining space. Appliances, other than the statement-making La Cornue range, are hidden but easily accessible. “There’s tons of storage and a built-in Meile coffee maker,” Leigh says, of the wall of black-painted cabinetry. An arched doorway leads to a butler’s pantry.
In the kitchen, white oak cabinets with a reeded detail by Refinery Custom Cabinets run beneath the bank of windows. On top, Leigh positioned a pair of antique urns-turned-into-lamps.
In lieu of a formal dining room, the Ydels opted for a TV lounge space. “With two teenage girls, it just felt right. And now we all spend so much time there and on the adjoining porch,” Kim says.
“This is the space I was so in love with when we first saw the house,” Kim says of the light-filled living room. Various conversation areas were created through furniture placement. A vintage Lee Industries sofa upholstered in blue velvet and white fringe faces the fireplace and divides the room in half. Behind the sofa, a secondary seating area includes McAlpine wingback chairs and an upholstered daybed, as well as a drop-leaf table that, when pressed into service, creates a formal dining area. The coffee table was a find from a local antiques shop. “I loved its blue patina and the sculptural bronze deer base,” Kim says. After research, she discovered that it is a collector’s piece by French furniture designer Armand-Albert Rateau. “I got it for a steal!” she says.
The couple found a new retreat in the primary bed-and-bath makeover. Working within the existing envelope, the Missos reallocated spaces to make way for a larger bath and closet. Then they cloaked the space in moody and glamourous finishes. While the house felt like home from first glance, the renovation and the decisions informed by how the family really lives in each space are what make it tailor-made for the Ydels. “The house always had good bones,” Kim says, “but now we have tweaked those bones to fit our family.”
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A daughter’s bedroom offers a raspberry-pink tone that’s equally girlish and grown-up.
The primary suite’s bath features a contemporary freestanding tub (Fixtures & Finishes) as a sculptural statement. Custom drapery panels and a Visual Comfort chandelier add a bit of drama.
For Kim’s vanity, Leigh layered an antique mirror in front of a window.
The primary suite’s shower is wrapped in Calacatta marble. The floor’s soapstone and Calacatta mosaic has the look of a rug.
A daughter’s bedroom caters to her love for English style. A Capri Blue pattern by Ferrick Mason brings in the florals.
High design extends to the primary closet with center island, crystal chandelier, and Roman shade.
