Historic houses often have a life of their own, and designer Ken Stückenschneider believes they have a voice, as well. “I love working on old homes, and while I may have a clear vision from the beginning, I also take my cue from the house itself. An old house will tell you what to do if you listen.”
Stückenschneider says the master bedroom suite is particularly well planned, with livable spaces and great flow. “Imagine doors and windows strung along on a bead, providing a view of all the rooms. In European architecture, that’s referred to as an ‘enfilade,’ and this suite exhibits those classic bones.”
Colors and finishes were chosen to flow with the suite’s natural lines, while reflecting how each of the four spaces are utilized. “To me, a bedroom needs to be quiet and calming, the dressing room can be more exciting and a little more glamorous, the sitting porch more relaxed and the bath functional,” Stückenschneider explains. Superb faux finishes include an unusual plaster stencil in the bedroom, a hand-distressed antique mirror effect in the dressing area, an Italian stucco look on the sitting porch, and a very pale golden yellow wash, reminiscent of Italian marble, in the bath. “I love working with fine artisans and craftsmen, and it can be hard to find people who can do work of this quality,” he notes. The elegant retreat also features a custom-made modern canopy bed outfitted with hand-embroidered sheets the designer found in New York.
Stückenschneider Decoration & Design: Ken Stückenschneider
Vendors:
Bergdorf Goodman New York
BKK Designs
Brunschwig & Fils through KDR
Chapas Textiles
Cheree Berry Paper
Claremont Furnishings Fabrics Company
Crate & Barrel
Custom Fabric Coverings by Couch
Designers First
Dogtown Gallery & Frame Shop
Donahue Painting & Refinishing
Eileen Lane Antiques
Evolution
Galanti Electrical
Jason Young/Christinerose Contemporary Art
Jerry Naunheim Photography
KDR
Leron Inc.
Peter Fasano Ltd.
Refined Finishes
Robert Kime
Sherwin Williams
Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler Antiques
Tom Huck/Philip Stein Gallery
Cele Johnson Custom Lamps & Shades
Cowtan & Tout through KDR
Pottery Barn
Pace Framing
Restoration Hardware
Artistic Fabrics
Bennison Fabrics
Brody’s Lamps & Shades
Design & Detail
George Spencer Designs
Holland and Sherry - Chicago
Metro Lighting
M.T.-H. CHAN Furniture Upholstery Inc.
Samuel & Sons
Vaughan Designs Inc.
Walbrandt Technologies
ABC Carpet & Home
Bill Bequette, Carpenter
Chelsea Editions
Gomez Upholstery
Gracie Inc.
Jon Paul Designs & Collectables
Neiman Marcus St. Louis
Refined Finishes
Woodard Cleaning & Restoration
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