South Orange, New Jersey is filled with historic homes, and this early-1900s Colonial is no exception. “What I love most about this area is the beautiful quaint small town feel that happens to only be 30 minutes from Manhattan,” says interior designer Sarah Storms. 

Her design firm, Styled by Storms, was tapped by the family to revamp their unused sunroom. “The sunroom was not temperature controlled and because of that, sat empty—yet full of potential,” she recalls. “They really wanted to have an adult-centric space. A place to entertain, play games, or have dinner, especially as this space connects to the back patio.” And while the design brief was that it was meant for the grown-ups, nothing could be so precious that their 8-year-old twins couldn’t be in there too. 

“From a design perspective, they wanted a place that felt more like them,” Sarah shares. “The husband is French, and the family spends the summers there. They love the idea of beautiful equestrian details and traditional elements but wanted a contemporary vibe with an importance on ‘artisan’ feeling decisions. Also, and I think the biggest compliment, they wanted a room with color, but they were nervous to take the plunge. In our initial meeting they told me they were afraid of color, but I was the only designer they would give the reins to. Bringing curated color into traditionally designed homes is one of the very best ways to update and personalize a space while honoring the original architecture.”

Sarah’s first inspiration came from a pair of framed Hermès scarves, which informed the color palette, and the bold North Oaks fabric from Kim Salmela’s collection with Crypton Fabric. “I am also obsessed with the teal tile, which is handmade in Portugal,” says Sarah. “We wanted to do a tile floor and knew it needed to be special. The unevenness in the surface and glaze had this magical quality to it that both my client and I fell in love with.”

For lighting, she chose a dramatic Currey and Company chandelier, which ties in the color story with iron and green glass discs. “It is sculptural and interesting,” she explains. “With a bold sofa and bold tile for that matter, it was important that everything in the space had weight and texture.”

The side tables are raffia-wrapped and have gold lotus pendants hanging above. Sculptural yellow velvet swivel chairs, covered in a Nobilis striae velvet, add a simple but playful touch. 

The 10-month project resulted in a modern take on French Country style. “It is meant to feel influenced and collected,” Sarah explains. “The clients absolutely love the room and spend all their time in here.”