In This Beach Home, the Kids Made All the Design Choices

Which explains the slumber party–ready playroom.
dining room with pineapple decals on wall and yellow chairs

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The goal was a celebration of color. With only 10 weeks to pull off a full gut remodel, the designers at Chango & Co. had to form a plan to incorporate the many changes they craved in a limited amount of time. In the end, all it took was a touch of minor construction work (think: painting, removing moldings, and simplifying the layout) to get their client’s dream house. And a few well-placed vibrant accents, of course. 

The family bought their Westhampton Beach home as a summer retreat, and Change & Co. creative director Susana Simonpietri took her cues from the children—which explains the 250 life-size pineapple decals adorning the dining room walls. Elsewhere, isolated pops of color rule: Citron entryway doors, mint green breakfast nook chairs, and chartreuse lanterns from Mexico make surprise appearances in practically every part of the residence. Pitted against more traditional elements, like a straw bench and leather pulls, the whole thing is a lesson in balance. 

colorful breakfast nook with yellow pendant lights
Photography by Sean Litchfield/Chango & Co.

dated dining room with wood furniture
Photography by Sean Litchfield/Chango & Co.

Here are the reno rules Simonpietri swears by: 

entryway with big yellow doors
Photography by Sean Litchfield/Chango & Co.

neutral colored entryway with double doors
Photography by Sean Litchfield/Chango & Co.

On Making Room for the Grown-Ups

“The master bedroom is without a doubt the most neutral spot in the house. It’s intended to be an adult retreat, tapping into the vibrant colors of the home in a soft and discrete manner,” says Simonpietri. “Meanwhile, the second floor holds all the kids’ rooms and the playroom—for that space our goal was to create an area they would love being in.”

large playroom with wall decals
Photography by Sean Litchfield/Chango & Co.

On Creating Spaces to Be Lived In

“We installed four custom-made, French-piped mattresses on the floor of the playroom, which can be converted into beds for last-minute slumber parties. The pillows are handmade and embellished with colorful pom-poms and tassels for an extra bit of fun,” notes Simonpietri.

kitchen with yellow bar stools
Photography by Sean Litchfield/Chango & Co.

old kitchen with White Island
Photography by Sean Litchfield/Chango & Co.

On the Money-Saving Trick

“We could have gone the route of wallpapering the rooms in which we wanted to do patterns, but we opted to go with wall decals. They were a fraction of the cost! We splurged on artwork, lighting, and larger furnishings,” says the designer. “Ultimately, it’s best to spend your money on items that will last longer—wallpaper in a home filled with young children doesn’t tend to last too many years.”

multicolored mirrors hanging on the wall
Photography by Sean Litchfield/Chango & Co.

old dated bathroom
Photography by Sean Litchfield/Chango & Co.

On the Biggest Renovation Lesson

“A good handyman or general contractor can always fix anything that comes along to ruin your day—there are always challenges involved with remodeling,”says Simonpietri.

See more home renovations that wow:  These First-Time Homeowners Didn’t Plan to Vault Their Ceiling My First-Ever Kitchen Gut Reno Involved Some Serious Salvaging We Saved $3,000 on Pantry Cabinets All Thanks to This Unexpected Mistake

Elly Leavitt

Writer and Editor

Elly enjoys covering anything from travel to funky design (tubular furniture, anyone?) to the latest cultural trend. Her dream apartment would exist on the Upper West Side and include a plethora of mismatched antique chairs, ceramic vessels, and floor-to-ceiling bookcases—essential to her goal of becoming a poor man’s Nora Ephron. You can probably find her in line at Trader Joe’s. You will never find her at SoulCycle.