This Rambling 1890 Home on the North Fork Was Renovated to Be Perfectly Undone

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shingled house exterior
Fire Pit, Frontgate; Adirondack Chairs, Rejuvenation; Sofas and Swivel Chairs, West Elm; Coffee Tables, Four Hands.  KATE S JORDAN

When it came to transforming an 1890 North Fork home into a functional and inviting weekend escape for a Brooklyn-based family of four, Nina Carbone understood the assignment. The homeowners sought out the interior designer for her historically-conscious approach and characteristically relaxed style. “The house carried a deep sense of history and an automatic warmth,” says Carbone. But, a black and white palette and a rambling floor plan left plenty to be desired. The clients, seeking a different feel from their more minimalist space in the city, yearned for color, comfort, and quirkiness in their Long Island abode. 

grey bathroom vanity
Medicine Cabinets, Pottery Barn; Faucets, Phylrich; Art, Kate Long Stevenson; Shower Tile, Fireclay Tile.     KATE S JORDAN
bedside scnce
Bed Frame, Crate & Barrel; Headboard Cushion, Zak + Fox; Bedding, Parachute; Sconce, Lostine; Nightstand, Kathy Kuo Home; Lumbar Pillow, Zak + Fox.      KATE S JORDAN

Carbone spearheaded a renovation within the home’s existing footprint, making updates to reflect the family’s practical needs alongside their wish to brighten the space while retaining its original cozy charm. Carbone carved out a new mudroom and extra closets and increased the number of sleeping spots (pull-out sofa and bunk beds to the rescue!) so guests don’t feel crammed in. Throughout, Carbone utilized a light touch and her signature penchant for an “undone” look—implementing layers of contrasting textures, warm hues, and durable furnishings to create an environment that feels loose, lived-in, and rich in character. Ahead, the designer shares how she turned this 19th century gem into an enduring retreat to be filled with family memories for years to come. 

view into parlor room
Vintage Wall Mounted Console, Orange Furniture; Painting, Tyler Hays. KATE S JORDAN
gray living room
Sofa, Pottery Barn; Rug, Gyaltsen Rug; Side Table, Noir; Table Lamp, Visual Comfort; Sconce, France & Son; Art by Lucia Coppola, Minted. KATE S JORDAN

What’s the story behind the color palette?

Because of the big farmhouse-style porch, the front of the home felt dark. I didn’t want to fight the light, I wanted to lean into it. So, we created a cave-like, cozy parlor off the entrance with a steely gray theme. Then, as you move towards the back of the house, the rooms become brighter and whiter. We folded in some sea glass tinted blues and greens and a yellow marigold hue. There’s a natural flow to the chroma and paint schedule. 

living room with bay window
Fireplace Tile, Clé Tile; Standing Lamp, Visual Comfort; Sofa, Nickey Kehoe; Sofa Fabric, Fabricut.
KATE S JORDAN

How did you play up texture?

We added zellige tile to the living room fireplace, Firceclay tile to the kitchen backsplash, grasscloth wallpaper to the dining room, and vintage textiles throughout. I wanted to create interest in smaller moments, to string pattern play across the house in a loose way, and ensure that color and texture weren’t only upholstery-based. 

white living room shelves
Lounge Chair, Four Hands; Chair Fabric, McLaurin & Piercy; Table Lamp, The Urban Electric Co.; Art, Field Kallop.  KATE S JORDAN
gray sofa
Sectional, Maiden Home; Vintage Coffee Table, The South Loop Loft; Side Table, Arteriors; Table Lamp, Bungalow Decor; Framed Textile, Loloi; Lumbar Pillow, Etsy. KATE S JORDAN

Where did you show more restraint?

We went back and forth on drapery in the living room. We ultimately decided against it for budget reasons, but then we realized it would’ve been too much anyways, it would’ve felt too heavy. There was a lightness and a joyfulness about the house that we didn’t want to tamp down. We put that money towards the tiled fireplace instead. It was a good pullback that worked in our favor.

freestanding kithcen cabinet
Cabinet, McGee & Co.; Pendant Lights, DeVOL; Stools, Williams Sonoma Home; Art, Four Hands; Rattan Basket, Wayfair.  KATE S JORDAN

What’s a piece that just looks custom?

We found this freestanding unit from McGee & Co. that was the perfect color. We didn’t want to add more built-ins—we were never going to be able to match the existing cabinetry and it would’ve felt like overkill. So, we decided to go less expensive and higher character here. It became our storage savior.  

eclectic dining room
Wallpaper, Thibaut; Table, Bobo Intriguing Objects; Chair Back Fabric, Natasha Baradaran; Chandelier, Anthropologie; Sideboard, Dovetail Furniture; Table Lamp, Hudson Valley Lighting; Painting, AK Hardeman.  KATE S JORDAN

What original features did you keep?

We kept the existing hardware on all the doors, even though it was mismatched. Same with the floors. To us, those quirks reiterate the lovely feeling of being in an old home. 

pink wallpapered edroom
Wallpaper, Lulie Wallace; Bed and Blanket, Crate & Kids; Ceiling Fixture, Anthropologie. KATE S JORDAN
blue mudroom
Paint Color, Woodlawn Blue by Benjamin Moore; Hooks, Rejuvenation.  KATE S JORDAN

What was your biggest save?

The kids’ spaces were all about [getting our] bang for our buck. We used a Room & Board bunk bed and a play table from West Elm. Whatever kids are into is so temporary, so we didn’t care to dump money into things that might be transient. In the parlor, another family-oriented room, we didn’t want to add too much furniture, instead ensuring there is plenty of open floor space for playing. 

bunk room
Bunkbed, Room & Board; Quilts, Play Table, and Chairs, West Elm; Poufs, Lorena Canals. KATE S JORDAN

How did you maximize room for guests?

There is a small guest bedroom downstairs, but we wanted to be able to sleep more people. So, we did a Pottery Barn pull-out sofa in the parlor and bunk beds in the atrium. Each space had to be multi-purpose. And because the dining room isn’t huge, we chose to emphasize the outdoor dining area and take advantage of the patio to entertain bigger groups of friends.

Are there any clever hacks in this house?

The exposed radiators posed a problem with two young kids. Instead of splurging on custom millwork boxes, we found prefabricated raffia sheets on Amazon and inset them into a simple paint-grade box that we made. We [also] ordered the fabric for the sink skirt in the powder room from a woman on Etsy for $30. Then we purchased a tension rod from Amazon, and voila, an affordable custom design solution!