It all started with an Expert video consultation.

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Marianne Brown of W Design Collective was on a virtual call with a client, suggesting paint colors and wood tones for the kitchen in her 1885 Massachusetts townhouse when the project began to snowball into a full renovation. “She realized as she was talking to me how helpful it was to have somebody helping her,” Marianne remembers.

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Soon thereafter, Marianne and her fellow W designer Georgia Barnes were collaborating with Ann Clark Architects and Payne Bouchier Fine Builders on restoring the charm the previous owners had stripped away. “When they gutted and remodeled the place, they removed all the character,” she says. “The staircase and some of the doors were the only things that were original.”

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The team brought in traditional decorative moldings and millwork that aligned with the home’s era, which Marianne offset with relaxed, neutral furnishings. “The client likes a West Coast, Amber Interiors, organic aesthetic, but she's in a historic area of New England,” she explains. “She wanted a fresher take on an authentic classic style that felt casual, family-friendly, and not so stuffy.”

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In the entryway, crema limestone floor tiles with Nero marble accents strike that balance perfectly. “We wanted finishes that felt like they were already there,” Marianne says. “These have a slightly European influence, so the space reads traditional but not too fancy. The limestone gives it an earthy yet historic vibe.” An antique armoire, where the family can stash away coats and shoes, completes the foyer.

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In the kitchen where it all began, hand-scraped hardwood floors from Natural Creations coexist with Shaker-style cabinetry in mossy Hancock Gray by Benjamin Moore and an espresso-toned island topped with soapstone. The ceiling is clad in tongue-and-groove paneling. “We thought it'd be cool to emulate an old, lath and plaster ceiling,” notes Marianne. “That’s how you would have constructed a home in the 1800s. It feels very layered and warm.”

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The coziness continues in the compact dining nook, where a custom-upholstered banquette maximizes seating. Inviting flourishes include pale gray throw pillows, linen cafe curtains, and a Newbury Chandelier from Marianne’s own W.D.C Home collection. “We love the pleated shade because dining spaces can have a lot of hard surfaces,” she considers. “It's nice to add softness via a breakfast nook light.”

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When it came to the two living rooms, Marianne divided them with purpose. One—equipped with a sink-right-in sectional, a Schumacher plaid ottoman, and a striped wool wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries—is dedicated to Netflix binges and movie nights. The other features a round wood table for playing games and doing homework, as well as an entertaining area with tartan armchairs. The curtains are made of a favorite Rose Tarlow fabric. “It's a subtle red stripe on a cream background and adds just the right amount of red to a room,” Marianne says.

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Upstairs, a second custom banquette offers a spot to read in the warm gray primary bedroom. The attached ensuite is helmed by a set of striking brass doors that lead to the shower and toilet. “The homeowners really wanted these,” reveals Marianne. “They were a splurge, but that didn’t deter them. I would invest in them, too. They are gorgeous.”

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For the kids’ rooms, Marianne went sophisticated yet playful. The daughter’s space is dominated by creamy hues and floral motifs, while the son’s combines navy, burnt orange, and Western imagery. The study-guest room hybrid received a moody, two-toned paint job with Light Blue by Farrow & Ball on the walls and Templeton Gray by Benjamin Moore on the trim. “We wanted it to feel pretty and like it had its own personality,” she says. “If you're visiting, you want to feel transported to another world.”

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