It's not often that a staircase takes a starring role in a redesign but for this family home it was the elegant curve of the new stairs that inspired other updates in layout, design and color scheme. The original of the Long Island home was a center-hall colonial, built in 1930. It was a beautiful property with good bones, but required a gut renovation to update it.
The owners brought in interior designer Tova Kook of to make the property work for them, their four children, and the family dog. 'It was clear from the start that the couple were looking for something spacious, light, and familiar to their own childhoods,' says the designer. 'He, being a busy doctor, and she, a determined lawyer, needed easy and effortless chic for their family.
After exploring and understanding their aesthetic preferences and needs, I opted for an understated and calming – but never boring – classic vibe for this home.' Take the tour as designer Tova Kook shares the highlights and reveals how her inspiring stairway design almost didn't get off the ground. The clue is in the name: this being a center hall colonial-style home, the hall and thus the stairs are at the heart of the home's layout and are the first features you see as you enter the home.
'One of the first challenges we tackled in this renovation was the staircase,' says designer Tova. 'The home had an old straight staircase which had a landing that jutted out, extended to two additional steps, and simply was smack in your face when.
