River Hill
River Hill Residency
Project Year: 2024
Design style: Elevated Contemporary
Overview: River Hill Residency embodies an elevated contemporary design style, characterized by clean lines, refined finishes, and a high degree of craftsmanship. This project showcases how to make large, open spaces both functional and cohesive, providing a seamless blend of aesthetics and practicality. The design reflects the clients’ desire for a streamlined, effective lifestyle, perfect for both everyday living and social gatherings.
Client Profile: The clients are a family with four children, spanning different ages. Their needs were twofold: to create a spacious environment where the children have room to play and live comfortably, while also crafting a home suitable for hosting parties and family events. The design cleverly balances these requirements with sophistication and durability.
Photography: Mike Chajecki
Design Features:
• Resistant and Natural Materials: The project incorporates durable materials that can withstand the wear and tear of an active family, such as performance fabric, high quality italian quartz, natural wood and high performance commercial grade wallpaper, while also integrating natural textures and finishes to maintain a refined look with fine craftsmanship and custom artwork.
• Storage Solutions: Ample storage is seamlessly integrated into the design even in most small rooms, ensuring the family has enough space to keep the home organized, functional and visually clean, even with four children.
• Effortless Functionality: Each space is designed to flow naturally, providing functional areas without compromising on style.
Key Spaces:
Living Room
The living room at River Hill Residency combines contemporary style with functionality, centering around an original fireplace enhanced by a custom-built paneled wall in stained walnut veneer and natural wood slats. A visually hidden TV maintains a clean, cohesive look, while recessed LED lighting highlights the natural wood pattern and client’s unique decor pieces . Stain-resistant upholstery, a high-quality Italian porcelain mantel with a diagonal accent, and custom full-length curtain panels add warmth and texture. The space is designed with ample seating for both family and guests, providing a stylish yet relaxing environment for gatherings.
Dining Room
The dining area at River Hill Residency adds character to the home, featuring high-performance grass-cloth wallpaper (Blazer Wallpaper in shade Cotton by York Wallcoverings) for durability and a seamless look. A large mango wood table in burnt wax shade, paired with a matching sideboard and a white oak wall panel stained in the same shade as the table, creates a balanced, visually cohesive space. The wall panel’s diamond pattern and strategically placed wall sconces add elegance and interest. A brass bowl, handmade vases, and an “art-nouveau” Malkin’s Kneeling Nude sculpture by Austin Productions, 1985, adorn the table and sideboard, while a bamboo plant introduces a subtle Middle Eastern influence, creating a refined, elevated atmosphere.
Kitchen
The kitchen in River Hill Residency balances style, warmth, and functionality. A striking focal point is created by the hood and lighting with brass accents, mirrored in the island area. High-quality Italian quartz is used for the countertop and backsplash, while an additional pantry offers ample storage. The sink features specialized faucets for filtered and boiled water, and a hidden coffee station adds convenience. The island boasts a waterfall edge and is decorated with wooden tray stands. The color palette blends white tones with warm shades, creating a cozy yet modern atmosphere that sets this kitchen apart from traditional designs.
Office
The office at River Hill Residency features custom cabinetry and a bespoke table designed by the studio principal designer, Ksenia Berkovich, enhancing both functionality and contemporary style. The cabinetry is designed to accommodate a printer and provide ample storage, while textured wallpaper and accent open shelves in white oak with accent light add warmth and visual interest. The custom table is designed without sharp edges for safety and includes under-table and side storage for organization. A dimensional wall art piece by Diego Olivero adds contemporary texture, ensuring the space feels open and airy despite its functional elements, creating an inspiring workspace.
Powder Room
The powder room in River Hill Residency reflects the home’s contemporary and clean design. It features a custom vanity topped with a high-quality Italian quartz countertop and a vessel sink, paired with sleek wall-mounted faucet. The walls are covered in high-performance grass-cloth wallpaper, adding texture and durability. Elegant Kelly Wearstler wall sconces provide ambient lighting, while a modern gray color palette creates a cozy and relaxing atmosphere, ensuring the space is both stylish and functional.
Detailed Project Description
Living Room
The living room in the River Hill Residency project exemplifies how a large space can be transformed into a homey, cozy environment while maintaining a strong focal point. The design centers around the original fireplace, which has been updated with a fresh coat of paint, a custom mantel, and an impressive built-in paneled wall. This focal point draws attention and creates a relaxing atmosphere.
Key Design Elements:
- Fireplace & Focal Point: The original fireplace serves as the anchor of the room. We enhanced it by creating a custom-built paneled wall, using stained walnut veneer and natural walnut wooden slats and custom mantel around it. The TV is discreetly integrated into a dark area of the mantel, ensuring it remains functional without dominating the space.
- Materials & Finishes: The use of high-quality materials like natural walnut and stain-resistant upholstery reflects a commitment to both style and practicality. The mantel is finished with Italian porcelain in a striking diagonal pattern, which adds a touch of sophistication. The cabinetry flanking the fireplace is custom-made, providing storage while maintaining the room’s sleek, contemporary style.
- Lighting: Recessed LED light strips and accent lighting are integrated into the design, emphasizing the craftsmanship of the paneled wall and highlighting the fireplace as the room’s focal point.
- Curtains & Texture: Full-length custom curtain panels, extending from ceiling to floor, introduce warmth and texture, filtering natural light and creating a soft, inviting atmosphere. The light curtains balance the darker wood tones and add an air of elegance.
- Artwork: Custom large-scale artwork in soft, neutral colors is strategically placed to enhance the room’s aesthetic without detracting from the paneled wall and fireplace, allowing the space to feel open and uncluttered.
- Seating & Layout: Designed with a large family and frequent gatherings in mind, the seating is abundant and thoughtfully arranged for both relaxation and conversation. The furniture is contemporary, with minimalistic yet relaxing pieces that encourage comfort. Upholstery and the rug are stain-resistant, ensuring durability while retaining a luxurious feel.
This living room strikes a balance between functionality and aesthetic appeal, providing a space that is not only stylish but also perfectly suited for family life and entertaining.
Dining Room
The dining area in the River Hill Residency is designed to infuse the home with character and atmosphere, elevating the space with a thoughtful blend of materials, textures, and zoning that aligns with the overall refined, contemporary aesthetic of the house.
- Wallpaper & Wall Paneling: To add texture and durability, the walls are covered with high-performance grass-cloth wallpaper (Blazer High Performance Wallpaper in shade Cotton by York Wallcoverings). This ensures a sleek, seamless look while adding a tactile, natural element to the space. The wallpaper’s tone complements the room’s wooden elements, providing a warm, cohesive backdrop.
- Zoning & Symmetry: The layout of the room was carefully zoned to create a balanced and harmonious environment. Given the room’s long, rectangular shape, symmetry was key to making the space feel well-proportioned. The centerpiece of the room is a large mango wood dining table, finished in a rich shade of burnt wax. Its size is perfectly matched to the room, with an overhead chandelier that is scaled proportionately to the table, providing both functional lighting and an additional design feature.
- On the opposite side of the room, a custom wall panel made from white oak, stained to match the table and sideboard, balances the space. This wooden wall panel features an intricate diamond pattern, adding visual interest and texture without overwhelming the room. By mirroring the shade of the table and sideboard, the panel creates a sense of continuity and cohesiveness, while its design helps visually shorten the length of the room, making it feel more square and balanced.
- Furniture & Decorative Elements: The sideboard, also made from mango wood in the same burnt wax finish as the dining table, complements the overall aesthetic. The table is adorned with elegant decor, including a large brass bowl filled with artichokes and handmade vases. The sideboard is decorated with a set of grey vases that reflect the tones of the wallpaper and the overall color palette of the room. These details add an artisanal touch, while the rich brass and natural materials blend seamlessly with the rest of the space.
- Above the sideboard, wall sconces are strategically placed to create a symmetrical layout with a touch of movement, adding both ambient lighting and visual interest. In the center of this composition, a round mirror hangs, reflecting light and contributing to the room’s brightness by bouncing natural light around the space. This mirror serves as both a functional piece and a subtle focal point, enhancing the feeling of openness in the room.
- Art-nouveau Sculpture & Handmade Vases: One of the key features in the dining area is the increasingly rare, artist-signed “art-nouveau” Malkin’s Kneeling Nude sculpture by Austin Productions, 1985, that decorates the sideboard. This unique piece, crafted by a renowned artist, adds historical and artistic value to the room, linking the design to a timeless period of art and design. The vases placed alongside the sculpture are handmade and carefully chosen to complement the wallpaper and the overall tones of the room, adding layers of texture and craftsmanship to the design.
- Chandelier & Lighting: The lighting in the dining area plays a significant role in setting the mood. The chandelier above the dining table not only serves as a functional light source but also acts as a central design element, proportioned perfectly to highlight the table’s size and draw the eye upwards, adding verticality to the room. The wall sconces, placed around the room, provide soft, ambient lighting that enhances the space’s cozy yet sophisticated feel.
- Bamboo Plant & Middle Eastern Influence: To bring in a subtle element of nature, a bamboo plant was introduced, lending a delicate, organic touch that also infuses the space with a hint of Middle Eastern influence. This thoughtful addition further enriches the room’s eclectic but harmonious design, blending cultures and textures in a refined way.
- Trendy Yet Timeless Design: The wooden wall paneling in the dining area reflects a modern interpretation of classic design elements. While wooden panels are a trendy choice in contemporary interiors, the execution here is timeless, ensuring that the room remains elegant and relevant for years to come. The diamond pattern on the paneling adds a unique, sophisticated touch, complementing the overall design of the house.
Overall Atmosphere: The dining area feels refined and elevated, with every element—from the rich wood tones to the carefully selected decor—working together to create a space that is not only functional for family gatherings and entertaining but also aesthetically rich. The blend of natural materials, thoughtful lighting, and custom elements ensure that the room makes a strong design statement while maintaining the warmth and practicality that is essential for the home.
Office
The office at River Hill Residency is thoughtfully designed to maximize functionality while maintaining a contemporary aesthetic. At the core of the design are the custom cabinetry and a bespoke table, both of which were meticulously crafted based on designs by principal designer Ksenia Berkovich.
- Custom Cabinetry: The cabinetry features contemporary styles that help visually enlarge the space, creating an open and airy feel. It is designed to accommodate essential office equipment, including a printer, ensuring that everything has its place while maintaining a clean, uncluttered appearance. Ample storage options are incorporated, allowing for organization without sacrificing style. The accent open shelves, finished in white oak paneling, provide a beautiful display area, while recessed LED light strips illuminate the shelves, adding warmth and enhancing the overall ambiance.
- Custom Table Design: The custom table is carefully designed to avoid sharp edges, enhancing safety while entering the room. This table not only serves as a functional workspace but also embodies a contemporary style that seamlessly integrates with the room’s design. Under-table storage offers a convenient place for supplies and materials, keeping the workspace tidy and organized.
- Art & Aesthetic Elements: To elevate the space further, the office features Deco Capiz dimensional wall art by Diego Olivero. This artwork introduces a contemporary and textural element to the room without overwhelming the design. Its placement allows for light to travel freely, contributing to a spacious and airy atmosphere. The careful balance of functional storage and artistic expression creates an environment that is both productive and inspiring.
In summary, this office blends practical storage solutions with sophisticated design, making it an ideal workspace for creativity and productivity.
Kitchen
The kitchen in River Hill Residency is thoughtfully designed to balance style, warmth, and functionality. It serves as a central gathering space that embodies a cozy atmosphere while showcasing modern design elements.
- Focal Points: A striking focal point is created by the hood and lighting, both featuring brass accents that add a touch of elegance. These accents are mirrored in the island area, enhancing the overall cohesion of the space.
- Countertops and Backsplash: High-quality Italian quartz is used for both the countertop and backsplash, providing durability and a luxurious finish. The choice of materials not only contributes to the kitchen’s aesthetics but also ensures ease of maintenance.
The island has a countertop heating system installed, making it pleasant to touch during the cold season.
- Pantry and Storage Solutions: An additional pantry area on the right side of the kitchen offers functional storage solutions, allowing for organization and accessibility. This pantry space is cleverly designed to maximize storage while keeping the main kitchen area uncluttered.
- Innovative Features: The sink is equipped with not only standard faucets but also specialized water faucets that provide filtered and boiled water, adding convenience for everyday use. Additionally, a hidden coffee station is seamlessly integrated into the design and can be revealed using special hardware, providing an organized space for coffee enthusiasts.
- Island Design: The kitchen island features a stunning waterfall edge, creating a contemporary look that draws the eye. It is adorned with wooden tray stands and boards, providing a stylish yet practical way to display kitchen essentials.
- Color Palette: The color palette of the kitchen is a sophisticated blend of white tones with warm shades, distinguishing it from traditional white kitchens. This modern approach ensures a cozy feel, making it both inviting and fresh. The warm whites and soft tones create a unique aesthetic that stands out, showcasing a contemporary take on classic kitchen design.
In summary, this kitchen exemplifies a modern yet warm atmosphere, blending functionality with beautiful design elements, making it an inviting space for family gatherings and culinary creativity.
Powder Room
The powder room continues the contemporary and clean design aesthetic found throughout the River Hill Residency, creating a stylish yet functional space.
- Vanity & Surfaces: At the heart of the design is a custom vanity that blends seamlessly with the modern aesthetic of the house. The vanity is paired with a sleek Italian quartz countertop, which not only adds luxury but also ensures durability and ease of maintenance. The vessel sink, placed atop the countertop, further enhances the modern look, while wall-mounted faucets add a touch of minimalism and elegance to the design.
- Wallpaper & Wall Sconces: The walls are adorned with high-performance grass-cloth wallpaper (Blazer High Performance Wallpaper in shade Cotton by York Wallcoverings), chosen for its texture, durability, and resistance to wear in a high-traffic space. This wallpaper adds a subtle, tactile element to the room while maintaining the clean, contemporary lines of the overall design. To complement the wallpaper, wall sconces by Kelly Wearstler are strategically placed, adding both functionality and a refined aesthetic to the room. Their sleek design ties in with the modern feel, providing the perfect accent lighting.
- Color Palette & Atmosphere: A modern gray color palette dominates the space, with varying shades of gray used to create depth and contrast. The textured surfaces, including the wallpaper and vanity, combined with the neutral tones, evoke a sense of calm and relaxation, making the powder room both cozy and inviting.
This powder room mirrors the elevated style and high-quality craftsmanship present in the rest of the house while offering a tranquil, modern space for guests.
