June 1-15, 2008

FEATURES

TARA SEAWRIGHT INFUSES A SHELTER ISLAND HOME WITH PERSONALITY AND KID-FRIENDLY TOUCHES

Shelter Island is a dreamy place. The sun glints off the water at every turn and the vibe is low key. For Jennifer Kroman, David Wermuth and their two daughters Sarah and Hannah, it is their place to relax and recharge in a casual, calming beachside environment that is filled with energy. Tara Seawright is the Manhattan-based interior designer who elevated their standard builder house into a family retreat full of personality worthy of its charmed location.

"This is a cool way to decorate," says Seawright. It was her second job for the family, but this time it was a bit different. "The first time around I worked for two years on their city apartment," she explains. "The wife was always asking for more storage and then one day she said, "Forget it. We've bought a house on Shelter Island.'"

It should be mentioned that they bought it sight unseen, although they had previewed a similar house by the builder. By the time the deal closed, complications in the wife's pregnancy led to doctor's orders of bed rest and no unnecessary travel. "I was on my own," explains Seawright. "I presented decorating schemes for each room and they signed off." The next seven months were spent imagining exactly how the family would want their house. The structure was completed and decorated before the family ever stepped foot in it. "I've never worked like that before, but having that freedom made me want to please them even more." As for the clients, they were thrilled. "I was amazed when we finally got there," says the wife. "Tara had gotten to know us so well that she understood perfectly what we wanted. Every time we come into the house it feels like our home."

A cool color palette that runs towards brights rather than pastels flavors the dècor. The wall colors were custom mixed, which helped punch up the spaces.