Saybrook Sophisticated

According to designer Jackie O’Neil, it always helps when a client has superb taste. This was exactly the case when she met the owners of her most recent design project. They have a very refined sense of style,” said Jackie. “It’s almost a Ralph Lauren vibe - lots of neutrals with pops of color here and there.”

Jackie’s clients purchased and renovated a 2000-square-foot colonial in Old Saybrook with the intention of living in it briefly before passing it onto their daughter. For this residence, they worked with Saybrook Home for everything from rugs to furniture to wallpaper. 

Color Story

Each room in the home has a very cozy, welcoming feel - casual yet elevated. Jackie attributes the calming feel to a neutralized color story. Each space flows elegantly and seamlessly into the next with just a pop of blue here and there to tie it all together. The blue pop of color echoes throughout the home and shows up in some creative ways such as the built-in cabinetry in the home office. 

A Thoughtful Mix

Jackie used a lot of mixed materials - iron, wood, marble, wicker - for added interest. A great example of this is the nesting coffee tables in the living room - one with a wood top, and the other with marble. Other elements in the living room, such as the leather recliners, the glass and metal console table under the television and the upholstered sectional reinforce this theme. 

Handsome Details

Though the home is not short on charm, it has a very refined, almost masculine, feel with lots of indo-artisan hand-knotted rugs, wood with rich, dark finishes and metal accents. “There’s a lot of sophistication in the design,” said Jackie. “It’s elegant in a very understated and smart way.”

The client’s favorite room in the house is the primary bedroom. A stately king size dark wood bed with an upholstered headboard with nailhead detail. A beautiful indo-artisan rug grounds the design. Pops of dark green and blue are sprinkled throughout and botanical artwork graces the walls. Jackie’s client finds the space to be a calming sanctuary - the perfect inviting spot to land at the end of a long day. 

There are two other bedrooms that Jackie helped her clients design, each with its own distinct look, still keeping in step with the rest of the home’s aesthetic. The primary guest room gives a nod to the home’s CT shoreline location with a slightly coastal look. Soft blues, a hand-woven rug and woven lamps work harmoniously together and make the space clean and bright for guests. 

Jackie's Favorite Spot

Jackie’s favorite room in the house is the dining room. “The dining room really shows how the clients’ taste and mine really meshed together perfectly,” she said. “The result really speaks for itself.” Her favorite feature is the combination of the dark wood dining room table with its Old World European feel and the side chairs in a beautiful Glen Plaid fabric with greek key nailheads. The room really came together nicely to embody the home’s sophisticated look.

Outdoor Living Space

Jackie had the opportunity to also help her clients style the outdoor living space. With a beautiful inground pool, multi-level patio and outdoor dining area, the space was a dream to work with. Carrying the mixed material theme to the outside area, a beautiful teak wood dining set is complemented with a woven fireplace occasional seating area. Wicker chaise lounges line the pool and of course the navy blue accent color can be seen on the patio as well - in the fabrics of the upholstered furniture as well as in the accessories. Click here to see the full gallery of the outdoor living space, furniture and accessories!

When all was said and done, Jackie felt as though the client’s discerning taste, along with the exemplary finishes inside (and outside) the home really made it the perfect opportunity to showcase her skills as a designer. 

Click here to see the full gallery of images from the Saybrook Sophisticated!