Big On Blue

Design by Pam Cooper, Cooper Interiors
Photography by Vic Wahby
Text by Nayda Rondon

Design work can be enjoyable when an “adorable” family invites you to bring warmth and personality into their home. That was the case for Pam Cooper of Watchung-based Cooper Interiors when Jessica Brennan and Will Esteves tapped her to design the family, living and dining rooms of the Stirling center-hall colonial they share with their 9-year-old son and Goldendoodle.

Comfortable and striking, the dining room’s host wing chairs, adorned in embroidered threads forming a bold geometric print, are from Lexington Furniture.

She saw my work on Houzz and reached out,” says Cooper. “When she first contacted me about the project, she told me she has a love affair with the color blue. I loved her warm energy and immediately knew we’d be a good fit. She was open to new ideas, which made it fun to work together.” The designer gladly accepted the assignment, which lasted from June 2023 to August 2024.

Serene and streamlined, the family room is the “perfect retreat to unwind, reflect and reconnect with family at the end of a busy work day,” the designer says.

“We delayed starting the renovation due to COVID and related supply issues, so when we were finally able to start, we wanted to make sure it would be exactly as we envisioned when purchasing the house,” says Brennan, who with her spouse bought the circa-1990s, 2,900+-square-foot home in 2019. “We had lots of inspiration photos from Houzz, love blue and the beach, and wanted something casual that we could live in. Pam was able to turn all of that into reality.”

To portray the breezy style her clients sought, Cooper not surprisingly went with a blue- and nature-inspired color scheme that would subtly evoke the relaxed vibe of life enjoyed at an upscale, seaside residence. The challenge was to establish a common connecting thread throughout the spaces without giving off a contrived, matchy-matchy feel.

The creamy white of the Jessica Charles side table emphasizes the rich blue of the Braxton Culler sofa.

In a process she describes as “smooth as silk,” Cooper interwove her design strategy from space to space. The family room is inviting thanks to comfortable, stylish and complementary elements: the sand-toned Braxton Culler sectional, the Lee Furniture blue leather ottoman and the blue Fairfield Chair armchairs on either side of the fireplace, and the centerpiece of an accent wall painted in Benjamin Moore Van Deusen Blue. Also noteworthy are custom linen window treatments from Fabric Collection in North Plainfield and pretty Lark accent tables, whose conical metal bases and creamy white marble round tops offer visual interest. And the beachscape displayed on the Samsung frame TV atop the fireplace and the soft blue, cream and tan patterned area rug from the Rug Company continue the themes.

Slightly more formal, the living room still manages to pull off a look that’s simultaneously chic and intimate. “It’s a cozy haven where blue and natural tones come together to create a warm and inviting living space,” Cooper says. She kept things interconnected by selecting another Braxton Culler sofa, this one clad in a deep, ocean-blue, velvet-like performance fabric, and sand-hued upholstered Fairfield Chair side chairs with interesting arm details. Adding to the clean, uncluttered flow, the smooth silhouette of the Arhaus round table fronting the triangular window section helps draw the eyes to the simple perfection of the custom linen valances and the wooded vistas beyond.

The living room’s Arhaus Divya hardwood sideboard, featuring an intricate handcrafted mother-of-pearl inlay design, is “simply a showstopper.” Above it, an Este round wall mirror, also from Arhaus, glitters with brass and glass detailing.

In the dining room, Cooper kept to the less-is-more aesthetic to serve up a vibe that’s “traditional with a slightly modern twist.” The Villa & House serving bench and the chandelier from Aura Lighting in Green Brook complement the dining table and chairs, all from Lexington Furniture. Decorative blue-and-white pieces—antiques-store finds—and custom white linen drapes with a blue-pattern border complete the look of livable luxury.

“Pam chose all of the finishing accessories and most of the artwork without our initial input and staged everything while we were at work,” Brennan says. “We were blown away by the results. “Everything flows and is cohesive,” the homeowner continues. “None of the rooms ‘match,’ but they all work together. They’re beautiful but also functional for our family and match our style to a tee. Our home is happy, comfortable, relaxed and unique. When my son first saw the house after staging, he kept saying, ‘Our house should be in a magazine.’ And here we are!”