Caribbean Queen

Design by Sarah Storms
Photography by Aimee Ryan
Text by Nayda Rondon

A Cape Cod colonial doesn’t typically whisper palm fronds and ocean breezes. But step inside this 1929 Maplewood home and a transfomative story unfolds. What was once a stolidly traditional house now hums with color, pattern and personality, thanks to designer Sarah Storms of Maplewood-based Styled by Storms, who wove Caribbean soul and contemporary charm into every room.

“My clients wanted something contemporary, colorful and deeply personal,” says Storms. Newly returned to the East Coast after a decade in California’s Bay Area, the homeowners bought the 3,000-square-foot, four-bedroom, four-bath house in fall 2024. Storms—whom they discovered on Instagram—was the first through the door after closing. “The house was truly a blank slate,” she recalls. “It had great bones and had been well loved, but was ready for a new chapter.”

Through travel-inspired choices, Caribbean references tied to the wife’s heritage and an enthusiastic embrace of color, Storms crafted a vibrant narrative. Rather than altering the architecture, she amplified the existing layout, reimagining the entire first floor—save for the powder room—from foyer and dining room to kitchen, living room and game room. A unifying wash of Benjamin Moore Cloud White now bathes the once-muted interiors, illuminating them like tropical light after a passing rain, creating a crisp canvas on which layered elements shine.

A faux horn sideboard imparts organic warmth; the vase with tropical fronds adds to the island feel. A cherished, client-owned ballerina photograph by Mark Clennon inspired the dining room’s color story. Around it, the designer layered a white oak dining table and chairs with rattan-woven accents. Embracing the home’s entertainment friendly spirit, the table expands from a four-person round to an eight-seater oval.

Handled with intention and restraint, pattern and color flow seamlessly from room to room. “Pattern layering is a tricky thing to get right,” Storms notes. “There has to be variation in scale, pattern type or weave, but also a through line of color and texture.”

Comfort and performance were equally prominent, especially as the couple welcomed a baby during the project. Rugs throughout are pure wool. “It cleans easily, has natural antimicrobial properties and lasts,” says the designer. Upholstery and accent fabrics follow suit, chosen as much for durability as beauty.

Wallpaper sets the emotional tone. In the foyer, a Pierre Frey design that abounds in tropical flowers, animals and botanicals immediately signals that this is no ordinary colonial.

The game room embraces whimsy with Pierre Frey’s Jardins Parisiens, an imaginative design inspired by the Tuileries Garden and also featuring playful surprises such as ice cream cones and T-rex skeletons. “It’s kind of silly and fun to discover the elements,” Storms says.

Further enlivening the space, framed pieces like the limited-edition Nina print from Chambers Austelle Art create an artful gallery wall. A Made Goods game table is paired with blue leather Coley Home chairs trimmed in yellow velvet cording, alongside a CR Laine armchair upholstered in Old World Weavers yellow velvet. A Visual Comfort chandelier adds polish, while a Jaipur Living rug and woven wood shades by R. Garner Custom Designs impart textural warmth.

An underused corner of the living room transforms into a favorite perch. The existing built-in book cabinet was refreshed in warm white, while a wall-mounted gold lamp by Pooky Lighting adds a metallic accent. In the sunny game room, island greens, beachy blues and collected art create a Caribbean rhythm that’s part getaway, part gallery and all easy elegance.

Enjoying the home’s best natural light, this bonus game room was designed to flex with the rhythms of daily life. “We wanted this room to be where you sat with your morning coffee and book, as well as where you played games or entertained,” says Storms. Blue swivel chairs on casters glide into conversation groupings or adjacent rooms whenever extra seating is needed, reinforcing an aesthetic rooted in adaptability and ease.

That same philosophy carries into the living room, where comfort, durability and beauty seamlessly intertwine. Layered with bespoke pillows in Walter G and Lewis & Wood linens, a custom CR Laine sofa upholstered in Romo fabric offers stylish seating, Flexible seating continues with a CR Laine swivel chair in Christopher Farr fabric and a Palecek accent chair in Pollack bouclé, both chosen for their tactile appeal and everyday resilience. A Dovetail teak root coffee table and Bernhardt side tables provide balance, while custom ottoman side tables in Walter G linen introduce a lively blue print. An Accent Decor animal head lends personality and the original fireplace—freshly whitewashed—is topped with a Made Goods mirror. Steph Brooke Studio’s Native Iris commands one wall. Below, a wall-hung media console, custom-made from reclaimed black walnut from Irvington-based Real Antique Wood, adds rich craftsmanship. Decorative plates from Anthropologie and West Elm, a Jaipur Living rug and custom shades complete the space.

In the dining room, an Arhaus table is surrounded by chairs custom-upholstered in Peter Dunham Textiles fabric, all set atop a custom Missoni area rug. Overhead, a Currey & Company chandelier has a sculptural presence. Client-owned photography personalizes the walls, and a Made Goods side server—styled with tropical fronds and topped with a Regina Andrew mirror—reinforces the home’s collected, travel-inspired spirit.

Started in January 2025 and completed in May, the project progressed with ease. “The house came to life beautifully, stage by stage,” says Storms. “What was once dim and neutral is now bright, layered and exuberantly joyful.”