New York designer Sara Story helps one West Coast family bring their traditional Greenwich estate into the 21st century. In their 22,000-square-foot home, one West Coast family of five decided to shake off the dust of the old and infuse the house’s iconic structure with a dose of contemporary design vigor.

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“The house had such a strong point of view when we entered the project,” says New York-based designer Sara Story of the classic shingle-style property, which was originally designed by renowned architecture firm Shope Reno Wharton in 1996.

For this luxury home, the designer began by knocking down walls and consolidating rooms to allow light to penetrate the house’s interior, replacing some of the more masculine wood finishes with white plaster to establish an elegant, timeless look that leans more on European minimalism than old-school American grandeur. Sara Story is known for her admirable love for modern art incorporated into contemporary design. A combination that never goes out of style. With the aim of modernizing through shape and form in this interior design project, Sara Story opted for a neutral palette layered with cool tones and a sophisticated blend of materials, as well as a collection of museum-quality artwork and sculptural vintage and custom furnishings and accessories that are masterpieces in their own right.

“The homeowner has great taste and knows what she likes but it was important that the rooms feel elevated and bright and airy yet also comfortable and durable enough to really be used.” says Story.

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At the end of the day, the family wanted the rooms to be inviting and comforting because this is ultimately a family home. It was designed to stand up to all the nuances of everyday life and Inspiration and Ideas thinks it is safe to say that Sara Story successfully managed to create the most perfect ambiance following the latest interior design trends.