White walls maximise the natural light and highlight the greenery indoors
Cover Home tour: Interior designer Ania Dunlop's crisp and streamlined residence in Westchester County

Home for Zen’s Ania Dunlop breathes new life into her home by marrying timeless elegance with a modern flair

Interior designer Ania Dunlop has toured over 30 houses in Westchester County, New York in her search for a “fixer-upper with potential,” before she settled on a Mediterranean-style home built in 2003, about an hour’s transit from the Big Apple

“We were looking for a house with more space and a bigger backyard, and this house had everything we wanted: great scale and bones, a magnificent park-like ground and privacy,” remembers the founder of New York-based interior design studio Home for Zen.

“We saw the possibilities to transform it into a modern masterpiece, a family home with all the comforts and a great entertaining space for all our loved ones and friends to enjoy.”

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Tatler Asia
Ania Dunlop, founder of New York-based interior design studio Home for Zen
Above Ania Dunlop, founder of New York-based interior design studio Home for Zen

Within the area that has a highly educated population, prestigious universities, multinational headquarters, and iconic mansions like Rockefeller’s opulent estate, Kykuit; Dunlop opted for a gut renovation that gives her a streamlined space to craft something more natural and personal, not over-designed yet with exquisitely curated custom furniture, objects and art. 

“Designing my own home was more complicated than doing it for a client because there was no client to provide feedback,” admits Dunlop. “I really have to trust my gut that all the decisions that I made are the right decisions.”

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Photo 1 of 3 The streamlined grand staircases upon entry into the residence
Photo 2 of 3 White walls maximise the natural light and highlight the greenery indoors
Photo 3 of 3 The strategically positioned doors in the foyer open to the garden

Nevertheless, she looked towards “the timeless allure of Parisian contemporary aesthetics” when designing the full-time residence for her family of four and her Bichon Frisé pup, Ollie.

She adds: “We wanted to bring a touch of that classic Parisian chic to the Mediterranean setting, resulting in a unique fusion of styles that celebrates the best of both worlds.”

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Photo 1 of 4 The living room with chic Parisian influences
Photo 2 of 4 The 3D-like noir marble fireplace in the living room is the centrepiece
Photo 3 of 4 The layered and carefully edited family room
Photo 4 of 4 The open-concept ground floor flows from room to room

The interplay of clean lines, rich textures and a soft colour palette creates an inviting yet sophisticated atmosphere throughout the three-storey house with five bedrooms, six baths, and two offices–one of them also a design studio, a sunroom, and a recreational basement with an indoor pool.

“I’m drawn to modern organic aesthetics incorporating many luxe materials like marble, furniture made from ash and rift oak, shearling, mohair, boucle and handmade ceramics,” explains Dunlop. “This creates layered and carefully edited interiors that are both warm, serene and authentic.”

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Photo 1 of 3 The dining room is classic Parisian chic in a Mediterranean setting
Photo 2 of 3 The contemporary kitchen with light wood flooring
Photo 3 of 3 The breakfast nook with a view of the lush backyard

While the traditional ornate mouldings were retained in keeping with the inherited grandeur, the grand double staircases were streamlined to tone down the grand, contrasting architecture of the home.

Through the foyer, the open-concept ground floor flows from room to room, thanks to the light wood flooring replacing the preceding marble floors. 

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Photo 1 of 3 Outdoor seating areas nestled in the sprawling lush backyard
Photo 2 of 3 The outdoor pool and sunbathing terrace
Photo 3 of 3 An outdoor dining area amidst the colourful garden

On top of that, the floors of the previously sunken family and living rooms were raised to enhance the sense of space and flow, seamlessly connecting them to the rest of the house. 

The white walls maximise the natural light coming in from the large, glass-panelled windows and doors of each room; also providing neutral canvases to display bright, modern artworks and peppered greenery, as well as every space’s differing personalities: the sculptural lighting in the foyer, living room and dining room; and the fireplaces in the living room and family room.

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Photo 1 of 2 The colourful sunroom is a little tropical oasis
Photo 2 of 2 A break away from the overarching muted tones

“I took time collecting furniture and artworks in filling my home with heirlooms; handpicked pieces that not only elevated the space but also told a compelling story of our passions and experiences,” Dunlop explains. “This is what I like to do for my clients, introducing them to artisans and handmade items to curate soulful homes with a focus on high quality and sustainability.” 

In reference to that, she also adds: “In the past, people used to place value on furniture because of the materials used and workmanship. I hope to bring back that mentality of buying fewer items but of better quality and hopefully keep them forever.”

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Photo 1 of 4 The cave-like recreational basement
Photo 2 of 4 The speakeasy bar with dark-toned walls and muted furnishing
Photo 3 of 4 The spacious gym with workout amenities
Photo 4 of 4 The cosy screening room

Forming a coherent flow with the outdoors that was previously lacking, a pair of large, strategically positioned doors at the back of the foyer open up to the garden.

Beyond that lies a sprawling backyard with a swimming pool and terrace, and a lush patio with outdoor seating and dining areas.

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Photo 1 of 2 One of the two offices in the upper floors that is also a design studio
Photo 2 of 2 Clean lines, luxurious curved textures and soft colour palette

The indoor-outdoor relationship persists in the family’s favourite room: the sunroom that doubles as a conservatory. 

Here, Dunlop breaks away from the overarching muted tones and creates a tropical oasis with a botanical-themed wallpaper and gold velvet chairs to harmonise with the thriving indoor plants under the afternoon sun.

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Photo 1 of 2 The light and breezy ambiance persists in the primary bedroom
Photo 2 of 2 Plenty of natural light coming into the primary bathroom

While the clean lines, luxurious curved textures and soft colour palette keep the tone light and breezy in the private spaces on the upper levels, the recently renovated basement anchors the residence with its dark-toned walls and furnishing, exuding a cave-like atmosphere for the recreational spaces.

The basement includes an entertainment area with a speakeasy bar and pool table, a spacious gym with workout amenities, and a cosy screening room; of which Dunlop says: “It’s a hit with young guests.”

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Tim Lee Photography

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