At our first meeting, the homeowner wore a deep berry top with matching nail polish. That color later found its way onto the kitchen island, and it set the tone for the whole house: aqua, coral, and plum in a contemporary Cape in New Castle, New Hampshire.

First, the architecture needed attention. Five sets of glass sliders became well-placed doors and windows. A new hipped ceiling closed off a living room that had been awkwardly open to the second floor. The kitchen was redesigned to fit the open plan, and custom millwork helps the rooms flow together.

Then the color began. Rather than the classic blue and white of a beach house, we paired bold hues with a chinoiserie theme, nautical by way of the Far East trade routes. Warm neutrals, antiques, and texture keep it balanced. As I told the magazine, “With color, it’s a fine line between lovely and garish.”