Design house: An elegant family home in Philadelphia, designed by Elizabeth Cooper

Elizabeth Cooper started her eponymous interior design firm in 2008 after studying art history in college and working at Sotheby’s auction house and for a Jackson Square antiquarian in San Francisco.

Her work ranges from city apartments, to east coast beach houses, and mountain lodges.

THE PROPERTY

The house is in Chestnut Hill which is a beautiful old, residential neighborhood of Philadelphia. It's new construction but built with the same stone that is very typical of the older homes in the neighbourhood.'Houses are a very personal reflection of the people who live there and works closely with her clients to reflect their unique aesthetic sensibility,' says Elizabeth. Therefore it is important to give the client their dream home.

The clients, a young family of four, wanted to create a home that they could open up to their extended family –one that was warm, welcoming and down-to-earth.

SeeDesign house: A serene, light-filled home in the Hamptons, designed by Amalia Graziani

HALLWAY

‘It was the husband’s wonderful ideas to go with a classic white and black stone floor in the hall,’ says Elizabeth. ‘It was one of his very few design request so we wanted to honour it – and I am so happy that we did –it looks beautiful.’

It is a long space, so it makes for a dramatic focal point from both the front doors and the main stairs. ‘The floor is more formal than the rest of the house but it provides a rather lovely connection to the classic houses of the neighbourhood.’

DINING ROOM

‘We wanted the wallpaper in the dining room to be distinctive and unique, while also working well with the adjacent living room colour palette,’ says Elizabeth. ‘The homeowner already owned the dining table which can be extended to accommodate more guests. They love to host friends and family for dinner.’

LIVING ROOM

'The Verellen sofa, Verellen green velvet chairs, and Serena & Lily coffee table had all been purchased for their previous home just a couple of years prior. Because they were still in great condition, and we still really liked all of the pieces, we wanted to make sure to repurpose them in their new house,' say Elizabeth.

'We selected the wood framed chairs to be light enough to move closer to the sofa for easier conversation when a larger group is gathered in the living room. They're also perfect for reading, or for a cosy tete-a-tete, next to a warm fire in the fireplace.'

SeeDesign House: An original 1915 carriage house in Seattle, designed by Heidi Caillier Design

KITCHEN

'The couple both love to cook so we wanted to install durable honed black granite countertops in the kitchen. The granite holds up really well and makes for a great contrast with the white cabinetry. It is a classic combination.'

FAMILY ROOM

'The larger pieces of furniture in this room are all in a neutral colour palette. The addition of colour come from decorative pillows and accessories. This makes it very easy to mix up the colour palette seasonally or when you're ready for a change.'

BREAKFAST ROOM

The dining table was handmade by a dear friend of the homeowner's as an exceptionally special wedding gift.

GARDEN ROOM

'The homeowners and I love screened porches but, with the climate in Philadelphia, you might typically only be able to use a screened porch for five or six months a year. With the amazing addition of this pretty stone fireplace, they can now enjoy the space except for the coldest months in the heart of winter.'

OUTDOOR SEATING AREA

'We wanted this to be a casual and comfy spot for the family to gather or to enjoy their lovely garden with friends.'

'I adore oval dining tables,' says Elizabeth. 'The pretty table linens add a touch of casual elegance to an outdoor meal on the pretty bluestone terrace.'

MASTER BEDROOM

'In the bedroom we created a light, serene space, filled with blues, greens, and whites. The bench was made by hand, by the same dear friend who made breakfast room dining table, as a gift from the husband. The bedside tables offer an abundance of storage with a drawer and open shelving.'

MASTER BATH

'This is a classic and airy space. The blue tile adds a pretty contrast, and linear trim detail, to the classic white subway tile on the walls.'

DAUGHTER'S BEDROOM AND BATHROOM

'I love the the height and unique shape of the headboard and the subtle pink tones throughout these rooms,' explains Elizabeth. 'Even though she was a very young child at the time, we selected furnishings and fabrics in a colour palette that she could grown into and are also appropriate for a teenager.'

BOY'S BATHROOM

'In this space we have used a basket weave style wallpaper in navy that, again, won't date and he can live with over the course of many years.'

Photography/ Tom Grimes

Interior design/ Elizabeth Cooper