Stepping into the summerhouse, one is instantly enveloped in a vibrant tapestry of color and pattern, a testament to the homeowner's love for art and her desire to create a space that feels like a full-body experience. This project, designed by the renowned interior designer Katie Ridder, is a celebration of the homeowner's personality and a testament to Ridder's ability to create immersive, exhilarating spaces. With a palette inspired by Pop art and a sense of fearless exuberance, the summerhouse is a masterpiece of design that seamlessly blends the homeowner's love for art with a practical, family-friendly space.
Ridder's design philosophy is centered around the idea of creating experiences through color and pattern. In the dining room, a Moroccan-inspired checkerboard tile pattern in the floor sets the stage for a vibrant, yellow-hued space. The bright yellow walls, lacquered to add depth, create a counterpoint to the aubergine and green drapery fabric, resulting in a room that is both visually stunning and comfortable. The living room takes inspiration from around the world, with hand-painted wallpaper from Istanbul's Topkapi Palace and mirror-backed jali screens from Kabul, Afghanistan. The room is a lush, pattern-filled paradise, with indoor blooms adorning every surface, from the Arcadian wall patterns to the chrysanthemums on the chair upholstery.
Ridder's sense of balance and scale is evident throughout the house. The living room carpet, for example, is indoor/outdoor, reflecting the clients' desire to move seamlessly between garden and house. The family room features upholstered and rounded-edge surfaces, making it both elegant and child-friendly. The entry hall, with its deep-green ceramic-tiled floor, is tempered with pale walls, creating an open, energizing welcome. The primary bedroom and bath showcase a mix of small- and large-scale patterns, with colors that gently guide the eye throughout the space.
The architecture of the house is just as important as the interior design. The deeply articulated interior doorways designed by Peter Pennoyer, Ridder's husband, create a sense of place and character in each room. The entry hall's dramatic U-turn staircase adds interest and drama, while the primary bedroom's glass bay window creates a fun vantage point, allowing residents to stretch into nature. Pennoyer's work is a perfect complement to Ridder's design, with a purity and clarity that frees her to create vibrant, interesting spaces.
The finished house is a wholly original backdrop for the clients' own burgeoning collection of art, including Wegman photographs and Warhol prints. The homeowner's son now plays beneath the joyful gazes of these artworks, and the house has become a magical, whimsical space that brings back memories of her childhood. As the homeowner says, 'It’s like a hug of color.'
Ridder's design philosophy is a testament to the power of color and pattern to create immersive, exhilarating spaces. Her ability to blend the homeowner's love for art with a practical, family-friendly space is a testament to her skill and creativity. The summerhouse is a masterpiece of design that will undoubtedly inspire and delight for years to come.
