From House to Home

A Family’s Journey to Finding Comfort and a New Beginning in the Garden State

Designer Maria Bowers has had the privilege of working with many wonderful clients, including Jim and Veronica DeFalco, who she says were “especially a joy to collaborate with.” When the DeFalcos and their three children relocated from Texas to Pittstown, New Jersey, they arrived with just their bedroom furniture and a sofa, creating a true blank canvas for design. “They trusted me to transform this house into a home that truly reflects them,” says Bowers, founder of BDesign’D, an interior design studio in Lebanon.

In the family room, “an oversized sectional covered in performance fabric provides ample seating for family movie nights and entertaining, while swivel chairs by the fireplace create cozy corners for unwinding at the end of the day,” designer Maria Bowers says.

“The décor is very fitting — it’s simple yet elegant and modern,” allowing for easy seasonal and holiday changes, homeowner Veronica DeFalco says.

Spanning approximately 3,800 square feet, the four-bedroom home is nestled in the heart of picturesque Hunterdon County. “When we first saw the home, we instantly loved the open floor plan and the abundance of natural light” that filled very room, Veronica DeFalco recalls. Bowers — who she describes as talented, organized and detail-oriented — “created design models with her software to help us visualize what the rooms would look like and provided a plethora of material samples to choose from.”

“The home seamlessly blends contemporary and traditional design elements, resulting in a timeless and welcoming ambience,” Bowers says. She aimed to balance functionality with aesthetic appeal, creating inviting spaces that cater to everyday family living and entertaining.

In the family room — which is visible from the two-story foyer — the previous owners chose strong, vivid colors. Bowers opted for a more serene palette, repainting the walls and trim in Benjamin Moore’s “White Dove” to create a more relaxed and inviting vibe.

Given the family room is the most high-traffic area — often subject to spills, food mishaps and crayon marks — “the durability of the furniture fabric was a top priority,” Bowers explains. To address this, they selected an oversized sectional in performance fabric that provides ample seating for family movie nights and entertaining. Additionally, swivel chairs by the fireplace create cozy corners for unwinding at day’s end. “The décor is fitting because it’s simple yet elegant and modern” and allows for seasonal and holiday changes, DeFalco says. “In my opinion, it really is timeless in style.”

Sitting room walls are painted in “Providence Blue,” which Bowers calls a deep, rich color. She repurposed an existing sofa and paired it with swivel chairs in a durable, easy-to-clean, performance fabric.

The subtle-patterned swivel chairs elegantly complement the soft white velvet drapes.

The sitting room, situated to the left of the entry, and the dining room, positioned to the right, are distinct from the rest of the house, making them ideal spaces for bolder design choices, Bowers says. In the sitting room, she opted for a “deep, rich wall color” — Benjamin Moore’s “Providence Blue — “to make a statement, while the dining room features companion accent colors with added patterns and textures.”

In the dining room, the upper walls feature textured grass-cloth wallpaper complemented by dining chairs with blue-patterned slipcovers that harmonize with the sitting room’s color palette. In the sitting room, Bowers repurposed the owners’ existing sofa and paired it with swivel chairs in a family-friendly performance fabric with a subtle textured pattern. “Soft velvet drapes complete the space, creating a warm and inviting retreat perfect for reading, playing games or simply unwinding,” Bowers says.

The children, now ages 7, 10 and 12, have bedrooms that were designed to grow with them while also reflecting their unique personalities and preferences. “Involving children in the design process is essential,” Bowers says. After developing a design palette with a selection of curated options, she allows the kids to make the final choices. “This approach ensures they feel engaged in the process rather than having a stranger dictate their personal space,” she explains.

Located across the entryway from the sitting room, the dining room features companion accent colors — soft blues and whites — providing a sense of cohesion for the two spaces. The addition of grass-cloth wallpaper lends added texture and depth.

The girls’ favorite colors inspired their spaces, showcasing soft shades of pink and purple, accent wallpaper and playful patterns. “My son has warm blues, wall decals and an old wood chest that he absolutely loves, which makes his room fun and cool,” DeFalco says. For Bowers, a mother of two boys, designing his room came naturally, especially since her youngest, like DeFalco’s son, is a fan of the Minecraft game. This shared interest helped shape the color palette and novelty accessories for the space.

The younger daughter’s dreamy retreat embodies her favorite colors and a floral wallpaper pattern that highlights the light-filled bay window.

Amidst soft pastel hues, a clever fox awaits bedtime stories.

While kids’ tastes and favorite colors can change, Bowers notes that elements such as bedding, artwork and accessories are easy to update over time. “Ultimately, my goal was to create comfortable and inviting spaces where they would enjoy spending time, especially as they adjusted to a new home and town.” Their mom adds, “Maria was a dream to work with. We love everything that was curated and designed for our forever home.”

Adorned with stylish wallpaper, classic furnishings and soft shades of purple and pink, the older daughter’s bedroom is designed to “grow with her as she moves through her teenage years,” her mom says. Cozy vibes and starry nights! A perfect blend of playful elegance with a comfy canopy, plush accents and soft textures.

Bright and vibrant colors and accents inspired by Minecraft gameplay reflect the young son’s current passion.

This cozy corner hits all the right notes for its fun and cool factor.