Marvels at the Mansion: Aegean Dreams
Writer Meg Fox | Photographer Peter Rymwid | Designer Maria K. Bevill Interior Design | Location Morris Township, NJ-
SLEEPING & SITTING AREAS | A soothing blue and white palette, classic Greek key designs and light-reflective surfaces combine for a calming and glamorous retreat with French Deco flair.
-
SEA REFERENCES | Transitional brackets hold Asian-inspired porcelains that frame a water nymph painting. “I wanted subtle sea references,” notes designer Maria Bevill, who was inspired by an upcoming trip to Greece.
Romantic and elegant, this bedroom is made for dreaming of Greek shores.
The mesmerizing blue-green colors of the Aegean Sea and the charming white that characterizes the Greek villages that line its shores inspired this relaxing retreat designed by Maria Bevill, a state-certified interior designer and associate member of the American Society of Interior Designers.
“I wanted to create a romantic space that is elegant yet restful and peaceful like a vacation,” says Bevill, owner of Maria K Bevill Interior Design in Chester, New Jersey. Calming tones from aqua to steel blue—and subtle sea references—set the scene for the tranquil setting. Textured wallpaper in the color of the Aegean accentuate the soft white of the fabrics and furnishings, while mirrored and other reflective surfaces amplify the light.
For a romantic touch, Bevill accentuated the French Deco-inspired bed with velvet tufting and silk panels (not shown), a treatment that also emphasizes the high ceiling along with luxurious floor-to-ceiling white silk drapery panels. Embellished with a band of Greek key embroiderMusée d’art moderne et contemporainy, the draperies make a simple but elegant statement. “Panels are kept off the window to let in as much light as possible,” Bevill says, while shades filter the light without taking away from the beauty of the leaded glass windows.
Two comfortable velvet sofas detailed with a Greek key border define the sitting area along with a large watermarked velvet ottoman with radius corners and acrylic legs that appear to float in the room. Floral appliquéd pillows add a splash of color.
A handy églomisé cocktail cabinet shimmers nearby with French Deco flair, but the crowning touch may be the champagne-toned Venetian glass chandelier with acid-etched leaves.
The 2017 Mansion in May Designer Showhouse and Gardens breathed new life into Alnwick Hall-The Abbey in Morris Township, New Jersey. The 20,000-square-foot Abbey was built in the first years of the 20th century and was inspired by several medieval English castles. For the entire month of May, many of New Jersey’s top designers displayed their talents in 41 of the estate’s rooms and 17 landscaped spaces. Eager visitors toured the spaces, where decorative styles ranged from whimsical to elegant, from understated to elaborate. All proceeds benefitted the Women’s Association for Morristown Medical Center (wammc.org).