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" VIEW MORE PHOTOS   Bold paisley wallpaper wraps around the foyer&amp;#039;s classic off-white molding. Green, seen in the upholstery fabric and urn, is an accent throughout the home. Once you find a great designer you trust, stick with her. That&amp;#039;s homeowner Anna Bengtson&amp;#039;s advice. &amp;quot;We actually delayed building our new house for a few months until we knew Kathryn Chaplow would be available,&amp;quot; says Bengtson, who had previously partnered with the Grand Rapids, Michigan\u2013based interiors expert on several projects, including her family&amp;#039;s remodeled lake home. Bengtson, a homemaker, and her husband, Brad, a cosmetic surgeon, working with local architect Jeff Visser, wanted to build a primary residence tailored to their family&amp;#039;s busy lifestyle\u2014they have three children and a baby on the way. The Bengtsons loved the look Chaplow gave their vacation cottage but craved a more sophisticated\u2014yet still comfortable\u2014style for their new open-plan, 5,500-square-foot Tudor. &amp;quot;Rather than having both formal and informal rooms, Anna wanted to elevate the everyday to a higher level,&amp;quot; says Chaplow. The designer&amp;#039;s assignment: Create a fresh, colorful decor against the backdrop of traditional architecture and finishes, such as ivory-painted millwork and hand-scraped solid walnut floors. For her part, the homeowner contributed to the collaboration by sharing her collection of inspirational magazine clippings and fabric swatches, and supplying additional suggestions along the way that melded with Chaplow&amp;#039;s experience, instincts, and savvy. &amp;quot;Kathryn and I are on the same wavelength,&amp;quot; Bengtson says. View resources for this story    The French Neoclassical\u2013style custom cabinet in the home office has silver-leaf details.A striking overscale, black-and-white graphic-print wallpaper greets you in the new dwelling&amp;#039;s entry foyer. &amp;quot;We used it there because the space has several openings and very little wall expanse, so it can contain such a big pattern,&amp;quot; says Chaplow. In the same room, she paired a contemporary light fixture and a black antique-look curio cabinet. &amp;quot;I like placing modern next to traditional,&amp;quot; she says. &amp;quot;It really sets the tone for the rest of the house.&amp;quot; On the walls of the home office, to the right of the foyer, you get an early glimpse of the grass-green color threaded throughout the common areas\u2014in paint, fabric, and accessories\u2014linking them together visually. &amp;quot;I like treating greens as neutrals,&amp;quot; says Chaplow. &amp;quot;They work well with most colors, just as they do in nature.&amp;quot; For contrast, she added sophisticated touches of black and white in every space. In the family room, an active hub and gathering area, a cream-colored carpet, sofa, and ottoman (which doubles as a coffee table) form a foundation on which Chaplow layered color, pattern, and texture. Butter-yellow walls help tie the main living areas together, and a soft blue ceiling above adds a coolness to the room and is a fun surprise. &amp;quot;It gives the suggestion of sky, and a lift to the ceiling,&amp;quot; Chaplow explains. The family room&amp;#039;s ivory, black-trimmed cotton-linen drapes look sharp and tailored, neatly complementing the boldly patterned window treatments in the adjacent dining room. &amp;quot;That fabric makes a strong graphic statement,&amp;quot; says Chaplow, who loves working with rich textiles. &amp;quot;You can see it from the entryway: The pattern plays off the foyer wallpaper as well as the large bolster on the family room sofa.&amp;quot;   The bathroom vanity is custom-made of wenge wood topped with a marble counter surface.The dining room is the setting for both adult dinner parties and family meals, but for a quick bite after school the kids cluster around the large, beige granite\u2013topped kitchen island. &amp;quot;The open plan is wonderful because we all like to hang out in the kitchen and family room,&amp;quot; says Bengtson. Classic ivory-painted oak cabinets counterpoint unexpected elements such as a glass-doored stainless steel refrigerator, shapely lantern pendant lights, and bright raspberry\u2013colored leather bar stools. Situating the master suite on the main level, just off the family room (the kids&amp;#039; rooms are upstairs), affords Mom and Dad a soothing oasis at the end of the day. In their bedroom, neutral carpeting and black-and-cream drapes link this private space and the common areas. The bathroom adds less subdued elements: a freestanding bathtub covered in glass mosaic tile and dramatic, shimmery silver-leaf wallpaper with a matte metallic sheen. &amp;quot;They provide texture and interest without going to color,&amp;quot; says Chaplow, who adds, &amp;quot;There are so many beautiful new materials on the market. I&amp;#039;m really glad to see this return to pattern and luxury.&amp;quot; Both the homeowner and the designer are ecstatic about the result of their work together. &amp;quot;The decor really reflects the positive energy of the family,&amp;quot; says Chaplow, &amp;quot;and it&amp;#039;s so satisfying to see how well the space works for them.&amp;quot; Bengtson agrees: &amp;quot;We love it. It&amp;#039;s something we can live with for a long time.&amp;quot; View our slideshow "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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