Photos by Scott Amundson || Interior Design by Heather Peterson Design
When Becky Burley and Chris Hughes merged households—with their three teenagers and two distinct design aesthetics in tow—they were melding far more than just personal histories and habits. Interior designer Heather Peterson, who had worked with Burley on a previous home, quickly recognized the nuanced needs of the couple’s shared future. “In their kickoff presentation, we made a Venn diagram with each of their faces in one of the circles,” recalls Peterson. “We wanted to find where their tastes aligned and lean into that. The overlap was the magic place where we wanted the design to live.”
That intersection became the foundation for their century-old home. Burley, with a chic and layered style, brought a taste for daring colors and dramatic textures, while Hughes, a midcentury enthusiast with a strong sense of function and clarity, gravitated toward cleaner lines and a more purposeful restraint.
Originally built in 1905, the residence didn’t need major surgery nor require structural overhauls. But the intention behind the redesign was not wholly aesthetic. It also centered on a shared goal to create a space that “felt like home”—one their teens would want to return to. “Ultimately, we thought, ‘They’re going to be back, right? They won’t leave and be gone forever,’” says Burley, reflecting on their soon-to-be empty-nester status. “We wanted to make a home that felt comfortable for them to come back to and bring their friends home for holidays.”
That’s why function and beauty held equal weight in the new design, guided by a concept Peterson coined “alone together.” In the living room, that meant creating a layout that encourages togetherness without sacrificing personal space. In the family room, a U-shaped sectional accommodates cozy sprawls and the fluid, often-overlapping tempos of teen life: homework, lounging, movie marathons, and solo scroll sessions.
Throughout the home, where tailored silhouettes are softened by rich textures and sexy surprises are tucked into unexpected corners, there’s just enough tension between glam and grounded to keep every room feeling fresh. This delicate dance comes to life through clean-line Danish Teak Classics pieces upholstered in mohair and Ralph Lauren wool; a goatskin Aldo Tura bar cart beneath a midcentury wall unit; and a black marble coffee table perched on brass legs. “Many of the feminine elements aren’t ‘pretty’ or ‘girly’—they’re actually black—but they have ornate shapes or dressed-up finishes,” Peterson notes. Lighting, selected early in the process, was deliberately restrained: “Striking the right balance meant the fixtures needed to almost recede,” she reflects.
That interplay continues in the dining room, where a custom treetop mural by Area Environments floats above the wainscoting. “Sometimes ideas form over time, but sometimes I’m immediately hit by a vision,” says Peterson, drawn to the movement and dreamy, old-fashioned feel of the sepia-tone watercolor.
This space captures the essence of the entire design. Hughes’ previously owned table pairs naturally with Burley’s existing glassware, and the couple selected the dining chairs together. “It’s not the largest room,” Peterson says, recalling a puzzle strewn across the table on a recent visit. “But it seems to contain so much of and for this family.” Hughes puts it simply: “It feels like we all belong.”
After all, good design reflects the life it serves. In this case, it meant finding the sweet spot—between connection and compromise, his and hers (and theirs!), solitude and togetherness.
Like what you see? Find product information and resources for design elements seen in this home in this comprehensive buyers’ guide.
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