One Kings Lane Connecticut House

Welcome to a refreshing new notion in residential retail. Taking the show house concept to the next level, the One Kings Lane Connecticut House is not only shoppable but happens to be the actual New Canaan, CT home of OKL president Debbie Propst.  Nicole Fisher of the brand’s in-house design division, The Studio at One Kings Lane, worked with Debbie to update the house with a great mix of vintage finds and over 175 products from the site.

Combining Debbie’s personal style with the practical needs of a young family of four, they also included pieces from the One Kings Lane Collection, such as the Ramona Secretary Desk, below.

Last Thursday, OKL invited a group of us to the house for breakfast and a tour to experience The Studio’s work in person. This new living show house really showcases the essence of the brand, the range of OKL products as well as the capabilities of the design team in a very tangible way. This week (April 3rd – 7th: 10AM – 3PM) and then every Friday starting April 21, the house will serve as the Connecticut outpost of The Studio, where, by appointment, clients can see the company’s offerings in situ and meet with the design team for complimentary one-on-one sessions.

With a welcoming mix of traditional and modern pieces, the living room set the tone of Debbie’s own well traveled style (born in Scotland, she grew up in Spain and rural England). Above, a vintage rocker, updated with a custom OKL textile, sits in front of a pair of whimsical alligators.

The house is full of take-away design ideas. As the living room opens to the dining area, a great trick was to use backless banquette style seating to maintain the feel of a sitting room and lengthen the room without the disruption of seat backs.

Here, at a pretty table set with Juliska and Joanna Buchanan we were served a delicious breakfast, catered by favorite local haunt Rosie.

Throughout the house custom One Kings Lane pieces and items from their featured brands, designers and dealers represent the OKL lifestyle and Debbie’s personal taste. The house also gives a good sense of the level of customization available from The Studio. The Charlotte Pedestal Table, below, from Ave Home’s RAW collection, for example, comes unfinished, which allowed the team to customize it in Annie Sloan chalk paint for a one-of- a-kind look.

The spacious kitchen is a country house dream and understandably, Debbie’s favorite room. While it had been installed by the previous owner, it was all dark oak. Debbie and the team painted it white, leaving the island natural for a little rustic chic contrast. The enormous granite sink is as perfect for party preparations as it is for bathing the baby!

The kitchen island, custom crafted by Sweet Elle and styled with beautiful ceramics from Farmhouse Pottery, was designed to coordinate with the new white cabinetry. Its airy appeal is in keeping with the combination of closed cabinets and open shelving through the kitchen

and perfectly appointed pantry. The combination of materials here is a lesson in the art of the mix. I especially liked how the Ralph Lauren wallcovering on the ceiling and bamboo roman from The Shade Store (who supplied all the farmhouse appropriate window treatments throughout) added additional warmth to the space.

Rosie’s signature cupcakes!

As you segue from the kitchen to the family room, related vignettes flank the doorway. It’s a great reminder that symmetry is a powerful design tool that leaves leeway for creative interpretation. The lights, mirror and Laura Zindel ceramics are all the same, with different antique chests and styling elements.

The comfortable family room proves that style and life with small children aren’t mutually exclusive.

Smart design with customization from The Studio included expanding the dimensions of the The Beckett sofa by Brownstone to fit the space and upholstering the OKL Collection Marlowe Swivel chair in a Katie Leede fabric. Debbie cites the chair as a favorite, allowing her to relax and still keep an eye on the kids as they go back and forth to the kitchen.

Taking family life into consideration, the generous Kara Mann for Baker/Milling Road Block coffee table serves double duty as a stylish piece that includes a large drawer perfectly proportioned for small toys. The sofa was deliberately pulled away from the windows so large toys can get stashed behind, still accessible but out of sight. And skirted tables are great for both storage and hiding spots for little people.

Art is an important aspect of any space and adds a big dose of personality in this room and throughout the house. While Debbie brought some of her own, much was sourced through the help of The Studio.

The back foyer strikes a balance between polished and country with a Ralph Lauren l’Oasis wallcovering and AERIN for Visual Comfort lighting.

Always looking to bridge style with practicality for Debbie’s family, Nicole and her team included Bunny Williams Home Taj Velvet Stools under a console – a great idea for entries where space is at a premium.

Our last stop was the upstairs playroom, which serves during The Studio visits as an art space. Heading up the stairs you get a hint of what’s to come

with a clever idea for blank white stairway walls.

The space features the work of four local Connecticut artists, abstract expressionist Linda Colletta, Hail Tiger illustrator Kathryn Warren, landscape painter Kimberly Petersen and abstract artist Nell Waters Bernegger.

I especially liked how the paintings were displayed on Linda Colletta’s paint covered easels.

A big Connecticut welcome to Debbie, the One Kings Lane Connecticut House and a thank you to the folks at One Kings Lane for organizing such a great day. You too can be their guest for a free one on one design consultation by visiting onekingslane.com/thestudio or emailing cthouse@onekingslane.com.

Whether you need help sourcing selections from One Kings Lane’s enormous offerings, adding the finishing touches to a room or designing an entire home, The Studio is ready to help you make your place perfectly personal. And while you’re in New Canaan, be sure to schedule a visit to Philip Johnson’s Glass House, below, and Design Store and then lunch at Rosie, as the OKL team did for us!

all photos by Stacey Bewkes for Quintessence