It’s a familiar story in older neighborhoods like the New Salem area of Port Washington. Traditional houses straddle tree-lined streets, retaining all the charm and architectural details of the original designs, but they often lack adequate space for larger families and contemporary living. That’s what Fox + Chenko Interiors resolved when they were brought in to finish a new master suite for a couple who had enough of sharing the home’s only bathroom with two sons—and all of their hockey gear.

After relinquishing their existing bedroom to one teenager, the couple worked with local architect Frank Tipaldo to add a new, nearly 500 square foot suite to the rear of the 1930s Cape. The home’s existing interior design was traditional, and while the new space keeps some of those notes, the overall look of the addition is crisper and cleaner. “We wanted to create this haven and dreamy restful spot for mom and dad,” said Jennifer Fox, co-owner of the Port Washington-based firm. “They love this blue-gray color combination. When we speak with them they talk about how everything is crazy busy and then they walk into their suite and they feel very calm.” Both rooms are grounded with a small handful of cooler colors using fabrics, texture, pattern, metallics and mirrored surfaces to add depth.

The mirrored table adds some sparkle to the bedroom next to a tufted chair that takes on a more contemporary style by mixing colors and fabrics.


The homeowners wanted to keep a few pieces of dark wood furniture in the bedroom, including a sleigh bed, two night tables and an armoire. To temper those elements Fox and her partner Tonia Omeltchenko selected two chairs for the space, both of which incorporate tufting—a very traditional look—but in a cleaner, more sophisticated execution. The arm chair is covered in a lighter, linen-like fabric, instead of a heavier velvet while the armless accent chair has a broader back and tapered legs, both of which feel modern. The reflective pieces add shine but also interconnect the room’s colors: the darker wood furniture rests against one wall, but the mirrored cabinet and console reflect its color, pulling it across the space.

The bathroom’s tall mirrors make the space feel larger while the tile backsplash provides plenty of movement.


The bathroom was inspired by Carrara marble’s gray and white colors, which the designers used in different sizes and sheens. The movement of the 5-inch octagonal marble floor tile is different from the glossy 4×12-inch marble tiles on the privacy wall near the commode and different still from the 1-inch rectangular mosaic in a honed finish on the backsplash and shower wall. “This is a small bathroom,” Omeltchenko said. “By keeping the color palette light, it’s fresh and you’re able to have fun with the different sizes, shapes and glosses of the tiles. That’s how we bring in interest without adding more color.” A wide vanity with rectangular sinks and chunky hardware grounds the design underneath a shapely wall sconce. A pair of elongated medicine cabinets gives the room a sense of drama. Instead of paint, the designers added a textured vinyl to the window wall, creating another layer of detail in a material that won’t streak in the presence of humidity.