New York State of Mind

A young family transplants big style into their new Boulder home

By Heather Shoning >> Photos by Heather Burns of HBK Photography

When a young family packed up their New York apartment and headed west for Boulder, they weren’t looking for just a change of scenery—they wanted a home that carried their city spirit into the foothills. The modern house they found had all the architectural presence they craved: black steel, sharp lines and open spaces. But the interior felt cold, geometric and far too restrained for a family who loves color, whimsy and warmth.

Enter interior designer Jennifer Rhode, of Jennifer Rhode Design, who quickly understood the assignment: Take Boulder modern home and infuse it with a splash of New York personality. The result is a home that balances sleek architecture with playful interiors, layered antiques and a kaleidoscope of color that reflects both the homeowners’ roots and their new Colorado lifestyle.

“The shell of the house was very modern and masculine,” Rhode recalls. “A lot of black steel, a lot of wood. It didn’t feel welcoming.” Her clients—a couple with school-aged kids—wanted a softer, more vibrant vibe. They brought with them a handful of beloved pieces, including their iconic Roche Bobois Mah Jong sofa and a red Asian sideboard. Those keystone pieces became design anchors.

From there, Rhode built a palette that invited color and comfort without overwhelming the modern backdrop. She selected new lighting to replace the stark, graphic fixtures with softer, sculptural options. “Lighting changes everything,” Rhode says, “and in this house, it was key to shifting the mood.” Additionally, she brightened the entire home with fresh paint and bold wallpapers. 

A Sofa That Set the Tone

In New York, the family only had room for two sections of their Mah Jong sofa. In Boulder, with expansive floor space, Rhode saw an opportunity to make it the centerpiece. She worked with Roche Bobois to expand the collection, choosing fabrics and designing a walnut base that gave the piece structure and presence.

“It became our stake in the ground,” Rhode says. “That sofa set the tone for the entire living area. Everything else flowed from there.”

With two kids in the house, Rhode designed for function as much as flair. The expanded Mah Jong sofa doubles as seating and play zone, with built-in sections that act as tables. Rounded edges and versatile stools prevent accidents while allowing flexibility.

“In recent years, we all realized our homes need to multitask,” Rhode says. “Sometimes your living room is a disco; sometimes it’s a classroom. This house needed to handle both.”

Behind the sofa, a wavy acrylic mirror imported from Italy adds a wink of whimsy, its pink glow echoing accents in the adjacent dining room. A Jonathan Adler acrylic rabbit keeps it company, underscoring the family’s playful sensibility.

The dining room is an eclectic mix that could have been chaotic in less capable hands: a Saarinen oval table, classic Eames chairs, a cheetah-print rug, a centuries-old wooden door reimagined as wall art and the family’s Asian sideboard. 

“The space is lively but balanced,” Rhode explains. “The clean lines of the table and chairs keep the room grounded, while the rug and chest inject personality. It feels collected, not chaotic.”

Throughout the home, blue-and-white pottery provides a thread of continuity, appearing in the entryway, dining room and bedrooms. It’s a subtle motif that tempers the bolder design gestures.

In the primary bedroom, Rhode leaned into fun. A Sacha Lakic for Roche Bobois bubble bed—think pull-apart muffins—became the centerpiece. “It was a little crazy, but super fun,” Rhode says. “And my clients went for it.” Mismatched antique Asian chests serve as nightstands, juxtaposed with a kelly-green Eames chair. The mix of old and new feels intentional, not accidental.

Local Boulder artist Sarah Kinn’s abstract watercolors hang above the bed, and artist Kelly Degnan—also local—is represented near the bedroom fireplace pulling the colors of the room into harmony. “I always want a home to represent the client, not me,” Rhode says. “Their art, their heirlooms, their travels—those are the stories worth telling.”

If any space captures the project’s spirit, it’s the powder bath. Originally clad in navy cork wallcovering, Rhode lightened the room with bold wallpaper, vibrant rugs and new fixtures. The transformation turned a dark, awkward space into a fun pint of personality. “Powder baths are a great place to be playful,” Rhode says. “Guests get a peek at the family’s personality there.”

The patio carries the home’s personality outdoors. Rhode sourced much of the furniture from Blu Dot, mixing bold stripes with sculptural forms that complement the steel exterior. The palette is slightly more subdued than inside but still full of pattern and shape. “It needed to work with the exterior, not against it,” she says. “But we didn’t sacrifice the family’s vibrancy.”

A Boulder Aesthetic with a New York Twist

Though Rhode now lives in California, her years in Boulder shaped her design lens. She’s quick to point out that this home isn’t typical of Boulder’s prevailing modern-farmhouse trend. “It’s more eclectic, more colorful,” she says. “But that’s what makes it special.”

Her background in fashion—she once worked as a wardrobe stylist in New York and San Francisco—shows in her interiors. “I think in terms of layering, texture and personality,” she explains. Her time living in Amsterdam added another influence: the Dutch concept of gezellig, a word that captures coziness, warmth and togetherness. “That’s always my goal,” Rhode says. “To create a home that feels welcoming, not staged.”

Ultimately, the project succeeded because of the collaboration between designer and client. The homeowners had a clear sense of what they liked, but they needed Rhode’s expertise. “A lot of people know what they like,” she says, “but they don’t know how to get it or how to make it cohesive. That’s where a designer comes in.”

For this Boulder family, Rhode delivered a home that celebrates both their past and their present. It nods to their New York roots with bold design choices while embracing Boulder’s openness and light. It’s eclectic, colorful and deeply personal—exactly what the family envisioned when they decided to put down roots at the base of the Rockies.

Jennifer Rhode Design
jenniferrhode.com