Happiest Hour: An underutilized room gets new life as a vibey den

New design duo behind H & H studio create a chic space for equal parts lounging or hosting

Photos by Cate Brown

John and Carrie Boxer’s home in the heart of Newport merges all the charms of past and present, serving the busy couple well. But soon after moving in, it became apparent a bedroom that had become a de facto den wasn’t living up to its full potential. The couple turned to newly formed H & H Studio by design duo Tara Henriques and Victoria “Tori” Hill to reimagine the space.

Henriques and Hill met in an interior design certificate program at the Rhode Island School of Design. “She’s just insanely talented and great when it comes to interiors, and I have a little bit more of a background on the constructional aspects,” says Hill, the yin to Henriques’s yang. Hill was already familiar with the Boxers’ home; her father, Buddy Hill, is the founder and president of Hill Realty, which built the house in 2019.

“I had worked in the house from the beginning because I started working with my father a while back, doing design work while I was going through the RISD program,” she explains. “After Carrie and John had moved in, they reached out because they wanted to renovate their basement and turn it into an actual living space instead of just a basement, and we really enjoyed working together.”

Hill says the couple wasn’t quite sure what direction they wanted to take the den space, but knew they definitely wanted to start by removing the TV. “They were like, ‘We want it to be more of a conversation place where we can have a cocktail before or after dinner. A place we can go in with a book, where we can feel cozy but inspired,’” explains Henriques.

She and Hill got to work, developing ideas that pushed the boundaries; designs that were classic but cool, avant-garde but approachable. Because of Hill’s history with the Boxer home, the duo felt confident presenting design schemes that boasted a bold, forward-thinking aesthetic with real-world appeal.

“Because Tori had fostered that great relationship, we were given the keys to the city really,” describes Henriques. “We love collaborating with our clients, but ultimately, they knew that from the jump, we had had some great ideas, and they trusted us because of that relationship.”

Straight out of the gate, Hill and Henriques said they were envisioning dark, moody spaces that still ushered in the warm, natural light. They wanted to pay homage to the home’s surroundings in historic Newport but also create a design scheme that reflected a contemporary point of view. Describing the Boxers as “cool and hip,” the designers wanted the space to personify those qualities.

“They were really open to a lot of our ideas and doing something that’s different and not really the stereotypical ‘coastal’,” says Hill, adding that subtle hints of life by the sea are highlighted in the color palette and artwork.

“John and I like to pick out art on all of our travels, and we’ve slowly built a good art collection. We have kind of the same taste,” says Carrie. Her husband grew up in Provincetown, at the tip of Cape Cod; they enjoy spending time there, as well as on Nantucket and at other coastal destinations.

Adding those personal touches makes design so much more meaningful, according to Hill and Henriques. “We want to create interiors that spark joy, and your joy is different than our joy, and we want to create that joy together, because you are living in that space — we are helping you create it, but ultimately, you’re the one spending your time there,” says Henriques.

Since the Covid-19 pandemic, design trends have centered on experiences in the home and home
entertainment, she adds. “We’ve all been looking at our homes in that way of, ‘let’s make our homes the
restaurant that we want to be at. Let’s make that the bar we want to be at,’” she explains.

The women presented a trio of color schemes to the Boxers, ranging from neutral tones to more dramatic options, to get a read on what spoke to them. What resulted was a collaborative effort between H & H Studio and the Boxers that embraced the eclectic in a chic, stylish way that also made sense with the rest of the home.

Walls, molding, a custom-built bookcase by RGA Construction, and a planked ceiling adopt the same high gloss blue (called “Gentleman’s Gray”) by Benjamin Moore that compliments a single wall with grasscloth covering by Phillip Jeffries in a similar hue, adding another layer of texture. Similarly, window shades, a window seat cushion, a bolster and decorative pillows, as well as a matching dog bed, all made by The Fabric Connection in Middletown, add warmth and comfort.

Furnishings equally add layers of interest, including four vintage-inspired, caramel-hued velvet armchairs by McGee & Co., a mid-century modern burl wood waterfall console table, marble and iron cocktail tables, and Italian mohair ottomans from 1stDibs. Some are conversation pieces, including the antique camphor wood trunk from Bay Breeze Interiors in Watch Hill that pulls double duty as a coffee table. An interesting chandelier from Chairish and sconces by Visual Comfort cast a warm glow, and an area rug by Island Carpet anchors the space.

While there is artwork, sculpture, and personal treasures throughout, the most eye-catching is an oversized blue crab claw triptych by Nantucket-based photographer Dan LeMaitre. “He’s a really cool guy. He’s got such eclectic photographs,” says Carrie.

Adds John, “Nantucket, born and raised. And each year, when we go back to Nantucket, we go back to his gallery.”

But it’s a surprise detail that delights one and all, proving to be the most unexpected element in the space: a one-time closet turned peekaboo bar, making for quite the party trick. Lined with cheeky wallpaper depicting dapper-dressed animals sipping cocktails, it shows neither the room, nor the Boxers, takes themselves too seriously.

“That peekaboo bar, which was really Carrie’s brainchild, it’s totally Carrie’s personality,” smiles John, adding that his vibe is chilling in the library with a cigar and scotch. (The wallpaper in the en suite bathroom is a close second — a toile-inspired design of mischievous “party animals” called
Safari Soirée.)

“It’s those little elements that, if you’re entertaining and you look at it, it makes you smile,” explains Henriques. “You appreciate that someone had the boldness to put that in there.”

For John and Carrie, the library has become one of their favorite spaces, whether they’re entertaining guests or relishing a quiet evening at home. “We have a basement that has a bar in it as well, and that’s kind of, the more party room, but this is a smaller, more intimate conversation room,” says Carrie, who lists playing backgammon and listening to music as some of the couple’s ways to relax there.

“Tory and Tara were amazing,” adds John. “They brought the layering, they brought the texture in, with a lot of input from Carrie.”

As Hill and Henriques expand their H & H portfolio, the Boxers’ den transformation certainly sets the bar high. Says Hill, “We know not every project is going to run that way, but this was a very ‘pinch me’ project.”