22 DIGS.NET | 1.28.2022
P R O F I L E | J E N N I F E R B U N S A
Zellige tiles, reclaimed French oak floors (a nod to the husband's
French heritage) and warm wood tones with a splash of pattern
and judicious hits of black used for windows, walls, cabinets
and seating. Bunsa turned what might have been Old World
impediments, like the low ceiling in the family room—one of
the more unworkable holdovers of the 1700's home—into a
memorable focal point. Structurally, the ceiling could not be
raised, so Bunsa outfitted it with barn beams for added texture
that not only frame the space but announce it. She also trimmed
back the built-ins in this room, ridding them of their ornateness
for a more clean-lined posture and accenting them with leather
cabinet pulls. (Wisely, the TV is not central.)
Given the lady of the house's wine and food background, the
kitchen is a showcase, with a textural backsplash and a conspic-
uous piece of lighting that presents as art and has a vaguely
nautical feel. Chosen for its handmade and tactile quality, the
fixture's "varying sizes and swagged chains lend a sculptural
element that adds to the open kitchen space and helps define it
as a separate zone from the dining area," explains Bunsa. It also
ensnares the eye with its edgy, industrial vibe and sets the tone for
other contemporary lighting pieces used throughout that, together,
create a kind of modern misc-en-scene within the antique shell.
Bunsa's ability to strike a balance between old and new, clas-
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A VIEW OF THE MAIN KITCHEN WHERE A LARGE, SCULPTURAL
LIGHTING FIXTURE IS A FOCAL POINT.
sic and modern, has given this perennially in-progress period
house a consistency for a new age. "I love the way Europeans
do additions," she confesses. "They don't try to replicate what
is there, but rather to make something new and current, which
serves to contrast with the historical building. In terms of the
interior furnishings, I love to mix old and new as well in this way.
I feel that vintage pieces add so much character to the space
because they have stories to tell, and they have a beautiful
patina of time worn on their surfaces. When contrasted with
new designs, they begin to have a dialogue with one another
and this creates a timeless space."
John Lord House is, more broadly, a reflection of Bunsa as a
designer—one inspired both by travel and all aspects of design,
especially the Scandinavian and Japanese aesthetic. Here, she
thought of everything. "I love clever details and thoughtfully
designed spaces and am very inspired by other designers who
have an inventive spirit and strive to create something new and
thoughtful in this world," says Bunsa, who you can count among
them. One only look to Connecticut, where in preserving the spirit
of an old house, she bared its soul. bunsa.studio
