ALL IN THE FAMILY

Kate, Sophie, and

Lauren Aitkenhead

enjoy breakfast with

their dad in the casual

dining area.

s a physician, Iffie Okoronkwo Aitkenhead

knows that medicine often is “more of an art

than science.” And the same is true for

decorating. Even when the bones are strong

and the basic furnishings are in place, a

home without charm feels flat.

That was the problem Iffie and her

husband, Ben, faced in their Connecticut home. The rooms were

freshly painted and outfitted with discount designer fabrics,

lively artwork, and furnishings that could stand up to their three

young daughters. But something was missing. “Even with all

those things,” Iffie says, “the house lacked a warm connection.”

To find a cure, Iffie enlisted the help of a friend, designer

Bartley Johnstone, who quickly determined that what the house

needed was that “last layer” of color, texture, and comfort.

The first task was to marry the couple’s eclectic style, which

includes English country furnishings (Ben is British), African-

American art (Iffie is Nigerian), and Asian accents. To join these

elements, Johnstone came up with a tight color scheme of moss

green and mustard yellow with hits of blue and red. Next, she

softened the home’s surfaces with colorful quilts, striped seagrass

rugs, and striking throw pillows. Antique transferware plates,

vintage vases, and old hardcover books added a sense of age.

The house now has a more warm and welcoming feel, says

Iffie. “I think sometimes people confuse filling the surfaces with

being cluttered.” But without those details, she says, “a home

doesn’t look lived in and loved.”