The old adage often tells us more is more—but designers Rhonda Eleish and Alexis Blake Presley know there’s power in restraint. The duo behind the antiques and design brand Eleish Van Breems understands that while some homes shout in colorful, brilliant bliss, others whisper in a soft elegance. The latter was certainly the case for an 1804 cottage built for a sea captain in Southport, Connecticut—even if the designers’s first impression was over Zoom.
In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, the design firm received an unexpected call from a new client hoping to honor the historic Connecticut home while supporting her busy young family who loves entertaining and playing in the yard on the weekends. Her enthusiasm for antiques and traditional design charmed both Eleish and Presley, whose expertise and love for Scandinavian decor and European furnishings perfectly complemented the homeowner’s vision.
Neil Landino
“The wife wanted very livable antiques with soul and character,” says Eleish. “She really believed in that patina, that depth, that history—and she wanted that dialogue carried throughout the entire house.”
The trio spent hours going through countless fabric and wallcovering samples over Zoom, carefully analyzing each fiber and pattern. Presley, a whiz at creating room renderings, drew up lifelike models for meticulously analyzing how different furnishings and antiques would look within the space. “It was certainly an interesting way of designing,” jokes Eleish.
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When the duo was finally able to see the cottage in person, they were pleasantly surprised by its condition. The early 19th-century house had been restored by the previous owners, leaving behind a (mostly) strong foundation that needed only a few adjustments. One minor hiccup arose when the team began working on the front porch, where the columns had begun to crumble from extensive damage.
Fretting isn’t in the team’s vocabulary, however. They quickly repaired the porch and moved on to paint the entire house in a wash of dreamy gray-blues and warm creams with pops of green sprinkled in. “The colors tell a cohesive story so it feels like the family could have always lived here,” says Presley.
Neil Landino
The tactile, airy hues bring light into the house while framing the centuries-old antiques and softly upholstered seating in a warm glow. Clever performance fabrics that can withstand the daily wear and tear of kids and dogs running around also help the formal living room feel more relaxed. A blue-painted Swedish clock, topped with a carved flower finial, adds just the right amount of history to the gathering space.
Neil Landino
An old mural in the dining room was quickly replaced with a pigmented plaster that brought a youthful energy to the previously somber space. Eleish and Presley find it difficult to choose favorites among the historic pieces filling the home, but both agree that when the 18th-century Rococo armoire came rolling into the dining room, it made all the other elements of the home come together.
“The armoire is just unbelievable—the original paint, the original hardware, the color, its overall structure,” says Eleish. “The moment the homeowner fell in love with the armoire, we knew exactly what she envisioned and wanted for the home.”
The sunroom overlooking the backyard and pool offers a colorful break from the home’s feast of neutrals. Tropical pillow fabrics from Svenskt Tenn and bamboo Baker furniture create a breezy, laidback atmosphere akin to Bahamian retreat. Rather than feeling like you’re stuck indoors, the sunroom feels like an inviting, unfussy extension of the back patio.
Neil Landino
“The home was more traditional when they bought it, which made it feel a little heavier,” says Presley. “Today, this indoor-outdoor connection feels very seamless.” The sunroom flows effortlessly outside onto the patio and the wife’s garden beyond.
However, the most rewarding aspect of the project doesn’t come in the form of a room—but the lifelong partnership born out of a chance call. While the interiors may be finished, the wife remains friends with Eleish and Presley, continuing to work with them to evolve the cottage as the family grows.
The latest idea? A poolside cabana that promises to be just as memorable as the house itself.
Porch 
Neil Landino
Neil Landino
Eleish and Presley took inspiration from traditional Southern design by painting the ceiling of the porch a “haint blue” shade (Benjamin Moore, Under the Big Top).
Left: Rocking chairs from L.L. Bean look out onto the side lawn. Right: A McKinnon & Harris bench is framed by iron planter boxes that evoke the great gardens of Versailles.
Living Room
Neil Landino
A 20th-century butler’s tray coffee table grounds the contemporary Lee Industries sofas and Visual Comfort lighting. The walls are covered in a wheat-colored wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries that warms to the space. Curtain fabric, Rogers & Goffigon.
Kitchen 
Neil Landino
Neil Landino
Left: Schumacher’s vibrant Citrus Garden fabric (used for the window shade) and the dusty blue island (Benjamin Moore, Wolf Gray) enliven the kitchen’s creamy white cabinetry. Sink fixtures, House of Rohl.
Right: An Urban Electric Co. lantern illuminates meals around the kitchen’s pedestal table (Dunes and Duchess). Janet Jenkins landscape painting, ARC Fine Art.
Dining Room 
Neil Landino
Neil Landino
Left: An Italian iron-and-crystal flower chandelier lights up the dining table and Gustav chairs, both Gustavian-inspired pieces from Eleish Van Breems’s reproduction line.
Right: A 19th-century French walnut enfilade serves as an elegant stage for dinner party buffets.
Family Room + Sunroom
Neil Landino
Neil Landino
Left: The family room features a mix of indoor/outdoor fabrics from Lee Industries and Schumacher that can withstand the occasional spill or muddy paws from the family’s dog, Raylan. Wallcovering, Holly Hunt.
Right: Clean white walls (Benjamin Moore, Decorators White) and streamlined seating (Baker) keep the attention on the verdant views beyond the sunroom. Floor lamp, Dunes and Duchess.
Foyer + Vestibule 
Neil Landino
Neil Landino
Left: A baby grand piano and a Swedish Rococo chest of drawers welcome guests into the foyer. The walls are painted Gray Owl by Benjamin Moore. Lanterns, Ralph Lauren for Visual Comfort.
Right: A custom de Gournay wallcovering adds quiet formality to the vestibule and neighboring powder room. Trim paint color, Simply White by Benjamin Moore.
Bedroom + Bathroom
Neil Landino
Neil Landino
Left: A circa-1760 Swedish Rococo cupboard commands the primary bedroom. Wallcovering, Phillip Jeffries. Rug, Rug & Kilim.
Right: Delicate gray walls (Farrow & Ball, Dimpse) refresh the existing tile flooring, tub, and vanity. Lighting, Remains.
Pool
Neil Landino
Kingsley Bate chaises and chairs host family and friends for weekends around the pool. Umbrella, Tuuci.
VERANDA Design Society Gold
Interior design by Eleish Van Breems Interior Design; architecture by J.P. Franzen Associates Architects, P.C.; landscape design by Outdoor Design Living; styled by Edie Van Breems.