Design Duo's Tivoli Nest is Anything But Empty

Ghislaine and Jaime Vinas were looking for a home in the Hudson Valley when they got a sign—and not just metaphorically. Throughout 2022 they'd viewed at least 50 properties when the recent empty-nesters finally came across 42 bucolic acres outside Tivoli. "The first time we drove down the driveway we were immediately struck by the rolling hills," says Ghislaine of the former hay and grazing fields. "They're so charming and beautiful."

The ramshackle 1920s Arts and Crafts cottage at the property's center was a different story. Well loved by generations of the same family, the home was chock full of the past century's detritus and had fallen into disrepair. "We came in, went up and down the stairs, and looked around for about five minutes," explains Jaime. "They offered to show us the basement and we said no."

Walking the land with the owner's son, however, kept their interest. "The property was littered with the rusting carcasses of cars and both the home and the barn were chock full," says Jaime. Even so, they loved the mix of woods and fields dotted with ponds and brimming with wildlife. "We were completely enamored with the natural surroundings," explains Ghislaine. "It was really the land that stole our hearts. "

They put in an offer almost immediately and turned their attention to the house. "It was in total shambles," says Jaime. "There was mold, the ceiling was falling down, and there was vermiculite—which often contains asbestos—in the roof." They considered tearing it down completely. However, as they began to spend more time in the 1,600-square-foot rambler, the home's history and charms slowly revealed themselves. "Inside, the millwork was in great shape and I fell in love with the river rock chimney," says Ghislaine. "The house had been standing for 100 years, and we began to feel a responsibility to preserve that history."

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The couple in the cottage’s newly expanded dining room. While they've loved the chance to make the cottage their own, it’s the community that has really turned their Tivoli cottage into a home.“So many of our friends, colleagues, fellow designers, artists, and makers live here,” says Ghislaine. “It’s an incredibly vibrant and welcoming creative community.” Orange BlueDot candelabras match the orange Tom Dixon Peg chairs. A Crate and Barrel dining table balances the space.

Still they were on the fence: The renovation costs would be substantial and they'd barely scratched the surface of understanding the work that needed doing. Then, while cleaning out the garage, the universe sent them a message. It just happened to be hand painted on wood. "It read This is it," remembers Jaime. "It really felt like the house was trying to tell us something." And that was that.

Renovators for Life

The couple were hardly strangers to gut renovations. Nearly two decades earlier, after years of renting and running their architectural interiors business out of a Tribeca loft, they purchased a modest weekend house in Bucks County. "We wanted something we could make our own," explains Jaime of the Pennsylvania project. "We had been renters for years and really wanted our own project." They survived that renovation and it became a happy weekend home for the couple and their two children.

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In the light-washed kitchen, the couple topped Ikea base cabinetswith grey Corian counters. The central kitchen island includesDavid Chipperfield barstools for guests. The painting, Abe, is byMarcus Kenney.

Back in Tribeca, the two continued to evolve their design practice, mixing their complimentary skillsets to take on from-the-studs-up renovations and turn them into highly personalized havens for their clients, who often became close friends. Ghislaine primarily focused on designing architectural interiors, taking bare-bones spaces, then reimagining room layouts and closet placement with her clients' lifestyles in mind. She became known for her colorful, playful designs layered onto thoughtful, functional layouts. Jaime utilized his graphic design and branding experience helping clients name their homes, develop personalized monograms, and even site-specific gifts that celebrated each property's unique qualities.

After nearly two decades in Pennsylvania, the couple felt it was time for a new chapter. "We had that house for 17 years and it was a godsend," says Jaime. "But after our kids grew up the home felt too big and isolated." They began seriously looking for both a new home and a new community. Having been married in Woodstock, the Hudson Valley was already a special place for them. So, when former-clients-turned-friends bought a home in Clinton Corners they discovered Dutchess County and could immediately see its appeal. "We love the natural beauty of the region—the mountains, the light, the sense of quiet," explains Jaime. "But we were impressed by all the culture and the thriving design community. It felt like the kind of place where we could both grow creatively and feel at home." By 2023 they found the Tivoli house and in July they were ready to dive into the remodel.

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The cottage is filled with art and oddities the couple have collected through their work and travels. “I’m very drawn to odd and unusual objects,” says Ghislaine. “I love things with character and charm. I’ve collected pieces from around the world and they bring a unique and eccentric spirit to the home.”Downstairs, the couple paired a pig side table by Mooi with the painting Girl Without a Pearl Earring. A collection of gnome art hangs along another wall.

It Started with Light

On the first floor, the couple set out to transform the previously dark, compartmentalized interiors into a bright, breathable space. "Light is everything—it's love and life," explains Ghislaine. "I always joke that I must've been a cat in a past life, because I'm constantly chasing sunny spots around the house."

In the kitchen, the couple removed several interior walls, creating an open-plan layout that allows light to flow freely throughout the main floor, shifting with the hour and seasons. "I wanted the kitchen to feel like it was part of the landscape—not just a place to cook, but a place to breathe," she explains. Newly added windows above the countertops and near the dining area invite in views of the landscape and further amplify the connection to the outdoors.

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To create an airy, welcoming interior, they knocked down walls and even relocated the main entrance at the side of the house, adding double doors painted egg yolk yellow and an expanded entryway.

By relocating the front door from a claustrophobic side entry to the driveway adjacent wall, they created a clearer, more intuitive entryway." The flow just didn't make sense before," says Jaime. "By reorienting the entryway the house feels more welcoming." The new entrance features a bright egg-yolk yellow double front door and an ample foyer with playful design touches.

Mad Color

The couple preserved as much of the home's original detailing as possible while still adding personalized updates. "Even through the big transformation, we preserved the baseboards, doors, and flooring," explains Ghislaine. "We patched in some areas, but we didn't try to hide the imperfections. I love that it adds so much character."

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“Almost every item in our home feels deeply personalto my family and me,” explains Ghislaine. “It’s such a joy tobe surrounded by pieces I’ve discovered on my travels nearand far. They carry memories and stories: treasures fromdusty little shops off the beaten path, flea markets, and thriftshops.” In the guest room art by the couple’s daughter SaskiaVinas and painter Hala Nasir is matched by a pig cabinet bySeletti under the window.

In the living room, the home's original fireplace became an anchoring feature of the redesign, brought back to life with color. "Jaime and I both knew we wanted to use wallpaper in the living room, and we were drawn to the idea of using a saturated green," she says. "However, we had different visions originally and landing on the right shade took some back and forth." The couple eventually compromised with a deep, fresh green for the fireplace mantel and millwork. "Surprisingly, it wasn't either of our initial picks, but we both fell in love with it," says Ghislaine.

They used the custom green to print a fresh version of their Mad Plaider wallpaper, created for the design company WolfGordon, wrapping the living room and staircase in its bold pattern. "The saturation makes the space feel incredibly cozy—especially in winter, when the fireplace is lit and the whole room just envelops you," explains Ghislaine. They also painted the exterior walls and chimney a warm white, giving the home a fresh, textured exterior.

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The couple utilized Mad Plaider wallpaper—a designcollaboration between Ghislaine and Wolf Gordon—throughoutthe living room, and chairs upholstered with Sir-Stripe-A-Lot, a pattern Ghislaine designed for HBF Textiles.Magical Girls, by artist Bethany Blake, tops the mantle. Guccipillows and vintage finds—including the flower sculptureand ottoman—match the Avenue Road coffee table and L’Objet sculpture box.

Upstairs, the design tone shifts. "There's a lot of green in the living room and along the staircase, so I wanted the upstairs to feel a bit quieter," Ghislaine explains. She kept the palette largely neutral, however light still plays a starring role, shifting across surfaces and drawing attention to the home's original lines. In one of the bedrooms, a door scratched up by the previous family's pet was left standing but painted over. "We didn't want to erase the home's history," says Ghislaine. "Instead, we wanted to continue its story. It's a subtle reminder of the life lived here before us."

In the bathrooms, color returns in strategic bursts, energizing the otherwise serene palette. "The bathrooms were a chance to have a little fun without disrupting the overall calm upstairs," explains Ghislaine. "I love adding surprise moments—an unexpected wallpaper, a bright tile, or something that makes you smile." One bathroom features pops of bright orange, while another includes bold floor tiles in a geometric design.

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Ghislaine livened up an upstairs guest bathroom with bright orange paint and added a vintage cabinet to the space.“Each piece holds a meaning for us,” explains Ghislaine. “It’snot so much about curating a perfect collection that would appeal to anyone and more about living among things that speak to us and that we’ve connected with as a family.”

The couple are thrilled with their upstate nest, which they named Sunny Side after its light-inspired interiors. (Jaime even made house caps, printed with a depiction of the property's unusual footprint.) Living in the Hudson Valley has been transformative for the couple, both personally and professionally. "Spending more time in nature has really shifted my pace—it's allowed me to slow down, reflect, and recharge," Ghislaine says. "But being surrounded by a community of designers, artists and makers has really made this house a home."