GREAT DEPTH

An emphasis on tactile elements like shimmering zellige tiles, limestone, oak and gold leaf gave this American new build character

- RACHEL LEEDHAM

Before she founded her eponymous interior design practice, Allison Handler spent 20 years in the fashion industry, working in merchandising for luxury labels such as Calvin Klein and Donna Karan. For Allison, the interiors and fashion worlds are intrinsically linked: "There is something about how I approach a scheme that resembles the way I like to put together an outfit, she notes, adding, "I love to bring in something a bit bold.

The interiors of this new-build home in New Jersey blend quiet sophistication with unexpected touches that elevate the spaces: bench seating clad in softly shimmering zellige tiles in the kitchen, for example, or the main bedroom's arresting gold leaf and onyx chandelier, which resembles an exquisite cabochon-style bracelet. 'I love sourcing lighting; I really do treat it as the jewellery of the ensemble, Allison comments.

The homeowners, a young professional couple who were moving from New York to New Jersey to be closer to their respective families, came to Allison via the builder of the house. 'At that point, the structure was still a shell and none of the finishes had been selected; we were able to specify everything, from the flooring to the bathrooms, Allison explains.'

For a property that is nowhere near the sea, the couple's brief to Allison came as something of a surprise: 'They wanted a beachy, coastal vibe,' she recollects. 'The husband had grown up near Cape Cod and this was an aesthetic that resonated with him and his wife. I interpreted this with lots of textures and touches of greens and blues; the idea was to give the interiors an organic, tactile quality.