- December 12, 2025
- Risha Walden
Walden Interiors was recently featured in NJ Home Magazine for a Maplewood project that blends modern design with a warm, expressive twist. Maplewood, along with nearby towns like Montclair, Millburn, Summit, South Orange, and Short Hills, is known for older homes with strong architectural character and unique design challenges.
This feature highlights exactly how thoughtful, personalized design can transform these homes into spaces that feel current, functional, and deeply aligned with how families live today.
If you’re planning a project in any of these Northern New Jersey communities, this case study offers a clear look at how Walden Interiors brings vision, detail, and practical problem-solving together.
Before: The Maplewood Dutch Colonial prior to redesign
Design Challenges in This Maplewood Home
This Maplewood project centered on a traditional Dutch Colonial where a couple and their three adolescent children had lived for less than a year. The home carried strong architectural character but the interiors felt disconnected from how the family wanted to live. They loved mid-century modern design and wanted that influence expressed throughout the home without clashing with the Colonial architecture.
They also owned a mix of modern furniture and artwork that they hoped to keep, which added another layer of complexity because not every piece worked with the new layout or proportions. The arches in the foyer and living spaces created both a design opportunity and a constraint, particularly because the family wanted the home to feel more open and aligned with their lifestyle.
After: Curved modern furnishings complement the home’s original architecture
Design Vision and Key Solutions
The goal was to create a modern interior with a warm personality while respecting the Maplewood home’s traditional architecture. Key decisions included:
• Removing built-in bookcases that crowded the foyer arches to open the flow between rooms
• Introducing curved silhouettes to complement the existing arches, including a lemon-colored Zanotta chaise and rounded Thayer Coggin chairs
• Blending the client’s existing art and select furnishings with new custom pieces for a cohesive mid-century modern aesthetic
• Reimagining the living room fireplace with custom stone from Artistic Tile and modern walnut paneling
• Refreshing existing pieces through refinishing or reupholstery when they supported the new layout
• Introducing a layered lighting and color scheme that made both the living and family rooms feel warm yet crisp
Explore the full gallery and see more images from this project in our portfolio here.
Featured Quote
From NJ Home Magazine:
“The goal was a modern space that still felt warm, expressive, and connected to the homeowner’s personality.”
Read the full magazine feature
Why This Feature Matters for Local Homeowners
Maplewood, Montclair, Millburn, Westfield, and nearby towns each have distinct home styles that benefit from thoughtful, intentional design. Being featured in NJ Home Magazine underscores our experience working with the unique layouts, renovation challenges, and style preferences common across these Northern New Jersey communities.
It also reinforces the values behind our work: listening carefully, designing responsibly, and creating spaces that feel meaningful and intuitive to live in.
To understand how project budgets typically break down in this region, read our Pricing Guide.
And to choose the right designer with confidence, explore our Selection Guide.
Bring Your Vision to Life
If you live in Maplewood, Montclair, Summit, Millburn, South Orange, or anywhere in Northern New Jersey and you’re considering a design project, we’d love to help you bring clarity, creativity, and expert execution to your home.
