In the market for a spacious home that could accommodate their young son and menagerie of family pets, Lisa Lowell and Steve Rogalinski found a newly built spec house on a tree-lined street in Allendale the perfect fit. Although there was plenty of interior and exterior space, the home lacked warmth and a sense of comfort, says Lowell of the drab, all-white interior color palette. The homeowners were determined to infuse their own sense of style and personality into their new home – no small feat, they fully realized – but the outcome was well worth the blood, sweat and tears in the process. “We really wanted to customize every room in the house to be a reflection of our family,” explains Lowell, an interior designer who delights in adding her personal touches with fabrics and color choices.

With a keen eye for detail, Lowell tackled each room by infusing a neutral palette with a punch of color. “I like to create a room by using color as an accessory,” Lowell says. “Choosing a simple rug or a window treatment with a wonderful color or texture can instantly make that room feel complete.” Lowell will be the first to admit she is a huge fan of faux-painting finishes; indeed, the home features a variety of these techniques that add depth and character to the overall design scheme.

With the interior of the house “dressed” and accessorized, the homeowners took on the challenge of a total backyard makeover. First on the agenda? Making the rear property private. “We put in giant – and I mean giant – trees,” says Lowell of the yard’s perimeter. Next, in went the large, kidney-shaped pool and Jacuzzi, along with the outdoor kitchen set on a spacious patio – a perfect venue, says Lowell, for entertaining friends and family. And the pièce de résistance is the gardens filled with some of Lowell’s favorite blooming perennials: Shasta daisies, coneflowers and lilies. “No matter the season,” notes Lowell, “we can always find a sense of peace and quiet out in the yard. And to us, that is simply priceless.”