Residential Interior Design Service
color theory Boston offers two distinct design services tailored to different stages of the home journey—each rooted in thoughtful planning, elevated aesthetics, and a deep understanding of how homes are truly lived in.
Renovation Design Plans & Custom Home Design Plans Our renovation and custom home design services focus on architecture-driven, construction-ready planning. We create comprehensive design plans that guide renovations, additions, and ground-up homes from concept through execution. This service includes space planning, layout optimization, finish selections, elevations, and detailed specifications—providing contractors with a clear roadmap that minimizes costly mistakes and maximizes long-term value. Ideal for homeowners in Boston and throughout New England who want clarity, cohesion, and confidence before construction begins.
Interior Decorating Services Our interior decorating service is designed for clients who want to transform the look and feel of their home without construction. We focus on furniture layouts, lighting, textiles, color palettes, art, styling, and curated finishes to create polished, cohesive interiors that feel both personal and elevated. This service brings instant impact, layering warmth, texture, and personality into existing spaces.
What Sets Them Apart In short, design plans shape the structure and function of a home, while interior decorating refines and completes it. One is foundational and technical; the other is expressive and finishing-focused. Together—or independently—these services allow Color Theory Boston to support homeowners at every stage, from major renovations to final styling, with a signature approach that balances beauty, function, and timeless design.
“Lebanon meets Americana”
Medfield, Ma. 8,000 Sq. Ft. Historic Farmhouse
Complete Gut Renovation (10 month process).
This historic Victorian farmhouse was thoughtfully reimagined through a full gut renovation for a Boston-based chef and restaurateur, creating a home that celebrates culture, craftsmanship, and everyday living.
Inspired by the concept “Lebanon meets Americana,” the design blends rich heritage with modern function across seven bedrooms, a third-floor game room, a hookah lounge, and an extraordinary 1,500 sq ft chef’s kitchen.
As designers, our favorite moments came from listening to the house itself. When we opened the walls and discovered the original chestnut beams still standing strong, the decision was clear—they deserved to be celebrated. Those beams now frame the range and fireplace in the 1,500 Sq. Ft. kitchen, grounding the space in authenticity you simply can’t replicate.
Layered textures, salvaged details, and custom finishes bring warmth and soul throughout—from a hand-finished glass-front cabinet designed to showcase the chef’s pickled creations, to an inlaid cement tile “rug” that anchors the dining space with beauty and durability. Every detail was designed to support cooking, gathering, and storytelling—because this home isn’t just lived in, it’s shared.
Architect: Choo & co. All depicted custom cabinetry designed by color theory Boston. Custom Carpentry built by: First to Finish Carpentry Photographer: Michael J Lee
“Modern Cape”
West Dennis, Ma. (Cape Cod) 3,400 Sq. Ft. / Custom Built Home (14 month process).
Reuniting with past clients to design their 3-story custom beach house was both a privilege and a creative milestone. From the outset, the vision was clear: a Modern European–inspired coastal home, thoughtfully layered for relaxed luxury and effortless entertaining.
Designed from the architect’s floor plans and elevations, we led the project top-to-bottom—sourcing and specifying 100% of all building materials, custom cabinetry, furniture, lighting, and décor. The first floor open-concept layout seamlessly connects the kitchen, living room, and dining area, anchored by a one-of-a-kind custom kitchen that perfectly embodies the home’s modern coastal aesthetic.
Two expansive NanaWall systems—one off the living room and one off the kitchen—collapse fully to create a true indoor/outdoor living experience, ideal for summer days at the beach.
The home features 4 bedrooms, 4 full bathrooms, and a powder room, comfortably sleeping up to 12 guests. The third floor studio apartment functions as a private retreat, complete with a kitchenette, two balconies, and a teal sectional sofa with a hidden full-size bed. Throughout the home, wide-plank, solid white oak flooring by Carlisle provides warmth and continuity, while custom-designed cabinetry ensures every space is both functional and refined.
During construction, all furnishings and décor were procured in advance and housed with a professional storage and delivery company. Once the build was complete, we oversaw a full-home installation in a single 10-hour day, bringing the entire design to life with precision and care. The result is a cohesive, modern coastal beach house designed for connection, comfort, and lasting memories.
Architect: A3 Architects Builder: McPhee & Asscosiates Custom cabinetry designed by color theory Boston. Custom Cabinetry built by: Bespoke of Winchester Photographers: Michael J Lee and Dan Cutrona
“Seriously Playful”
Larchmont. N.Y. 6,060 Sq. Ft. / Complete Gut Renovation (12 month process).
Reuniting with these repeat clients was especially meaningful. We first met when we were hired to design their Brownstone in Boston’s Bay Village neighborhood. A few short years later, after a career promotion, the family of four relocated to Larchmont, New York—just 40 minutes from NYC—and called us again to reimagine their next chapter.
While the home had great bones, the existing layout simply didn’t work, so the clients made the bold decision to gut-renovate the entire four-story residence down to the studs. On our first site visit, the renovation was so extensive we couldn’t even access the second and third floors.
The design directive was clear: a contemporary, globally inspired aesthetic that could exist anywhere in the world—and absolutely not feel like a typical suburban home.
Working directly from the architect’s floor plans and elevations, we designed all custom cabinetry throughout the home and were responsible for sourcing 100% of the building materials, furniture, lighting, and décor. Standout features include two suspended fireplaces imported from Denmark—one in the kitchen and one in the formal living room—each with marble tile inlaid into the hardwood floors to form the hearths.
Just off the foyer, a lush three-season screened-in room filled with tropical plants creates a calming retreat after long workdays. The home also includes a home office, meditation room, six bathrooms, and four bedrooms, with the entire top floor dedicated to the Primary Suite, complete with a his and hers 500 sq. ft. walk-in closets that rivals a luxury department store.
Inspired by a warm spring day, the completely custom daughter’s bedroom was designed to feel light, joyful, and full of imagination. Soft clouds, fluttering birds, and a fresh, airy palette create a space that feels endlessly uplifting. The hanging chair serves as a standout design moment—part sculpture, part cozy retreat—perfect for reading, dreaming, and swinging through the day. A whimsical yet polished space that proves thoughtful interior design can grow right alongside a child.
Designed with creativity and play in mind, the son’s bedroom features a hidden hangout space concealed behind a bookshelf door, along with cork tile walls designed for safely bouncing balls indoors. The lower-level man cave channels bold Art Deco energy, anchored by a fully restored 1930s pool table and a dramatic bar with geometric marble backsplash and deep teal cabinetry. A nearby mudroom with a sliding barn door discreetly conceals a game room and full bathroom.
During construction, all furnishings and décor were ordered in advance and stored with a professional storage and delivery company. Once the build was complete, we oversaw a full, two-day installation, bringing this layered, highly personalized home to life. The result is a refined, design-forward residence that reflects how this family lives today—sophisticated, global, and entirely their own.
Custom Cabinetry built by: Studio Dearborn Photographer: Michael J Lee
“Five Lives, One Thoughtful Home”
Milton, Ma. Kitchen & Mudroom Design Renovation / 2 Bathroom Design Renovations.
Mudroom, Kitchen & Basement Renovation
A full gut renovation transformed this home into a series of high-functioning, design-forward spaces built for a busy family of five.
Mudroom Renovation
Formerly a kitchen, this space now serves as a family command center with custom locker-style storage, integrated charging stations, and a homework/craft table. Green accents, warm white oak, and a randomized black-and-white hex tile floor subtly reference the Boston Celtics color palettes and the energy of daily life.
Modern Kitchen Renovation
Formerly the Family Room, this large-scale kitchen renovation pairs clean lines with warmth and durability. Highlights include a custom white oak island, handle-free cabinetry with integrated pulls, double waterfall Caesarstone quartz, a green cement tile backsplash, and inlaid ceramic tile at high-traffic splash zones for easy maintenance.
Kids’ Bathroom & Laundry Room
A combined laundry and kids’ bath maximizes efficiency with custom hardware-free cabinetry. Personalized drawer initials help streamline routines, while slip-resistant geometric tile ensures safety without sacrificing style.
Primary Bathroom
This full gut primary bathroom renovation features custom floating wood cabinetry, radiant heated herringbone tile floors, and a light-filled shower with a new window that highlights ethnic-pattern cement wall tile. Clean lines, natural materials, and modern craftsmanship create a refined, spa-like retreat.
Finished Basement Renovation
An unfinished basement was reimagined as a multi-use space featuring a home theater, game area, kitchenette, and ¾ bath. Dimensional ceiling wallpaper creates visual height, while curated details—including an antique hutch sourced from the Brimfield Flea Market and graphic powder room—add character.
Thoughtful design, durable materials, and spaces that work as hard as the family who lives in them.
All depicted custom cabinetry designed by color theory Boston. Custom Cabinetry Built by: Mark Brunke Design General Contractor: Barra Building Photographer: Michael J Lee
“High Style. Full House.”
Dorchester, Ma. Kitchen & Bathroom Complete Gut Renovation Design (3 month process).
From gut reaction to gut renovation, this kitchen was taken down to the studs and thoughtfully reimagined to support the rhythm of a busy family of four. Our goal was simple: high performance paired with high style.
We replaced the dated layout with a custom cabinetry mix that brings both contrast and warmth—crisp white cabinet fronts framed in rich walnut, all grounded by a deep teal island that anchors the space and invites gathering. The result is a kitchen that works hard, looks effortless, and proves that a family kitchen can also be the coolest room in the house.
To complete the transformation, we also fully renovated the boys’ bathroom, designing it to feel fresh, modern, and effortlessly cool—because great design should extend to every corner of the home.
Custom Cabinetry built by: Grand Banks General Contractor: Wells & Company Photographer: Michael J Lee
“Where Stories, Screens, and Spirits Meet.”
Cambridge, Ma. Gut Renovated Finished Basement 1,000 Sq. Ft. / TV Lounge, Library, & Bar
This basement underwent a full gut renovation—starting with the excavation of the subterranean floor to gain 12 inches of ceiling height, dramatically transforming how the space feels and functions. The inspiration behind the space came from two core passions: the client’s love of surreal art and literature, and their enduring appreciation for wine. That narrative is carried through the color palette, material choices, and layered textures throughout the basement.
The finished design is organized into four distinct zones, each supporting a different mood and moment. The TV lounge is anchored by a Samsung Frame TV, allowing art and movie nights to seamlessly coexist. Just beyond, a two-person library offers a cozy retreat, featuring a custom bookcase with integrated sconce lighting, antique mirrored back panels, and a fireplace for added warmth and intimacy. The powder room, tucked off the library, leans into whimsy with playful wallpaper featuring books and a Cheshire cat—proof that small spaces can still deliver big personality.
The final zone is a fully functional bar, designed for entertaining. A custom peninsula showcases an arched quartz countertop with integrated refrigerator drawers, while the wall-to-wall bar pairs quartz surfaces with a backsplash of antique mirror and Carrara marble. Polished gold plumbing fixtures and hardware serve as the jewelry, elevating every detail.
Underfoot, a three-color mosaic marble tile floor; pink, white, and black which adds visual rhythm, while radiant floor heating beneath ensures the space feels as good as it looks.
What was once an overlooked lower level is now a richly layered retreat—designed to be experienced slowly, savored fully, and enjoyed often.
All Custom Cabinetry Designed by color theory Boston Custom Cabinet Builder: Mark Brunke Design
