Wells & Fox

Wells & Fox is known for working closely with clients to ensure that projects reflect clients' individual personalities, tastes and lifestyles. Heather and Bruce don't impose a “style” — they get to know their clients and help them crystallize the look and feel they want. How do you take the quintessential New England summer blue and white motif and customize it to three very different clients? Here's how Wells & Fox did it this summer.

Cape Cod
The client, a man from California, wanted his own space on the Cape for summer retreats with his kids. He asked us help him transform a little cottage in Osterville to reflect his eclectic taste. He wanted a funky, (think macramé)— kind of
“California meets New England” vibe.

Martha's Vineyard
This young couple has three kids. Their main residence is in London, and they summer on Martha's Vineyard. They wanted a fun, hip feel for their summer home. W & F was part of the architectural team for this project and handled the trim work, ceiling, entrances, and lighting, as well as all of the interior decor.

Nantucket
These clients are a couple in their 50's who travel quite a bit on corporate business. Their main residence is in LA, and they have a pied-a-terre on Beacon Hill. They wanted a formal, traditional feel for their Nantucket home, with the characteristic blue and white.

Wells & Fox Business Manager Barry DeCosta was recently honored as Volunteer of the Year for the Boston-based Project Place, a wonderful organization in Boston's South End that helps disadvantaged folks make the transition from homelessness to a more secure and independent life. This award is part of the Project Place Partners at Work program.Wells & Fox has been a supporter of Project Place for several years (Heather is on the Board of Directors), and Barry has really put his heart and soul into this worthwhile endeavor. Several years ago, when Project Place set about building a 14-unit complex for transitional housing, Wells & Fox reached out to help design the apartments. When residents move out to a more independent life, Barry moves in to refurbish and refresh the apartment before the new tenant moves in. It's a lot of work, and Barry does it happily, knowing that he's helping to strengthen the community and enhance the dignity of the residents. As Barry says,

“It's important that we provide not just a place to "crash",
but a nice place to live! These are people who have fallen on
hard times and are trying to put their lives back together.”

Barry has been so diligent in his volunteer work, Project Place approached Barry to chair its Valentine's Day fundraiser. It's been a spectacular success.

– Thank you, Barry!

“I wanted to simplify even more—make the kitchen smaller (I eat out most nights) and the bathroom bigger. I'm going for a kind of hotel suite look.
But I also need drama.

I designed a desk that I'm having custom-made. I'll have a mix of antiques and unique custom-made pieces. I'm doing the floor in a striking herringbone pattern of black and white cork, accented by a brilliant blue rug we bought in Morocco last year. We also found great old fabric that we're having reproduced. Of course it will be plaid! I'll use that for stunning floor-to-ceiling sheer drapes. I'm excited to get started on my own project!”

“It's hard to create one's own space when one is a designer—we have exposure to so much and love so many things. For me it is often the space that tells me what it wants. My house in New Hampshire took 6 years to rehab and design—partly because it was hard to make decisions and partly because most if the decorative items are found antiques or bespoke custom pieces.”

“The beginning of this summer we finished it off with a few special pieces of art, custom-designed lights and coffee table for the great room, and some accessories from my travels in Morocco and New England. It feels as if it is almost done—it's cozy and friendly and fun and relaxing. Just like a
weekend get-away should be.”