We realized it was high time to give a proper tour of my mom’s house, especially since we stopped by during a recent whirlwind Thanksgiving visit. When in Manhasset, NY, right?
My mom has always favored a formal, traditional aesthetic—different from our own style, but absolutely admirable. As an accomplished attorney who works long hours, she invests a lot of time and care into creating a calm, polished retreat for her and my stepdad. Ready for the tour?
Their charming four-bedroom home, built in 1941, was purchased ten years ago and thoughtfully renovated from top to bottom. The stone facade was preserved, while nearly everything else was updated: they repaved the driveway and added a cobblestone medallion, refreshed the landscaping with shrubs and small trees arranged to echo the roofline, and addressed dated finishes throughout.
The entryway still has many original cut-glass and crystal chandeliers—fixtures my mom insists on cleaning meticulously (toothbrush and all). They removed worn carpet and refinished the hardwood floors to bring back their shine, and the charming arched doorways were part of the house from the start.
My mom does a lot of her best designing in the kitchen and bathrooms, so I’ll focus on those spaces before lingering over the formal living room. The original kitchen was roomy but decrepit; they gutted it and chose neutral travertine for the floors and backsplash, paired with dark oak cabinets and classic black-flecked granite countertops. Ever the entertainer, she keeps two coffee makers ready at all times.
Her sink was the first undermount I ever saw, and her glass cooktop used to be the neighborhood’s talking point. She added playful, three-dimensional tiles—some shaped like pears—into the backsplash to create visual interest instead of sticking strictly to travertine. A practical, stylish detail: she had matching granite installed along the windowsill above the sink for easy cleaning.
They also expanded the footprint to create a bright eating nook with a large table surfaced in the same granite as the counters. Using stone for the tabletop keeps the space from feeling overwhelmed by wood and ties the kitchen together in a refined, cohesive way.
One of my favorite clever touches: my mom repurposed an antique curvy table into a vanity by topping it with granite and adding a sink and faucet. I later saw the idea in magazines, but she had already pulled it off inexpensively—she found the piece discounted because its original top was water-damaged, so the retrofit was both stylish and budget-friendly.
The sunroom is filled with light and furnished with a few masculine pieces from my stepdad’s earlier days. Last Thanksgiving my mom proudly showed off valances she’d painstakingly hung around the room. I’m not usually a fan of valances and admitted I would have chosen floor-length panels instead. She liked the idea, but a year on she still hasn’t made the switch—maybe we’ll surprise her with curtain panels next time.
The main bedroom continues the luminous, elegant theme and, yes, features another chandelier—this one a pink fixture that originally hung in our old dining room. The family’s appreciation for chandeliers shows through, even if our tastes skew a little more modern.
Mom’s bathroom creativity shines again: she converted a dresser into a double-sink vanity by adding a granite top, resulting in ample storage and plenty of charm. She mounted two matching mirrors—one above each sink—to define individual stations, a thoughtful design move that can be adapted to many styles from rustic to modern.
Outside, the back patio—accessible from the expanded kitchen and the sunroom—uses cobblestone pavers and raised limestone-topped walls wired for lanterns, creating a warm atmosphere for outdoor entertaining. My mom jokes she would make it larger if she had the chance, but it comfortably hosted a successful 50-person gathering recently. A screen of evergreens planted five years ago now provides privacy without feeling enclosed.
So that’s my mom’s lovely home. To put faces to the house, here’s a photo of my mom and her husband at our wedding, alongside my partner and his parents—fond memories all around.
I hope this tour offered a bit of inspiration. My mom may have a formal, traditional sensibility, but her creativity and dedication to thoughtful, functional design have influenced me deeply. Love you, Mom—thanks for the tour!