Selina and Matthew Murphy are social butterflies. Their former Los Angeles abode had been a convivial hub for friends, who were encouraged to come over unannounced on Saturday mornings for impromptu brunches and hours of laughing around the table. So when the California natives relocated to New York for a career opportunity, they missed their sense of community so much that they decided to move back as soon as possible.
The couple and their two sons finally returned to their beloved city in 2019, eager to create a new gathering place in the 1911 Craftsman-meets-Victorian house they’d purchased. “I was really looking forward to entertaining again and bringing people together,” Selina remembers.
But the historic Highland Park home needed a serious renovation before it could welcome any guests, so the Murphys hired Hisako Ichiki and Bo Sundius of Bunch Design to undertake the job at hand. “When we found their website, I knew they would be incredible partners for us in this project,” says Matthew. “They really have a timeless sense of style which feels fun, elegant, unique, and efficient—all important when dealing with such an old house.”
The biggest challenge was modernizing the closed layout of the main level to facilitate both family life and the hosting of friends while still honoring the original structure. The Bunch Design duo solved the puzzle by connecting areas yet keeping them distinct. They did this physically by enlarging doorways and pass-throughs. “We wanted to open it up and air it out without blowing out all the walls,” Hisako explains.
Aesthetically, Hisako and Bo maintained cohesion by adding traditional millwork like beadboard and wainscoting throughout. They then employed color-blocking to markedly define each room. Meanwhile, the combination of the classic wood paneling and the playful palette achieved the contemporary dollhouse look they were after.
Hints of Barbie can be detected in the refined pink dining room, with its dusty rose paneling, ornate ceiling, and blush bubble Rule of Three wallpaper by Selina and Matthew’s friend Paige Cleavland. The original brick fireplace is painted black, and the oval-shaped Jacob May table is dark wood—both of which offset the sweetness. “It’s a bit like your favorite restaurant,” Selina observes. “It’s lush and low-lit [and invites you] to stay a while and enjoy the flavors and atmosphere.”
New oak double doors lead to the kitchen, which is enveloped in green tones for a calming effect. Deep pine marble countertops are paired with matching Shaker-style cabinets on one side, while the wall-to-wall storage unit on the other features a mint hue. The floor is covered in sage concrete tile with a subtle terracotta triangle detail. “Hisako came up with a pattern involving a second color that would act as an accent on every third tile,” shares Matthew. “It’s very custom to our kitchen, very simple, and brings me joy every time I see it!”
The kitchen flows into the butter yellow breakfast nook that Hisako and Bo outfitted with a custom oak banquette, table, and bar for everyday meals. It’s the formal dining room’s casual counterpart. “It’s a welcoming spot for friends to hangout when they come over,” says Matthew. “We can keep doing the dishes or cooking or whatever we were up to when they arrived, while still being social. Plus, we love passing wine and snacks across the bar-height counter to our guests.”
Beneath the adjacent original staircase is the most unusual part of the house: a sink affixed to the wall outside the small powder room. It’s a century-old relic, so Hisako and Bo opted to keep it and lean into the quirkiness with more Rule of Three bubble wallpaper in a rich green and a perforated ceramic pendant by Heather Levine, another one of the Murphys’ friends. “It feels like a tiny enchanted forest right at the center of our home,” muses Selina. For Matthew, the feature recalls “floating in bubbly water.” Either way, it’s a magical moment.
