Dining room Coral lacquer unifies the dining room's built-ins and millwork. The ceiling shifts to a pearlescent cream lacquer. "We wanted it to give the impression that you are inside of a seashell," designer Brittany Bromley says. A fringed and braided trim finishes the hand-blocked tablecloth. Original marble tops an antique Italian console. Exterior A blend of Pennsylvania bluestone and fieldstone gives the Colonial home cottagelike allure.

Previous pages Fluted columns frame the view from the living room into the dining room.

Designer Brittany Bromley has always colored outside the lines. When it comes to her work, she embraces creativity that's free from conventional constraints. So when her best friend from college and that friend's husband were hoping for a unique look for the weekend property they had purchased 10 years earlier, they naturally turned to Bromley.

The couple wanted their New York country home, which hugs the border with Connecticut, to serve as a magical weekend oasis that erases the hustle of their workweek life at their Manhattan apartment in New York City. Bromley achieved that goal with dramatic antiques, comfortable upholstery, and a plethora of charm from a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns.

"I've never been one to stick to a single style," Bromley says.

In the living room, a pair of olive trees flanks the fireplace to infuse the entertainment space with natural elegance. "The trees didn't compete with the inclusion of the room's yellow and coral hues," Bromley says. "Instead, they enhanced them beautifully with their silver and blue leaves."