For 15 years, homeowner Carey Nielsen lovingly renovated her 1950s Cape Cod home and stuffed it with vibrant inspiration. “My children were young at the time we moved,” she states,”so I felt a powerful demand for bright, daring and fun spaces with vibrant color.” A whole-health instructor, travel guide and mother of two adolescents, Nielsen says that she seen this diamond in the rough at Wenham, Massachusetts, north of Boston, just as the actual estate agent has been placing a sign out on the street.

at a Glance
Who lives here: Carey Nielsen along with her 2 children
Location: Wenham, Massachusetts
Size: 3,100 square feet, 5 bedrooms

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In 2003, Nielsen additional 1,500 square feet to the back of the house, including a family room on the main floor, a master suite above and also an expansion of the lower-level recreation room. She designed the space and ends, and behaved as her own general contractor, but she worked with carpenter Don Webber.

The living room was opened to incorporate the dining room area and create better circulation. A handmade rug by Vermont artist and author Susan Sargent functions as a bright visual centerpiece.

“I met Susan Sargent and fell in love with her use of vibrant colors, Scandinavian design and innovative choices for furnishings,” Nielsen says. “it is a significant influence on how I connect with my environment.”

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Today the home is gracious and comfortable, full of treasures gathered throughout Nielsen’s life. Cherished pieces include artwork by herself along with her children, furniture built by her father, paintings with her mother and, pictured here, a prayer wheel from a trip to Tibet she guided.

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Nielsen was ecstatic to obtain these tufted fuchsia chairs at Timeless Interiors. They go perfectly with her Susan Sargent rug.

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On the other side of the first house, the kitchen has been opened up to be a functional and bright gathering location with an eating nook and reading chairs. The cloth on the upholstered chairs is also by Susan Sargent.

Brenda Olde

Brenda Olde

A reading table holds a lamp and doubles as home to Lu-Lu, Nielsen’s beloved beagle.

The handmade artwork is a joint venture between Nielsen and her father: He built the frames, and Nielsen painted them mounted the photographs.

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On the main floor behind the kitchen and living room is located the focus of the addition: a deep and inviting reading nook.

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The cozy reading nook welcomes in lots of natural light, and vibrant pillows invite reading, lingering and enjoying views of the backyard.

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The cheerfully orange mudroom off the kitchen contains lots of storage for shoes and coats. A vaulted ceiling and birdhouse collection reflect Nielsen’s joyful, whimsical style.

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Here’s a cozy dining banquette with vibrant handmade Susan Sargent cushions and artwork by Nielsen’s mother, Carol Henrici.

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This bath, with its bright and appealing sink and vibrant color, is also within the family room addition. It doubles as the laundry room.

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“I love my bright colors, but I also discovered the necessity to find spaces which are more subdued,” Nielsen says. This master bedroom, additional above the family room, is the best retreat. Perched high among the trees, the room is surrounded by light and windows, and its palette is soft and pastel. Just outside, within the giant pines, hangs a massive bird feeder, which will be a hub of activity and tranquil amusement.

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The master suite features an integrated bookshelf, a walk-in closet along with a hallway space that is home to a massage table and antiques from Nielsen’s travels to Mount Everest. Nielsen’s father built the jelly-roll cabinet.

Brenda Olde

Nielsen’s master-bath suite comprises a gorgeous tub and a window which flows in gentle sunshine. Easy and calm, this is her favorite spot in the home.

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A gorgeous wood deck away from the kitchen hyperlinks to the family room, the screened-in-porch (on the left) along with the backyard.

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Here’s a snapshot of the superbly preserved and modest exterior that’s faithful to the home’s heritage.

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Nielsen at home.

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