Layered, Livable Design

From within our beloved Cambridge, Massachusetts homegoods and lifestyle shop, we are pleased to offer design services characterized by the same discerning style and international sensibility you've come to expect from Abroad Modern. With 25 years of experience, our team creates layered, livable spaces to satisfy the individual needs of our clients.

From conceptualization through construction management, The Studio at Abroad Modern will guide you through a collaborative process that is thoroughly personalized, unpretentious and - most importantly - enjoyable.


Our Services

INTERIOR DESIGN

Quick refreshes that add meaningful details without the disruption and dust of demolition.

    • Furniture Selection and Layout
    • Finishes and Fixture Selection
    • Color Consultation
    • Art Selection and Styling
    • Fabric Selection and Reupholstery
    • Bespoke Soft Goods

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE

Updates within a building's original footprint to achieve aesthetic and functional impact.

    • Interior Renovations
    • Space Planning
    • Kitchen and Bath Design
    • Custom Millwork and Built-ins

ARCHITECTURE

Expanding the footprint of an existing home or creating a new one from the ground up.

    • New Construction
    • Additions
    • Facade Renovation

Our Work

INTERIOR DESIGN PROJECTS

GODDARD HOUSE | surrounded by memories

A daughter wanted her mother to enjoy her elder years at her retirement community in comfort and happiness. In designing her 1-bedroom apartment, we drew upon her beautiful memories working as a newlywed with her late husband for Doctors Without Borders in India. Using natural materials, inlay, and pieces from India, combined with her personal mementos, we created a feeling of her breezy, warm days in Kolkata. We mindfully selected pieces that would reduce risk of falling or bruising. It was an honor to be entrusted with this project.

HOLLY STREET | arithmetic-appointed atelier

A small formal living room was redesigned to accommodate large family gatherings and the client’s 15-member book club. We achieved a flexible seating program through a mix of stationary and mobile seating, restoring an heirloom Aalto Tank chair, softening a window seat and sourcing accent tables that could provide extra places to perch.

A computer scientist and artist, our semi-retired client had melded her two passions in the form of arithmetically derived art. We included in her design pieces that referenced mathematical theories and formulas. Hand-carved wooden twist tables, a sculpture pedestal based on the Fibonacci principle and a lamp created with algorithms lend the space a personalized, meaningful touch.

 

OBSERVATORY HILL | comfortably eclectic

For a young family of four, we created spaces for relaxing together and entertaining guests. The large, old home had been completely gutted, leaving it with spaces difficult to define. We created usable, well-proportioned spaces through furniture selection and layout, recreating axes and sight-lines essential in grounding a dwelling.

The client appreciated a variety of design movements, from Art Nouveau to Mid-Century. We created a richly layered solution, injecting the spaces with silhouettes and patterns that harken multiple eras, juxtaposing them in a modern way. The client also valued sustainability, so we did a bit of Chairish and dumpster-diving, and re-invented some pieces. The ultimate result was compelling, comfortable living spaces expressing their personality.

 

STYLING + SOFT GOODS | all in the details

We often provide light-touch services for clients who aren't looking for a complete overhaul, but want to refresh their home with quick, meaningful additions of detail. From composing gallery walls and shelf-scapes to creating custom soft goods or finding fabrics to rejuvenate prized pieces of furniture, these small projects deliver major impact.

INTERIOR ARCHITECTURE PROJECTS

GREENVILLE RESIDENCE | flow for the family

A 1910s single family home in good condition lacked flow, enough bathrooms and closet space for modern family life. The goal of this project was to create continuous sight lines from the kitchen through the Dining Room and Foyer, all the way to the Living Room in order to enlarge and unify the spaces. Through the interior renovation, we were also able to carve out a powder room and coat closet without sacrificing any square footage or changing the footprints of the original rooms.

Aesthetically, we paid respect to the antiquity of the house but introduced modernity by combining sleek surfaces with organic textures and tones. The renovation also features one of our signature design moves — a psychedelic, jewel box powder room.

 

BROOKLINE RANCH | from flat to fabulous

This midcentury ranch home was flipped by developers prior to our clients purchasing it. Though the resultant open-concept plan brought light and flexibility to the home, the spaces were undefined and lacked personality. We created a foyer and entrance sequence and clearly defined living spaces and circulation zones within the open plan.

Selecting all new furniture and finishes, we introduced a wealth of materials and textures—a travertine fireplace surround, burled wood tables, cork, silk and grasscloth wall coverings, nubby boucle and smooth velvet sofas, agate and lucite fixtures — transforming a once flat interior into a dreamy space full of sensorial surprises. The result is a luxurious respite for hard-working medical professionals that is comfortable enough to be enjoyed with their three boys.

CLINTON KITCHEN | let the light shine in

A young couple with growing children were looking to expand their kitchen to be more fresh and functional. Many older homes have dark kitchens with limited counter space and odd layouts.

The renovated kitchen is filled with natural light and gives the clients an opportunity to enjoy the wooded beauty of their backyard. There is ample counter space and a layout tailored to their style of cooking. A breakfast nook doubles as a pleasant place for the kids to do homework while while the parents prepare dinner, bringing the busy family together after a long day. Finally, a custom yellow-fronted range brings a ray of sunlight to the space, even on the the cloudiest of days.

*Architecture only; furnishings by client

ARCHITECTURE PROJECTS

CANAL HOUSE | connecting past to present

A small canal-side house originally built for the lockkeeper in the early 1800's had absorbed several additions over the past 200 years. The goal of this project was to create an addition to accommodate a young family with a style consistent with the existing house.

The solution was to create a 'back-house barn' of 1400 sf connected to the original house of 2950 sf. The style of the addition blends seamlessly with the original house, yet is modern in its amenities and conveniences, and is filled with natural light. The 'barn' contains a mud-room and living room with the primary suite above. The connector to the original house containing the kitchen opens completely onto an exterior courtyard defined by the addition.

*Architecture only; furnishings by client

WABAN ADDITION | ugly duckling glow up

A young couple with two children had just purchased a house in Newton to raise their family. Untouched for over 50 years, the property was dark, dingy and outdated.

Often a home like this is completely gutted, leaving all but the load-bearing walls, an open concept which can result in vast, undefined areas. For this renovation, we preserved the coziness of contained spaces, but used enlarged and new pasages in key locations to create better flow and allow natural light to penetrate further in to the home. The addition of a second story over the existing garage provided a new primary suite - a serene respite for busy parents - ensuring that this young family could spend many happy, comfortable years growing in their dwelling.

*Architecture only; furnishing by client

KIMBALL HOUSE | room to grow

A young family in Newton needed more space to accommodate their three children. The existing house was dark with cramped spaces. In this renovation, the kitchen was expanded and completely renovated to provide ample gathering space. The clean lines and soft whites offer a fresh counterpoint to the circa-1900 home's antiquity without overpowering it.

An addition provides a new sitting room for family activities and direct access to the new exterior deck. The addition also includes a new entry to the house, basement access and a full bathroom.

*Architecture only; furnishings by client


Our Team

Sadhna Gupta Brown is a registered Architect in MA and a member of the AIA. She earned a Masters in Architecture from the University of Michigan and a BA in Art History from Northwestern. For over 20 years, Sadhna has worked on a range of projects including residences, restaurants, retail, offices and preschools. A self-trained jewelry maker, Sadhna met Greer when she introduced her collection, Artem, to Abroad Modern. Having worked solo for many years, she was thrilled to co-found The Studio with Greer as their creative camaraderie has a movie-like spark. Sadhna draws inspiration from her extensive study of art and architecture in India and throughout Europe, her fascination with the ancient world, and her natural tendency toward modern, streamlined perfectionism. Her favorite buildings are the Pantheon, Villa Foscari, and the Kailash Temple.

Greer Marx Goodman is a seasoned Interior Architect. Her youth was spent at the heels of her design-adoring mother, on architectural walking tours, pouring over colossal binders full of wallcoverings and countless trips to the glorious design showrooms of Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. With a BA in Film Production from Vassar, a Masters in Interior Architecture from Pratt Institute and three decades of Interior and Product Design spanning several industries, Greer has a sharp eye for beauty and function, and a Tetris-like way with space. Though she enjoys the opportunity to source luxurious finishes and furnishings for high-end projects, she is particularly skilled at making modest budgets look like a million bucks and can sniff out the best products from discount retailers with a blindfold on.


Sunday,Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday,Saturday
January,February,March,April,May,June,July,August,September,October,November,December
Not enough items available. Only [max] left.
Add to WishlistBrowse WishlistRemove Wishlist
Shopping cart

Your cart is empty.

Return To Shop

Need to tell us something? Edit Order Note
Estimate Shipping
Add A Coupon

Estimate Shipping

Add A Coupon

Discounted total will be adjusted on the Checkout Page.