Karley Brown-Sgandurra and Joe Sgandurra—the husband and wife design-build team behind The Eden Co.—didn’t quite realize what they were signing up for when they agreed to help Helen Toomer and Eric Romano renovate the second floor of their 1770s stone Dutch colonial. “At that first meeting, I thought we were just doing a bathroom,” Brown-Sgandurra admits. While a bathroom was part of the plan, it was only the beginning. The project quickly expanded to include a full second-floor overhaul—updating the primary bedroom, converting a dysfunctional closet into a new family bath, revamping their son Harry’s room, and transforming an outdated bathroom into a vibrant dressing space for Toomer.
When Toomer, co-founder of Art Mamas Alliance and founder of Upstate Art Weekend, and Romano, the founder of Space, bought the 20-acre property outside Kingston in 2016, their focus was on turning it into Stoneleaf Retreat, an artist residency and creative space for womxn and their families. Their own home took a backseat—until they discovered mold in the bathroom. That’s when Romano found The Eden Co. on Instagram. The Saugerties-based build-design team specializes in bathrooms and kitchens, but has carved out a niche in primary suites.
One of the biggest challenges? A new closet for Toomer, who had been making do with awkward old built-ins. “Helen kept saying, ‘I have so many clothes,’” Brown-Sgandurra recalls. To balance Romano’s request for a Scandinavian-zen bathroom, Toomer’s closet needed to be joyful yet ultra-functional—every inch optimized to showcase and store her collection of beautiful, bizarre objects. “Karley definitely understood the assignment,” Toomer says. Ahead, the guiding principles that transformed an outdated bathroom into a minimalist’s dream closet.
Embrace the Unconventional Floor Plan
After redesigning the second floor, they were left with an unusual layout. To access the primary bedroom, you have to walk through the closet. For that reason, the space had to be welcoming and, as Brown-Sgandurra puts it, “scream Helen.” While the instinct with closets is often to hide things in cabinets and drawers, they leaned into display. “We wanted the space to feel like a boutique that you get to walk into and explore,” Brown-Sgandurra says.
Be Confident in Color Choices
To contrast the renovated bathroom’s relaxed vibe, Brown-Sgandurra knew the closet needed a bold splash of color. When she discovered a wallpaper from British brand Divine Savages (a nod to Toomer’s native England), featuring dogwood trees like the ones surrounding the house, it felt serendipitous. Toomer loved it so much they created an accent wall in the bedroom that frames the arched entryway. Pulling from the wallpaper’s green tones, Brown-Sgandurra presented three paint options for the closet. She secretly hoped Toomer would choose Benjamin Moore’s punchy Split Pea—and she did. Their husbands (and collaborators) weren’t so sure. Even millworker John Glagola of Studio Glagola triple-checked before spraying the first coat. “I just said, ‘Trust me—it’s going to be good.’” Brown-Sgandurra recalls.
Allow Objects to Dictate the Design
Glagola earned their trust in return. With the closet’s uneven walls making computer generated design nearly impossible, he took a hands-on approach—measuring and building everything in place. The design was also shaped by Toomer’s collection, including extra-tall shoes that needed custom shelving. While working in the space, Glagola noticed Toomer’s love for monkey figurines and asked if she’d like a small gold shelf for one to perch on, overlooking the closet. Her answer? An enthusiastic yes.
Sometimes It’s OK to Take Away Natural Light
To maximize space, they made the bold decision to remove a window. While it seemed counterintuitive to eliminate natural light, it pushed them to get creative. With few doors in the floor plan, sunlight still pours in from the staircase and newly added skylights, allowing for an open, airy feel. To complement this flow, they focused on lighting that would enhance both the closet and bedroom’s mood. The mix includes dimmable recessed lights, a soft fabric-shaded Pierce & Ward pendant, and a small Visual Comfort metal sconce. “My favorite thing about the sconce is that you can turn all the overheads off and just have that—it still feels cozy,” Brown-Sgandurra says. She even left the tiny bulb exposed, evoking the warm glow of a candle.
The Best Decisions Can Happen On a Whim
With typical renovation chaos in full swing, the closet floors kept getting bumped to the bottom of the priority list. While the wide-plank pine floors throughout the rest of the house had been refinished, the closet floors remained simple two-by-sixes in need of paint. They decided on Powder Blue by Sherwin Williams to enhance the light and connect with the many ponds throughout the property. “I think if the floors weren’t an afterthought, and we had planned ahead of time, they wouldn’t be blue today,” Brown-Sgandurra says. Still, it’s one of their favorite parts. “I think that’s kind of the beautiful thing about design,” she notes, “not everything has to be perfectly planned.”
