Visions of future cocktail parties, mahjong get-togethers, and, above all, family-friendly Christmas gatherings danced in Jacky Pincoffs’ head when she and husband Peter embarked on a search for a different University Park home.
“That’s the season of life that we’re in—we have four young kids, and there was way too much going on to take on a remodel of our old house,” she explains. “We had to find something that was ready for all that comes with having fifth, fourth, and first graders.”
Luckily, they found a five-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bathroom option that checked off almost everything on their “nice” list, save for the aesthetic, which was far more stark and white than, say, merry and bright. “It definitely needed some color and charm,” Jacky explains. “I had to find someone who could make every room come to life.”
Enter Mary Beth Wagner, a designer who has a gift for adding a big boost of flavor to vanilla spaces. She knew exactly what the house needed from the start. “I love a lot of pattern play, and Jacky was very open and ready to take a leap of faith,” Wagner says.
“I love a lot of pattern play, and Jacky was very open and ready to take a leap of faith.”
—Designer Mary Beth Wagner
The designer laid the groundwork with pretty paint colors, bold wallpapers, intricate textiles, and sculptural lighting. Then she layered in an abundance of candy-colored accessories, carefully curated artwork and antiques, and custom furnishings in an array of blues, greens, and pinks. All that makes for common areas that are anything but, from the monochromatic formal dining room and ultra-glam formal living space to the champagne quartz–clad kitchen and jewel box of a powder bath.
That goes double for the fever dream of a bar. “We really decided to go for it there,” says Wagner. “It all starts with that cherry blossom Gracie wallpaper. It arrived right before the holiday season kicked off.” While the wallcovering is elaborate enough to be the star of the show, here, it shares the spotlight with a host of other special elements, including lacquered cabinetry, brass hardware, a tiny sink that makes Wagner especially happy, and a totally unexpected pink marble countertop. “The reigning joke is that this is ‘Peter’s pink bar,’ because he’s a big hunter and fisherman,” says Jacky with a laugh.
Although the family is surrounded by a bounty of beauty, Jacky stresses that every room is kid friendly, especially once the Christmas decor goes up the Sunday after Thanksgiving. While Jacky looked to friend Anna Gilmore of Three Branches Floral to twirl up a more formal tree and deck the halls with fancy garland, there is also a personal tree that’s trimmed with a more meaningful collection of keepsakes. “Our children each get an ornament or two that reminds them of the year, whether that’s something to do with ballet or lacrosse,” Jacky says. “That was a treasured gift that my husband’s mom gave to me—a big box of ornaments that were his when he was growing up. We still put those on the tree as well.”
The mix of finery and a family-first sensibility creates a vibe that’s ideal for entertaining during the holidays. “We try to make Advent season a time that we can serve together and open our doors to friends,” says Jacky. “Our home is so layered and unique, but my biggest takeaway is that people feel totally at ease and welcome. Please come in, sit on the couch, and put your feet on the coffee table. I’ve got two boys and two girls, so kids are clunking around in cleats and riding scooters around here. Nothing is off-limits.”
Primary Bedroom: The Pincoffses can take a break from holiday stresses in their serene first-floor primary bedroom. The extra-large suite provides more than enough room for Peter to work, but it’s also dreamy enough for a custom headboard that complements a Roman shade in a floral fabric.
Roman shade: Madeaux by Richard Smith “Bosphorous”; headboard fabric: Rosemary Hallgarten; rug: Interior Resources
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