Vijay and Lauren Manthripragada believe in silver linings, for there is, they insist, no better explanation for how their home in Concord, Massachusetts, came to be. We fell in love with a house in the area but failed to snatch it up, says Lauren, a retired commercial architect turned stay-at-home mom. Thats when we reached out to the builder to create one specifically for us. It would work out better anyway, they reasoned: They could tailor-make the home to their needs, and still rest assured that theyd achieve something that appeared natural to the surrounding habitat, yet still stood apart from the traditional houses there.If there was anyone who could make it happen, it was AD PRO Directory member Greg Tankersley of design-build firm McAlpine. He was such a joy to work with, says Lauren of the architect, who developed the nearly 14,000-square-foot home as a reflection of the inhabitants, the property, and the context. Its about crafting a portrait of the people, harmonizing with the land, and respecting the surroundings, opines Tankersley, who collaborated with Peter Fallon of Fallon Custom Homes & Renovations for the build. We dont want to barrel into town and design the one odd house that everyone hates. If youve been invited to a dinner party, know the dress code before you go. As for the interior design, the couple entrusted interior designer Susana Simonpietri of the New York Citybased multidisciplinary studio and AD PRO Directory firm Chango, whose work they had followed for years.There isnt a corner in the living room that isnt touched by light, a quality that Chango amplified with finishes the color of sunshine. Benjamin Moores Simply White lightens the walls, ceding the spotlight to the B&B Italia sofa, Patrick Bonneau paintings, and custom rug and coffee tables. The Ross Gardam ceiling light doubles as a dazzling sun catcher. The side table is a Zanat design, purchased through Garde.Its the crown jewel, says Simonpietri of the family room, color-drenched in deep emerald paint, a bespoke banquette in Misias mohair velvet, and a DesignForMacha ceiling light. It took Lauren some convincing, but the final result blew everyones mind. The ALT for Living rug serves as a calming base for the Atelier Arking coffee tables. The sconces are Atelier de Troupe designs.Concords woody, grassy terrain acts as the backdrop of the family room, mirrored in turn by the Roman clay plaster walls. The Atelier Arking chairs and gaming table by Reeves Art + Design become an animated spot on game nights.The dress code, it turned out, was come as you areapproachable and cozy, and something that reflected both our personalities while giving us enough space to entertain and host family and friends, shares Lauren, who was born and raised in Concord. It would have been a simple enough brief, if hers and Vijays personalities were anything alike. He leans traditional while I favor the modern. He and I also approach decision-making very differently. He is quick to decide and charge forward, whereas I like to sketch out all the options, discuss the possibilities, eventually make a decision and perhaps rethink that decision hours later, she says of herself and her husband, who heads an environmental company.The kitchen is where the family is most often together, vacillating between cooking and eating, or teetering on the brink of mayhem in the mornings as the kids get ready to leave for school, Lauren says. To dial up the drama, Chango delivered an object lesson in opposites, darkening the cabinets in Benjamin Moores Onyx and lightening the island with a slab of honed Statuario marble. A monochrome Asaf Weinbroom luminaire haloes the setting, while tan woven stools by Thomas Hayes Studio lend a pop of color.Vijays family moved around a lot when he was younger. He grew up in India, Nigeria, and Switzerland before coming back to North Carolina at age 11. On the other hand, my family roots in Concord are strong; I have four younger sisters who have all moved back home over the years, so our home is often a gathering place for our beloved family and friends, says Lauren, alluding to the moody kitchen breakfast nook, featuring Cl tiles and millwork in Benjamin Moores Onyx. A circular table by Michael Finizio Fine Woodworking and stools by Thomas Hayes Studio take center stage, crowned by a chandelier by Lawson Fenning.The dining room is a palimpsest of the owners scintillating art collectiona combination of commissioned art, mementoes from the couples life and travels, and family heirlooms. A Kenny Nguyen painting reigns over the room, above a Crump & Kwash credenza and a custom dining table and ABI chairs by Van Rossum. The Ross Gardam ceiling fixture mirrors the design in the living room.One thing they did agree upon was keeping things classic, but not too classic. If the architecture reflected Vijay, the interior design held a mirror to Laurentimeless, edgy, and a little unexpecteda brief she entrusted Chango to bring alive. With the architecture already in motion, we aimed to honor its essence while giving the interior design a distinct, independent narrative, avers Simonpietri. And so she did, lending each space a distinct expression: a stone slab sink in the black foyer, a green family room color-drenched with a jewel-toned wraparound sofa, and a kitchen darkened in black. She paid equal attention to the kids bedrooms, connecting them with lofts for stowing away toys and encouraging joint or individual play.Most mornings, the study masquerades as a meditation room. Since its often so peaceful and serene, it naturally became the familys gathering spotwhere the quiet is lovingly interrupted, making way for beautiful memories shared together, says Vijay.Chango designed the kids sitting room in keeping with their spirited personalities. Theyre some of the most amazing little humans Ive met, Simonpietri says, so it was necessary to bring that out in the design. Judging by the resulta cocoon of calm painted in Benjamin Moores Tranquility, featuring a colorful Six N. Five sofa, a custom ottoman in Scions Cerro fabric, and a ceiling adorned with The Pattern Collective wallpapershe certainly achieved her goal. An Etsy rug warms the floor, while a pendant from Kartell adds a cooling touch overhead.The powder room is bold and brooding, cocooned by walls painted in Benjamin Moores Deep River. The floor, emblazoned in Cl tile, cuts a calm contrast to the custom sink in honed Brindle Crystal Quartzite.While deeply grateful for the collaboration, the couple admits theyre still growing into their abode. Neither Vijay nor I grew up in large spaces, though our homes were always filled with love, Lauren says. Our first apartment together in New York City was 500 square feet, which is smaller than the mudroom of our house, and every apartment since has not exceeded 1,500 square feet, she reflects. The scale of their new home isnt lost on them, but it works beautifully given how often they host large family gatherings. We are still finding our groove, she muses. The loves the same but there's a lot more room for it to go around.While the front entrance is subdued, the rear garden is a magnificent work of art completed by Matthew Cunningham Landscape Design. Its a house of paradoxesclean like a starched white shirt yet relaxed and wrinkled at the same time, says architect Greg Tankersley of McAlpine, who incorporated elements of Vastu, an ancient Vedic architectural science, into the blueprint as a nod to Vijays Indian heritage. Sunny days are best enjoyed on the porch on sofas and lounge chairs by Sutherland Furniture.The primary bedroom is a pastel dreamscape, with walls colored in Benjamin Moores Winds Breath and whispery Bruder & Co drapes. The headboard, outfitted in Adamo & Eva velvet by Dedar, rouges the wall, while a Studio Four rug offers a calming counterpoint. The pendants are by Rory Pots.To step into the primary bathroom is to step into another realm, one where the elements take pride of place on either side of the threshold. A Waterworks tub acts as a resplendent centerpiece, underpinned by limestone flooring and overarched by a Blueprint Lighting chandelier. Shades from Bruder gauzily dress the windows.Chango was intentional about color, showcasing the rumpus room in an electrifying orange. The idea was to create an indoor adventure habitat for the frigid Massachusetts winters, Simonpietri says of the couples kids, Owen, Mira, and Rhys. She included a built-in nook painted in Benjamin Moores Sharkskin, starring a custom cushion in Erica Shamrock Textiles fabric and sconces by Charlotte Perriand. The rugs are by Pieces Homes, and the hanging chairs are from Etsy.The daughters bedroom is a whimsical kaleidoscope of color, with a vibrant Nicolette Mayer wallpaper, a glass bubble chandelier from the Light Factory, and a custom headboard covered in a Temple Studio fabric. Nightstands from Bludot flank the custom bed. The rug is by Anthropologie.The sons bedroom gets a quirky spin, courtesy of a custom Chasing Paper wallpaper and a scarlet light fixture. The bed is no less ordinary, covered in a custom Peter Dunham fabric. The Bludot nightstands and Beni Rugs carpet offset the indigo palooza.Chango gave the kids bathroom a leitmotif of monochrome arches. We kept that as the theme, Simonpietri says. Youll find arches and semicircles playing peekaboo in their bedrooms as well. She sourced the wall tile from Tess Tile, the shower tile from Tempest Tileworks, and the sconces from Schoolhouse. As for the vanity, she had it custom-made.The basement family room, comprising a Sixpenny sofa and Blu Dot coffee table, is a mellow oasis that seldom remains mellow. Our movie nights are cozy, but when the kids have friends over, it can get pretty raucous, Lauren laughs. Ceiling lights from Richard Clarkson Studios Constellation series glitter overhead.What is now the bunkhouse was originally the screened-in porch. However, when the clients saw it, something about its placement felt off. They had the contractor move it to its current location; it was pretty crazy seeing the whole structure being lifted up and moved like that, says Simonpietri of the poolside guest suite.The bunkhouse is a relaxing poolside haven and, as Lauren confirms, a guest favorite. An earthy RH rug sets the tone for the minimalist interior, defined by little more than a chair by Muller Van Severen and a Maiden Home coffee table. Sconces by RBW illuminate the walls.Shop it out:Nera Cut Stool by Monica Forser for ZanatThe TK Bar Stool (Set of 3) by Thomas Hayes StudioThe Strap Counter Stool (Set of 4) by Thomas Hayes StudioFl/y Lamp by Ferruccio LavianiLuigi Crassevig Italian Bentwood Rocking ChairBlu Dot Peek NightstandSchoolhouse Cylinder Double SconceBlu Dot Circula Large Coffee TableSixpenny Aria Leather SofaThe Morro Tables by Maiden HomeLoom Decor Velvet Bolster Pillow Cover & InsertAnthropologie Hand-Tufted Leighton RugOrb Table Lamp by In Common WithSolid Herringbone Throw Blanket by Lands DownunderJulie Nelson Ivory Budding OrbWest Elm Marble Donut Trinket TrayRH Aspari RugChenille Knitted Chenille Throw by Donna Sharp