If you were building and decorating a house and you could fill it with anything you wanted, what kind of space would you design for yourself? For an Upper Saucon family, the answer is one where you’re not afraid to sit anywhere. One where you’re as comfortable hosting a fancy holiday party as you are hosting your child’s sports teammates. One that is full of quality craftsmanship and décor but still feels like home.
Striking the right tone here seems difficult, but interior designer Anthony Sierra met the challenge handily. When describing the vibe the homeowners were hoping to achieve, Sierra can’t nail down just one feeling. “Comfort, inviting, elegant, chic, elevated even without anything in it,” he says. Somehow, he was able to hit the mark every time. Working closely with the homeowners for the better part of two years, he curated a luxe space that still feels comfortable and intimate, perfect for a vibrant young family. The key to his process? “I try to design around something timeless. I never design around trends,” Sierra says. “I want this to be once and done.”
The 2020 home by Erwin Forrest Builders features myriad custom elements, including the arched front doorway by Historic Doors and the dramatic curved main staircase by DiBello’s Metal Design. Inside the front door and at the foot of the stairs, you’re greeted by a broad vaulted foyer flanked by an upholstered bench and a sideboard festooned with a large vase of forsythia blooms. A glance to the right invites you into the study, replete with carpentry details like a coffered ceiling and built-in storage, all drenched in Sherwin-Williams’ In the Navy. Books and accent pieces fill every cubby of the shelving behind the desk, creating interest and offering a glimpse into the homeowners’ personalities. The oak floor by Olde Tyme Hardwood Floors is inlaid with a dark border filled with a herringbone pattern, and gold details finish the space, from the lighting to the massive art piece that adds dimension. “It looks like you can see through the art to the wall, adding more depth,” Sierra says. An impressive space, to be sure, but still completely functional as a home office.
The foyer opens up into a large, open living area that Sierra describes as “a powerful space” filled with height, details and texture. Earthy tones and warm lighting abound, instantly creating a sense of comfort. Sierra calls this his favorite room in the house and says, “The scale of the space is so grand, but so cozy at the same time.” The walls are covered with a warm taupe grasscloth, and the space features furniture and accessories from CR Laine, Hickory White and John-Richard. Sierra notes that the homeowners requested pieces that were “sleek but simple.” A sitting area with upholstered club chairs and a sofa leads into the two-toned kitchen by Laslo Custom Kitchens, boasting white inset upper and lower cabinets with black accents and a quartz waterfall island with black cabinetry and seating for six—perfect for a quick bite or a chat over dinner prep. A large black range hood covers the Wolf range, and tucked behind the kitchen is a butler’s pantry featuring lighted glassware display cabinets and a leather swinging door connecting to the dining room.
The dining room is half of the larger space just beyond the kitchen, with the other half a comfortable living room, and both of them sharing broad, nearly floor-to-ceiling arched windows and a 14-foot lighted tray ceiling. “The accent cove lighting adds another layer of depth,” Sierra says. The long dining table, with room for 10, could just as easily host a formal dinner party as it could a taco Tuesday with the kids. Next to the dining room, an overstuffed sectional sofa facing a TV nook makes for a cozy after-dinner retreat. Dramatic light fixtures from Cooper Electric accent the space, controlled by state-of-the-art switches from Lutron.
At the rear of the home is a four-seasons room, set off from the rest of the living space by a black framed glass partition fabricated by Manhattan Steel Doors. Surrounded on three sides by glass NanaWalls that fully open in nice weather, this space brings the outdoors in with views of the wooded backyard, including a huge willow tree—a big selling point when the homeowners were first interested in the property. A sitting area in front of a fireplace and a round dining table that seats six allow the owners to enjoy nature year-round.
A hallway to the right of the four-seasons room leads past an exposed brick wall toward the rear open-tread stairs, also fabricated by DiBello’s Metal Design and stretching from the basement all the way to the second floor. White and gold wallpaper from Thibaut covers the entire height of the stairwell walls, and all the way at the bottom is the entrance to the basement living area. “The whole basement is a lounge vibe,” says Sierra. A blue velvet armchair from Theodore Alexander surrounded by dozens of gold-framed hexagonal mirrors offers a glam glimpse of the potential party just ahead.
A corridor leads to a secluded conversation nook with four club chairs, a large art piece and a built-in floor-to-ceiling shelf filled with fun accessories and personal photographs. To the left, the area opens up into a spacious yet intimate lounge, the focus of which is a large, L-shaped zebrawood bar by Laslo Custom Kitchens. There’s plenty of room to sit—11 leather tufted wingback stools line the fully stocked bar, and a large TV is at the ready for whatever viewing goes with your drink of choice.
Across from the bar stretches a 15-foot tan leather sofa, flanked by two swivel chairs from Hancock and Moore, upholstered in navy leather and blue flame-
stitched fabric. In the wall just above the sofa is a long, illuminated niche housing a gold sculpture that, while
at first glance looks like branches, upon closer inspection is revealed to be tiny people performing gymnastic stunts. The remainder of the wall is a statement itself—horizontal fluted plaster by A.G. Artisan, inspired by the walls of a bar in Atlanta once visited by the homeowners.
Under the front stairs lives a last-minute addition during construction—a wine cellar that houses an impressive collection behind full-length glass doors, with the plaster accent walls continuing inside and an ornately framed doorbell outside that reads “appuyez pour du champagne”—press for some champagne.
Though livable luxury is the name of the game throughout the entire home, there is still a place for fun and whimsy—notably in the bathrooms. The powder room on the main floor features a vibrant wallpaper patterned with large pelicans, while the basement bathroom showcases some monkey business—wallpaper featuring primates getting into trouble with vodka, cigarettes and errant undergarments.
Sierra notes that he and the homeowners were “totally in sync” with each other throughout the design process. “The great thing about working with [the homeowner] is she knows exactly what she likes,” he says, which allowed him to make deliberate choices that matched the homeowners’ style. And outside of one bench, they agreed with all of his choices throughout the home.
Sierra embarked on this project while working at GailGray Home Furnishings and Design, and his work with the homeowners continues today under his own banner, Anthony Sierra Designs. He installs seasonal décor in and around the home throughout the year and still offers the occasional design update. “We’re still tweaking things here and there,” Sierra says, noting that he just ordered some new wallpaper.
With every piece of furniture, every stitch of fabric, every accessory, it’s evident how much thought went into creating a living space that works for this family while setting a luxe standard. Sierra sums up his efforts on this project with one thought: “This is very much a home.”
Published as “Livable Luxury: Interior Designer Anthony Sierra Made This Upper Saucon House a Home” in the March 2025 edition of Lehigh Valley Style magazine.
