September might feel a little early to be thinking about Christmas, but if you want your Christmas cactus to put on a spectacular display this holiday season, now is the time to give it some attention.

Unlike a traditional desert cactus, the Christmas cactus (Schlumbergera) is native to the tropical forests of Brazil, where it grows in humid conditions and bright, filtered light. While it spends the warmer months putting on leafy growth, the shorter days and cooler temperatures of fall provide an important signal that it’s time to start preparing to bloom. This makes September a surprisingly important month for Christmas cactus care.

A few simple changes to its care now can encourage it to set flower buds, giving you a much better chance of enjoying a plant covered in colorful blooms around the holidays.

1. Give Your Christmas Cactus Cooler Nights

One of the most important things your Christmas cactus needs in September is a change in temperature. As summer fades, cooler nights signal that it’s time to shift from leafy growth toward flower-bud formation. Aim for nighttime temperatures around 55–65°F to help encourage flowering.

When deciding where to place a Christmas cactus, choose a bright spot with plenty of indirect light that stays cooler at night. An unused bedroom or enclosed porch can work well. The AcuRite Indoor Digital Thermometer & Hygrometer from Walmart makes it easy to keep an eye on temperature and humidity.

Keep the plant away from heating vents, fireplaces, drafty doors, and cold windows, as sudden temperature changes can cause stress and bud drop. If you need to raise it closer to a window, the LÅNGNÄBB Plant stand from IKEA offers an easy, space-saving solution.

2. Start Cutting Back on Water

September is also the time to rethink your watering routine. As fall approaches, start cutting back slightly and let the top layer of soil dry between waterings. This helps encourage flowering without leaving the roots sitting in soggy soil.

When deciding how to water a Christmas cactus, don't follow a rigid schedule. Instead, check the soil first. If the top inch feels dry, it's time for a thorough drink; if it's still damp, wait a little longer. A slim-spouted Fiskars Indoor Watering Can, available on Amazon, makes it easy to direct water precisely into the pot, while a RainPoint Digital Plant Moisture Meter can take the guesswork out of checking the soil.

Christmas cactus isn't a desert plant and shouldn't be left bone dry. At the same time, consistently waterlogged soil can lead to root rot, so good drainage is essential.

3. Give It Bright Light During the Day

Your Christmas cactus still needs plenty of light in September, but bright, indirect light is preferable to harsh, direct sunshine. An east- or north-facing window is ideal, while a brighter south- or west-facing window may need some protection from strong afternoon rays.

Light is particularly important now because your plant needs to experience the changing day length of fall. As September progresses, longer, uninterrupted periods of darkness help encourage flower-bud formation. If your home doesn't get enough natural light, a small Feit Electric LED Grow Light can provide supplemental illumination during the day without taking up much space.

Just be mindful of where you position it. A Christmas cactus sitting beside a lamp that's switched on late into the evening may not get the clear day-and-night signal it needs to flower. If you're looking for a more flexible option, a clip-on SANSI Grow Light can be positioned over the plant during daylight hours and switched off at night.

4. But Let the Nights Get Dark

The shortening days of September are an important part of your Christmas cactus's flowering process. As nights become longer, the plant gets the seasonal cue that winter is approaching.

You don't necessarily need to move your plant into a closet or create an elaborate blackout routine, but Christmas cactus in the dark should have a long, uninterrupted rest period each night to encourage buds. I recommend around 12–14 hours of darkness for several weeks, while keeping the plant in bright, indirect light during the day.

In most homes, simply keeping it away from bright artificial light late into the evening may be enough. If your space stays illuminated at night, a light-blocking curtain (such as this blackout option from Amazon) can help create a darker environment without moving the plant, particularly if it's sitting near a window.

5. Stop Fertilizing by the End of September

If you've been feeding your Christmas cactus regularly through spring and summer, September is the time to start winding down. In my personal experience, I recommend fertilizing during the active growing season, then easing off as fall approaches so the plant can shift its energy toward flowering rather than producing lots of new leafy growth.

If you still need to fertilize Christmas cactus before stopping for the season, choose a fertilizer formulated for cacti and succulents and follow the label directions carefully. The Espoma Organic Cactus! Plant Food is a gentle option for indoor cacti, while the Ferti-lome Houseplant Hero Cactus & Succulent Plant Food, available at Lowe's, is another option designed specifically for these plants.

By the end of September, stop feeding and let your Christmas cactus settle into its pre-flowering period. It may feel counterintuitive to withhold fertilizer when you're hoping for more flowers, but the seasonal shift in light, temperature, watering, and feeding is precisely what helps signal that it's time to switch from growing to blooming.

6. Don't Move It Once Buds Appear

Once those tiny flower buds finally appear, resist the temptation to move your plant around the house. If you're wondering why buds are falling off your Christmas cactus, sudden changes in temperature, light, or watering could be to blame. When buds begin to form, return your Christmas cactus to warmer conditions of around 65–69°F and keep its environment as consistent as possible.

Keep the plant in the same bright, indirect light and away from cold drafts, heating vents, fireplaces, and other sources of temperature fluctuations. It’s also best to avoid rotating or repotting it once buds have formed, as even small changes can disturb developing buds.

If you want to show off your Christmas cactus when it begins flowering, choose its eventual holiday position carefully and leave it there. With steady temperatures, consistent light, and the right watering routine, you’ll give those buds the best chance of developing into the colorful blooms you’ve been waiting for.

The secret to a spectacular Christmas cactus isn't what you do once the first flowers appear – it's how you care for it in the weeks beforehand. September is the time to give your plant the seasonal cues it needs: cooler nights, slightly less water, bright daytime light, longer periods of darkness, and a pause from fertilizer.

Get those conditions right now, and your Christmas cactus can quietly prepare for its big moment. When those first colorful blooms finally unfurl around the holidays, that little bit of extra attention in September will have been well worth it.

At first glance, it's the color that captures your attention with this house. Soft blues, leafy greens, cheerful yellows, and playful patterns move from room to room, each space with its own distinct personality. Yet despite the vibrant palette, this Colorado home never feels disconnected. The secret lies in its layered, collected feel, where antiques, artwork, and color come together.

Built in 1991, the 4,200-square-foot house had remained largely untouched for over a decade before designer Emily Tucker was brought in to reimagine it for a young family. While the home still had plenty of character, its dark finishes and formal layout no longer reflected the way they wanted to live. The brief, Emily explains, was to create 'a brighter, happier and more functional family home' that felt lighter, more welcoming, and better suited to everyday life. Over the course of a ten-month renovation, key spaces were opened up, natural light was maximized, and a fresh palette emerged.

Rather than beginning with a blank slate, Emily looked to the pieces already woven into the family's story. 'The homeowners brought a wonderful collection of antiques, artwork, and heirloom furnishings to the project, and preserving those pieces was a priority from the beginning,' she says. Those collected treasures became the starting point for everything from paint colors to wallpaper choices. 'Rather than treating them as separate from the new design, we used them as inspiration,' she adds.

As Emily puts it, the goal was always to balance old and new – allowing inherited pieces to ground the design while fresh fabrics, wallpapers, and color choices brought a 'youthful energy' and sense of optimism to the interiors that was lacking before. 'Existing millwork details, proportions, and architectural character provided a strong foundation for the renovation, allowing us to modernize the interiors while maintaining a sense of warmth and familiarity,' Emily adds of the original detailing.

Once the home's antiques, artwork, and heirlooms had established the foundation for the design, the color palette followed naturally. Rather than repeating the same shades from room to room, Emily allowed each space to develop its own identity. 'The palette evolved room by room, but always with an eye toward how the spaces connected to one another,' Emily explains. 'We wanted the home to feel joyful and full of personality, so color became one of the primary design tools,' she adds.

The result is a home where each room feels part of a collection. The kitchen reads fun and fresh in a light blue, a bedroom wrapped in bold wallpaper embraces pattern and personality, while the pantry takes a more playful approach with an uplifting mint green palette. Elsewhere, quieter spaces offer moments of calm as you move through the house.

Achieving that balance required far more than simply choosing a handful of favorite colors. Emily spent considerable time reviewing paint samples and refining the transitions between spaces to ensure the color scheme for the whole home worked. 'While each room features its own distinct palette, the colors were carefully selected to create a sense of flow and continuity throughout the house,' she explains. 'Color played a major role in establishing each room's unique personality, but continuity came from repeating certain design principles throughout the home,' Emily adds. 'Each room was allowed to tell its own story while still contributing to the larger narrative of the home.'

Color and collected furnishings aside, the challenge was not simply to make the home more beautiful, but to make it work harder. One of the most significant interventions took place in the kitchen and family room, where walls were removed to create a stronger connection between the two spaces. The addition of a large sliding door transformed the atmosphere entirely, flooding the rooms with natural light and 'blurring the boundary between indoors and outdoors'. What had once felt dark and disconnected is now a bright, welcoming heart of the house.

Functionality was given equal consideration. 'The homeowners wanted the interiors to feel lighter, more welcoming, and less formal than before,' Emily explains. 'They were looking for improved flow between spaces, better storage solutions, and rooms that felt comfortable and practical for family living while still reflecting their personality and collections.' So, storage was dramatically improved throughout, while a small addition created a dedicated mudroom that better supports the family.

'The kitchen and family room best capture the spirit of the project,' says Emily. 'They embody the goals of the renovation by balancing beauty, functionality, color, and comfort.' While functionality was a key priority, the space feels far from utilitarian, blending decorative flair with practicality. Double kitchen islands anchor the open-plan room, creating plenty of space for cooking and gathering, while a traditional AGA range lends a timeless quality that sits comfortably alongside the home's antiques and collected pieces. Painted in a soft blue hue, the custom cabinetry introduces color without overwhelming the space, while decorative toe-kick moldings, a patterned backsplash, and woven lantern pendants bring layers of playfulness.

The home's collected approach extends even to its most practical spaces. A charming green pantry pairs painted cabinetry with a floral cabinet skirt, while the mudroom's lattice-front cabinetry turns essential storage into a decorative moment. 'It was extremely important to elevate these everyday rooms,' says Emily. 'These are spaces the family uses every day, so we wanted them to feel just as considered and special as the primary living areas.' Thoughtful, colorful, and highly functional, both spaces embody the joyful vibe that runs throughout the home.

Speaking of joy, the formal sitting room is where the home really leans into optimism. With its arched windows, grand piano, and mix of antiques and collected furnishings, the formal sitting room feels both timeless and full of personality. The blue-painted trim draws attention to the home's architectural details, while floral drapery, colorful upholstery, and vintage artwork prevent the space from feeling overly strict. 'Creating a home that felt uplifting, cheerful, and welcoming was one of the primary goals from the beginning,' adds Emily.

Wrapped in a striking wallpaper, the dining room showcases the home's confident use of pattern. Soft blue-green tones appear throughout, from the rug and upholstery to the painted trim, creating a scheme that feels fresh and flows beautifully from the light blue kitchen. While the room has all the hallmarks of a traditional dining space – like an antique wooden table that commands the center of the room – its cheerful palette prevents it from feeling overly formal.

The primary suite offers a balance of boldness and serenity. The bedroom is wrapped in a mural wallpaper featuring trailing branches and fruit to create a space that feels 'restful yet richly layered', as Emily describes it. Green drapery and striped upholstery echo the wallpaper's botanical tones, while warm accents of yellow and coral add energy without disrupting the room's sense of calm. In contrast, the adjoining bathroom keeps things light and airy with pale blue tones, marble finishes, and a freestanding tub positioned beneath generous cafe-curtain trimmed windows.

The further bedrooms showcase Emily's talent for ensuring each room has its own identity. In the guest bedroom, Brunschwig & Fils wallpaper and matching upholstery create a serene retreat anchored by twin four-poster beds. 'The room embraces pattern and personality while still feeling sophisticated and timeless,' says Emily. Next door, a saccharine girl's bedroom swaps blues for blush tones, floral fabrics, and playful details, creating a space that feels sweet, inviting, and full of character.

Ultimately, what makes this home so memorable isn't any single room, but the thoughtful layering of details throughout. 'Beyond individual products, the careful integration of family antiques and collected furnishings throughout the home is what truly makes the project special,' says Emily. 'Those pieces provide a sense of history and authenticity that cannot be replicated.' Together, collected color and objects create a home rich in pattern and personality.

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At just 12 years old, this Missouri home wasn't exactly crying out for renovation. It had beautiful bones, generous rooms, and a secluded setting surrounded by woods. Yet its owners still made the decision to overhaul almost every inch of it.

Having lived in the house for more than a decade, they knew exactly what worked and what didn't. While they loved its architecture, the interiors no longer reflected their style or the way they lived. What once felt current had become dark and dated, prompting them to call on designer Mel Bean to help reimagine the home from top to bottom.

Inspired by the surrounding woods and designed around a family best known for their hospitality, the final result balances elegance with warmth, creating spaces for a family whose door is always open.

Most home renovations typically begin with a list of complaints: cramped rooms, awkward layouts, or a property that's showing its age. This house had none of those problems. 'The form of the spaces was great,' says Mel. 'Large volumes, tall ceilings, generous layouts.' In fact, the challenge wasn't fixing the house so much as helping it catch up with the family. Over time, while the house remained much the same, the owners evolved. 'When they built the home, they didn't have a clear sense of style, nor the budget they have now,' explains Mel. 'It was a great opportunity to bring a very beloved home up to the level of the family who created it.'

Interestingly, the disconnect was less about function and more about feeling. While the family is known for their warmth and hospitality, the interiors had begun to feel darker and heavier than the people who called it home. 'The home was dark and dated while the family is full of light and soft and warm,' says Mel. 'Their home needed to reflect this.' Rather than reinventing the structure of the home, Mel focused on elevating its potential. She layered natural materials, earthy colors, and thoughtful architectural details throughout the home, creating spaces that feel calmer, lighter, and more connected to the woodland surroundings. 'We wanted it to be equally at home for intimate evenings with the family as it is for entertaining large groups, and it needed to be as welcoming and generous as the hosts themselves,' she adds.

While the footprint remained largely unchanged, its atmosphere shifted dramatically. Mel leaned into the setting, drawing inspiration from the colors, textures, and light found just beyond the windows. 'The color palette is definitely informed by nature, specifically that of the home's location in Missouri,' she explains. Warm tans, soft greens, earthy browns, and muted tones appear throughout the interiors, creating a dialect between indoors and out. Just as important as the color scheme for the home were the materials used to bring it to life. White oak flooring runs throughout much of the home, while natural stone, patinated brass, and layered finishes introduce warmth and depth. Rather than relying on bold color contrasts, Mel focused on creating interest through texture.

But that doesn't mean she didn't create moments of drama. 'If the lodge room is a sunrise,' says Mel, 'the study is the dramatic sunset,' she explains of the balance in tones. As Mel describes it, 'while each room has its own personality, I like to think of them as all speaking the same language. That means they need to have enough continuity to connect and speak to one another, particularly when spaces are so open to one another, but with enough variety to feel personal and create depth.'

Nowhere was the renovation's impact felt more dramatically than in the kitchen. Before the redesign, the space was defined by awkward angles, bulky stone features, and a layout that never quite did its job. 'The previous kitchen layout wasn't working at all,' says Mel. 'It felt choppy and lacked clear definition.' Despite its vast footprint, the kitchen offered surprisingly little functionality, particularly for homeowners who love to cook, gather, and entertain. The solution wasn't simply cosmetic. A former laundry room was transformed into a hardworking scullery, while a newly defined pantry and bar area helped organize the home's entertaining zones. 'By reworking the layout behind the range wall, we were able to create a pantry and also a distinction between the kitchen and bar space, now defined with an arch that creates a focal point in the bar,' she explains.

At the center of it all sits an impressive LaCanche range, framed by a custom plaster 'stove cove' that acts as a focal point for the entire room. 'I’m in love with the marble here, used in countertops and backsplash, including a lovely curved side splash detail at the coffee bar,' Mel notes of the bold stone. Elsewhere, practical details are elevated through thoughtful design to create a quiet luxury kitchen: a dedicated coffee station with its own pot filler, custom brass shelving, and a glass-fronted cabinet fitted with brass cremone bolts that Mel describes as the 'jewelry' of the space.

While much of the home is defined by neutrals and nature-inspired hues, the home office takes a decidedly more dramatic turn. Wrapped in a rich red wallpaper by Cole & Son and layered with matching cabinetry and trim, it's one of the most memorable spaces in the house – and one Mel admits was something of a gamble. 'When we proposed the not-at-all-subtle wallpaper, we hoped the client would approve it, but weren’t at all sure they would,' says Mel. Thankfully, they jumped at the bold color. 'We balanced the red wallpaper, trim, and cabinetry with soft blush drapes and a light rug,' she explained of the palette. 'It still feels soothing and calming.'

Adjacent to the kitchen, the breakfast nook – or the 'morning room' – offers a softer moment within the home's entertaining hub. Here, a round table surrounded by fully upholstered rolling chairs was designed to encourage guests to linger long after a meal has finished. Overhead, a delicate beaded chandelier filters light throughout the room and 'washes the ceiling.' Behind the scenes, the scullery provides a practical foil to the main kitchen. Painted in a rich chocolate brown, the room houses additional appliances, extensive storage, and a dedicated preparation space. 'The scullery has become a frequently used baking zone, in addition to being snack central,' says Mel.

While the home's shared spaces were designed for gatherings, the private rooms reveal a more personal side of the project. In the primary bedroom, Mel embraced a softer, more restrained palette, layering warm neutrals, natural textures, and subtle color to create a restful retreat overlooking the treetops. 'The room is intentionally neutral, relying on texture, layered materials, and subtle color for visual richness,' says Mel. Upstairs, Mel took on a more playful character in the daughters' bedrooms. Originally excluded from the renovation scope, the family ultimately decided to entrust Mel and her team with complete creative freedom, revealing them at the end of the renovation. In Mia's room, green and pink were the chosen timeless color combo. 'A colorful traditional-inspired rug unifies the palette while maintaining a timeless feel. The room reflects Mia's joyful personality while remaining flexible enough to evolve with her over time,' Mel adds.

Elli's bedroom takes on a 'more mature approach to color' that centers around what Mel describes as a 'beautiful soft blue palette', creating a calm retreat beneath the home's sloped roofline. 'Planking was added throughout the room to unify the challenging ceiling slopes and angles while introducing architectural character,' she explains. A patterned Roman shade adds contrast, while warm wood furnishings and a green velvet accent chair bring richness and depth to the scheme. 'Custom Euro shams with blue flange detailing reinforce the layered, tailored aesthetic,' she adds.

There are many bathrooms throughout the home – ranging from cozy spaces layered with wallpaper to more playful designs created for the family's daughters – the primary bath best captures the refined approach Mel was hoping to achieve. A freestanding tub sits in the center of the space, 'while planked walls painted in a soft taupe add architectural interest', and a pair of brass shower doors frame the walk-through shower beyond. 'The custom brass shower doors serve as both a major design feature and investment piece,' says Mel.

The transformation doesn't stop at the main floor. Downstairs, Mel reimagined a series of underused spaces as a chic entertaining zone, complete with a wine lounge, kitchen, and dramatically expanded exercise room. 'The changes in the basement took it from a rarely used space that felt a little depressing to one of the biggest showstoppers designed to invite you in and stay a while,' says Mel. 'Where the main level is designed to feel serene yet elegant enough for formal entertaining, the lower level has a distinctively more moody lounge vibe, appropriate for teenage sleepovers or adult cocktail hour,' she continues. To create this shift, Mel chose more saturated colors with a more 'adventurous' spirit than the upper levels.

A screened porch overlooking the trees provides a fitting final chapter to the story. Because, despite the new entertaining-ready kitchen, the dramatic study, and the transformed basement, this renovation was never really about individual rooms. It was about helping a much-loved home reflect the family within. Twelve years on, the home finally feels like the people who live there.

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When interior designer Aurélie Brelivet says she and her client were speaking the same language on her latest project, she means it both literally and figuratively.

Aurélie heads Studio Lio design studio and, like her client, was born and raised in the South of France. 'We discussed some of our ideas in French for the house, and we also understood each other’s frame of reference,' says the designer. 'I'm influenced by the colors and textures of southern France, and they bring simplicity, brightness, and warmth to this Victorian home renovation, qualities my client was keen to introduce.'

Aurélie's involvement began at the house-hunting stage. She knew the clients well, having worked with them on their previous home, a basement apartment in Chelsea. They were keen to get her input as they upsized. 'I’ve followed their journey to find a family home, so when they saw this, they brought me in to view it,' says Aurélie.

They loved the property's peaceful west London location. From the outside, it was a pretty terraced townhouse. Inside, however, was a different story. 'The interiors were a mess. There were very few original Victorian features left,' says Aurélie. 'Several extensions, adjustments, and layout changes had been made over the years, none of which worked particularly well, but there was plenty of potential.'

The first task was to extend into the loft to create additional bedrooms for a growing family and to extend the living space at the back. Having Aurélie's input right from the start meant that the build and design work flowed seamlessly, with the contractors, Holbrook Contract Furnishing Ltd, working to her detailed plans. 'Coming from a rather dark and obviously smaller apartment, my clients were keen to make the most of the light and space here,' says Aurélie.

'They were looking for something very calm and minimal but warm. And for it to work with their young family, they wanted the ground floor to be an amazing open space to live in.' Unusually, rather than housing the kitchen, the rear extension was to become a generous living room with arched doors opening into the garden, which is more common in Mediterranean properties. When weather permits, the inside and outside merge to create a larger open space where the whole family can gather.

Aurélie suggested introducing oak ceiling beams in a grid around the new roof lights. Although the beams are salvaged, they have been cut to give a more uniform, angular look that complements the living room design.

'The clients loved the beam detail – it helped to make the space feel part of the ground floor and disguise the extension,' says Aurélie. 'We had to make sure the beams were not too rustic, but rough enough to look original.'

The bespoke cabinetry and wood finishes in the adjacent kitchen continue the warm and natural look. 'They wanted to avoid any strong contrast with the hall and living room,' explains Aurélie. 'It has simplicity, but it’s sophisticated rather than clinical, and you don’t see shiny, sharp-edged appliances on show.'

Throughout the house, the decorative details are natural, warm, and textured. Bedrooms and doorways echo the arch details in the living space and kitchen, and most walls are finished with a textured limewash paint, with grasscloth wallcoverings and reeded wood finishes adding further tactile appeal.

'This family likes a minimal look, but they don’t want cold, square, sharp minimal interiors,' adds Aurélie. 'The good thing about introducing textures on the walls is that they don’t need to have too many ornaments or hang things on the walls.'

Getting to know the family well during their apartment redesign gave Aurélie a distinct advantage in selecting pieces for this property. 'I already understood their taste and interests. She’s French, he’s English and they love to travel, so all those influences are at play,' says Aurélie.

'For the colors, we stuck to natural tones and subtly brought in colors within the details, objects, and furniture. It’s got the sophistication and reality of the English parts of the house but the warmth and simplicity of the southern French influences, a shared passion for me and the clients. If I had to characterize the style, I’d call it refined Mediterranean.'

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The Sanderling Resort, nestled along the shores of North Carolina’s Outer Banks, is an iconic destination. With a rich local legacy, it has become something of an heirloom for many families who return season after season. So when the resort turned 40 in 2025 and it was time for a refresh, preserving all that heritage and reputation was at the top of the brief for interior design studio Ward + Gray.

This new chapter for The Sanderling was never about forgetting the past; it was about honoring the property’s history. The goal was to maintain its warm, welcoming atmosphere while updating the interiors to create a luxurious retreat that feels like a home away from home.

The Sanderling is a beach resort, and it feels like one; however, it avoids all the clichés often associated with coastal design. References to the sea and its surroundings are subtle and nuanced – hidden shell details, natural textures, soft color palettes, and nautical artwork. This is beach house decor done well, and done timelessly, ensuring this latest iteration of The Sanderling can endure for the next 40 years and beyond.

The renovated property now features 123 guest rooms and suites along with The Residences at The Sanderling Resort – a collection of private vacation homes ideal for extended stays and family gatherings.

And of course there's the unmissable Theodosia, the on-site restaurant headed up by North Carolina native, award-winning chef, and New York Times best-selling author Vivian Howard. Naturally, the food is stunning, but the decor is just as wonderful; that rich dark red is such a contrast to the soft greens and blues found elsewhere in the resort.

To dive deeper into this careful renovation project, we sat down with Ward + Gray's principals, Christie Ward and Staver Gray. The approach to this project was more like a residential one than a hospitality one, it's layered, lived in and collected – just as a home would be.

'When we started this project, The Sanderling was already an institution in the area, being one of the only hotels on this portion of the Outer Banks in North Carolina,' explains Christie. 'The bones were classic Outer Banks – 'beach boxes' with cedar shake and lots of porches. This simple style allowed us to introduce new architectural gestures like trelliage in the lobby or a wave motif crown molding in the standard guestrooms. It was a blank canvas!'

'We changed everything from the flooring to the wall finishes, the furniture, lighting, and all of the accessories. We were tasked with giving the hotel a full renovation and a new life, as the existing finishes were not kept.'

'The concept for this hotel draws inspiration from the timeless charm and relaxed warmth of a classic beach house, blending comfort with a refined Southern-coastal sensibility,' says Staver. 'The goal is to create an atmosphere that feels both authentic and inviting, where guests immediately feel at ease, as if arriving at a familiar retreat by the sea.'

'The design emphasizes a sense of home through a lived-in, collected interior rather than a polished or overly curated aesthetic. Layered textures, natural materials, and thoughtfully mixed furnishings give the space a sense of history and personal narrative, as though pieces have been gathered over time. Soft, sun-washed color palettes and coastal influences subtly reference the surrounding environment without resorting to literal themes.'

'Overall, the hotel is envisioned as a welcoming coastal home, encouraging guests to slow down, settle in, and experience the comfort and familiarity of a true beach house retreat.'

'Our intention was for the hotel to feel as though you’ve just stepped into a friend’s beloved beach cottage,' explains Christie. 'The experience begins in the lobby, where we introduced a residential-style kitchen as the heart and anchor of the space. It was imagined as a place where guests might wander down in their robes, settle into a banquette, and enjoy their first cup of coffee of the day.'

'It feels casual, familiar, and unpretentious with the classic Shaker-style designed cabinetry and a large center island made for people to gather around. The lobby is further wrapped in Schumacher wallpaper across both ceilings and walls, while custom-designed lattice paneling adds depth, texture, and a sense of craftsmanship. Together, these elements create a layered, intimate environment that reinforces the home-like atmosphere.'

'This same residential sensibility carries into the guestrooms, where comfort and personal detail were central to the design,' adds Staver. 'Two distinct guestroom types were developed. The first features a custom jute carpet that immediately introduces warmth, complemented by coral accents that echo the sun-washed tones of the beach.'

'In the second guestroom type, we leaned further into residential detailing with custom area rugs beneath both the beds and living areas, as well as a grasscloth-wallpapered ceiling that adds a subtle, natural layer. It’s a detail that may go unnoticed at first, but one that is felt by enhancing the sense of warmth and familiarity. Each room is finished with layered textiles, including fringe on sofas and pillows, reinforcing those touches you typically find in someone’s collected home but not always at a hotel.'

'While much of the furniture was custom-designed for the hotel, we layered in thoughtfully selected wallcoverings and textiles to enrich the spaces. In the lobby, Schumacher wallcoverings were applied to the ceilings, introducing a soft sage green tone that became a recurring thread throughout the space,' says Christie.

'Custom-designed banquettes were upholstered in Jasper fabrics and finished with Samuel & Sons jute fringe at the base, reinforcing the relaxed, residential character. On the upper level of the lobby, sofas are upholstered in Fermoie’s Shell Grotto fabric, a subtle and refined nod to the sea.'

'Anchoring the space upon arrival is an oversized lantern from Jamb, whose verdigris finish beautifully complements the lobby’s green palette and that worn from the sea air feeling we sought throughout the space. We also sourced several antiques for the lobby, including Gustavian lounge chairs we had reupholstered in a sage stripe that further brings in a residential feel by the wear on them and the beautiful age.'

'We found accessories throughout the spaces in local antique shops, including the oversized glass cloche in the lobby filled with seashells. We felt antiques brought a soulful element to this space, and we sought to bring in as many as possible to further highlight that residential feel.'

'In the restaurant, Theodosia, Pierre Frey fabrics were used throughout the drapery and banquettes, establishing a rich red scheme that provides warmth and contrast while maintaining the overall sense of layered elegance. Bespoke woven tables and stools by Ward + Gray’s Boheme collection were made for this space in a rich warm color, with woven motifs woven into the tables and stools,' continues Staver.

'The stools' upholstery has a shell-design seam to further bring in a subtle coastal sensibility. We found vintage artworks to cover the walls when you enter Theodosia – a collection of seascapes in oil and framed in vintage frames sourced for the project. We brought in a warm light throughout the Theodosia space, including the Abalone shell sconces and the Luna sconces, both in Ward + Gray’s Boheme collection.'

'We kept the light soft to make the Theodosia restaurant feel like someone’s invited you over for dinner in the dining room rather than a hotel restaurant feel.'

6 Design Lessons From The Sanderling Resort

There are so many lessons to take from this inspiring project. It might be a resort, but it’s been designed like a home – an effortless, welcoming, layered home. Christie and Staver highlight these six takeaways as key to their design approach.

1. Let a Sense of Home Lead the Design

When designing any space, start by asking how it should feel to live in. Prioritizing comfort, intimacy, and recognizable domestic cues instantly makes interiors more welcoming.

At The Sanderling, every space was conceived through a residential lens – even the lobby, which was reimagined as a beach house living room and kitchen rather than a traditional hotel arrival experience. Details like a lantern-style pendant, a Gustavian-inspired reception desk, and banquette seating create familiarity and ease.

2. Use Setting as Influence, Not a Literal Interpretation

Location should inform mood and materiality, not dictate theme. The most successful coastal interiors lean more on effortless design rather than classic sea tropes.

Rather than relying on obvious nautical references, the design draws from the coast in a quieter, more sophisticated way – through sandy beiges, faded blues, muted greens, and natural materials that feel sun-worn and timeless.

Even in more dramatic spaces like Theodosia, coastal references appear subtly through texture and material, not color clichés. In fact, for Theodosia, we leaned into washed red – a color that not many would associate with coastal interiors. For this space, instead of looking at modern coastal design, we looked to historical coastal references. The restaurant is named after Theodosia Burr, a socialite who was lost at sea in 1813.

We imagined the guest experience as a dinner party at her fantastical home. The design references a color palette that might have been used at that time but modernized in Pierre Frey fabrics. We incorporated antique lighting and vintage oil seascapes, imagining what she might have had in her foyer to greet guests. We also created custom tiles for the bar and chef’s counter telling the story of Theodosia’s fateful sea journey in mural form – incorporating wave, mermaid and ocean creature motifs.

3. Build Warmth Through Layered Texture

Texture is as important as the color scheme. Mixing tactile surfaces is one of the simplest ways to create richness and warmth at home and helps a room avoid a 'flat' feeling.

Across the resort, texture does much of the storytelling – grasscloth ceilings, hand-woven wicker, worn woods, hand-blocked linens, and chalky painted finishes create depth without visual noise. These layers make spaces feel collected and comforting rather than overly designed. Texture is key to what we do at Ward + Gray. We like furniture to feel like heirloom pieces, passed down from generation to generation. For our hand-knotted rugs, we have developed a distressing technique that gives the rugs variation in texture – like furniture has been dragged over them throughout the years. For our lighting, we hand finish all of the metal work to feel like it already has a story in place.

4. Treat Lighting as a Decorative Element

Good lighting should feel considered and atmospheric. Layering a mix of light sources – and choosing fixtures with personality – transforms how a space is experienced, especially after dark.

Lighting at The Sanderling is intentionally residential: oversized lanterns, table lamps, sconces, and low-level lighting replace harsh overhead solutions. In both guest rooms and public spaces, lighting contributes as much to character as furniture or finishes. We like to keep all lighting at a 2700K color temperature, which feels intimate and warm.

5. Anchor Rooms with Rugs and Pattern Underfoot

Think of rugs as foundational pieces, not finishing touches. A well-chosen rug sets the tone for the entire room and makes spaces feel instantly more complete.

Rugs play a key role throughout the resort, grounding spaces and introducing pattern without overwhelming them. In guest rooms and public areas alike, they help define zones and soften architectural elements, particularly in larger-scale rooms. We love using colorful rugs as a foundation for a space. We usually start a room with a great statement rug, then use fabrics to pull colors out of the rug to complement it throughout the space.

6. Mix Eras, Influences, and Stories

The most compelling interiors avoid uniformity. Mixing old and new, global and local, refined and relaxed brings authenticity and soul into the home.

From Gustavian antiques and English bamboo references to Southern rocking chairs and globally sourced artwork, The Sanderling’s interiors feel layered with history and personality. Vintage elements sit comfortably alongside bespoke pieces, creating a sense that the space has evolved over time.

For more information or to book your stay at the Sanderling, visit thesanderling.com. The iconic Theodosia is also open to non-guests, so you can book a table and enjoy the delicious summer menu and take in the stunning interiors for yourself.

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For generations, the Maxwell-Jarvis House has been one of Mendocino's most recognizable homes. Built in 1878 and sitting in a prime position on the town's historic Banker's Row, the Italianate residence is woven into the fabric of the coastal California community. Today, however, it serves a new purpose: a forever home for an owner whose connection to the property stretches further back than her purchase of it.

To bring her vision to life, the homeowner enlisted designer Julienne Barrett of Atelier Julienne. Drawing inspiration from the home's architecture, its coastal setting, and the owner's love of antiques, Julienne created a house design that feels timeless yet entirely livable for the client with her grandchildren in tow. Striking a balance between preservation and practicality, rather than creating a period-perfect showpiece, her aim was to craft a home that feels warm, welcoming, and ready to be enjoyed for generations to come.

As a child, the client spent summers visiting family on California's North Coast and became captivated by the region's beauty. When the property, which sat within eyeshot of her aunt's home, unexpectedly came onto the market in 2004, she seized the opportunity to buy it, imagining using it as a retreat for family and friends. After living in it for twenty years, she was finally ready to transform the property into a home that reflected both its heritage and her family's way of life. 'Her love of history, the coastal region, nature, and love of antiques (multigenerational antique dealers in the family), created the impetus to breathe life back into this beautiful, stately home,' says Julienne.

Yet like many historic homes, its story has not been without challenges. 'Originally, the Maxwell-Jarvis House was a marvel to behold – a true Italianate piece of architecture with its tall, symmetrical stature, ornamental cornices, and classic hip roof,' Julienne describes. In 1966, a devastating fire caused significant damage to the property, and while the house had to be rehabilitated, much of its original character was gradually lost in the decades that followed. Subsequent renovations focused on practicality rather than preservation, and by the 1980s, the home had been subdivided into multiple apartments.

When Julienne was brought on to the project, the goal was not simply to update the interiors but to reconnect the home with its roots. The owner had spent years imagining what the property could become, and both client and designer shared a desire to see the landmark regain its charm. Before a single paint color was chosen, she looked to the property's Italianate heritage to guide a series of thoughtful interventions that would restore a sense of grandeur to the interiors. Throughout the home, newly introduced millwork, wainscoting, moldings, and rich oak flooring 'give the spaces gravity and warmth,' says Julienne.

'My client wanted to restore the home to its former glory while making it fit her family's lifestyle,' she explains. While the home's architecture looks to the past, the color scheme for the home is inspired by its surroundings. Just a few streets from a dramatic coastline, the home enjoys glimpses of the Pacific through its south-facing windows, and that connection to the landscape became a strong influence throughout. 'Every space was designed with the ultimate goal of fitting with the classic and coastal atmosphere of the home,' she explains. For example, the library is enveloped in a rich green-gray that creates an intimate, 'ultra-cozy feeling' for leisurely reading. Softer coastal tones reappear in the guest suite, and in the powder room, wainscoting painted in an antique bottle green introduces another gentle nod to the sea, bringing a fresh, playful quality to the compact space.

Soft greens and ocean blues appear repeatedly throughout the home, creating a sense of continuity from room to room. In the living and dining spaces, Benjamin Moore's Silken Pine lends the walls a gentle, nature-inspired note, while the kitchen draws directly from the colors of the sea. 'Inspired by the nearby ocean waves, the kitchen features dusky aqua-blue cabinets, with a deeper, true-blue range to complement the ocean hues,' says Julienne. Throughout, crisp white surfaces and traditional millwork provide moments of restraint, allowing the richer colors to take center stage.

Wallpaper also plays an important role in softening the home's formality. A sweeping floral mural transforms the dining room, while patterned wallcoverings in the powder room, guest bathroom, and laundry room introduce moments of whimsy and personality. That same careful balance can be seen in the curated mix of antiques and contemporary pieces throughout the home. A lover of history and antiques, the homeowner was keen to weave collected furnishings into the design, creating a thread between past and present.

For all of the attention paid to the home's history, one priority remained constant throughout the project: this was a house designed to be used. Grandchildren, holiday gatherings, creative projects, and everyday living were all considered just as important as preserving the home's historic spirit. 'She wanted the bathrooms and kitchen to be beautiful while also easy to maintain, with materials that were timeless and durable,' says Julienne.

'Over and over again, she would make sure the materials we were using would be “bomb proof” to withstand her four grandchildren,' she continues. 'However, she never chose pure function over beauty.' Gathering spaces were prioritized, with generous seating arrangements encouraging conversation and connection, while the dining room was envisioned not only as a place for entertaining but also as somewhere grandchildren could spread out and do crafts when visiting. 'Lots of seating for eating, art projects, and visiting were key, and a flow that would feel cozy and natural,' she adds. 'This design reflects the family's personality and will be enjoyed for many years to come – a wonderful union of dreams and a real-life outcome.'

As with much of the house, the kitchen balances the home's original character with a palette inspired by Mendocino's coastal setting. Painted in Farrow & Ball's Oval Room Blue, the cabinetry introduces a fresh wash of color, while the plaster range hood, glossy tile backsplash, and pale countertops bring lightness to the room. Adjoining the eat-in kitchen, a cozy breakfast nook 'invites gathering around a home-cooked meal, with a cozy built-in bench and tall, custom wall shelving to display family heirlooms,' says Julienne.

Rather than creating a space children might quickly outgrow, Julienne leaned into timeless materials and a soft coastal palette for the twin room that feels appropriate for guests of any age. 'For the guest bedroom, which is the grandchildren's bedroom when they're in town, a custom closet for clothing and extra bedding provides ample storage,' she explains. Painted in Benjamin Moore's Seacliff Heights, the bespoke cabinetry introduces another reference to the coastline, while vintage pine furniture and layers of soft pink bedding lend the room a gentle character.

The primary suite shows the home's quieter side. 'In the primary bedroom, a dreamy white-on-white color scheme conjures a sense of peace and quiet, while creating the feeling that there's room to breathe in the small space,' says Julienne. Layered textiles, antique finds, and warm wood tones ensure the room feels inviting rather than stark. That sense of serenity continues into the adjoining bathroom, which 'exudes femininity with soft pink walls, shiny nickel, and classic tile details,' in order to creatively work around the constraints of an already-approved floor plan. 'It would have been even more magical with a window, but adding a window was not doable. Because of this, I kept the room light, grounding the room with accents of black on the vanity and statement clawfoot bathtub,' she explains.

In the home's further bathrooms, Julienne used color, pattern, and millwork to ensure even the smallest spaces felt full of personality. Rather than treating these rooms as purely functional, she viewed them as opportunities to introduce moments of whimsy. 'The powder room feels playful with its colorful knobs, unique sconces, bold wallcovering, and wainscot painted a light, seafoam blue-green to match, she says, while the guest bathroom was designed around what she describes as 'an adorable blue polka-dotted wallpaper.'

The functional spaces speak to the client's desire for both practicality and personality. In the mudroom, simple paneling, a herringbone brick floor, and classic millwork create a welcoming transition between indoors and out. Nearby, the laundry room embraces a more playful mood, wrapped in a rich floral wallpaper that became one of the homeowner's favorite moments. 'My client and I fell in love with this wallpaper and just had to find a spot for it,' says Julienne. 'The sunny laundry room was the perfect space.' Ensuring the cabinetry perfectly complemented the pattern became an obsession, with multiple paint samples tested before arriving at the final shade. In this house, beauty wasn't reserved for the main rooms alone.

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What began as a childhood fascination with Mendocino's rugged coastline eventually led to the purchase of one of the town's most beloved historic homes, followed by twenty years of imagining what it might one day become. Today, that vision has finally been realized. Thoughtfully restored and deeply personal, the house feels as though it has reclaimed its place in Mendocino's story while opening a new chapter of its own. Quite worthy of the postcard's it appears on to this day.

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Design: Atelier Julienne

Millwork: Revival Millworks

Styling: Mood & Measure Styling

Florals: Wild Hare Floral Design

Photography: Salt Haus Photo

Builder: AUM Construction, Inc.