This living room by Oho Interiors has all the hallmarks of a formal space: matching built-ins, a centered fireplace, disciplined color repetition, and a seating layout that feels carefully composed.

And yet, the living room has the kind of ease often associated with old English country houses – spaces layered over time with collected pieces, mixed patterns, and softened edges.

While it might be new construction, this home has as much character as any farmhouse that has stood for years in the charming Iowa town it's set in. Described as the connective heart of the home, founder Melissa Oholendt talks us through the Design DNA of this 'collected, whimsical, and balanced' space and the exact lessons worth borrowing to make a living room feel layered, balanced, and effortlessly livable.

Balance Structure With Softer Shapes

The foundation of this living room is actually pretty structured. A centered fireplace anchors the space, built-ins frame either side with pleasing symmetry, while the ceiling beams and wall paneling create a rhythm throughout the room.

In another setting, those details could easily have tipped overly formal. But what makes this space feel so inviting is the way Melissa consistently softens every tailored element with something more relaxed.

The clearest example is the seating. Two sofas flank the area, anchoring the entire room and bringing a sense of balance to the open-plan space.

'Flanking sofas can feel formal, but I think what keeps this space feeling distinctly casual but elevated is the lower height of the sofa backs, along with the playfulness of the patterns in the space,' Melissa explains.

It’s a useful design lesson for anyone decorating a living room with strong architectural features. Rather than fighting elements like paneling, beams, or symmetrical layouts, the key is to balance them with softer silhouettes and tactile finishes. Curved upholstery, relaxed linens, gathered fabrics, and varied textures help loosen the effect and make a room feel lived-in rather than overly composed.

Use Complementary Colors to Create Tension

While the room reads neutral at first glance, its palette is actually built around an unexpected pairing: blue and orange. The difference here is that Melissa approached the combination with restraint, choosing softened, earthier versions of each tone rather than anything overly saturated.

Melissa explains that the palette evolved naturally from the architecture of the home. 'This space is the heart of the home – it is the central space that connects all the other spaces from entry to kitchen to bedrooms. Keeping that in mind, we wanted to ensure the colors felt cohesive, but architecturally kept this space on the neutral side to allow the connecting spaces to feel more playful.'

'Keeping the architectural palette fairly neutral but bringing in pattern and layering in warmth with antiques and wood tones allowed the space to still feel interesting and grounded while remaining balanced overall,' she explains.

'I know that apricot sofas are not the right answer for everyone, but for this space and how neutral it is architecturally, we knew it could use a punch of something playful,' she continues. 'From there, it was a balancing act of finding another dominant color that could hold its own alongside the apricot.'

'So we go back to our roots and what we learned in school. What color is opposite orange on the color wheel? Blue. From there, we added patterns and colors until it felt like a thoughtful assemblage of balance and scale,' she notes.

The result is a palette that feels layered and yet a touch energetic without relying on dramatic color contrasts.

Make Layered Pattern Feel Relaxed Rather Than Busy

One of the reasons this living room feels so inviting is that it fully embraces pattern without ever tipping into chaos. There are florals, stripes, checks, embroidery, and woven textures layered throughout the space, yet the room still feels calm.

'For this space, and the entire house, we worked to create a design direction for the overall feel of the project, and that moniker was "Cotswold Farmhouse",' Melissa explains of the brief. 'A balanced color palette, finishes that felt traditional but not old world & layered patterns that felt classic but not fussy.'

The secret lies in the balance of scale and tone.

'Pattern mixing is part formula, part art,' says Melissa. 'We'll always start with a floral and a stripe, typically adding in a floral that feels like a stripe (the ottoman fabric) and then adding in different colors and scale of patterns until it feels like we have a balanced mix of color, pattern, and scale,' she adds.

What also keeps the room feeling relaxed is the amount of visual breathing space built into the scheme. Solid upholstery, warm oak finishes, and textured neutrals act as visual resting points between the busier prints.

It’s a smart approach to borrow in your own home: begin with one floral and one stripe, vary the scale of each pattern, and focus on repeating colors rather than matching motifs exactly. Then balance everything with tactile solids and woven textures to stop the room from feeling overly busy.

Design Conversation Areas Around Circulation Paths

For an open-plan living room to feel genuinely comfortable, the layout has to work just as hard as the decorating. In this space, Melissa avoids one of the most common mistakes in large rooms: allowing circulation paths to cut directly through the seating area.

Instead, the furniture is arranged as its own intimate zone within the larger floorplan, making the room feel cozy and connected without disrupting movement through the home.

'The layout of the room really allowed for the main traffic patterns of the home to circulate around this space, rather than through it,' Melissa explains. 'It gave us an opportunity to create a layout that could feel cozy while you were in it, but still allowed for connection to the spaces around.'

The arrangement itself is deceptively simple – flanking sofas anchored by a large rug and central coffee table – but the proportions are considered. Melissa notes that the studio typically allows '36 inches minimum for traffic patterns,' while keeping seating close enough together to encourage conversation and comfort.

'For sofa to coffee tables, we are typically allowing between 14–20 inches of space,' she advises, 'to ensure there’s still proximity to be able to put your feet up while not feeling too tight.'

Floating seating inward instantly creates intimacy, while a generously sized rug helps define the conversation area within an open-plan space. The other crucial lesson? Never undersize your rug. 'Thinking that a small rug makes a space feel larger – the opposite is actually true,' says Melissa.

Style Shelving Like a Collection, Not a Display

The built-in shelving in this living room strikes a difficult balance: it feels layered and personal, but never cluttered or overly styled.

That sense of ease comes from the fact that Melissa approaches shelf styling less like a perfectly curated display and more like an evolving collection. Books are stacked both vertically and horizontally, objects vary in scale and texture, and negative space is used just as intentionally as the decorative pieces themselves.

'I strive to style shelves with balance in mind,' she explains. 'If I have a shelf that is styled end to end, I try to balance the shelf above with segmented stacks or even just one statement item to help balance the spread of the shelf below.'

'I also am always thinking about each stack of shelves speaking to each other, both in color and in materiality,' she continues. 'As someone who can lose entire days to restyling shelves, know that again, it's part science but also part art.'

It’s a useful lesson for anyone styling open shelving at home. Repeating materials and tones across different shelves creates cohesion, while mixing stacked areas with more open space keeps the arrangement feeling relaxed rather than overcrowded. Vertical elements also help break up the horizontal lines common in living rooms.

And perhaps most importantly, step back regularly as you style. As Melissa puts it, 'Most times, it’s styling a shelf and standing back to see how it feels and then adjusting as necessary until it feels good.'

The Edit

Design DNA is the Homes & Gardens series that breaks down beautiful rooms into their essential elements. Each installment dissects one interior and shows readers exactly what makes it work, from the anchor furniture and layout choices to color, lighting, and styling details.

At first glance, this West London living room feels like a maximalist fever dream – stripes climbing the walls, layered prints, color at every turn. And yet, it manages to read as calm, cohesive, even restful.

Designed by Phoebe Hollond of Studio Hollond for her own home as a snug for both entertaining and everyday family life, it proves a small living room can absolutely take more, not less. As Phoebe puts it, 'I always want a space to feel joyful and lived-in rather than overly polished.'

From the anchoring sofa that everything orbits around, to the balanced mix of scale, color palette, and cleverly concealed tech, this is maximalism at its most livable. Here, Phoebe breaks down the design DNA behind it – and how to use the same secret sauce at home.

The Formula That Keeps It Cohesive

The mix of patterns here may feel spontaneous – stripes on the walls, bold upholstery, statement art, and scattered prints through cushions and accents. But look closer, and there’s a curation at play.

'I think it’s best not to shy away from color or pattern in a small room. Instead, make it feel layered and immersive, with lots of personality. This room is filled with pieces I’ve collected over the years, giving the room a sense of history and character,' says Phoebe.

'I rarely follow strict rules when it comes to mixing patterns, I think the most interesting combinations happen quite instinctively,' Phoebe explains. 'That said, it does help when colors repeat across different fabrics, and when the patterns vary in scale. Mixing large stripes with smaller prints keeps things feeling balanced rather than overwhelming.'

The room combines one dominant pattern (the sofa), one structured pattern (the vertical stripe), and a handful of smaller, more decorative prints layered on top. 'In this room, the striped walls and the sofa provide a framework, which means the smaller details like cushions, lamps, and artwork can introduce color without the space feeling chaotic,' she notes.

A Patterned Sofa Sets the Pace

Every well-designed room has a focal point, and here, it’s the patterned sofa. A classic shape, it was reupholstered in Studio Hollond’s first fabric, Duchessina – a lively pink and green pattern that immediately draws the eye. 'Reupholstering it completely transformed the room. Once that fabric went on, the scheme really came to life.'

As Phoebe explains, 'Although the room is quite layered with pattern and color, the pink really draws your eye in. I love how everything in the room seems to orbit around it.'

'This is our main living room/snug, so I wanted it to feel super comfy, while still showcasing Studio Hollond’s eccentric flair,' she adds.'It has multiple functions: for entertaining friends or curling up with family- both were equally important.'

The takeaway? When designing a bold yet bijoux space, start with one dominant piece and let it lead. Whether it’s a patterned sofa, a rug, or even statement drapes, choose something that combines your key colors and sets the mood. Then, pull two or three shades from it and repeat them across the room.

Contrast in Scale is What Makes it Feel Spacious

The layout is what allows the room to breathe. Despite the snug footprint, nothing here feels crowded – and that comes down to a carefully judged mix of scale.

The generous, deep sofa is balanced by more petite armchairs and a leggy ottoman, creating a small living room layout composition that feels welcoming rather than heavy.

'The layout is everything,' says Phoebe. 'You need to establish early on how the room will function – in our case, it needed to work for entertaining as well as cosy movie nights with the family. In a smaller room, every piece of furniture has to earn its place, so scale becomes really important.'

'What works well in this snug is the contrast in scale,' she explains. 'The George Smith sofa is quite deep and generous, while the surrounding armchairs are much more petite. The ottoman and chairs all have visible legs, which allows you to see through them and keeps the room feeling lighter and less cluttered.'

To recreate the effect, avoid the common small-space pitfall of choosing furniture that’s all similarly bulky and consider furniture with exposed legs to keep sightlines open. Be disciplined about spacing, too; even a few inches between pieces can prevent the layout from feeling cramped.

Fabric-Wrapped Walls Softens the Scheme

While it might look like wallpaper, the striped walls are actually fully upholstered to create an immediately cocooning feeling.

'The walls are actually upholstered in fabric from Claremont, installed traditionally with battens and wadding, so they’re wonderfully padded – almost like the walls of a cushion,' Phoebe describes.

'It gives the room a softness and intimacy that you don’t get with standard wallpaper,' she adds. 'The scalloped trim adds a playful finishing touch and helps frame the room, almost like a piece of theatre set design. Altogether, it makes the space feel very cozy and almost tent-like, with the circus inspo.'

'The room needed to illustrate my love of star signs and the circus, so the striped fabric walling with the scallop top detailing and the astrology TV box brings that to life,' Phoebe adds of the vision.

'The upholstered stripe on the walls helps ground everything – its scale and slightly muted tones give the room a calm foundation for the brighter colors layered on top,' she adds.

The Final Trick That Protects the Room’s Focal Point

In a room built on layering and atmosphere, a black screen can quickly undo the effect. If you're wondering how to hide your TV stylishly, take a leaf out of Phoebe's book.

Here, the television is hidden behind artwork above the mantel, allowing it to disappear entirely when not in use. 'I think technology should support how a room is used, but it shouldn’t dominate the visual story,' she explains. 'Whenever possible, I like to conceal it within joinery or artwork so it blends into the room rather than becoming the focal point.'

With the TV concealed, the fireplace remains the natural focal point, and the eye is free to take in the patterns, textures, and details without interruption.

'A TV can really interrupt the atmosphere of a room, even though we all use them. Hiding it behind artwork above the mantel means it disappears when it’s not needed,' she advises.

Ultimately, this is a room that’s designed to feel 'playful, layered and cocooning,' but never chaotic. Its success lies in feeling collected rather than overly contrived. As Phoebe says, 'the most interesting spaces are layered with antiques, fabrics, art, and unexpected details that all tell a story.'

The Edit

Design DNA is the Homes & Gardens series that breaks down beautiful rooms into their essential elements. Each installment dissects one interior and shows readers exactly what makes it work, from the anchor furniture and layout choices to color, lighting, and styling details.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

Some bedrooms aim to be whisper soft – minimal, grounding, hotel-style – but others make an impact the moment you walk in. This primary suite by designer Nicole Fisher belongs firmly in the latter camp.

Wrapped in romantic floral wallpaper and topped with a cocooning pine ceiling, Nicole describes this bedroom as immersive and transportive, like 'stepping into a storybook'. And while it might make a statement, tucked within this 1914 Colonial patternful bungalow, this enveloping space is far from austere.

Great interiors, like great outfits (as the former fashion stylist turned designer would know), often start with one confident piece. Yet the magic here isn’t just decorating with pattern. Look closer, and the room reveals a series of thoughtful design decisions that keep the space feeling balanced rather than busy.

Here, Nicole Fisher breaks down the elements that give this room its Design DNA – and the practical moves you can borrow to bring the same layered feel into your own bedroom.

It All Starts with One Hero Pattern

Interior designers will tell you that every memorable room begins with a clear jumping off point, and in this bedroom, Nicole let the Pierre Frey floral bedroom wallpaper take the lead.

'Once we chose the floral, we knew hesitation would dilute the impact. Pattern only feels powerful when you commit, so we leaned all the way in rather than treating it as an accent,' Nicole explains of the decision not to limit the pattern mixing to a half-commited accent wall or soft furnishings. 'Everything else, from the headboard to the rug, was layered to support and deepen that initial decision.'

'It is traditional at its core but fully committed in its expression,' she explains of the aesthetic of the room, which tells a softer version of the confident color story in the rest of the home.

'We wanted it to feel transportive and intimate, almost like stepping into a storybook moment grounded in historic architecture. The clients immediately said they feel like they’re on vacation when they wake up here.'

Nicole explains how scale, control, and tonal consistency were key in helping the space to feel cocooning rather than overwhelming. 'The floral stays within a disciplined palette, so even though it is immersive, it reads as cohesive rather than chaotic.'

Treating the pattern as the anchor of the space, rather than an accent, allows the print to remain the focal point in the room – building up the rest of the scheme with complementary colors, textiles, and textures.

Symmetry Creates a Sense of Calm

Bold pattern may define the room, but it’s the bedroom layout that keeps the space feeling composed rather than chaotic.

The bed is deliberately centered between two windows, creating a symmetrical layout that establishes a sense of calm in the room. It's a trick Nicole uses often.

'I like to walk into a room and see the foot of the bed,' says Nicole. 'That’s best for energy flow. Windows don’t pose a negative for me – light is always good.'

Symmetry works especially well in patterned rooms because it provides additional structure. The matching mirrored gold nightstands and wicker table lamps add to that composure, framing the bed and mirroring the symmetry of the two windows. In your own bedroom, you can recreate this look with a pair of sconces on either side of the headboard.

A Canopy Bed That Doesn't Dominate

Once the wallpaper established the room’s personality, the next step was choosing a piece of furniture strong enough to hold its own – without competing for attention.

In this case, that role falls to the canopy bed. Positioned between the two windows, its delicate rope-draped frame allows the mix of patterns to do the talking while giving a nautical nod to the nearby Long Island Sound.

'The canopy was always part of the vision, but it needed to feel airy rather than heavy,' Nicole explains. 'We intentionally chose a lighter frame so the floral walls could remain the dominant gesture.'

The four-poster bed also helps establish a sense of grandeur that can only be bested by the cathedral ceiling.

Rustic Wood Balances Architecture

Pattern-maxxing can easily tip into visual overload if every surface competes for attention. In this bedroom, the antidote comes in the form of contrast – specifically, the soaring pine cathedral ceiling.

Its warm wood tones and vaulted structure provide a moment of pause, creating a lofty feel and giving the eye somewhere to rest amid the richness of all the florals.

'The pine ceiling introduces warmth and architectural clarity, and by keeping the lines clean and the finish refined, it reads as tailored rather than cabin-like,' Nicole explains. 'The mixing of woods also lends to the quirkiness of the house and the idea of layering over time.'

When using such a strong pattern on all four walls, introducing natural materials as a contrasting element with a wooden ceiling, beams, or paneling works to create a sense of depth and structure that grounds the scheme and stops it from feeling too kitsch.

Layers Complete the Look

When a room features strong patterns, texture becomes essential for preventing the space from feeling too monotonous. Nicole carefully layered a range of materials to give the scheme dimension.

'Texture prevents the room from feeling flat despite all the patterns,' she adds. 'Upholstery, woven rug fibers, crisp bedding, and soft drapery create depth and tactile richness.'

Color plays an equally important role in keeping these layers cohesive. Although the room mixes prints, with floral walls, furniture, and a green headboard, with the deep red tones in the antique rug, the palette remains unified through warm undertones.

'We varied scale and density, so that no two patterns speak at the same volume,' she adds. 'Each layer plays a supporting role within the same color family, which keeps the composition controlled. One common color thread should remain consistent throughout.'

'Blush and its earthy undertones tie it all together,' she adds. 'This color is a neutral to me. The fearless commitment to the floral best captures both the room and my spirit. It reflects confidence in making a bold decision and executing it without apology.'

This bedroom may feel romantic and 'unapologetically layered', but its success comes down to a simple interior design principle. 'Choose one strong idea and commit fully,' Nicole advises. 'When a room feels cohesive at every layer, it becomes enveloping rather than overwhelming.'

The Edit

Design DNA is the Homes & Gardens series that breaks down beautiful rooms into their essential elements. Each installment dissects one interior and shows readers exactly what makes it work, from the anchor furniture and layout choices to color, lighting, and styling details.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

Designer Elizabeth Hay is known for interiors that feel layered, expressive, and unmistakably personal. Based in Singapore but shaped by a childhood in the English countryside, her work often leans into color, pattern, and texture.

So when the owners of this East Singapore townhouse – keen travellers with an appetite for bold decoration – approached her, the brief for this functional home wasn’t about restraint. The architecture, however, offered little in the way of romance. Like many homes from Singapore’s 1980s and 1990s developments, it was practical rather than pretty.

Elizabeth relied on decorating with pattern, rather than structural changes, to make her mark. And nowhere is that more impactful than in the cocooning pattern-drenched snug. Here’s what gives this room its Design DNA – and how to apply the same interior design principles at home, without overwhelming your space.

A Hero Fabric That Frames the Whole Room

'The aim was to create a private sanctuary for our client – somewhere they could truly switch off, feel enveloped, and retreat from the rest of the house,' Elizabeth explains.

'Our initial inspiration came from traditional “fabric-drenched” rooms, where one textile is used across walls, upholstery, and soft furnishings. We reinterpreted that idea in a more contemporary way, creating a space that feels immersive yet fresh.'

The defining moment in this snug room is the MONFAUCON by Christopher Moore fabric, which features a graphic, fan-shaped motif with traditional florals on a deep green background.

Rather than stopping at upholstery or limiting it to an accent wall, Elizabeth extended the print throughout the space. It works because it eliminates visual breaks in the small living room. When walls and furniture share the same print, the eye reads everything as one continuous, enveloping scheme rather than a series of separate elements.

The effect is calming, rather than chaotic. Elizabeth advises: 'Choose the right fabric for an all-over look. Organic patterns such as floral stripes or flowing motifs work beautifully because they feel immersive rather than rigid. I would avoid large-scale geometrics – they can quickly become visually jarring and make the room feel disorientating rather than cocooning.'

Scale, Tone and Texture Calm the Scheme

Once you commit to a hero fabric on the walls, the blind, and the sofa, everything else must serve as the supporting cast. Here, the ikat prints, tonal rug, and solid fabrics don't compete with the main print but instead complement it.

'The entire living room color scheme was derived from the main fabric we selected. We wanted the room to feel rich yet still bright and fresh,' says Elizabeth. 'Every other color in the room, from the pink accents to the blue cabinetry, was drawn from or designed to complement that central textile, ensuring cohesion throughout.'

'Scale and tone are key,' she advises. 'We ensured that the secondary patterns and plains echoed the exact tones found within the main fabric. By keeping the color story tightly controlled and varying the scale of each pattern, the overall effect feels harmonious and soft rather than busy.'

It’s all about texture and balance. 'While the primary fabric sets the tone, we carefully introduced contrasting textures to soften its impact. The rug, for example, is tonal and subtle in color, but rich in texture – it gently anchors the scheme and provides visual relief. That interplay between pattern and texture prevents the room from feeling overpowering and instead makes it feel enveloping.'

A Tonal 'Palate Cleanser' Gives the Eye a Rest

Painted in a confident blue and detailed with woven panel fronts, the built-in media wall introduces a deliberate shift in tone and temperature.

'It wasn’t intended as a focal point. In fact, it acts more as a visual 'palate cleanser',' Elizabeth explains of the color choice. The reason it works comes down to contrast.

'If everything had remained green and pink and tonal, the space could have felt overly enclosed. The blue introduces contrast and freshness, preventing the room from feeling claustrophobic while still sitting comfortably within the scheme.'

To apply this room color idea in your own home, identify a secondary tone within your hero fabric and introduce it in cabinetry, a console, or even a painted bookshelf. Then introduce material variation to soften the look, as seen here with the woven cabinet panels. 'They break up the expanse of blue so it doesn’t feel too solid or intense.'

Finally, let this contrasting element work harder for you, like housing the television or concealing clutter. 'At its most practical level, it houses the television and provides essential storage. But aesthetically, it also helps balance the richness of the scheme and introduces a contrasting texture and color moment,' she adds.

A Lounge First Layout

The furniture scheme is as strategic as the color palette.

Rather than floating separate pieces in the centre of the room, Elizabeth anchors the space with an L-shaped sofa tucked neatly into the corner. 'I wouldn’t typically specify an L-shaped sofa in a main living room, but in a snug or TV room, they work beautifully.'

'Here, it maximizes the corner living room layout while creating a deeply comfortable seating zone,' Elizabeth explains. 'It’s designed for lounging, watching television, and properly snuggling up – which was exactly what our client wanted from the space.'

By pushing the sectional into the corner, the room gains definition without losing a sense of flow, or blocking the view or access into the garden. Paired with a substantial antique coffee table, which adds weight against all the patterns, the surrounding layout is simple.

The Finishing Layers

You might notice that there is no central ceiling light in this space, and no downlights cutting through the scheme. Instead, illumination comes from floor lamps and sculptural wall sconces fitted with patterned shades.

'We wanted the lighting to feel intimate and atmospheric, so there is no overhead lighting in the room,' Elizabeth explains. 'Instead, we layered floor lamps and wall lights to create a soft, cozy glow for evenings spent relaxing. The lampshades pick up the fresh blue from the main fabric, subtly reinforcing the color story while keeping the mood warm and inviting.'

This layered lighting scheme also allows the artwork to do its job. 'The large tiger artwork is vintage. Its scale and boldness act as a counterpoint to the patterned envelope of the room. Rather than competing, it provides a strong focal pause within the scheme – almost like punctuation – and adds character and depth.'

To style the rest of the space, Elizabeth worked with her clients' existing books and objects. 'They have an incredible collection of Asian antiques, and incorporating their pieces was important to ensure the room felt personal and authentic rather than staged.'

If you take just one idea from this pattern-packed room, let it be this: commit fully, then edit carefully.

Design DNA is the Homes & Gardens series that breaks down beautiful rooms into their essential elements. Each installment dissects one interior and shows readers exactly what makes it work, from the anchor furniture and layout choices to color, lighting, and styling details.

Love beautiful design ideas, expert advice, and inspiring decor trends? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

Todd Nickey and Amy Kehoe are no strangers to Los Feliz. It was in this hilly enclave that Nickey Kehoe – the bicoastal studio and store that’s become an arbiter of warmth in interior design – had an ‘aha’ moment for their signature aesthetic during an early commission. When it came time to create a home for Sarah Hindsgaul and Matt Duffer, co-creator of Stranger Things, the pair had plenty of experience with the area’s rich architectural palette.

And thus there was plenty of character to work with in the 1920s Spanish Colonial Revival home, which all comes together in the living room.

It’s a great room, undeniably, in the sense that it’s quite large. But the scale was slightly unusual: it’s long and narrow. For Nickey and Kehoe, it was less of a problem than a prompt, and ultimately helped them shape the space. 'It certainly provoked us to think about usability and how to beautifully orient the furnishings,' says Kehoe.

From furniture selection (like ditching the expected living room couch) to clever circulation and architectural cues, the narrow space led to big picture thinking. And the success, according to Amy Kehoe, rests in an interior scheme that invites conversation and intimacy – all with the studio’s lived-in, layered look.

The Sofa-less Living Room

Large rooms call for large furniture – it’s just part of the formula. But in this Los Feliz home, Nickey and Kehoe took a different approach to scale. While the living room is generous, there were concerns with proportions: a short staircase empties directly into the space, and the footprint isn’t terribly wide. 'It would have felt very tight to use sofas in the center,' says Kehoe of the conventional choice.

Rather than forcing smaller loveseats in front of the fireplace just for the sake of it (and potentially creating a stubborn layout), Nickey and Kehoe configured the room as a series of intimate vignettes. 'The spaces within the space visually encourage a conversation with the numerous seating groups, all consisting of smaller pieces: chairs and loveseats versus sofas,/ says Kehoe.

Anchoring the narrowing living room, a group of four club chairs, designed by Nickey Kehoe, encircle a tall vintage cocktail table beneath a Porto Romano chandelier. The upholstered club chairs, with their autonomy of space and smaller scale, create a looser flow while keeping the room visually light. The result is a living room that feels conversational and inviting, yet never weighed down by its own furniture.

Banquettes Broaden the Picture

While there are just four club chairs in the middle, the living room doesn’t feel short on seating. Nickey and Kehoe made the most of the footprint by activating the perimeter, placing deep banquette seating along the wall and on either side of the fireplace.

'The banquettes face in and are close to the central seating, allowing for more seating if needed,' says Kehoe. The placement leans into the ‘social’ flow the studio had in mind. Rounded out with floating coffee tables, the additional seating areas stand their own ground. But the banquettes also allow for multiple conversations simultaneously in the same space (say, during a party) while close enough to the center to stay connected.

The choice also helped broaden the perception of the space itself, lending the room a more generous, loft-like quality; it helps that the studio picked a backless banquette, allowing the furniture to hug the walls as if part of the architecture. 'The banquettes also very beautifully flank the fireplace and feel like an extension of the fireplace itself – all in an effort to expand what felt narrow,' adds Kehoe.

Stimulating Architecture

One reason the room works, according to Kehoe, is that key elements ‘stimulate’ the space. There’s a certain rhythm to how your eye moves about the long living room – it’s not static. And while distinct seating areas oriented throughout the footprint enhance the flow, much of the eye-catching character was inherited.

On one end, a series of arched openings lead to a games room. In the center, a staircase descends into the space, centered on a large fireplace with a sloped wall. On the other end, a raised level – up a different set of stairs – creates yet another zone. Overhead, exposed wood beams aren’t to be missed, yet another part of the room’s layered charm.

All in all, it was easy to lean into the lively setting. 'Though the walls are white and the palette soft, there’s a lot of traveling for the eye to do in order to appreciate it all, explains Kehoe. It’s those architectural elements, plus a central seating area with rounded furniture, that help stimulate the senses.

A Serious Games Room

The original living room started out smaller. A series of arches at one end featured glass doors, creating a separate room altogether. One of the family’s non-negotiables was a ‘game room,’ and it was the perfect spot for it – save for a few adjustments.

'While pretty, they sealed the space, making the game room less desirable to use,' says Kehoe of the glass doors. 'Once the doors came off, the rooms became one, more light spilled into the main area and the overall living room extended.' Now more inviting and part of the room’s flow, it was important to get this space right, because it wasn’t a casual request. 'I had never seen nor heard of such a collection of board games prior to this project,' says Kehoe. 'These are games that can last days or longer so making the room a truly enjoyable space for these extended games was vital.'

To make that happen, and to connect the newly open space with the main space, Nickey and Kehoe brought some of the more romantic elements of the main living room – plants, velvet-lined shelves, vintage iron lighting – to deepen the connection. Four chairs of their own design complete the picture, while a Mitchell Denburg area rug grounds the room.

A Surprise Bar

Returning to the idea of ‘usability’ for the space, a simple vignette along the wall – composed of a cabinet beneath an antiqued mirror – works overtime. 'This cabinet is actually a dry home bar that services the whole room,' says Kehoe.

When the curved doors are open, the unit, made by Howe, puts all the bottles and barware on display. It makes the space more adaptable, changing the vibe depending on whether the cabinet is open or closed; surely a delight for guests who didn’t know it was there to begin with.

The placement also created a new surface for Nickey and Kehoe to incorporate items that would decorate the space even when the bar is closed. 'Mirrors are always nice to cast light, especially in this narrow room,' says Kehoe of the tall antiqued mirror hanging above the unit. 'This particular mirror made by Rupert Bevans mimics the series of arches, and feels like an extension of the architecture.'

The Edit

Design DNA is the Homes & Gardens series that breaks down beautiful rooms into their essential elements. Each installment dissects one interior and shows readers exactly what makes it work, from the anchor furniture and layout choices to color, lighting, and styling details.

For $23 million, you can now claim a townhouse on Greenwich Village’s so-called ‘New Billionaire’s Row’ – a designation that feels almost ironic given the neighborhood’s long history of bohemian mischief, artists, and rule-breakers. That creative lineage isn’t erased here. Instead, the home’s recent renovation by husband-and-wife hoteliers and designers Sven and Sara Simon treats it as something to be preserved, not polished away.

Originally built in 1841 and later expanded by I.M. Pei – yes, that I.M. Pei, of Louvre Pyramid fame – the former home of Emmy-winning actress Ellen Barkin now carries a relaxed West Coast sensibility following the couple’s move from Los Angeles.

Spanning three floors, the townhouse balances history with ease, but it’s the parlor room – parts salon, gallery, and conversation pit – where old-world provenance and modern irreverence meet most convincingly. Ahead, Sara unpacks the thinking behind the room’s rule-bending Design DNA, and how to apply it at home.

Unconventional Pattern Pairings

This parlor room isn’t shy about decorating with pattern – something Sara credits to her West Coast roots.

‘You can take the girl out of Cali, but can’t take Cali out of the girl,’ she says. ‘The LA style is definitely the bold color and pattern choices. I find that East Coast design tends to be a bit more muted. LA is a bit more walk on the wild side. I definitely stayed true to my Cali swag while adding an East Coast twist.’

That bicoastal mindset may be the real key to successful pattern drenching. Beyond varying color and scale, this room leans into contrast of sensibility. Beneath the glass-topped coffee table sits a leopard-print rug (pure LA rock ’n’ roll), while the Round Top–sourced floral sofa above reads distinctly East Coast, like it could have lived here for generations.

Whether you're tackling a layered living room or a parlor room of your own, don't just mix patterns. Mix eras, places, and attitudes.

'Original' Warm Woods

The warm woods wrapping the walls and spiraling through the bookcases feel convincingly original – which is exactly the illusion Sara was after. In reality, none of it is.

‘All the millwork is brand new. No part of the previous millwork was kept,’ she reveals. ‘This is where the East Coast brownstone design met the Cali design. We knew that we wanted to stay classic and true to a brownstone and not make it a modern box. We wanted to give it that old-world feel and bring warmth and character into the space. The goal was to make it feel lived in.’

Instead of leaning into lighter, beach-coded woods or textured plaster finishes typical of a West Coast renovation, Sara chose sapele – a mahogany alternative known for its ribboned grain and depth of color.

It’s a useful reminder for historic spaces (or those aspiring to feel like one): get the bones right first. When the foundational materials carry weight and warmth, the more experimental layers have somewhere to land.

Vintage Collectibles

From bronze monkeys to swan-shaped bookends, the shelving in this parlor room is deliberately populated – not crowded – with objects that lend credibility to the home’s East Coast bones, even as the sensibility leans West.

‘I wanted the space to feel lived in, so I collected pieces such as trophies, vintage bowls, vases, and bookends to fill up the space. And I always like using old books to warm it up,’ says Sara.

The lesson here isn’t just what you collect, but how you place it. Sara leaves generous pockets of negative space between objects and groupings, a move borrowed more from galleries than curio cabinets. This way, even a $5 thrifted vase can feel authoritative – without a $23 million home-worthy curation budget.

A Gallery Wall

Gallery walls have cycled in and out of favor, but this parlor room makes a convincing case for permanence. Spanning the better part of an already expansive wall, the arrangement works precisely because it resists perfection.

‘I am a sucker for a gallery wall, and I drove my carpenter insane hanging these as he wanted them lined up, and I did not,’ Sara says of abandoning the grid. Like the millwork, she explains, ‘gallery walls give the room character.’ To keep the display from competing with the room’s color story, she kept the images monochrome. ‘I didn’t want them to compete with the color on the couch, so I did the wall in black-and-white photos’ – a choice that underscores a familiar paradox in decorating: contrast, not coordination, is often what reads most intentional.

Her advice is simple: plan, but don’t over-plan. ‘If you want to do a gallery wall, lay it out or draw it up first, but be ok to be flexible.’ The magic, she suggests, tends to happen somewhere in the in-between.

Non-Matching Pops of Color

The color moments in this parlor room feel seamless because Sara and Sven kept them in the family. Jewel tones surface slowly, unified less by exact match than by shared depth.

‘I don’t do matchy-matchy and love patterns and colors,’ Sara says, pointing to the pair of Danish high-back chairs sourced from Denmark. One olive, one ochre, they're different shades that hit the same register.

The emerald marble fireplace operates similarly, as do the walls: Farrow & Ball’s London Clay – subtly tinged with magenta – absorbs and reflects the saturation elsewhere, keeping the palette cohesive.

The takeaway here is that colors don’t need to match. They just need to speak the same language.

The Edit

What Are the Key Elements of a Well-Designed Parlor Room?

A parlor room may be the jewel box of a home, but it shouldn’t feel untouchable; it should invite lingering.

‘You want it to be a place that you want to be. Design in a way that makes you feel something,’ Sara explains. That emotional pull, she notes, often comes from the details people are tempted to edit out – the personal, slightly eccentric pieces that feel too bold for more 'practical' rooms.

Rather than anchoring the space to a single palette or style, Sara treats the parlor as a reflection of lived experience. ‘I design based on my latest inspiration from my travels,’ she explains. ‘The colors, patterns, textures, it all stems from things that have caught my eye and have inspired me and have stuck.’

When instinct leads, design tends to follow.

How Do You Create a Balanced Parlor Room?

Balance, for Sara and Sven, meant refusing to let any single plane do all the work. In a room where the millwork and art already command attention from the walls, the ceiling couldn’t be an afterthought.

‘The ceiling, I thought, was way too boring to be white or a solid color,’ Sara says. ‘I wanted the room to stay warm and moody and have some flavor, so I settled on this floral wallpaper.’ She paired it with a 1920s French Art Deco ceiling light sourced from Belgium. ‘I loved the palms on it and the shape. It gave a hip old-world vibe.’

By treating the ceiling with the same reverence as the walls and furnishings, this parlor room avoids hierarchy altogether. Had the ceiling been left plain – or the fixture felt too new – the parlor might have lost its balance. Instead, the space pulls together as a fully realized, cross-generational world.

What Design Choices Make This Room Timeless?

The timelessness of this parlor room – or any room, for that matter – comes from elements that naturally span eras rather than belong to just one.

Always-on materials like warm woods and veined marble anchor the space, while black-and-white photography avoids timestamping it to a specific moment. Even the more expressive gestures – the leopard rug, for instance – read less as accents and more as part of a broader ‘wild side’ narrative that lets old and new coexist.

‘There is a lot going on, but it all feels very cohesive,’ says Sara.

What Should Every Parlor Room Include?

Every parlor room needs a conversation starter. For Sara, that role belongs to the glass-topped coffee table held aloft by two monkeys.

‘I’ll be honest, I saw it and had to have it. It’s just too good. And it’s definitely a conversation piece that has everyone talking about it,’ she quips.

That instinct-first mindset runs through Sara’s work more broadly. ‘It’s so hard to explain my design process because there is no real method to my madness,’ the designer tells H&G. ‘I like leopard, so I buy the leopard chairs. I love monkeys holding glass as a coffee table, so I buy the monkeys. I love unique one-of-a-kind pieces, and I love the hunt.'

When torn between the sensible option and the parlor room piece that makes your pulse jump, Sara suggests choosing the latter. ‘My advice is to always trust your gut and go for it.’

This parlor room’s DNA isn’t rooted in rules or movements, but instinct. Blend references freely. Buy with conviction. Let pieces coexist even when they don’t neatly agree. The rooms that read the most confident are the ones that resist resolving into a single idea.

Design DNA is the Homes & Gardens series that breaks down beautiful rooms into their essential elements. Each installment dissects one interior and shows readers exactly what makes it work, from the anchor furniture and layout choices to color, lighting, and styling details.

Some interiors have a life of their own – they stay on your mind, and they follow you around the internet. That was the case for fans of this modest San Francisco kitchen, tucked in a remodeled 1914 Arts and Crafts home.

For years, the kitchen has been something of a calling card for Landed Interiors & Homes, in part because it creates something of an illusion. 'The fantasy is that it is supposed to be like an English country kitchen – but it's in the city,' says founder Lynn Kloythanomsup.

The amusement stems from its location, but the attraction is the brand-new kitchen’s vintage-inspired palette, making the most of a relatively small space (at least for San Francisco standards) to create something that looks aged and timeless.

Lived-in, charming, and secretly functional, Lynn Kloythanomsup breaks down the Design DNA of this country kitchen in the city so you can crack the code, too.

A Measured Material Overload

It's a kitchen you can feel with your eyes. Using what Lynn calls a 'farmhouse palette,' an expert layering of rustic materials brings texture and visual interest.

Everything you see is technically new – the design team completely relocated the kitchen from a different area of the house, bringing it to the rear to allow the installation of more windows for better light. But the kitchen color scheme itself creates the vintage illusion through exposed brick, salvaged wooden beams, hand-painted wood floors, cedar paneling, shiplap-esque cabinets, and marble surfaces.

'It's like ten interesting ideas together, which actually quiets the impact of every one of them – they're all a little bit statement,' says Lynn. 'You almost don't start noticing them until you're looking at it for a while.'

The material mix allows rustic and lively materials to blend together and harmonize, creating depth and character. The client didn’t want a home that looked 'too perfect,' which made Lynn’s layered and aged look the perfect solution for creating a space that appears to have been there for a century.

Hand-painted Wood Floors

There are many reasons to be attracted to this kitchen. But over the years, Lynn hears about the painted floors most. At the very last stage of the project, a decorative artist used Benjamin Moore floor paint to create a checkerboard pattern across the surface.

There’s a long history of using paint as a cost-effective method to elevate floors with decorative patterns. It grants the scheme an unusual, old-timey effect.

'The idea of painting a floor, for me, is to add interest to a floor that's not that special,' says Lynn. The wood floors were wire-brushed and sanded to emphasize their subtle grain, but are otherwise standard; the paint takes them to another level.

It’s not the ideal kitchen flooring for everyone, especially because this type of look (particularly with white paint) shows wear and tear. 'There needs to be some kind of embracing of that – that it will change,' says Lynn. But to her, that kitchen’s worn look just adds to the transportive charm.

The pattern here is relatively simple, just large squares painted across the surface. But Lynn suggests getting a bit creative. 'You can do very interesting patterns – this one is a bit simple,' she says. 'Since then, we've wanted to do even more elaborate designs on floors.' That’s another way of saying: think outside the box.

A Requisite Seating Area

There wasn’t enough space in the kitchen for a proper kitchen island, which also meant there wasn’t a place for guests to naturally ‘settle up’ when gathering in the kitchen, nor was there an obvious place to integrate counter stools. Lynn’s solution was a simple banquette, tucked in the corner along the window.

'I think it's pretty necessary at this point for everyone to have some kind of seating in their kitchen where friends can watch them cook and talk at the same time,' says Lynn.

It’s nothing major, just enough space for one or two people to sit and chat, or a spot to read the paper and have coffee in the morning. But Lynn was sure to include thoughtful touches, like two drawers beneath the bench for storage, and a cushioned seat for comfort. An antique English breakfast table completes the look, and overhead sconces help define the area as its own zone.

Bespoke Storage for a Beautiful Experience

It’s easy to get lost in the big picture, but the beauty of this kitchen also lies in the hidden details. 'We try new ideas that suit whatever the client needs,' says Lynn of custom storage integrated throughout the space, bringing function into the fold.

The owner is an artist, which inspired Lynn to create drawers with angled containers for utensils – much like bins for paint brushes. Above the counter, a custom plate rack adds a vintage touch while also making everyday plates easily accessible. 'We had our cabinet maker make a dish rack, but it was actually too perfect, and the client scrapped it,' says Lynn, who had the design recrafted using scrap wood to lean into rustic textures.

A pantry, located in the hallway leading to the kitchen, is something of a workhorse. The client wanted everything to feel open and within reach (including her collection of 60 or so wine glasses), so she wasn’t searching for anything when guests were over.

That was the reason Lynn installed glass doors for the pantry, but also open shelving along the sides, adding rails so the owner could easily store wine glasses. Naturally, there are custom cubbies for wine bottles, and adding a bit of country flair, custom niches for removable baskets.

A Range Hood That Disappears

To encourage the ‘fantasy’ of an English country house, Lynn points to one particular trick: she wrapped the range hood in faux brick tile, creating a seamless connection to the walls.

'We're often trying to make the range hood disappear, and not be so called out like a huge statement,' says Lynn. 'So it's very interesting, but at the same time it's subtle.' Matching other elements throughout the space, there’s also a wood trim along the edge, leaning into the rustic look.

Of course, it doesn’t need to be brick. 'I see a lot of examples of it now where the walls tiled, and so is the range head,' says Lynn. 'People are also doing plastered hoods with plaster walls – I think that feels really beautiful and elegant to me, when the range hood doesn't stand out.'

The Edit

Design DNA is the Homes & Gardens series that breaks down beautiful rooms into their essential elements. Each installment dissects one interior and shows readers exactly what makes it work, from the anchor furniture and layout choices to color, lighting, and styling details.

Where does life end and art begin? For most painters, the line blurs. For interior designers, it disappears entirely. If you’re building worlds for a living, what’s imitating what? In Molly Kidd's case, the question feels beside the point.

Her Oregon home – part family residence, part ‘living showroom’ – serves as both a manifesto of her soulful design philosophy and a reflection of the rugged landscape beyond its windows. Earthy, layered, and transportive, the 1980-built home sets the tone for her three ‘Kidds’ to roam and her Molly Kidd Studio clients to understand her world.

Nearly a year since its 2024 remodel, Molly reflects on the Design DNA of a living room that wears many hats – and shares five takeaways for creating one where design, memory, and meaning coexist.

Windows as Art

Apart from a single still life over the credenza, there’s little in the way of wall art in Molly’s living room, and that’s by design. With towering windows flanking a grand neutral fireplace, it’s immediately apparent why she resisted filling the walls. The view of the lush Oregon greenery, light filtering through the trees, does all the talking.

‘My windows are my art. I couldn’t cover them completely,’ explains the designer. Instead, she chose the softest possible veil: a set of drapery panels from Everhem that she describes as ‘“barely there” but enough to move in the breeze and create privacy from the deer.’ The effect is painterly, a whisper of movement against the stillness of the trees.

Let the architecture speak first. Coco Chanel once advised removing one piece of jewelry before leaving the house; if your living room has windows like these, you might not need any jewelry at all.

Texture as Color

‘Texture’ feels like the only acceptable answer to What’s your favorite color? in a room like this. Here, bespoke Venetian plaster walls, sustainable oak furniture, and natural limestone create contrast without visual noise.

‘Texture is the new color,’ Molly says. ‘To keep neutrals from falling flat, I relied on contrast: textured plaster against deep paint colors, linen against mohair, stone against glass.’

This way, the palette feels worn in, not washed out – nuanced and slightly salt-of-the-earth, like it's seen things; lived a little. The tactile layers are what keep the room from tipping into a more formulaic brand of minimalism. ‘The mood I was after was quiet abundance, art-forward but deeply livable, like a European country home left to age beautifully,' she muses.

Unexpected Scale

When it comes to styling a fireplace, the rule of thumb is generally the bigger, the better. Oversized mirrors that dwarf the mantel are the look du jour – which is precisely why Molly went the other way.

‘I chose a smaller, aged wood mirror because scale isn’t always about size,’ she says of the gem she uncovered locally, tucked behind a rack of vintage Levi’s (her other vice). ‘A smaller, more narrow piece gives the plaster mantel and surrounding textures room to breathe. It draws you closer with weight, which feels more personal.’

Our instinct to juxtapose still applies, just in reverse. Going smaller – rather than grander – brings levity and intimacy, aligning more with the ease of modern interiors. It invites you in rather than overwhelming.

Nature's Presence

This remodel wrapped in fall 2024, and now, one year later, its seasonality lingers. ‘I see how intentional that season was in shaping the space,’ says Molly. ‘The layered textiles, the glow of antique lighting against moody afternoons, the grounding weight of the floors with billowing sheer drapery everywhere. It all feels especially right as the air cools and our backyard forest turns gold.’

But beyond fall’s ephemera, the Pacific Northwest’s palette is the true muse. ‘Oregon’s landscape completely shaped it,’ she says. ‘The palette is built on reflections of the land: evergreen shadows, real stone, and nature’s hues – chocolate browns, putty neutrals, and plaster whites.’

So nature’s presence is literal, but it’s the emotional register that makes this living room feel alive. ‘Client work often begins with a floral arrangement; this home began with a feeling,’ Molly explains. ‘It had to feel grounded in the Pacific Northwest landscape – earthy, foggy, timeless – and filled with things that carry story.’

It's evidence that the most transportive rooms don’t mimic nature; they’re immersed in its rhythm.

The 50/50 Rule

There was a time when a beautifully designed room could get away with being entirely new. Year by year, though, the pendulum has swung toward patina. ‘I have a 50/50 promise to all of my projects that 50% of the home will be vintage to honor sustainability and the footprint of MKS,’ says Molly. For her own home, that ratio leans even further: ‘My home is one of the few that is nearly 80% vintage!’

The carved sideboard, for instance, is a mid-century Danish piece by Henning Kjærnulf, which is soulful in spirit, practical in form. ‘It hides the unglamorous – games, candles, family photos, remotes, chargers,’ Molly admits. On top, she layers vintage on vintage: hand-thrown Scandinavian vessels, a stack of garden and art books, an antique oil painting with, as she says, ‘all the right colors,’ and a 1930s bronze sculptural lamp (quota, met).

It’s not about adding old for the illusion of interest. ‘The mix of height, material, and patina keeps the composition alive,’ says Molly. Vintage only lands when it earns its place, be it through color, contrast, texture, or a story worth keeping.

The Edit

What are the key elements of a well-designed living room?

‘A well-designed living room has a deeply personal rhythm – a balance of comfort, proportion, imperfection that perfectly resembles you,’ notes Molly. ‘It’s not about everything matching; it’s about everything belonging.’

That belonging isn’t about symmetry so much as conversation. ‘To me, that means pieces that tell a story together: a structured sofa paired with something handmade, a lamp that casts a flattering, amber light, art hung just a bit lower than you’d expect so it feels intimate.’

It’s more natural that way. You can tell when a room has actually been lived in. There’s air between the objects, light that falls gently, warmth that can’t be staged. That’s part of why Molly invites her clients into her own home – it’s proof of concept.

How do you create a balanced living room?

Much of the beauty in this living room lies in its juxtapositions, offsetting pristine elements with texture or quirks. Take, for instance, the impossibly cozy shearling accent chair, obviously off-kilter candlestick, or the seating arrangement that refuses to play by the rules: a sofa, one chair on one side, two on the other.

‘Asymmetry felt right here, more human,' says Molly. 'The seating arrangement works because it encourages movement and conversation from every angle; no seat feels “left out.”’

Molly likens it to composing a piece of music: ‘you need highs and lows, but the rhythm has to hold,’ she explains. ‘When something looks a little unexpected yet entirely at ease, that’s when a room starts to hum.’

Balance, in Molly's world, has little to do with mirroring.

What design choices make this room timeless?

You can buy every so-called “timeless” piece on the market and still end up with a space that feels frozen in time. The problem isn’t actually the decor; it’s the approach. Rooms assembled all at once tend to age all at once, too.

‘A timeless living room feels collected, not decorated,’ says Molly. Like layers of sediment in rock, it’s built gradually. ‘Avoid anything too “of the moment,”’ she adds. ‘Patina, craftsmanship, and comfort never age.’

True timelessness, in other words, isn’t about resisting change – it’s about evolving slowly, and with intention.

What should every living room include?

As both the designer of the space and the person who lives – and occasionally works – there, Molly’s answer isn’t a luxury candle or a perfectly scaled rug. It’s simpler, and harder to fake. Every living room, she says, should have soul.

And no, you don’t need to abide by her studio’s 50/50 vintage rule or commission Venetian plaster walls to find it. Soul looks different for everyone. ‘Whether it’s a handmade chair, a mismatched lamp, or the scent of wood after it rains,’ notes Molly, that energy exists in the item that reminds you: this is home.

What gives this room its DNA isn’t the furniture or finishes, but the feeling behind them. Molly designs by instinct, attuned to how life should feel inside and what nature whispers outside. Be it a showroom, living room, or otherwise, that’s the secret to soul: story first, design second.

Design DNA is the Homes & Gardens series that breaks down beautiful rooms into their essential elements. Each installment dissects one interior and shows readers exactly what makes it work, from the anchor furniture and layout choices to color, lighting, and styling details.

Design DNA is the Homes & Gardens series that deconstructs the world’s most beautiful rooms to reveal the principles behind their success – from foundational furniture and layout choices to color, lighting, and the finer points of styling.

This isn’t about mood or personality; it’s a blueprint for creating harmony and balance in your own home. Clear, practical, and deeply instructive, Design DNA offers you the tools to think like a designer – and the confidence to bring that thinking home.

The result is both inspiring and achievable, staying true to Homes & Gardens' central promise: to teach the art of living beautifully.

The notion of a ‘home office’ is increasingly antiquated. Papers are digitized, laptops replace hulking screens, and few of us work in silos anymore – so why design a space like one?

For Claire Sá, founder of De Rosee Sa, a London duplex called for a more relevant ritual: getting dressed. Work and wardrobe both shape how we present ourselves, demanding spaces that inspire so it makes sense that a dressing room should sit in an office.

Situated in the iconic 60 Curzon in Mayfair, once home to Mirabelle – the restaurant of royals and rock stars – reinvention has long run through the veins of this address. Now, Claire decodes its Design DNA, revealing how a storied space can be retooled for modern work life, with takeaways to elevate yours.

A room-anchoring desk

All eyes feast on the asymmetrical elm burl desk by Danielle Siggerud, its twin tabletops balanced on tree-trunk legs. ‘It has a sculptural, commanding presence that anchors the office, pairing beautifully with the tactile walls and sheers. It introduces warmth and gravitas, setting the tone for a workspace that feels both serious and inspiring,’ Claire says.

For her, a desk is never just a work surface. 'It can double as a place to put on makeup, to write a note, or to sit with a laptop for a short burst of work. A bespoke or carefully chosen desk sets the tone for the whole space and can help the office feel part of the home rather than separate from it.’

Don’t be afraid to splurge or go bold – the right desk anchors a room and supports more daily practices than you might presume.

See-through threshold

There’s a difference between a room that’s open concept and one that’s truly multipurpose. The first risks feeling directionless; the latter creates distinctions, carving out zones within a larger whole. The line between the two is what Claire calls a threshold – not a hard break, but a mediary that lets spaces flow together and apart.

‘We kept the spaces distinct but connected with subtle thresholds: a windowpane screen that lets in light but breaks it up with mullions, mirrors to bounce light deeper in,’ she says of linking the office and dressing room, a choice that helps ‘shift the mood without fully dividing the room.’

Shared lighting helps too. Objects like the Susie Atkinson Plato lamp, perched on the bespoke leather-top dresser that bridges both rooms, set the ambience on either side.

Since this project's 'threshold' is bespoke, try a silken screen divider. Albeit more opaque, it offers the same pause between spaces and while doubling as a design canvas.

Neutral, textured backdrops

Neutral palettes are notoriously tricky. One wrong move and they mope into monotony. In this Mayfair office–dressing room, texture keeps the scheme layered from floor to ceiling.

‘Texture is key,’ says Claire. ‘From Weitzner’s silk wallcovering to the Dedar-clad wardrobe doors, every surface has tactility.’ Even the larger gestures serve the same purpose. The handloomed Nordic Knots rug, made from New Zealand wool, softens the space against grass-cloth flooring and textured walls, adding dimension through contrast.

If you’re attempting a similar palette at home, keep Claire’s advice in mind: layer texture wherever possible, whether through wallcoverings, upholstery, or even a single tactile pillow. And don’t assume ‘neutral’ means beige. Inside the wardrobe nook, Claire paired blush pink and green – ‘These are not colors you would naturally put together, but testing that tension gives the room personality,’ she says.

Storytelling objects

Another way to prevent neutrals from slipping into sameness is also the most obvious: objects with character. ‘The layering of fabric, art, and objects ensures the neutrals feel alive rather than flat,’ says Claire, who treats every surface – from tabletops to the dresser divider – as a stage for interest.

‘The art is a mix of commissions, dealer pieces, and vintage finds, chosen to feel collected over time rather than staged,’ she adds. Even a paperweight isn’t just a paperweight here – it’s a brass-and-leather cigar holder by Austrian painter Carl Auböck, circa 1950.

Not every piece needs a pedigree, but the best ones tell a story. Prioritize finds that feel lived-in or storied – think antique sales, Etsy, or 1stDibs – and your neutrals will always read as layered.

Unorthodox placements

For Claire, multifunctionality is born from breaking the rules of placement. ‘Allow there to be an armchair in the kitchen, a desk in the dressing room, or cozy lamps around a dining table,’ she says. ‘Even in a bathroom, if it has a beautiful view, why not put in a chair or a desk? Sometimes it is just about putting a piece of furniture where you would not normally expect it and seeing what happens.’

These tweaks subtly shift how a space is used. ‘If you put an armchair in a bathroom, inevitably you will sit there on your phone and behave differently. If there is nowhere to sit, you just brush your teeth and leave,’ she quips.

Here, a Watts Hesketh upholstered stool could have been omitted. Instead, it anchors the dressing area with an invitation to linger, turning storage into a space for pause.

The edit

What are the key elements of a well-designed multipurpose space?

We move through many roles in a single day, especially in an age of hybrid schedules. One minute you’re finishing a deck, the next you’re ‘Zoom top ready,’ and five minutes later you’re back in pyjamas. For Claire Sá, the solution is fluidity. ‘The idea was to avoid a dark, cupboard-like dressing room and instead create a space to wait, relax, or even send a few emails,’ she says.

‘An office today isn’t always a formal room,’ she adds. ‘It’s often just where you pop up a laptop, so combining the two made sense,’ offering space for work, yes, but also for trying on clothes, pausing between activities, ‘or making getting ready feel like an event.’

A multipurpose space should meet you where you are. In London, that meant a dressing room–office hybrid. For an LA yogi, it might mean swapping in a meditation corner instead.

How do you create a balanced home office?

A balanced home office shouldn’t feel like an office at all – it should read as an extension of your home. That means reflecting your own taste, not defaulting to the bulk-purchased ‘office accessory’ bundles in plastic and chrome. If it wouldn’t make the cut in your living room, it has no business living in your workspace.

Claire proves the point with her own substitution: a now sold-out Soho Home dining chair in lieu of a traditional desk chair. Upholstered, comfortable, and elegant, it sidesteps the clunky ‘office’ label altogether.

The lesson here is to defy expectations. Choose pieces that inspire you, even if they weren’t designed for an office. And most importantly: don’t fall for the big-box office propaganda – it’s creativity, not convention, that keeps your space balanced.

What design choices make this room timeless?

60 Curzon has carried weight since 1936, when it first opened as Mirabelle, one of Mayfair’s most storied restaurants. Now reinvented as 32 boutique residences, the address arrives with built-in history. Despite that legacy, Claire knew it couldn't behave like a nepo baby: the space had to honor its past while forging a path of its own, speaking to a modern, cosmopolitan buyer – not rest on its laurels.

‘Our aim was to create a home that feels both sophisticated and welcoming, a balance of classic Mayfair elegance and mid-century modern warmth,’ she says. ‘We wanted it to resonate with today’s lifestyle – practical, adaptable, and layered with personality.’

Her method was to cross centuries. ‘For me, it’s all about composition, mixing textures, finishes, and eras so the space feels curated rather than fixed in one style,’ Claire explains.

Timelessness is not about looking back; it’s about making history live comfortably in the present.

What should every dressing room include?

Glass-front wardrobes have become trendy for a certain set of department store connoisseur, but they’re not always the most inspiring. Sometimes, a closed door is the better choice. Concealing clutter creates calm – and, counterintuitively, can spark more creativity when putting outfits together.

‘A flat wall of cabinets can feel heavy, so we added depth with details that make the frontage feel more polished, like inset silk wallpaper panels and a bead of contrasting color,’ Claire says. ‘Doors were essential to conceal the messier side of storage, but we treated those fronts as an opportunity to decorate and refine.’

Inside, practicality rules. ‘The layout was calculated, with enough space for long dresses and shoe storage. A mix of drawers, chests, and his-and-hers sections keep it practical but also a little more open.’

Think as carefully about what’s outside as what’s within. Closet doors are as much design opportunity as the clothes inside.

Do what’s necessary, not what’s expected. A desk can be a vanity, a dressing room an office – who cares what you call it? Build for your rituals, not theirs. Infuse the space with your DNA, and suddenly the room starts being yours.

Design DNA is the Homes & Gardens series that breaks down beautiful rooms into their essential elements. Each installment dissects one interior and shows readers exactly what makes it work, from the anchor furniture and layout choices to color, lighting, and styling details.

There’s a fine line between chaotic and charming. Most personality-packed interiors veer into the former. But done right, a colorful, dynamic room can feel just as layered, intentional, and sophisticated as one that plays it safe. That balance comes to life in a sun-drenched kitchen-breakfast room in Sussex, designed by Phoebe Hollond of Studio Hollond.

Like the people that live in it, homes have DNA – and this one’s reads warm, inviting, and lived-in. So what’s the secret? Ahead, Phoebe decodes the five essential design elements that infuse this joyful open-plan kitchen with conversation and comfort – plus how to channel them in your own.

Historical references

In with the old and out with the new – Phoebe leaned into decorating with antiques and bringing in vintage elements to make the space feel more youthful, not less. What might typically read as overly-traditional instead became a grounding force against the light, fresh energy found elsewhere.

She points to the backsplash as a prime example: ‘The Douglas Watson tiles are historic, they really bring the kitchen back down to earth and create such a craftsmanship feeling,’ the designer tells Homes & Gardens.

And while recreating those exact tiles might be a heavier lift, there are other ways to channel that same effect. ‘I think that there are a lot of small details that can breathe life and soul into spaces,’ says Phoebe. 'Finding unique items from auction houses or online antique shops really helps add some personality and a sense that something is completely different that nobody else has.’ Even a few storied ceramics on a kitchen counter can do the trick.

Pattern play

The ‘oversized, insanely comfortable chairs’ – as Phoebe describes them – are essential not only for their lounge-worthy feel but also for the visual contrast they bring. Their bold, multi-colored pattern pops against the woven, airy dining chairs at the center of the room, creating a layered tension that feels considered, not chaotic. That’s key, especially in a space already grounded by a strong built-in pattern like the checkerboard terrazzo floor Phoebe installed here.

Even if you’re mixing patterns and prints – curtains, cushions, occasional seating, no matter – Phoebe says not to hold back. ‘Be brave, mixing patterns is such fun,’ she encourages.

‘I don’t think there are rules, but I do think when you mix patterns it’s important to think about the scale of each one – the more diverse in scale, the better. It’s important to create a narrative between them and everything else that is going on in the room.’

Elements of surprise

Would you think of having an Atelier Vime rattan urn–pedestal combo in your breakfast area? Probably not. But in this open-concept kitchen and dining space, surprise abounds – look left, right, up, or down, and you’ll find something unexpected.

Adding strategic twists, Phoebe suggests, is what makes a room memorable. Think: a scalloped wooden side table styled with a purple-and-red table lamp, or an unlikely hero piece like a multicolored, multi-shaded pendant light.

One such piece is the Mercury Pendant, designed by Studio Hollond itself – and one of Phoebe’s favorites in the entire project. ‘The various silk shades are reminiscent of a candy bar and bring such joy and humor to the space,’ she says.

‘I want people to smile, to feel comfortable, to feel joy and happiness,’ Phoebe explains. A little irreverence, it turns out, goes a long way in making a space feel alive.

Synergy with the outdoors

When you’ve got large, light-filled windows, you naturally find yourself gazing out of them. In this sun-drenched part of the home, Phoebe wanted to echo the idyllic scenes just beyond – blue skies, lush greenery – in ways so subtle they feel subconscious.

‘We wanted the kitchen to feel very fresh and light and welcoming, so we painted the walls a beautiful bright white with a green tint in it to bring the outside in.’ Even the worktops carry that softness, crafted from a cloudlike blue marble.

To avoid interrupting the view, Phoebe chose breezy, natural weave chik blinds for an organic feel and to coordinate with the garden outside. ‘It’s such a nice detail to use these blinds when overlooking a wonderful green space as it creates a wonderful synergy with the outdoors,' she explains.

Petite punches

Don’t underestimate the small stuff – petite interior accents often do more heavy lifting than statement pieces. While commissioning oversized abstract art can be a fast track to injecting color or drama, it’s the little moments that make a space feel layered and lived in.

‘Investing in lovely, unique and colorful cutlery, table linen’ – like the one blanketing the breakfast table from Summerill & Bishop – ‘and jugs always help add character to dining spaces, they bring so much personality without having walls adorned with artwork,’ says Phoebe.

The same goes for color more broadly. ‘If one is nervous about it, then it is better to start with just pops of color, whether this is on lampshades or cushions’ – calling these smaller touches ‘a great way to ease yourself into a lively home!’ It’s a thoughtful way to sidestep kitsch and add vibrancy, without going fully off the deep end.

The edit

What are the key elements of a well-designed open-plan kitchen?

When a room pulls double duty, mastering flow is everything. It should function as two distinct spaces that also converge seamlessly. The easiest way to create that cohesion, Phoebe says, is through the flooring. In this project, a checkerboard terrazzo runs throughout, grounding the open-plan layout for everyday living.

Beyond layout, nothing should feel too precious. Love vintage furniture, but have small children? Great – just opt for a silhouette substantial enough to take a tumble. ‘It needs to provide the space to cook, to eat, to entertain, to relax – and this space does exactly that,’ says Phoebe.

How do you create a balanced culinary space?

Cooking and eating are both activities where you want state-of-the-art function and a sense of nostalgia – precision (food should ideally taste good) and emotion (reminding you of something sweet), all at once. It’s often rooted in tradition, so your design should reflect that balance.

Consider pairing high-performance appliances with pieces that feel storied. In this Sussex space, a sleek, blue-shaded double pendant hovers above a barely-blue kitchen island, subtly offsetting the antique-style backsplash. It’s this kind of juxtaposition that keeps a kitchen feeling both grounded and forward-looking.

What design choices make this room timeless?

Even the most tasteful trends will eventually date themselves – which is why a room should never be just one thing. A space filled entirely with period pieces starts to read like an antique shop; a space built only on trends won’t age well.

The key is layering: something contemporary, something inherited, something uniquely yours. Timelessness is less about avoiding trends and more about refusing to commit to any one era too strongly. That’s why this Studio Hollond project works – it resists being pinned to a single moment in time.

What should every sociable kitchen include?

Beyond the obvious checklist – a table, enough cutlery – if Phoebe’s Sussex project is any indication, the real answer is seating. And not just enough of it, but supremely comfortable seating. Yes, you need dining chairs to gather around the table, but don’t be afraid to layer in a pair of armchairs too. It invites guests, friends, and family to shift around, settle in, and stay a while. The result is a more comfortable home and a far more natural flow of conversation.

If you remember nothing else about Studio Hollond’s farmhouse project, let it be this: design is dialogue – between patterns, palettes, and pieces with a past. That conversation is what gives the room its spirit, its rhythm, its sense of self. It’s what shapes the design DNA.

Design DNA is the Homes & Gardens series that breaks down beautiful rooms into their essential elements. Each installment dissects one interior and shows readers exactly what makes it work, from the anchor furniture and layout choices to color, lighting, and styling details.

As a professional chef, Clodagh McKenna is no stranger to a well-functioning kitchen. But in her own home, she wanted her cooking space to be a considered balance of beauty and functionality.

Her home, a three-story townhouse nestled in a quiet Chelsea neighborhood, was a rental when she bought it, which left her with a full remodel on her hands. ‘Everything was very temporary in there. There was no light; it was a very closed, small room,’ she recalls.

From the reimagined layout to the warming color palette and collected decor, here's how she transformed her kitchen from dark and depressing to an inviting personalized haven – and the key elements that were key to designing a kitchen she truly loves.

The kitchen layout

While we all crave a beautifully designed kitchen that adheres to our design style, Clodagh was very clear during the redesign process that functionality came first. As a chef, she needed to be able to cook, bake, and experiment easily – and a kitchen with appliances and features in the right place was key.

A fully built-in kitchen with cabinets covering every inch of available wall space, it was overcrowded and all too bulky. ‘It was all white and just felt very depressing when I walked into it. It was like that Carrie Bradshaw moment when she saw the townhouse and then saw the closet with Big. It was like, oh my god, we love the house, and it was amazing, but the kitchen was not good.'

Ripping out the entire room allowed her to reimagine the space into a kitchen that felt cozy, inviting, and beautiful, while also nailing the everyday functionality required for a chef. As well as adding a skylight and opening up the room for a brighter space, she reconfigured the entire kitchen layout for a better flow.

‘The major challenge was designing everything properly before I let the builders and the carpenters do their work. I had designed all of my restaurants in Dublin before, and because I’m a chef, it was probably easier for me than it would be for a lot of people to design a kitchen. I have worked in that space for most of my life, so I was very comfortable with designing it,’ she notes.

She started from a very functional perspective, considering how she wanted to use the space, and how she would fit in the appliances, like a double fridge, a large oven, and a wine fridge, as well as a large kitchen island. And she used a genius method to ensure everything was designed in the right place.

'When it was all gutted out, I got boxes and spent a few weeks placing the boxes around the kitchen for the ovens and the different elements, and worked from there,' she says, explaining that she created mock-ups of the main features.

'I did a load of boxes for my island and the boxes for the fridge, oven, sink, wine fridge, and dishwasher. I kept moving around the kitchen and thinking, okay, if I’m here chopping, where are my bins going to be? The bins are going to be underneath the island, so I don’t have to move from where I’m prepping food.'

This approach made the design process incredibly personal. She was able to stand in her kitchen and discover how she felt with the various elements in the space, ensuring that the way she used it was as functional as possible. It's the small details like adding an island so she wouldn't feel closed off while spending hours cooking – it became as much about emotion and atmosphere as it was functionality.

The open shelving

‘When all that was done, I started thinking about the beauty of it,’ she says, noting that due to the smaller footprint, she decided to forgo any upper cabinets and install open shelving instead. It's the phase of the remodel where she could bring in personalized details and pieces that brought her joy.

‘I’ve always put in shelves because I love being able to see all of my beautiful plates, glasses, pickling jars, and all the rest. I started with the surface area where I could put big bowls of vegetables and fruits, and then the shelving on the top, and how the lights would fit,' she explains.

The shelving has become a real talking point in the kitchen. Wrapping around the walls, the pieces on display invite a more personalized feel – and it's an area Clodagh has styled beautifully.

‘I definitely look at it every week and move things around and put things back. Being a chef, I’ve collected so many little things over the years, whether it’s a plate, an egg cup, or glasses,’ she explains.

‘I love having my favorites on display, although I don’t like having piles of things up there. In between them, I like having maybe a little painting I’ve done of the house, or a beautiful jar of pickles or honey from the farm. Just mixing things in so it doesn’t feel so stationary, and it feels like a collection of my life. I quite like looking at the shelves; I feel like they are the shelves of my life.’

Her careful planning and layered approach to designing the kitchen has resulted in a timeless, characterful space that tells a story of her life. Clodagh describes it as ‘French, Italian-style contemporary little farmhouse kitchen,’ which perfectly captures the different elements and old-meets-new feel.

The color palette

What really stands out is the kitchen color palette. Yellow painted walls and burgundy kitchen tiles create an unexpected but striking pairing that infuses the room with character and warmth. ‘The rest of the house is quite contemporary with bold colors, so I wanted the kitchen to be a place of warmth, where when you sit at the counter, you don't want to move.’

Clodagh’s approach to choosing her color palette revolved around not only creating warmth, but also designing a space that feels timeless, so she chose colors that she had always gravitated towards – with a subtle food theme that feels very on-brand for a chef.

‘I wanted [the kitchen] to be something that would be there forever, so I chose colors I’ve loved all my life. I started with the Avery Caramel tiles from Ca’ Pietra – they just remind me of bars of caramel. They’re so beautiful, warm, and traditional in French and Italian farmhouse kitchens.’

‘To match that, I wanted to do something honey-esque. I love all of the honey colors – we have a farm, and I’m always fascinated when we harvest the honey, all the different shades of honey that come from it. So I wanted something that would reflect that warmth. I went with Cane by Farrow and Ball,’ she adds.

The mix of tones and materials is what gives this design a really timeless appeal – the balance of light and dark, sleek and organic. ‘I put marble countertops all the way around because I wanted to bring a lightness and because they are so brilliant for baking, making pastries, and kneading dough. I went with dark wood for all of the cabinets and shelving.’

The elevated functional features

But it’s the elements where function meets beauty that stand out the most to Clodagh. ‘I love our big butler sink and the taps as well. I put a lot of time into sourcing the taps because when you look at a kitchen, the sink sometimes can be forgotten, and it’s such a big area. You use it a lot, you look at it a lot, so I was really happy about them,’ she says.

She also had a brass pot hanger installed beneath the shelving above the kitchen sink, which adds a more traditional feature and another opportunity to store essentials, pretty decor, and dried herbs. ‘It’s a big, brass bar with all of the butcher hooks on it, which I got from deVOL,’ she explains.

‘I use it in all of my kitchens – I have one in our little pub – and I love cutting loads of herbs and tying them up with twine and letting them all dry in the back, or little copper pots, and my zesters with wooden handles. It looks beautiful, and it’s so warm and inviting, but it’s also really functional. It’s another place to put things, and with all my dried herbs, I use them in teas or for roasting.’

The edit

From her genius approach to planning her kitchen with cardboard boxes to her personalized decorative touches that blend beauty and functionality, Clodagh's space is a masterclass in timeless kitchen design. Her rich, warm color palette and blend of luxurious materials have made this a kitchen that will stand the test of time – and it really makes a case for open kitchen shelving.

Design DNA is the Homes & Gardens series that breaks down beautiful rooms into their essential elements. Each installment dissects one interior and shows readers exactly what makes it work, from the anchor furniture and layout choices to color, lighting, and styling details.