There is a distinct alchemy to a Meg Ryan home. While she may be Hollywood’s quintessential rom-com darling, in the design world, she is known as a formidable tastemaker with an eye for renovation. Her design philosophy is famously practical, rooted in a lifetime of curation.

'I do nothing but rip pages out of magazines,' she once shared with ELLE Decor. 'One idea leads to the next.'

Her latest canvas is a shingle-clad farmhouse tucked away in the exclusive Bridgehampton South. Better yet, it's currently available to buy, if you have a cool $15.25 million to spare.

As one might expect, the property is a masterclass in East Coast luxury. Behind the long, gated driveway, Meg collaborated with architect Kitty McCoy and landscapers LaGuardia Design Group to transform the estate into a quintessential celebration of its zip code.

Rather than following a standard flat floor plan, Meg designed a sunken living room. This creates an intimate conversational seating pit that feels distinctly separated from the rest of the main floor without sacrificing the home's open flow.

The room beautifully highlights traditional coastal architecture, showcasing rustic beamed ceilings, shiplap wall paneling, and crown molding.

In the kitchen, this same quiet luxury aesthetic continues. The center of the space is a massive chef's kitchen anchored by a marble-topped central island that provides the perfect prep space and doubles as a gathering spot (we can only hope to be invited to a party here one day).

Instead of feeling like a sterile, modern cooking zone, the room features the same classic beamed ceilings and elegant crown molding. This brings in the signature Hamptons craftsmanship that's so prevalent throughout the property.

Shop the Meg Ryan Kitchen Edit

Outside, as mentioned, the grounds were transformed by the revered LaGuardia Design Group, one of the most prestigious landscape architecture firms in the Hamptons.

The property is hidden from the street by a long gated driveway, mature specimen trees, and exceptionally dense hedging, creating a park-like sanctuary with a swimming pool, naturally.

This $15.25 million coastal retreat is currently represented by Evan Kulman at Compass. For the right buyer, it offers a rare opportunity to live inside a masterfully designed labor of love, brought to life by one of Hollywood’s most enduring tastemakers.

Meg Ryan proves that fortune favors the bold with her kitchen renovation. Although the When Harry Met Sally actress first unveiled the impressive remodel in her California home back in 2021, its striking design remains incredibly relevant and inspiring as we enjoy the bright summer of 2026.

Featuring a bold, contrasting black-and-white kitchen color palette, the remodel – completed alongside Becker Studios – yielded spectacular results.

Meg’s mid-century modern decor is elegant, original, and fearless. It offers a refreshing combination of contemporary and retro details, beautifully balancing organic and linear elements.

Exposed white beams on the ceiling highlight the sloping shape of the kitchen, allowing maximum brightness to flood the space during these sunny summer days. The chrome hardware on the stove and cabinets highlights the silver notes in the marble backsplash, while the curved shapes of the doorway, the oven, and the sink maintain a relaxed, breezy feel against the clean lines of the room.

Shop the Meg Ryan Kitchen Edit

Various shades of cream and gray marble tiles cover the floor, while a leaning fiddle leaf fig filters the warm light in the background. Luxe details like the pedestal sink and the La Cornue Cornufe 110 oven elevate the space, while framed photographs and lush plants keep it grounded and welcoming for the season.

The most show-stopping detail that sets Meg's retro style kitchen apart – and keeps it at the forefront of interior design trends years after its debut – is the brave use of contrasting colors. Designers love incorporating black into a kitchen, but they caution that it can be a difficult color to pull off successfully.

Interior designer Peg Hemzacek says: 'Black is a timeless and versatile color that can be used in the foreground or the background to set the mood and provide contrast.' She offers tips for decorating with black in your own kitchen, recommending a focus on texture and lighting.

Peg states: 'The key to an all-black kitchen is to add texture with the tile material choices and installation patterns.'

Furthermore, she says: 'Lighting is key for a black kitchen. Natural light is always the most desirable if you can incorporate that into your design. Soft glowing lights are better than harsh white light bulbs. Think about where you can add kitchen lighting in addition to overhead fixtures like sconces or under-cabinet lights.'

Meg Ryan’s kitchen perfectly accomplishes these goals by mixing the varied textures of marble, wood, and metal, and by filling the room with natural summer light through large windows and reflective white ceilings.

The New York-based designer Artem Kropovinsky of Arsight says that black works well because it is 'a dramatic color with the ability to give depth to a space and add an element of surprise, making the kitchen visually intriguing.'

However, this drama can make the kitchen appear harsh if not handled properly. Kropovinsky recommends pairing black with neutral tones to offset this effect. He states: 'To prevent your kitchen from becoming a black hole, balance the black with neutrals like white or grey. For instance, a white ceiling or floor can keep the design grounded.'

By pairing black appliances, counters, and accents with a bright white ceiling, Meg Ryan creates a room that is timeless and bold without looking too dark. In interior design as in life, Meg Ryan’s bold Montecito kitchen shows us in 2026 that a well-considered risk can pay off for years to come.

If you enjoy our celebrity news and interior design advice, why not sign up to our newsletter so you never miss the latest features?

As our lives are lived increasingly outdoors, homeowners are seeking new ways to make our properties feel private. Instead of fortress-like walls or fences, sustainably minded people are opting for the greener alternative of trees, bushes, and hedges. Meg Ryan's '90s yard is the perfect place to turn for inspiration.

In photographs of the property she shared with ex-husband Dennis Quaid, captured in 2002, we see that the actress used plants for privacy so well that the home could only be captured with an aerial camera. Her front yard features well-manicured hedges and a collection of coniferous and palm trees. Though the layout is simple, it demonstrates the sheer power that lush greenery can have as pseudo-fencing.

To unpack the lessons from how Meg Ryan uses shrubs for privacy, Homes & Gardens spoke with Senior Garden Designer Mirela Bajic about the best ways to recreate her look. We also curated an edit of the best hedges and tools to get started with your own green fencing. Let's kick off with a glimpse into Meg's front yard.

Shop The Privacy Planting Edit

First, it's important to note that landscaping with hedges, as we see in Meg Ryan's garden is an increasingly popular backyard trend in 2026. Mirela Bajic, Senior Garden Designer at House Designer explains: 'More and more people are spending more time in their gardens and want to feel like a proper outdoor room. An extension of their home. The desire for privacy doesn’t have to mean solid wall or fence. This is where planting is a softer and more beautiful solution. When done well, it also adds structure as well as seasonal interest and biodiversity at the same time.'

As Meg's property demonstrates, height is a key consideration when planting for privacy. Mirela advises: 'The best plants for privacy are ones with structure and tall. These include bamboo, clumping varieties not running, grows fast and creates an almost instant screen. Pleached trees, hornbeam or lime, give you height and privacy without taking up ground space, think architectural.'

She continues: 'Photinia Red Robin is a popular evergreen, they grow fast and the red new growth is stunning. Rosa, climbing roses on a trellis give privacy with extraordinary beauty, particularly in summer.'

To emulate Meg Ryan's look, Mirela recommends a multi-tiered approach. She states: 'My expert advice is think in layers, tall structural plants at the boundary, mid height plants in front, lower planting at the front to create depth. Do not plant too close to boundaries or structures, give roots room. Mix evergreen and deciduous so you have year round structure but seasonal change too. Be intentional about placement. The best privacy planting should not look like a barrier.'

Love celebrity news and interior design inspiration? Sign up for our newsletter and get the latest features delivered straight to your inbox.

A wonderfully rich, fragrant garden appeals to all your senses, offering a shifting tapestry of scent and beauty from the crisp mornings of spring through to the golden afternoons of fall. When planning my own sensory space for 2026, capturing this year-round magic was essential. It is exactly why I adore what Derrik Eichelberger at Arcadia Studios Landscape has achieved in Meg Ryan's garden.

Designed to create a fully immersive experience, following in Ryan's footsteps and planting a fragrant sensory garden is a choice you will never regret. This domestic landscape is one of the finest examples available today, and the results truly speak for themselves.

Even when scaled down to a much smaller backyard, employing similar planting, materials, and colors works beautifully to replicate that signature look, feel, and aroma.

Shop the Meg Ryan-Inspired Edit

When designing a sensory garden, there are two distinct possibilities in terms of layout. You can either opt for a series of separate zones that stimulate each of the senses individually, such as sitting next to a cool pond during a midsummer heatwave or enjoying the rustle of autumn leaves in the wind.

Alternatively, you can choose a multi-sensory experience where you engage with everything simultaneously, like walking along a gravel path on a warm July evening, brushing your fingertips through the foliage, and taking in the fragrant garden plants. Personally, I prefer to landscape with gravel whenever possible. Gravel garden ideas create depth and bring structure to your garden, as well as adding a decorative touch.

If you are looking for a way to plan a dry garden for the upcoming hot summer months, go for gravel. 'Lawns risk making our gardens bland, says nurseryman Oliver Filippi.

'Finding ways to replace them is a move against uniformity.' This on-trend design approach is both low-maintenance and eco-friendly.' It is the optimum choice if you are planning a drought-tolerant yard in 2026. Plus, gravel is not only cheap and low-maintenance, but the often loud crunching noise it makes underfoot can be a good burglar deterrent.

Another important aspect of Ryan's sensory space is the fragrant planting that shifts with the seasons. Choose plants with fragrance that drenches the air from late spring through peak summer, such as mock orange (Philadelphus), roses, jasmine, and honeysuckle, as well as the curry plant (Helichrysum italicum), which is beautifully scented on warm, sunny days. As an extra sensory layer, include plants with scents that need to be experienced up close by brushing your fingers through them, like lavender and scented geraniums, as well as herbs like rosemary, mint, sage, and thyme, which need to be picked or crushed to release their aroma.

Planting either side of a winding gravel path maximizes this immersive experience. As a nature lover, I wanted to include plenty of wildlife garden ideas in my space to invite biodiversity as the seasons shift. 'The greater the range of plants in a garden, the more wildlife it will attract,' say garden designers Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg of Harris Bugg Studio.

'Choosing a variety of heights, colors, and flowering times of the year will fast-track your backyard into a butterfly delight. Think about offering a pollinator buffet.' Introducing water – even just a small container such as a birdbath to cool down local wildlife or a miniature pond – will make a difference and will help your garden come alive. This Solar-Powered Birdbath Water Feature from Amazon is a best-seller with over 5,000 positive reviews.

Finally, include elements of touch in your yard, which evolve beautifully from the soft textures of spring to the stark silhouettes of winter.

From feathery planting and silky petals in the peak of summer to smooth pebbles, polished stepping stones, peeling bark, and spongy moss in the colder months, there is no better place than a sensory garden to explore touch. Choose plants with textured flowers, foliage, berries, seeds, bark, and twigs, as it provides the perfect finishing touch.

My personal favorite tree to cultivate is the olive variety, and the Arbequina Olive Tree from Walmart is a year-round staple in my backyard. I also have the Waxleaf Privet Shrub from Fast Growing Trees for added privacy with just a hint of seasonal color, making them perfect for boundaries and covering unattractive fencing.

If you enjoy our celebrity news and interior design advice, why not sign up to our newsletter so you never miss the latest features?

Combining various styles, materials, and colors without creating a cluttered or mismatched look is a design challenge many homeowners aim to master.

This winter, as we spend more time indoors, creating a cohesive sanctuary is more appealing than ever. Interior designer Monique Gibson is a specialist in this balanced approach, a talent beautifully showcased in the open–plan kitchen she designed for actress Meg Ryan.

While there is much to appreciate in this kitchen-diner, it is the seamless blend of modern and classic elements that truly captures the eye. Farmhouse kitchens, especially those reflecting the modern farmhouse style, remain among the most popular American kitchen styles. Their enduring appeal lies in how effortlessly smart and livable they feel during the busy holiday season and beyond.

The modern farmhouse aesthetic, as seen in Meg Ryan’s home, offers a perfect equilibrium. It honors tradition while feeling entirely current, pairing rustic textures with contemporary elegance to create a space that is cozy for winter evenings yet remains refreshingly uncluttered.

Joanna Gaines, star of Fixer Upper, has long championed this look. It is easy to see why so many have adopted it; with a neutral palette, organic materials, and a focus on comfort, it provides a serene and functional environment. This style is about taking the best of the past and adapting it for 21st-century life, and it is simpler to achieve than it looks.

‘To me, modern farmhouse is incorporating the old with the new,’ says interior designer Sarah Kruse, founder of Storie. ‘Vintage style furnishings with newer shapes and materials that consistently pay credence to nature.’

Shop the Look

To begin your own transformation, focus first on the color scheme. A successful modern farmhouse relies on a neutral foundation. Decorate with neutrals by layering whites, creams, and soft charcoal tones to provide a crisp, contemporary base. This allows you to add seasonal accent colors later, though it is vital to keep the space from feeling cold or clinical during the darker months.

‘To avoid a room looking stark, an off-white or pale neutral is always a good approach to take,’ advises Ruth Mottershead, creative director of Little Greene. ‘Using different neutral tones from the same color family allows for layering and seamless shifts from room to room, giving a sense of consistency with subtle nuances.’

Finally, incorporating texture in interior design is essential for an authentic and inviting feel. Without varied textures, a farmhouse kitchen can feel uninspired. View the room as a whole and integrate mixed materials to bring vibrancy and warmth to the heart of the home.

Layering these elements adds necessary depth and dimension. ‘The layering of materials, colors, and shapes all amount to give your interiors an overall texture which can define the look and feel of a kitchen,’ says Martin Waller, co–founder of Andrew Martin.

‘There is nothing worse than a flat design,’ adds Camilla Clarke, creative director at Albion Nord. ‘Try mixing different textures such as natural timber with smooth marble and stainless steel. It creates the perfect backdrop to layer on top of with neutral color and subtle pattern.’

Even the simplest arrangements can elevate an empty corner. Whether it's a vase filled with seasonal flowers or a trinket crowning a stack of books, thoughtful styling can make all the difference to otherwise empty nooks.

While it might sound obvious, seemingly simple arrangements will truly transform any area of your home. While I've long believed this, Meg Ryan's breakfast table has made me even more convinced of the power of intentional styling.

Featuring an artful collection of delicate ceramics, Meg's breakfast room feels inviting and cozy. While Meg's kitchen shelves frame the room, the delicate dining table display brings the space to life.

Shop the Look

Meg's breakfast table styling couldn't be more thoughtful. Featuring a handful of handmade ceramics and a delicate floral centerpiece, it's a lesson in paring things back without compromising on homely charm.

Meg's kitchen is breathtakingly serene, but I'm convinced that the intentional and thoughtful styling is what makes the space so successful. At first glance, the breakfast table appears simple, but it's clear plenty of thought has gone into the arrangement.

The farmhouse-style table sets the tone of the space, giving the kitchen a refreshingly lived-in, homely feel. Despite being a white kitchen, these rustic touches bring a grounded quality that makes the space feel inviting and familiar. The vintage furniture is purposefully mismatched, only adding to the room's charm.

The ceramics are the perfect flourish that transforms the eating area into a thoughtful space. Reminiscent of a still life painting, the pieces are intentionally gathered together, giving the area a sense of accomplishment, matched by the considered fruit bowl arrangement and the dainty floral display.

Meg's kitchen is artfully designed. Featuring shelves of tableware and vintage details, it's a lesson in fusing the past and present into designs. Whilst every element is impressive, her simple breakfast table set-up couldn't be more thoughtful or welcoming.

The modern farmhouse style is one of the most revered design aesthetics among celebrities, from Amanda Seyfried and Gigi Hadid to Meg Ryan. The latter, however, has changed how I see this tried-and-true aesthetic for the better.

I'll admit, I always found the modern farmhouse style somewhat uninspiring, despite its sleekness – the style has always felt a little too safe and, in the worst case, slightly boring. In Meg's home, it's the opposite. The Sleepless in Seattle actress worked with Santa Barbara-based Becker Studios to bring her black-and-white farmhouse alive with layered textures – starting with her curated accessories.

To ensure her modern farmhouse living room feels thoughtfully designed – and anything but flat – Meg has decorated with eclectic pieces, including large terracotta vases (like these one from Crate & Barrel), rattan storage baskets (similar to this one from Wayfair) and decorative branches to bring sculptural drama to her table.

Meg may have converted me on the modern farmhouse style, but I am not alone in my observations. Lesley Taylor, an interior designer and founder of The Baked Tile Company, mirrors my sentiments, noting how the this style should be designed to be both lived in and personal. These accessories keep the space truly alive.

'The beauty of the modern farmhouse trend is it’s an interiors style that can truly be lived in. It’s all about creating beautiful, liveable spaces with rustic detailing and practical touches for a contemporary edge,' Lesley says. Claire Garner, the founder and director of Claire Garner Design Studio, agrees.

'The rustic farmhouse interior design trend embraces natural textures, vintage or antique pieces and a lived‑in, layered style that feels both grounded and inviting, making it perfect for creating a homely, relaxed vibe,' she adds. 'There is a real shift towards thoughtful interiors that tell a story. Rustic farmhouse style offers a sense of nostalgia and a strong connection to nature, while still feeling relevant and fresh.'

To elevate your look beyond Meg-inspired accessories, Claire recommends experimenting with lime-washed walls, rustic wooden beams, and reclaimed finishes that make a lasting statement. With Meg's space as the blueprint, it's impossible to go wrong.

Designing a farmhouse-style home that feels both chic and timeless may seem daunting, but Meg Ryan has shown it’s entirely achievable – and the key is a classic monochromatic color scheme.

Although this post is a few years old, the idea remains just as relevant today. In her black and white kitchen, created with Santa Barbara-based Becker Studios, Meg carried the black-and-white scheme into her open-plan living area. The architecture leans industrial farmhouse, with high wooden beams, a textured brick wall, and a large fireplace – yet the simple contrast of black and white instantly modernizes the space while letting the rustic textures shine.

Many traditional farmhouse interiors stick to natural wood and brick tones, but a black-and-white palette creates a timeless backdrop that works with any style. Giovanni Scippo, architectural director, explains: 'Using natural materials like exposed bricks and wooden beams establishes a rustic foundation, but color is what brings it into the present. A white base with black accents instantly feels fresh, modern, and enduring.'

Even without structural changes, this timeless look is easy to achieve. 'Opt for wood furniture and woven textures,' Giovanni adds. 'They add warmth and character, keeping the monochromatic scheme inviting rather than stark. Hardwood floors enhance the contrast, giving the room a cozy, lived-in feel.'

Mary-Lynn from Mary-Lynn Ring Design, LLC, emphasizes that a white and black color combination is a palette that never goes out of style. 'White living rooms are admired by designers for their timeless quality,' she says. 'They serve as the perfect backdrop for natural materials, whether wood or metal, allowing textures and shapes to take center stage without competing with color.'

The beauty of a black-and-white palette is that it bridges eras and aesthetics. Meg Ryan’s living room proves that rustic farmhouse features can coexist effortlessly with contemporary elegance, all while remaining a style that will endure for years. With black-and-white as your foundation, layering in textures, materials, and thoughtful accents is what transforms a house into a home – and keeps it looking stylish no matter the color trend.

Shop the Look

Meg Ryan's elegantly understated style needs no introduction. Throughout her career, she has renovated at least nine homes, each one more stunning than the last. Her signature look is pared-back in terms of color, with a focus on impressive finishes and silhouettes. The dining room in her Mercer Street apartment is the ultimate testament to this.

Collaborating with the esteemed interior designer Monique Gibson in 2016, Meg transformed the SoHo apartment into a cinematic wonder. Though Meg sold the home in 2017, we're still thinking about it.

The dining room is particularly striking for its clever use of mixed metals. Though the cardinal rule for blending silver and gold is 'don't,' Meg's space proves that rules are made to be broken.

It features a gold pendant light, a custom stainless steel table, and a mirrored silver fireplace. In addition to the custom pieces, Meg Ryan's dining room features stunning black original Thonet Bentwood chairs available at 1stDibs (these lacquer seats from Wayfair are a beautiful alternative).

Recreate Meg's Mixed Metal Look at Home

Though Meg mixes metals using large furnishings, interior designers say you can also mix metals using smaller furnishings. These are our editors' picks for getting the look in your own home.

If you are hoping to tap into Meg's look, experts say integrating a touch of brushed gold will be a huge interior design trend for this year.

Mike Manders, designer at Haddon explains: 'Brushed gold brassware has become a defining finish in luxury design. Unlike high-shine metals, the soft, textured surface of brushed gold offers a subdued elegance that complements a variety of interiors, from classic to modern. This finish pairs beautifully with natural materials like stone and wood, enhancing a bathroom’s sense of warmth and depth. For those looking to introduce a touch of refined glamour while maintaining a timeless appeal, brushed gold taps offer the perfect balance.'

In Meg's space, this comes through in the antique-style lighting, but the finish also works well as an accent on furniture or as a decorative piece.

Meg Ryan's mixed metal dining room shows that silver and gold together is not such a sin as we once thought. When finishes are combined with care and precision, the result always pays off.

As a design writer focused on celebrity style, I am constantly amazed by the tablescapes and decorative arrangements that celebs create, especially those with seasonal flair. Martha Stewart remains a north star in this arena, but I was recently captivated by Reese Witherspoon's pumpkin bouquet. Still, it was Meg Ryan's seasonal mantelpiece display that has lingered in my mind ever since.

A true mantelscape, Meg's marble mantel features three vases, each different in color, size, and material. The black vase holds fall foliage that echoes the patterns in the wallpaper, tying the display together beautifully.

Her setup has me reflecting on how we transition table and mantel decor from one season to the next. As Meg demonstrates, decor can be easily updated and styled to reflect the changing seasons.

Shop the look

Start by securing a solid foundation for your table or mantel. Meg’s trio of vases works because each piece is distinct yet complementary.

Varying the height, shade, and material of your vases adds visual interest. Mix stone, glass, and ceramic for texture and contrast. Meg pairs a dark, a light, and a medium-toned vase against a cool white marble surface. The contrast between the solid colors and the intricate marble veining creates additional depth and intrigue.

Once your vases are selected, consider the seasonal elements inside them. For fall, autumnal bouquets in shades of orange, red, and gold, like Meg’s, feel natural and festive. But don’t be afraid to experiment. Add a mini pumpkin, pinecones, or even acorns to bring the outdoors in. Seasonal touches like these make your decor feel fresh and dynamic.

Candles are another seasonal essential. Their fragrance can signal a transition from one season to the next. An amber or sandalwood candle works perfectly for fall and winter, while a clean linen scent is ideal for spring and summer.

By combining complementary vases, seasonal foliage, and thoughtfully chosen candles, you can create a mantel or table display that evolves gracefully throughout the year.

Additionally, consider a background that is timeless and non-seasonal. Ryan's wallpaper depicts leaves, which is reminiscent of the outdoors regardless of season. The gray and white color scheme also leans into a neutral palette, which serves as a fantastic foundation for any seasonal decor to be switched in and out.

Above all, make sure the items on display feel connected to their surroundings. Earth tones and neutral shades are reliable year-round choices and will complement almost any backdrop.

Stepping inside Meg Ryan's modern farmhouse kitchen, designed by Monique Gibson, is to witness a masterclass in effortless style. While every element of the space is expertly curated, it's the simple yet captivating kitchen shelving that truly sets it apart.

Her decorative display might look simple, but the inviting design brings a sense of character and warmth that no closed cabinet could ever do. It's an ideal option for anyone with a beautiful collection of crockery or a keen cook who loves having ingredients close at hand.

While this look requires organised kitchen storage ideas to keep the shelves looking uncluttered, the result is a kitchen that feels more personal, inviting, and uniquely yours.

In a kitchen filled with closed kitchen cabinets, a cluster of simple floating shelves can make a dramatic difference. They add visual interest and a sense of airiness that draws the eye, all while helping to keep your countertops clear and organized.

There are a variety of options to choose from, whether you prefer the clean lines of shelves with invisible supports or the added style of decorative brackets. Other choices include classic plate racks or cubby holes built directly into furniture, all of which offer a way to display your favorite items.

Just like Meg has done, by decorating shelves with everything from ceramics and vintage glassware to plants or your favorite cookbooks, you can infuse your kitchen with a personal touch that is both beautiful and functional.

For a stylized look, stack collections of your favorite crockery, line up fresh herbs and incorporate small pieces of art along a run of open shelving.

Shop the Meg Ryan edit

Something I am noticing about the kitchens of 2025 is that kitchen tables are slowly starting to replace the purpose (and popularity) of kitchen islands. You are far more likely to see a gorgeous kitchen with a huge table at the center, ready for prepping, hosting, and socializing, than a solid block of an island.

But what you lose by forgoing a kitchen table for a kitchen island is storage and the opportunity to add in any appliances. So when I spied Meg Ryan's kitchen, complete with an island/table design that does it all, I had to know more about this multipurpose space.

What I love most about the design is that it has the informal, relaxed feel of a kitchen table (which is why I think so many people are choosing tables over islands right now), but all the practicalities of a built-in island. There's even a sink!

The design is also unique in its shape. From the top, it looks like a simple rectangle, which gives a more table-like feel, but underneath, a swooping pedestal gives an artistic, sculptural look that is more permanent – like an island.

The sink that sits at one end only adds to the permanence, creating the perfect kitchen layout with the hob handily situated just behind. Ryan has positioned kitchen chairs on two sides of the island, encouraging conversation in the space, just as you would expect from a kitchen table. Note that the choice of chairs is a dark wood. The wood is cool-toned, so it doesn't create a clash with the cooler kitchen color scheme, but there's still a warmth there that, with the wooden decor on the island, just slightly softens the monochrome palette.

As well as creating this social hub in the space and a practical spot for cooking, the island also breaks up the color scheme of the kitchen. It both contrasts and complements the darker cabinets that surround it, creating a layer of light right in the middle of the room. The delicate shape of the island's base helps to counteract the heaviness of these colors. It allows the light from the windows and the white marble to shine through, brightening and uplifting the kitchen.

Shop the look

No matter the design of your home, you can replicate the elegant, elevated aesthetic of Meg Ryan's space with these products – inspired by the ones we've seen on her island and countertops.

This kitchen design truly is a balance of form and function. The kitchen island looks beautiful; its base is almost art-like, but it can work hard too. It offers plenty of surface space to prep and a sink that's in the perfect position. The fact that it's designed to look more like a table than a permanent island works twofold; it doesn't add too much visual bulk, and it can work more casually as a space to perch with a drink, cooking, and hosting, or to gather around and have a relaxed family meal.

A distressed mirror has the power to transform any space. The intentionally lived-in detail lends a welcoming sensibility to any space, making it the perfect addition to Meg Ryan's entryway.

The actress took to Instagram to share her hallway mirror idea, showcasing a black and silver antique glass mirror on her modern farmhouse-style shiplap walls. A glass table, hurricane glasses filled with flowers, and a silver decorative cabinet complement the mirror for a cohesive color scheme. It is equal parts pared back and inviting.

Modern farmhouse decor has been a popular interior design trend for several years. Although the style is striking, it can sometimes feel too modern, leading to a cold and unwelcoming ambiance. Adding in a touch of intentional imperfection, such as through a distressed mirror as seen in Meg Ryan's home, is the perfect antidote.

As Meg demonstrates, the best mirrors bring a sense of functionality and storied warmth to a modern farmhouse scheme. Rather than looking as if everything was just purchased from Pottery Barn, it feels like the home was carefully assembled over time.

Lesley Taylor, an interior designer and founder of The Baked Tile Company, explains: 'The beauty of the modern farmhouse trend is it’s an interiors style that can truly be lived in. It’s all about creating beautiful, liveable spaces with rustic detailing and practical touches for a contemporary edge.'

Shop the Distressed Mirror Edit

An intriguingly imperfect mirror is an especially beautiful detail to integrate as part of an entryway idea.

'Hallways are often the first part of your home that a guest will see, so make a style statement with a striking piece of artwork or furniture, advises design expert Lena Gierasinska. She continues: 'Those with smaller entryways should consider a mirror – this will create the illusion of space and make the hallway feel lighter and airier.'

As seen in Meg's home, these striking details are the perfect complement to white, and color should be used sparingly here. However, you can never go wrong with adding texture.

Lena recommends: 'Temper this boldness with a neutral color palette and wooden furniture for a welcoming and inviting space. A rug grounds the space, adds warmth underfoot, and can inject a hint of color or pattern.'

In interiors, imperfection is often the pathway to ultimate perfection. Take it from Meg Ryan.

It's all too easy to fall foul of uninspiring color fads. One such color that is always quick to raise a few eyebrows is gray. I was always quick to silently sigh every time I heard someone was decorating with this much maligned non-color. However, we've noticed more and more interior designers and celebrities welcoming this outdated color trend back into their homes to stunning effect.

Could decorating with gray be having a renaissance? Yes, but only if you know how to choose the right shade for your home.

The problem with gray is not necessarily the shade itself, but the overuse of gray during the early noughties. Much like the popularity of beige in the nineties, gray became the catch-all color for residential and commercial properties. Come 2020, with a pandemic in full swing, we were sick of this gloomy shade – we wanted color.

But like most color trends, they are cyclical, and gray is back and better than ever, or perhaps we just understand gray room ideas more. Of all the neutrals, gray is one that instantly brings gravitas, so it is worth learning how to get it right.

It's not just designers who share our renewed love for this popular color. American actresses Jennifer Aniston, Vanessa Hudgens, and Meg Ryan have recently used gray in their latest projects. The final results, which use some of the best gray paints, are a visual triumph.

Gray is a color that has its own weather system of light levels and hues. From the gentle gray morning rain of a bright wide sky to the breathtaking drama of dark storm clouds, the scope for creating beautiful interiors is endless. It is a shade with myriad subtle color notes that draws inspiration from beach pebbles and clay, as well as from slate and charcoal.

If you're stuck for inspiration, or worry that gray is too cookie-cutter, simply borrow inspiration from Jennifer Aniston's tranquil bedroom, which beautifull mixes gray, brown and soft purple tones – all restful colors that blend beautifully. The key for designer Stephen Shadley was to use texture, and plenty of it. It's a way of adding depth and dimension to a room as well as comfort.

Gray harmonises well with almost every other hue, making it a most adaptable neutral and giving good reason for its popularity, says Helen Shaw, director at Benjamin Moore. She says there are three approaches to take when using gray as a base.

‘Tonal grays are perfect for anyone looking to add an accent color, as a complementary gray with a matching warm or cool undertone can be chosen for a harmonious look.’

Alternatively, she suggests layering a gray paint with a green undertone: this is a fool-proof choice, as green grays sit at the center of the color wheel and flatter both warm and cool colors.

Finally, to make more of a statement, go for corals and pink peach tones. ‘They create a rich, warm, welcoming feel with undertones of red, orange, and pink. It works beautifully as an accent to a gray scheme or as a statement wall color,’ she adds.

My favorite way to decorate with gray is to make do like Becker Studios, the design team behind Meg Ryan's kitchen, and introduce gray in all its glorious shades and variations.

To avoid a gray-on-gray color scheme feeling cold, you can add warmth through textured fabrics and the layering of patterns.

Mood is one consideration, but it is also helpful to consider how gray might affect the size of a room.

‘The paler the tone, the more it will reflect the available light. The darker the tone, the more light it will absorb,’ says Justyna Korczynska, senior designer at Crown Paints.

‘At the extremes, white will make a room look more spacious, and black brings the walls visually inwards. This rule applies to all colors. So, a pale grey is ideal if you want to make a room look larger; a deep charcoal would make it appear smaller. Having said that, a dark color used in a small room can be really effective.’

Perhaps the most modern way to do gray is to replicate Vanessa Hudgens' daringly dark gray bathroom. Interior designer Jenna Peffley took inspiration from the trend for color-drenching to create this decadent look.

This paint trick acts as a beautiful canvas for interesting architecture, beautiful furniture, and accessories. It is a fantastic way to make a statement, and gray is perfect for color-drenching.

Shop the gray edit

My final piece of advice is to treat gray as a neutral and layer it with darker and lighter tones, including plenty of texture and some accent pattern. It makes a cozy and wonderfully dramatic statement at the darker end of the grey spectrum, and at its lightest, it offers a sanctuary of calm.

Modern farmhouse has been one of the most prevailing design styles of the last several years, but – contrary to its name – it doesn't always feel all that modern. With the right touches, however, this style can still look on trend for years to come. Meg Ryan's New York kitchen is the perfect example.

The actress's Tribeca modern farmhouse kitchen centers on a natural wood table. Framed by a set of built-in shelves stacked with dishes, glasses, and mugs. Above the table, a set of colander-shaped industrial pendants light up the room. A wide fruit bowl and sculptural pottery are simultaneously grounding and elevating, bringing a decorative touch to the simple space.

The combination of industrial and traditional stuns in Ryan's modern kitchen. 'The classic farmhouse kitchen is beloved for its warmth, inviting feel, and timeless style, but in today’s modern homes, this look can be elevated with a contemporary or industrial twist—most notably through the use of mixed metal materials,' explains Westchester-based interior designer Nina Lichtenstein. 'If you’re looking to refresh this iconic aesthetic while staying true to its roots, metals like brass, copper, stainless steel, and blackened iron can bring an edgy yet refined look to the traditional farmhouse kitchen.'

If you hope to recreate Ryan's style, attention to kitchen lighting is essential. Lichtenstein explains: 'Lighting is an area where mixed metals can shine. Industrial-style pendant lights with black or iron finishes hung over a central kitchen island offer a nod to the industrial trend without overpowering the farmhouse feel. To soften the look and maintain that warm, lived-in aesthetic, consider pairing these lights with wooden accents—perhaps a reclaimed wood kitchen island or natural wood bar stools. This combination of metal and wood is not only visually striking but also aligns with a nature-inspired design philosophy, where natural materials meet modern elegance.'

Farmhouse decor and furniture can balance the harshness of these modern fittings for a striking look. For instance, in Meg Ryan's kitchen the wooden table provides this effect. Lichtenstein states: 'While metals bring a contemporary flair, it’s essential to preserve the essence of a farmhouse kitchen. Incorporating natural elements, like exposed wooden beams, reclaimed wood shelves, and rustic decor, keeps the space grounded in its roots. The farmhouse style is all about blending beauty with function, and while metals add a sleek, modern edge, they must be balanced with organic materials that evoke a sense of warmth and comfort.'

As per usual, Meg Ryan's design is a lesson in balance. Combining industrial and modern farmhouse design makes it easy to create impact with just a few furnishings.

Kitchen styling is the easiest way to transform your cooking space from drab to fab. Accouterments like gorgeous salt and pepper mills, carefully chosen vases, or a high-quality utensil dispenser, elevate your countertops and shelves with no remodel required. In Meg Ryan's kitchen, the most functional styling is the most effective.

The actress's black-and-white kitchen is transformed by a black kettle perched on the stovetop. Though a kettle can often be an eyesore to be tucked away in an appliance garage when guests come over or a purely functional item that lives in the bottom cabinets, Ryan harnesses the power of matching this seemingly simple item. The black of its surface is a beautiful contrast against the white and gray marble of her backsplash and seems to extend the cooktop of her iconic La Cornue stove up. Its matte appearance introduces a new texture against the shimmer of the marble.

In addition to the color, Ryan elevates her kitchen by choosing a stovetop kettle with a sculptural shape. The intricate handle and short, curved spout of her kettle differ from the rest of the clean lines throughout the space making it all the more visually appealing. Luckily, there is a gorgeous kettle to elevate your kitchen decor no matter your style.

As a bonus, Ryan's choice of a kitchen appliance as decor also makes cooking easier. Rather than digging through cabinets to find a kettle, hers is right there to simply add water. For those who cook pasta or make tea often, it's a godsend.

Though the kettle is the most noticeable element of Ryan's kitchen styling, it's not the only addition with benefits for the design and functionality of her space. For instance, photos show that she has chosen an all black knife-block for ease of access for chopping equipment. On the left side of the stovetop, a marble canister holds her cooking spatulas and spoons. One can imagine an infinite number of black accessories that would continue to elevate the look.

If you hope to create a similar look on your own kitchen countertops, consider what color and shapes will over the best contrast or continuity with your space. When in doubt, black accessories would compliment almost any environment. Meg Ryan's kitchen is a simple, but always necessary reminder that the little things can make the biggest difference.

As a design writer with a focus on celebrity style, I am constantly amazed by the tablescapes and decorative pieces that celebs concoct – particularly seasonal ones. Martha Stewart is a north star, while I was recently taken by Reese Witherspoon's pumpkin bouquet. However, I recently caught sight of Meg Ryan's fall mantel display, and I have been thinking of it ever since.

A mantlescape, if you will, Ryan's marble mantel is adorned with three vases, all in different colors, sizes, and materials. The black one boasts an autumnal bouquet, mirroring the foliage that patterns the wallpaper.

The set-up has me considering the ways in which we transition table (and mantel) settings from one season to the next – because as Ryan proves, decor can be easily modifiable, and styled to suit a season.

First off, secure a solid base of table/mantle decor. We love how Ryan has chosen three different but complementary vases, all of which vary in height, shade, and material. Try mixing and matching stone, glass, and ceramic vases to create visual interest on a surface. Ryan has opted for one dark, one light, and one medium-toned vase, while the mantle surface is a cool white marble. The contrast between the solid-colored vases and the intricate veining of the marble also provides further visual intrigue.

Once you have selected your vases, consider what you will put inside them. Autumnal bouquets are typically seen in the form of orange and red dried flowers, like Ryan's, but get experimental! Try placing a mini pumpkin next to one of the vases, or even add some pinecones to bring some of the natural world inside. The fall decor ideas are endless.

We would be remiss not to mention candles. A seasonal staple for fall, depending on fragrance, you can transition scented candles in and out. For example, an amber or sandalwood candle would be excellent for fall/winter, while a clean linen scent is perfect for spring/summer.

Additionally, consider a background that is timeless and non-seasonal. Ryan's wallpaper depicts leaves, which is reminiscent of the outdoors regardless of season. The gray and white color scheme also leans into a neutral palette, which serves as a fantastic foundation for any seasonal decor to be switched in and out.

Finally, consider adding some staple items that have sentimental value to a mantle or table. Framed photographs, tchotchkes, or candlestick holders are just a few examples of items that can remain as decor 365 days of the year.

Above all, ensure there is some cohesion between the items on display and its surroundings. Earth tones and neutrals are excellent picks as year-round colors, and are sure to pair well with any background.

As a resident of one of the grayest, rainiest cities in the world, London, I'm a huge proponent of indoor-outdoor living. I love the idea of being able to harvest every ounce of sunlight, no matter the weather outside. To me, filling the home with light and visions of surrounding trees and plants is a surefire way to boost your mood and echo the unparalleled beauty of the outdoors as part of your interiors. Meg Ryan's Montecito home features one of the best examples I've ever seen.

The actress's sunroom idea was brought to life by Becker Studio, and the garden was built by Arcadia Studio. They're both stunning. The sunroom has high ceilings that can be seen through the unique, repurposed windows with black lines between the panes. Ryan's a-frame white ceilings have a statement spherical white light hanging down. Two white square armchairs sit by the windows. The garden features olive trees and evergreen bushes on either side of the sunroom doors. Feathery flowers wave in the breeze in front of it. Antique-style gray stone sprawls around the front of the property.

As beautiful as these spaces are independently, the marriage of the sunroom with the garden idea is what makes the home so gorgeous. From the vantage point of the garden, you can see the bright, minimalist design of the sunroom. It's clear that from the inside of the house, you would be able to see the trees, flowers, and shrubs as if they were inside the house. The complementary nature creates a space that looks cohesive and beautiful.

Indoor-outdoor living has been an increasing interior design trend over the last several years. It sits at the intersection of the biophilic interiors trend and the increased emphasis on personalized interiors. Biophilic interiors have been one of my favorite trends of the last few years. The look involves incorporating a variety of items sourced from nature for a grounding, calm feel in the home. It is versatile and can range from elegant to rustic. Personalized interiors, as they sound, revolve around decorating in a way that will allow you to enjoy your home to maximum capacity. The sunroom captures this feel by situating the nature-lover directly in the outdoors.

Further, in my opinion, a Mediterranean garden is the perfect choice for an indoor outdoor scheme. This Italian style of gardening is popular for its relaxing, storied ethos. One can imagine this garden easily existing hundreds of years ago, and it remains just as on-trend today.

Shop the Look

Olive trees with white furniture have the same Tuscan feel and color combination of Meg Ryan's home.

To recreate Meg Ryan's outdoor look with your own Italian garden, start with evergreens. These verdant bushes and shrubs can bring a sense of vibrancy to your garden year-round. Symmetry is also important for replicating the Tuscan look. Be sure to plant similarly on either side of any structures at your house. Hardscaping is another surefire method for a timeless Italian garden. Using aged stone brings that classic, antique sensibility to your outdoor space.

Whether you live in Montecito, Tuscany, or anywhere else, Meg Ryan's garden and sunroom are wonderful inspirations for indoor-outdoor living.

A wonderfully rich, fragrant garden will appeal to all of your senses, offering scent and beauty at different times of day – all throughout the year. When planning my own sensory garden, it was important to me to follow the same principles, which is why I adore what Derrik Eichelberger at Arcadia Studios Landscape has done in Meg Ryan's garden.

Designed to create an immersive experience, you'll never regret following in the footsteps of Ryan to plant a fragrant garden that aligns with our senses. This example is one of the best I've ever seen of a domestic landscape. The results truly speak for themselves. I employed similar planting, materials and colors in my outdoor space to replicate the look, feel and smell. Even on a much smaller scale, it still works equally well.

When creating a sensory garden there are two possibilities in terms of layout. Either opt for a series of interactions with separate zones that stimulate each of the senses, such as sitting next to a pond or enjoying the sound of wind in the leaves. Alternatively choose a multi-sensory experience where you engage with everything simultaneously, like walking along a gravel path bordered by colorful scented plants and brushing your fingertips through the foliage.

I prefer to landscape with gravel where possible. Gravel garden ideas can create depth and bring structure to your garden, as well as add a decorative touch.

If you're looking for a way to plan a dry garden, go for gravel. 'Lawns risk making our gardens bland, says nurseryman Oliver Filippi. 'Finding ways to replace them is a move against uniformity.' This on-trend design approach is both low-maintenance and eco-friendly.' It's the optimum choice if you are planning a drought-tolerant yard.

Plus, gravel is not only cheap and low-maintenance, but the often loud crunching noise it makes underfoot can be a good burglar deterrent.

Another important aspect of Ryan's sensory space is the fragrant planting. Choose plants with fragrance that drenches the air such as mock orange (philadelphus), roses, jasmine, and honeysuckle, as well as the curry plant (Helichrysum italicum), which is beautifully scented on warm days.

As an extra sensory layer include plants with scents that need to be experienced up close by brushing your fingers through them like lavender and scented geraniums, as well as herbs like rosemary, mint, sage and thyme, which need to be picked or crushed to release their aroma.

Plant either side of a winding gravel path to get the most out of the experience.

As a nature lover, I wanted to include plenty of wildlife garden ideas in my space. ‘The greater the range of plants in a garden, the more wildlife it will attract,’ say garden designers Charlotte Harris and Hugo Bugg of Harris Bugg Studio. ‘Choosing a variety of heights, colors and flowering times of the year will fast-track your backyard into a butterfly delight. Think about offering a pollinator buffet.’

Introducing water – even just a small container such as a birdbath or miniature pond – will make a difference and will help your garden come alive with wildlife. This Solar-Powered Birdbath Water Feature from Amazon is a best-seller with over 5,000 positive reviews.

Finally, include elements of 'touch' in your yard. From feathery planting and silky petals to smooth pebbles and polished stepping stones, as well as peeling bark and spongy moss, there is no better place than the sensory garden to explore touch. Choose plants with textured flowers, foliage, berries, seeds, bark and twigs. It is the perfect finishing touch. My personal favorite tree to grow is the olive variety. The Arbequina Olive Tree from Fast Growing Trees is a staple in my backyard. I also have the Waxleaf Privet Shrub from Fast Growing Trees for added privacy with just a hint of color. They are perfect for boundaries and covering unattractive fencing.

Shop the look

American actress Meg Ryan has graced our TV screens for many years as everyone's favorite celebrity crush, from When Harry Met Sally to Sleepless in Seattle, City of Angels, and You’ve Got Mail, she certainly knows a thing or two about world-class style, especially when it comes to designing a kitchen.

To help pull the final space together, Meg Ryan enlisted the expertise of Becker Studio to help her reimagine her Californian home.

In Meg Ryan's kitchen makeover, warm wood accents and subtle veining on the backsplash and countertops help to create depth and dimension. We think these popular kitchen trends will go the distance in 2024.

1. Expensive color combination

Decorating with black and white is brave, requiring careful editing and a strong design eye. This type of interior can also appear ‘flat’ if you don’t introduce texture and subtle tonal variety. But put together carefully, it’s a great way to add drama and style, as Ryan's modern farmhouse kitchen beautifully demonstrates.

While monochrome decorating can be tricky to master, a considered approach will be rewarded with a simple but impactful scheme. Monochrome interiors can work especially well in period or farmhouse-style homes, where a one-tone canvas highlights and complements the original features. 

But tone and texture are important – remember that the most successful monochrome interiors combine movement and depth with tactile pieces to create an interesting narrative.

Before, the kitchen consisted of gray cabinetry, blue wall tiles and cream walls – a jarring color combination best avoided in the heart of the home. 

2. Marble surfaces

Few materials can create a feeling of luxury in kitchen design that marble can. Elegant, understated and effortlessly beautiful, marble is a worthy investment if you want to make a kitchen look expensive. 

Marble is more versatile than many people realize, believe Angus and Charlotte Buchanan of Buchanan Studio. ‘We love to use it to elevate details and touchpoints around the home such as on a kitchen backsplash, or countertop’ they say. ‘But you can also use offcuts for displaying objects such as on shelves or side tables.’

Let the color and veining of the marble dictate your space. ‘I choose the marble before anything else in the room and then the scheme evolves from there,’ says interior designer Sarah Southwell. ‘I then pick out colors and textures to create a scheme that complements the marble.'

There is a point at which it is possible to overdo the use of one material, however. To avoid the space looking sterile and cold, add a warm finish in a material such as wood or metal as a subtle touch.

3. Warm wood accessories

If there is one material that will never date, it is wood. Introducing warm wood and timber accents into your kitchen ideas is nothing new – they have been a popular choice for years because of their timeless appeal, not to mention the fact wood is a durable material that gets better with age. 

The beauty of wood is undeniable, and if you love modern kitchens but also don't want the cold or clinical feel that often accompanies modern design, then investing in timber accessories will warm up your room in an instant. Here, Meg Ryan and designer Monique Gibson have chosen dark wood for its old-meets-new charm.

'The dark wood trend has much to do with the popularity of beige and the general distancing from gray in which we seem to be collectively partaking,' says interior designer Bethany Adams. And if there are any color lessons to take away, it's to err on the side of warmth.

4. Arches on alcoves

A popular interior design trend since 2020, architecturally inspired curves are of the moment, with soft, rounded lines cropping up everywhere of late. They can visually draw attention to the height of your walls, making any room look more spacious. 

Arches have been a prominent feature in architecture since Roman times. Fast forward to 2024 and indoor residential arches are once again an incredibly popular feature. It’s easy to see why – they’re romantic, full of character and help soften the more angular lines of a room, especially in a modern kitchen, similar to Meg Ryan's.

If you have the opportunity to start from scratch, a storage arch is a compelling way to introduce architectural character, as demonstrated in this striking build by architect Joel Barkley. The arch, embodying both form and function, serves as a visual anchor, grounding the room with its timeless appeal.

Shop the look

Meg Ryan has graced our TV screens for many years as everyone's crush, from When Harry Met Sally to Prelude to a Kiss, Sleepless in Seattle, and You’ve Got Mail, the actress knows a thing or two about world-class style, especially when it comes to her home.

Actress Meg Ryan enlisted the expertise of designer Monique Gibson and architect Joel Barkley to help her reimagine a New York City home using a tried-and-tested color combination for rooms.

Decorating with black and white is a brave choice, as it requires careful editing and a strong design eye. This type of interior can also appear ‘flat’ if you don’t introduce texture and subtle tonal variety. But put together carefully, it’s a great way to add drama and style, as Meg's bathroom beautifully demonstrates.

While monochrome decorating can be tricky to get right, a considered approach will be rewarded by a simple but impactful scheme. This bathroom color scheme can work especially well in older homes, where a one-tone canvas serves to highlight and complement original features, or when you want statement bathroom tile ideas and fittings should stand to attention.

Depending on whether you choose equal measures of black and white, or more black, the combination can evoke different moods, lending itself to schemes that feel glamorous, moody, or bright and cheerful. 

Choose furniture and fittings with strong shapes and clean lines that will stand out against a bold black-and-white scheme, and keep accessories simple for a modern look. 

Contrasting black with white is the most effective way to create impact in a predominantly white bathroom, but the key is to vary proportions. A 50/50 split could feel too dramatic; instead pair black accessories and fixtures with white bathroom tiles and another vital ingredient: texture.

Shop the black-and-white bathroom edit

Black and white, the color combination so beloved by Meg Ryan, offers the perfect way to create a stylish bathroom. Shop our edit of the best monochrome accessories for bathrooms.

Decorating with black is a bold and inspiring way to add extra dramatism to your dining room, and Meg Ryan's interior designer Monique Gibson certainly knows how to master the art of using strong colors to make a statement.

There is something magical about painting and decorating with black. 'The delicious and decadent contrast between lighting objects against a dark background emphasizes unique qualities in materials and finer details you might have missed in a light-filled colorful space, says Marianne Shillingford, creative director at Dulux. 

And even if you're not ready for floor-to-ceiling black, small accents can add definition and drama. Picking out a door frame, or piece of furniture, or painting the ceiling in black makes a space come to life.

No longer the preserve of your bedroom during that teenage gothic phase, when used the right way black is chic, sophisticated and elegant, and makes the perfect partner for white, as Meg Ryan's dining room beautifully demonstrates. 

Far from binary, the aesthetic associations of black and white are rich and varied. Symbolizing balance and equilibrium, the pairing can also be used to isolate, capture attention and confuse; they are artists’ fundamental tools for capturing volume and form, and for architects to create rhythm and order.

Quite often it pays to simply 'just go for it' when it comes to choosing a dining room color scheme. Be brave and use black on all four walls – even the flooring. The trick is to identify the undertones that define one black from another. Source samples of fabric and wallpaper and compare these to your paint swatches, so you can see which shade feels harmonious and which feels wrong.

'Whilst dark colors tend to advance (close in), black has the magical quality of infinity, which means you are less aware of room proportions,' explains O’Donnell. 

If going for an all-over black color scheme is just too daunting for you, then a deep blue dining room color scheme will have a similar effect. Whatever you do, don't scrimp on the quality of your paint. Dark colors are notorious for showing up roller and paint brush marks, scuffs, and imperfections.

Shop the black dining room edit

 A strong, robust shade, black is guaranteed to bring impact to interiors and is becoming increasingly popular. However, if painting your entire dining room in black is just too much of a commitment, then try furnishing with black, instead.

We have been in awe of actress Meg Ryan's modern farmhouse home ever since we first laid eyes upon its expertly curated style. 

Designed by Monique Gibson, there is so much to admire about this kitchen diner, but it is the room's kitchen shelving that is perhaps the most captivating element. This decorative display might be simple to achieve, but when done right, it can have a profound effect on the entire space. 

Kitchen shelving, similar to Meg Ryan's below, is a great option if you are the proud owner of an impressive crockery collection, or are a keen cook who appreciates having ingredients close at hand. Having everything on display is not for the faint-hearted as it requires a certain amount of dedication to keep shelves looking smart and uncluttered. 

Good storage is essential, however, not everything needs to be hidden away. Decorative kitchen storage ideas and solutions can make a huge difference to your kitchen's look and feel. 

We explore how Meg Ryan's decorative kitchen storage is just as on-trend in 2025 in our separate piece.

A cluster of simple floating shelves works particularly well in a kitchen where there may be a fair amount of closed cabinetry taking up space along the walls. They add an element of interest that draws the eye, all while helping to keep countertops clear.

Choose from floating shelves (without visible supports) to those with stylish brackets, from plate racks to cubby holes built into furniture. Here's why designers and decorators love the easy-to-recreate display in Meg Ryan's kitchen diner. 

Be they decorated with ceramics, vintage glassware, plants, or recipe books, shelves can be used to add individual style to a kitchen, as Mike Fetherston, design director of Hetherington Newman, explains. 

‘As kitchens are increasingly central to the home and where families come together for meals and to socialize, areas for display are important to personalize the space and add interest, giving a more relaxed and welcoming feel.’ 

For a stylized look, stack collections of your favorite crockery, line up fresh herbs and incorporate small pieces of art along a run of open shelving.

Shop the Meg Ryan kitchen edit

Finding beautiful display pieces for your kitchen is essential if you want to curate a decorate display to be proud of. Here, our experts share their favorite buys to help you on your way.

When decorating a bedroom, choosing a color is the most important decision you will make. Color can soothe, warm, or nurture, and in doing so bring better sleep, make you feel more energized, or promote well-being. It is also an area in which interior designer Monique Gibson excels, and can be seen in actress Meg Ryan's neutral bedroom.

Sophisticated and nuanced, this neutral color combination for bedrooms shines in spaces both raw and refined. However, achieving a perfect pairing of silver gray-and-black requires careful editing and a strong design eye. This type of interior can also appear ‘flat’ if you don’t introduce texture and subtle tonal variety. But put together carefully, it’s a great way to add drama, and style, and promote a night of restful sleep. 

While monochrome decorating can be tricky to get right, a considered approach will be rewarded by a simple but impactful scheme. Decorating with black and white, or even gray can work especially well in rustic or modern farmhouse homes, similar to Meg Ryan's, where a one-tone canvas serves to highlight and complement original features. 

The soft tones of gray create a calming atmosphere in this bedroom. This sultry shade goes with every color and can be used to add depth and sophistication to any room.

Gray is a color that has its own weather system of light levels and hues. It is a shade with myriad subtle color notes that draws inspiration from beach pebbles and clay, as well as from slate and charcoal. Grey often makes a calm elegant backdrop, which can be tranquil for bedrooms and give an air of sophistication for spaces such as halls and living rooms.

‘Grays are hugely versatile, from cool off-white shades, through warmer neutral mid-tones to the very deep and mysterious,’ says Justyna Korczynska, senior designer at Crown Paints. ‘They have more color and texture within them than straight black. A monochrome scheme of black and white is much more unforgiving than one of shades of slate and clay, which will change subtly with the light throughout the day, giving them personality and character.’

Mood is one consideration, but it is also helpful to consider how gray might affect the size of a room. ‘The paler the tone, the more it will reflect the available light. The darker the tone, the more light it will absorb,’ says Justyna. ‘At the extremes, white will make a room look more spacious, and black brings the walls visually inwards. This rule applies to all colors. So a pale gray is ideal if you wanted to make a room look larger; a deep charcoal would make it appear smaller.'

Known for her stellar performances in classic films such as Sleepless in Seattle and When Harry Met Sally, Meg Ryan should also be celebrated for her incredible eye for design. 

First, the stylish star posted a photo of her bold black and white kitchen, and now she’s given us a glimpse into her garden.

Meg Ryan shared photos of her chic Montecito garden and sunroom, created in collaboration with Derrick Eichelberger at Arcadia Studios Landscape. The photos show a stunning combination of natural stone and local greenery surrounded by leafy trees. Meandering pathways contrast with the hard lines of the sunroom to create a suburban oasis. The space feels at once modern and natural, with a relaxed and secluded feel. 

Since the photos show a garden, you may think that the reason for the beauty of the area has to do with the plants, but experts say the stone elements have just as much to do with the garden’s soothing effects. 

Jeremy Yamaguchi, CEO of LawnLove gushes: ‘I absolutely love the hardscaping. I think she did an excellent job of incorporating natural stones and rocks in a way that elevates the plants/foliage – which is the focal point. All of the hardscaping is organic and attractive in design, while not being visually distracting or making the space feel too man-made.’ 

In this garden, landscaping ideas abound. 

This organic feel is created with an intentional balance of man-made and natural elements. Paul Knapp, head landscape designer at Landscape Architectural says 

‘My favorite elements of Meg's landscape have to be the mixed use of materials that give the whole space a contemporary yet classic energy and vibe. She has incorporated what I would call Old World charcoal cobblestones in an irregular shape leading up to the glass oversized doors abutted by a simple yet elegant decorative pea stone gravel border. 

'The gravel continues on through her space as meandering walkways that look beautiful against the natural stone boulder walls. Her mixed use of evergreen and deciduous plantings perfectly balances all of the hardscaping throughout.’ 

This artful mix creates an incredibly complex and visually stimulating landscape.

If you are interested in recreating the iconic garden, Paul Knapp lays how to choose each element step by step. 

First, he recommends dividing your design into hardscapes and softscapes. For hardscapes, he recommends using natural materials like natural stone, clay, or decorative pea stone gravel. He suggests laying the hardscape out ‘organically in a free-flowing style that still allows plenty of functionality.’ Furthermore ‘using natural stone boulders for the retaining walls and border edgers is another great way to keep all elements natural, rustic, and contemporary at the same time.’ 

For softscapes, Paul suggests using a cool color palette that incorporates greens, whites, and purples. He goes on to say that ‘Meg incorporates a healthy variety of texture by utilizing a mixture of evergreen plantings and deciduous. For evergreen, think Boxwood, Holly, and even Juniper. For deciduous, think Hydrangea, Catmint, Lilac, Russian Sage, Yarrow, and Lamb's Ear. You could even consider throwing in some ornamental grasses as well like Karl Forester Grass or Morning Light Silver Maiden Grass. Both options are wonderful for filling out spaces and providing another beautiful texture to your garden.’

Through a focus on the harmony between natural and manmade elements, you can create a garden as chic and balanced as Meg Ryan’s. Shop the edit below.

Meg Ryan proves that Fortune favors the bold with her latest kitchen renovation. The When Harry Met Sally actress unveiled an impressive remodel in her California home featuring a brave contrasting black and white kitchen color palette.

The remodel, completed with Becker Studios yielded impressive results. Meg’s mid-century modern decor is brave, elegant, and original. It offers a refreshing combination of contemporary and retro details with both organic and linear elements. Exposed white beams on the ceiling highlight the sloping shape of the kitchen, allowing maximum brightness in the space. The chrome hardware on the stove and cabinets highlights the silver notes in the marble backsplash. The curved shapes of the doorway, the oven, and the sink keep a relaxed feel against the clean lines of the room. 

Cream and gray marble tiles in various shades cover Meg's floor and a leaning fiddle leaf fig filters light in the background. Luxe details like the pedestal sink and the La Cornue Cornufe 110 oven elevate the space, while framed photographs and plants keep it grounded.

The most show-stopping detail that sets Meg Ryan's modern kitchen apart is the brave contrasting colors. Designers love the use of black in a kitchen, but caution that it can be a difficult color to pull off. 

Interior designer Peg Hemzacek says: ‘Black is a timeless and versatile color that can be used in the foreground or the background to set the mood and provide contrast.’ She offers tips for decorating with black in your own kitchen, recommending a focus on texture and lighting. Peg state: ‘The key to an all-black kitchen is to add texture with the tile material choices and installation patterns.’ Furthermore, she says ‘Lighting is key for a black kitchen. Natural light is always the most desirable if you can incorporate that into your design. Soft glowing lights are better than harsh white light bulbs. Think about where you can add lighting in addition to overhead fixtures like sconces or under cabinet lights.’ 

Meg Ryan’s kitchen accomplishes these goals by mixing textures of marble, wood, and metal, and by filling the room with natural light through large windows, and reflective white ceilings. 

The New York-based designer Artem Kropovinsky of Arsight says that black works well because it is ‘a dramatic color with the ability to give depth to a space and add an element of surprise, making the kitchen visually intriguing.’ However, this drama can make the kitchen appear harsh if not handled properly. Kropovinsky recommends pairing black with neutral tones to offset this effect. He states ‘To prevent your kitchen from becoming a black hole, balance the black with neutrals like white or grey. For instance, a white ceiling or floor can keep the design grounded.’ By pairing black appliances, counters, and accents with a bright white ceiling, Meg Ryan creates a room that is timeless and bold without looking too dark. 

In interior design as in life, Meg Ryan’s bold Montecito kitchen shows us that a well-considered risk can pay off.

Shop the black and white kitchen edit below to recreate the look in your own kitchen.