Comfort and joy are at the heart of the house design of this three-bedroom, classic Victorian property in southwest London. Along with this, a palpable sense of calm, and a distinct nod to practicality, too.

‘The clients had owned their much-loved home for 20 years but wanted to change it to today’s way of living and make it feel more cozy,’ explains Sophie Eadie, co-founder with Fi Crole, of interior design studio Eadie & Crole, who were commissioned to inject this house design with a new lease of life and transform it into a welcoming home brimming with character.

Sophie continues, ‘Apart from a side kitchen extension, the owners hadn’t touched the place in more than 20 years.’ Additional storage ideas were essential and the designers swathed the walls with paneling ‘that you can hide cupboards in,’ says Fi. ‘We made the house somewhere that the homeowners could use properly as there were so many areas that they weren’t utilizing. Every square centimeter is now used.’

In the main bedroom, for instance, bespoke wardrobes conceal a TV so the clients can watch it in bed. ‘The doors fold back fully, and then we styled up the space so that you’re looking at books when the doors are open,’ says Sophie.

Upstairs in the main suite, extra bedroom storage was provided under the bed, which lifts, and in the ottoman at the end of the bed. Changes to the layout were a prerequisite. There were two underused spaces in the house that the clients wanted to maximize – the rear of the double reception room, plus an upstairs second back bedroom that was mainly used for storage.

The house had a small half-landing bathroom and the solution was to transform the second back bedroom into a much-needed en suite for the main bedroom. An arch now frames the bath, with cupboards on either side, while vanity mirrors above the double console basin open to reveal storage behind.

The rear reception downstairs was transformed into a dining space with a generous banquette seat and table tucked into a corner, ensuring the area isn’t cluttered with chairs while providing an abundance of seating. ’We’re real banquette people,’ explains Fi.

Elegant glazed cabinets flank the fireplace and provide plentiful storage. In addition, the kitchen became a multifunctional space. Eadie & Crole altered the layout, with a small breakfast nook located beside the window to provide a handy spot for coffee, while a bespoke desk area offers a work-from-home space.

‘It was touch and go whether we could fit the breakfast nook in but actually it works really well. Sometimes when you have a tight space, one or two large pieces work better than lots of little things.

We have a large island and the nook, and now the kitchen functions at its capacity,’ says Fi. Soft colors infuse the interior, balanced by playful touches. ‘We knew our client wanted a home that was welcoming but had the wow factor so we installed a yellow runner up the stairs, which brings surprise and energy,’ says Sophie.

‘We then introduced a nod to yellow in most of the rooms.’ In the kitchen, for instance, the interior of the breakfast bar cupboards are painted yellow. And pops of yellow appear on the editor’s chairs in the sitting room and on the cushions. ‘It adds a sense of fun,’ says Fi.

Soft tones of pinks and terracottas, as well as yellow, are intermingled with slightly brighter pinks and greens for a playful feel. Comfort was high on the clients’ wish list and Eadie & Crole answered this with an indulgent and comfortable wool sofa in the sitting room and a profusion of seating including a practical window seat made with outdoor fabric so that there’s no fear of the fabric fading, plus a club fender and a pair of editor’s chairs.

‘We’ve designed the scheme so that in a small space, a lot of people can sit down,’ says Fi. The editor’s chairs showcase cheerful fabric. ‘That was our hook point and was where our color came from. We didn’t want the scheme to be too traditional, and then everything started working from around the fun fabric.’

The clients’ desire was for Eadie & Crole to think very practically and for longevity as well, and this elegant and functional interior is destined to be around for a long time to come.

Q&A with Eadie & Crole

The designers share their style inspiration

What was the biggest indulgence?

Designing the en-suite main bathroom with both a shower and built-in bath with the curved ceiling, and paneled walls with hidden cupboards either side for optimum storage.

What one small change had a huge impact?

Transforming the back area of the reception room into the dining room with banquette seating and good lighting. It has changed from a dark, never-used space to a light, inviting area that is used all the time.

Your go-to color?

Soft tones of pinks, terracottas, yellows and greens.

How does home make you feel?

No matter who you are or where you are, instinct tells you to go home – a place to love, live and relax.

Finish the sentence, 'We know we're creatives because...'

Our lives entwine around all things beautiful – from interiors, art, fashion, gardens and travel.

As an interior designer, Gemma Tucker intuitively knew what path to take with her Regency farmhouse in the Wiltshire countryside. ‘I wanted to be a good custodian, to respect the house’s farmhouse history and rural setting using materials that suit the vernacular while making it relevant and practical for modern family life.’

Gemma, founder and creative director of Balance Interior Design, lives here with husband Mark and their children Matilda and George. After 17 years in London, they decided to make the move to the country a few years back. ‘We fell in love with the undulating, rural landscape and the local architecture, with its creamy-coloured Bath stone.

'We wanted a stronger connection with nature, more space for family living and to give the children a slower pace of life,’ recalls Gemma. They came to this farmhouse, having looked at several Georgian rectories. ‘This had better lateral space for a family and felt a bit less grand and more in keeping with our relaxed lifestyle.’

Back then, in 2022, it was dark and full of inappropriate finishes: 90s mosaic tiles, sparkly worktops and lots of stud-walled en suites with dubious lino floors. The house had evolved over several hundred years, fanning out in all directions from the original farmworker’s cottage – swallowing up the adjoining cowshed and hayloft along the way.

With plenty of experience, Gemma sorted the renovation work quickly and efficiently, finding an architect to navigate the planning stage for this Grade II-listed house, while a contractor waited in the wings to get started.

The changes were relatively simple but effective; moving the kitchen from a smaller room into a larger, lighter space – once the cowshed – opening onto the dining room, where Gemma added a large panoramic window, flooding the space with natural light and letting in views of the garden and surrounding countryside.

In the same way, Gemma opened up the double-height space over the central hall into the eaves above, with heritage skylights allowing light to drench the once-gloomy heart of the farmhouse.

Upstairs, a rejig of the layout gave the couple a main suite with a dressing room and generously-sized bathroom, as well as the children’s bedrooms and bathroom.

At the other end of the house, a guest suite features two further bedrooms and a versatile cinema snug, where the children love to spend time. ‘What I’ve tried to do throughout the house is to ensure that all the rooms are useful in everyday life, not just occasionally’.

Gemma wanted to keep the material palette simple and restrained. Finishes in the more rustic kitchen and dining areas include sawn, white-oak floors. ‘They’re beautifully textural, rather than being smooth and perfect. I would have liked an organic, travertine stone for the kitchen worktops but it’s not a suitable material, so I opted for a ceramic with the same look.’

Gemma designed the kitchen cabinets and had them made by local craftspeople – an approach that runs through the whole project – opting for clean-lined joinery, which creates a visual contrast with the earthier finishes in the room.

Elsewhere, the material mix includes greenish-hued flagstones, reclaimed pine floors stained a rich, dark chocolate tone, and lots of tactile, grainy linens. The subtle room color ideas feature neutrals, from pale stone to richer grey-browns, via khaki, olive and sage.

Beyond the aesthetics though, the key to this house’s success is an underpinning of practicality, with carefully considered storage ideas in hard-working rooms like the pantry and dressing room, making it easy to keep the whole house looking perfect so that the focus is on Gemma’s edit of beautiful art and objects.

‘If you don’t have somewhere for all the stuff of real life, you can’t achieve that relaxing, pared-back look,’ advises Gemma. ‘My mind is quite chaotic at times and so is family life, so I need that sense of serenity, with everything in its own place – as an antidote. That way I can enjoy the atmosphere we’ve created here, one of calmness and connection to nature.’

Q&A with Gemma Tucker

The designer shares her style inspiration

What was the biggest indulgence?

The Fred Rigby desk – it’s my dream desk. I love the deep, dark, ebonised-oak finish and the juxtaposition between the geometric form of the legs and the organic pebble shape of the top. The whole piece feels beautifully considered.

Do you have a go-to design detail?

Layered lighting. Creating the right mix of good lighting is one of the most impactful things you can do, bringing a sense of atmosphere and hominess to spaces.

What's inspiring you at the moment?

My main sources are nature, travel, books, and art galleries.

How does home make you feel?

Like myself. Our home feels relaxed, calm and joyful. It suits my family’s lifestyle perfectly – there is a place for everything and the mood can be adjusted to the occasion.

Finish the sentence, 'I know I'm a creative because...'

When I see anything beautiful – whether I’m on a walk or in a gallery – I can’t help but translate the colours and forms into my work.

Reveal a secret address we should know?

Among the Pines – a gallery in Bath with a beautifully curated selection of art

For this home that was once an ordinary new build home of modest proportions, designer Tamsin Johnson proves her thesis that when it comes to design, 'big isn’t better’.

‘In fact, it was the small rooms of this apartment that drew me to it. It gave me the opportunity to fully flex my creative muscles, and the result is something quite special.’

The property under discussion is in Potts Point, a desirable Sydney neighborhood known locally, because of its European feel, as the ‘Paris End’. Housed in a contemporary block, neither the building nor its interior was remarkable. ‘But there were decent bones and it was in a ten-out-of-ten location,’ says Tamsin.

Tamsin goes on to explain, ‘I gutted it, so really it can be considered as entirely new.’ The brief wasn’t strict, but Tamsin’s client, a young doctor, was seeking comfort and an escape from a busy working life.

‘I wanted the redesign to transport, seclude, and immerse; for it to have a degree of intensity and visual nourishment for the owner,’ she says. ‘My client also loves cooking, so the kitchen ideas needed sophisticated functions and more consideration than most, and I think it has become one of the salient features.’

Known for her flair for fusing pieces from across periods and continents to create spaces that are at once beautiful and liveable, Tamsin’s projects conjure a sense of unapologetic luxury and effortless style.

For this scheme, she drew inspiration from the sumptuously embellished decoration seen in European hotels of the early 1900s. ‘I love the Continental approach, where every aspect is considered and enriched with detail and intensity. The outcome steeps the owner in comfort.’

Old-world elegance was to be the overriding theme, but first, the fitting of steel-framed doors and windows and the enlarging of interior openings between rooms was required to extinguish any hint of the mundane former build.

Now luxuriant, eclectic, and with a faintly unhinged sort of refinement, there are nods throughout to modernism, brutalism, and art deco. ’The mix is a heady one,’ she says. ‘I had Vienna and Paris in mind, but also Milanese modernism. I think the resulting dialogue is complex but strangely harmonious.’

Vintage furnishings from Tamsin’s Sydney showroom were drafted in to decorate the home. Her favorites include a 1980s green ribbon baroque chair by Anacleto Spazzapan: ‘It adds the perfect degree of lunacy. It shocks the room to attention.’ Then there is the 1950s Venetian pendant that dominates in the kitchen: ‘This is peak Venetian glass-craft and utterly extravagant,’ she says.

But it’s the built-in bespoke joinery that pleases her most. ‘Not furniture per se, but I love the living room joinery, particularly the fireplace. It has such heft and sculptural strength that forces its way in against all the finery.’

Luxurious materials feature throughout and Tamsin’s creativity when decorating with marble, in particular, is extraordinary. It proliferates across the living spaces, as does velvet used on seating in the sitting room and media room. ‘Texture and layering with glass, sculpted timber, velvet, stone, mirror - there is a good sort of calamity that makes you believe you won’t stop finding something new in it all,’ she says.

‘There is plenty of soft versus hard, too, which I love. The color story, however, is saturated but mild - nothing vivid, so it is ultimately calming.’ Small spaces, according to Tamsin, don’t need prescriptive solutions. ‘I don’t mind the sensation of a “full” room and the appeal that has, like settling in at a little bar or cafe.

Having said that, mirrors naturally add a few extra dimensions. That, and ensuring some of the antique pieces are designed to fit an apartment.’ Tamsin’s schemes are underpinned by the meticulous planning of proportion, form, color and texture.

‘For me, designing apartment interiors is an opportunity to create something rich and nourishing in its intimacy, and to do that you need to not fear the scale of it, and push a lot into it.’ No pared-back neutrals to be found here, no minimalist, clutter-free haven. This jewel box of a home is about maximalism, writ large… in a small but extremely special space.

Q&A with designer Tamsin Johnson

The designer shares her style inspiration

BIGGEST INDULGENCE

Holidays in very, very nice places. Let’s call it research.

YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS

Perennial, enriched, fresh.

GO-TO COLOR

Hmmmm… this changes too much.

DESIGN HEROES

Axel Vervoordt, Adolf Loos, David Hicks… too many.

FAVORITE PIECE OF ARCHITECTURE

Maison de Verre, Paris. I think.

LAST THING YOU BOUGHT FOR YOUR OWN HOME

A parchment corner cabinet. Absolutely stunning and pure.

HOME GADGET YOU WOULDN’T BE WITHOUT

A phone charger.

SECRET ADDRESS

Tamsin Johnson Showroom on Victoria Street in Paddington, Sydney. Come say hello!

When the owners of a harborside family home in Chiswick, inner west Sydney, engaged an Australian designer to revive the house design of their five-bedroom property, the brief was for a short-term refresh before knocking it down and starting from scratch.

However, spotting the property’s potential, the designer Tamsin Johnson proposed an entire change of direction. ‘It was a tired home from the 1970s or early 1980s, but it had been largely untouched. Most importantly, the architectural bones were great so I convinced the owners to do a full renovation instead of knocking it down,’ says Tamsin.

She continues, ‘The brief was open; the client was invested in my process, which was great.’ To create a space suited to a young family, Tamsin proposed a reconfiguration of the layout centered around a large, open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area.

‘The architectural plan was worth saving and exploited the aspect well. However, we did make changes such as removing walls to capture more light and open up lines of sight.’ Tamsin was keen to make the most of the property’s waterfront views.

‘We made augmentations to walls and openings, so views could be enjoyed as you move around the house. We also rebuilt the balcony to exploit the aspect.’ Certain features were replaced while others were preserved, including the pitched roof and beamed ceiling.

‘I liked the design language, it felt coastal and relevant,’ says Tamsin. ‘We removed brown anodized metal fenestrations and opted for timber windows that sit in harmony with the coastal decor ideas.'

The setting also played into Tamsin’s interior design choices, yet she was keen to ensure the spaces remained balanced, liveable, and sophisticated. ‘While it is harborside, the home can take some coastal nuances, but Sydney is cosmopolitan, too'.

Tamsin continues, 'I wanted maturity; it is a family home rather than a holiday house and it needs to offer comfort and other moods. There is a freshness that speaks of the coastal home, but the antique furniture and the dynamic of artwork add gravity over levity.’

antiqueThroughout, Venetian plaster walls provide a bright, textural backdrop for beautiful natural materials, bespoke furnishings, and curated antiques. Tamsin runs an antiques business alongside her design studio, and her passion for craftsmanship and timeless design can be traced throughout the home.

‘I used specialized local trades, including my favorite metal-workers. I have a large cache of items I can draw on which are mostly European with some North American sources', she explains.

The use of sculptural furnishings is a hallmark of Tamsin’s style and custom-made pieces punctuate every room, reaching a crescendo in the kitchen, which captivates with its fusion of veined Calacatta marble and curved organic forms.

‘I put a lot of focus on the kitchen; it creates a great hub within the home. I have used curved and molded shapes that carry through from the living space; it is a little grotto-like,’ she says. ‘The marble is wildly organic and so livid and fresh; it feels massive and permanent. I like the harmony of the shaped Venetian plasterwork and irregular stonework.’

To renovate the existing building wasn’t necessarily the easy option and inevitably there were setbacks. ‘Covid-related logistic delays slowed us down. There was substantial rebuilding with all the usual challenges presented by an older property,’ says Tamsin.

However, both she and the client are delighted with the result. ‘I feel it was less wasteful than a rebuild. It is a charming home and just a little unexpected.’

Meet the designer

Tamsin Johnson shares her style inspiration

What is your biggest indulgence when it comes to decorating?

Always marble.

What detail are you happiest with?

The fireplace – we made it off-center to speak to the slanted ceiling.

What one small change had the greatest impact?

New timber doors.

Your go-to color?

Soft tiramisu.

Describe your style in three words.

Perennial, enriched, fresh.

How do you find inspiration?

Travel inspires me.

What will be the next game-changer in design?

Recycling/repurposing.

What is so special about coastal living?

It relaxes, inspires, and provides that freshness that I lean to in Australian design.

What was the last thing you bought for your home?

Some Joe Colombo Smoke glasses for my husband who collects them.

Finish the sentence, I know I'm a creative because...

I have the urgency and agency to act.

When one of the world's most famous families buys a home in one of the country's most exclusive locations, the results are stunning. The Obama house, located in Martha's Vineyard, is one of the most iconic properties on the Massachusetts island, and it's one of the most impressive properties we’ve ever seen.

Former President Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, purchased the waterfront compound in 2020 for $11.75 million and have since enjoyed the home and all the luxury amenities this island has to offer.

Categorizable as one of the world's best homes, the 28-acre estate is a maze of pared-back coastal decor inspiration and comes with a detached barn and a large swimming pool. Let's take a look around, shall we?

The 6,892-square-foot house sits on nearly 30 secluded acres fronting the Edgartown Great Pond between Slough Cove and Turkeyland Cove, both adored by politicians and celebrities alike.

Other than the Obama house, the area has a scattering of estates that belong to – or have been rented by – the rich and famous, both past and present. They include Jackie Kennedy Onassis, Jeffrey Kramer, Spike Lee, and Oprah Winfrey.

Designed by Taylor Lombardo Architects in San Francisco, the home was built in 2001 by John Early, a well-known local contractor on the island. It's now a spot the Obamas love, and it's no secret that they enjoy spending downtime at Martha's Vineyard whenever they can.

Martha's Vineyard became an annual holiday spot for the Obama family during their time in the White House. However, they started frequenting the office more frequently when Obama left office in January 2017.

Their home features seven bedrooms, eight and a half baths, and several stone fireplaces. There is a two-car garage, a detached barn, and a large pool. The land similarly includes a boathouse, a pond, and a private beachfront with deeded rights, as per the former listing on LandVest.

The area has been popular with vacationing celebrities and politicians for many decades. Presidents Clinton and Kennedy both spent the holidays here with their families. However, this is the first time a former President has bought a home on the island.

Obama and his family spent part of every August on the island for seven out of the eight years he was in office. They also visited the Island before, including when he was a senator from Illinois.

Inside, the home was designed with entertaining in mind. There's an expansive kitchen and a dining room with beautiful views across the bay.

Similarly, the living room offers ample space for relaxation. It boasts vaulted ceilings with exposed steel beams and a focal point stone fireplace, all of which emphasize the sense of rustic charm and intricate character.

The stunning galleried living space is a masterclass in decorating with neutrals, from its white-pained walls and ceilings to the cream soft furnishings that ensure the space feels open and airy when drenched in natural sunlight.

It's the perfect base canvas for any textures or coastal-style accessories that work seamlessly in this type of home.

As mentioned, there are eight bedrooms, including a neutral-hued primary suite with ocean views. There are also lots of rooms for friends and family to stay with bedrooms furnished with beds and adjoining bathrooms.

Outside, the raised sundeck is yet another space for the Obamas to rejuvenate, again with panoramic views across the bay.

When the Obama family purchased the home, it had been on the market since 2015, when it was listed for $22.5 million. The price dropped twice in the summer of 2020, first to $16.25 million in June, then to $14.85 million.

The purchase price, with the Dukes County Registry of Deeds, is listed at $11.75 million.

According to the Vinyard Gazette, the property sale was expected to send '$235,000 to the Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank, which collects a two percent transfer fee on most arm’s length real estate transactions.'

'Money from the fees is used to buy conservation land and protect natural resources such as aquifers, scenic views, and farmland on the Vineyard.'

Where does Obama live now?

Barack and Michelle Obama still reside in Washington, D.C.; however, they've kept a low profile since they left 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue. Barack and Michelle Obama still reside in Washington DC, however they've kept a low profile since they left 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.

They sometimes make public appearances for the causes that are close to their heart, including women’s rights and health and wellness events. Alongside their DC residence, they own the Martha's Vineyard home, which is particularly perfect for the summer months.

Who currently lives in Martha's Vineyard?

Alongside the Obama's, current residents include Spike Lee, Diane Sawyer and Michael J. Fox. The island also welcomes hundreds more celebrities to the island every summer, as locals are thought to be discreet towards public figures.

Shop our costal picks

While we can't all own a Martha's Vineyard home, we can recreate some of its aura and aesthetic with the right coastal decor furnishings. Our current top picks will bring New England charm to homes far beyond the beautiful East Coast. Happy shopping.

Ensuring the house design was at one with its surroundings was the mandate behind this serene holiday home in an idyllic location overlooking the sea on the Devon coast. ‘There are sand tones, blues, and greens – we wanted the outdoors to be reflected inside, so we used a natural palette,’ says Pernille Lind of Pernille Lind Studio, who is behind this house design.

For the clients, a couple with three children, this retreat was to be the antithesis of their main home in north London, exhibiting a soothing muted palette and relaxed natural materials in contrast to the colorful and sophisticated interior of their city base. The attraction of this house was undeniably the location. 

The property was redesigned by a local architect to incorporate a front extension facing toward the sea with expansive glazing that allows the inhabitants to soak up the views. An extension was also built at the back, the loft space was reconfigured and a new coach house annex was added. 

With six bedrooms, the house now has ample space for the family and guests. ‘The intention was that they could invite friends and that the house would be a social hub for them when they’re not in London,’ says Pernille. 

Pernille’s brief was to ensure that the interior was reflective of a holiday home. She comments, ‘The client loves color, texture, and traditional detailing, but understood that it wouldn’t really be appropriate for this home. However, she didn’t want it to be stark and minimal.'

Pernille continues, 'The house has no cornicing and doesn’t have high ceilings so we had to add character in a subtle way that doesn’t compete with the nature around it.’ Earthy tones provide a serene backdrop with walls painted in an ultra matt paint that imbues a smooth clay-like finish. 

Natural flooring introduces texture with wooden boards bringing warmth to the main rooms, while limestone flooring was chosen for the transitional spaces and bathrooms. A chequerboard floor in the hallway marries with the traditional design details in the clients’ main home in London – ‘it’s a nod to something that’s more classic as an element’. 

A cohesive thread runs through the interior. ‘As much as we wanted to provide a different experience in each room, it’s important to tie in the elements so you have a harmonious scheme and feel like you’re in one house,’ says Pernille. Exquisite detailing is replicated in key areas. 

The snug, the perfect cocktail hour space, features sepia-toned floral armchairs and a fluted timber wall framed by bar cabinets with ribbed glazing. Fluted timber is reiterated on bathroom washstands, while a floral pattern, echoing the one in the snug, takes center stage in the main bedroom. 

An eye-catching blend of materials is showcased in the kitchen. ‘Because of the contemporary feel of the house, we wanted a timeless kitchen with a nod to the fact it is more modern. Stained-wood Shaker units are inset with darkened stainless-steel metal panels. 

We infused together the soft and the hard, and the classic and the more modern. It also provides a contrast because, on the other side, you’ve got grand windows with a sea view, grounding the interior,’ says Pernille. 

The furniture is a mix of bespoke pieces, vintage decor, and designer items, such as the Carl Hansen dining chairs. ‘They are timeless and this is very much the essence of this house. Not too traditional, not too modern, but having the right balance between adding character but not becoming the main feature and competing with the surroundings.’

Meet the designer

Pernille Lind shares her style inspiration...

Which part of the project do you consider the greatest success?

Achieving a result that is aligned with our clients’ needs and vision.

What element was your biggest indulgence?

Working with talented craftspeople and manufacturers for our bespoke joinery and furniture pieces.

Can you tell us a small change that has a massive impact?

Adding curtains.

What's your go-to color?

For such a bright and sunlit location, we specified a lot of off-whites, such as Farrow & Ball’s Slipper Satin, Clunch and Pointing.

Tell us a website we should get to know.

Oblist.com.

Finish the sentence, I know I'm a creative because...

I look for solutions and I’m curious to explore new ideas.

What helps you feel inspired?

Working with people who are equally excited about design and are willing to push boundaries.

How should home make you feel?

Calm.

When I first saw this property, I knew it was perfect for my sister and her family,’ says house design expert Amy Spargo of Maine House Interiors. ‘It was screaming out for love and I realized we could make it into something special.’ 

The house in question was a tired two-story wooden 1970s building situated on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia. Hidden behind a row of trees and a mere ten-minute walk from the beach, the property was in an idyllic location. 

Amy’s sister Clementine and her husband Matt agreed that it could be the perfect family home to raise their three young children, Harry, Ralph and Florence. ‘Clementine and I both adore English design,’ says Amy. ‘So I knew we’d work well together creating the aesthetic she wanted.’ 

The brief was simple: Clementine and Matt wanted a home that was full of bold color and pattern, that had a place for decorating with art, and would be a fun yet calm space for their family. ‘The ideas flowed between us,’ says Amy, ‘but where I felt I added most value was steering Clementine into the decisions of where to focus her attention and what could be left as is to save money.’ 

One of the earliest decisions taken was to tackle the small entryway to the home. Amy and Clementine agreed the current layout created a bottleneck and ruined the flow, so they demolished the entry storage room and took away a door to help create a more open feel. 

The removal of a chunky and unsafe balustrade allowed the space to breathe. Finally, an art deco-style ceiling light was introduced to make a statement and draw the eye upwards. 

In the kitchen, Amy persuaded Clementine to keep the white kitchen cabinetry, which saved a significant amount of money. But they removed the dated purple kitchen backsplash and range hood and introduced white gloss tiles and natural touches, such as the rattan stools and the oak flooring and shelves. 

A brilliant white backdrop downstairs gives the home a bright and airy feel, while upstairs in the children’s bedrooms the focus is on color. ‘There’s a lot you can achieve with just a paintbrush!’ says Amy. 

The two bathrooms were gutted, with a fun but practical bathroom created for the children and a quirkier one for Clementine and Matt to enjoy. With color, pattern and texture being so important to the overall look, the sisters went to town sourcing local furniture, both new and preloved, and infusing their own touches with new and vintage fabrics and rugs. 

They scoured Facebook Marketplace and local auctions and bought pieces, such as the ottoman in the living room, to restore and reupholster. Amy also made brightly coloured cushion covers and lampshades using vintage fabrics and the pair even refinished two chairs that they found abandoned at the side of the road. 

Clementine and Matt’s art collection, mostly gleaned from their travels in Europe and the UK, takes pride of place and Amy found herself learning a lot from her sister, who used to work in an art gallery, about placement and composition. ‘We often had impromptu design meetings, over a glass of wine,’ says Amy.

‘Designing is fun and I think Clementine now appreciates that my job involves weaving together my clients’ ideas and creating unique spaces to meet their needs. She loves the house and the whole process has brought us closer together.

Meet the designer

Amy Spargo shares her design inspiration 

Which part of the home do you think works the best?

The entrance. 

What one small change has the biggest impact?

Paint – it’s amazing how it can transform a space. 

Your best bargain find?

The hand-painted chairs we found by the side of the road. We put one of them in Florence’s bedroom. 

Describe your style in three words.

Classic with a twist – can I use four? 

Who is your design hero?

Miles Redd; he’s so bold with color and print. 

Tell us your go-to color.

I love working with blue and white – I find it calming. I’m currently drawn to red, pink and yellow. 

What's your favorite design detail?

Ruffles. On lampshades, pillows, sofas, anything really! 

How do you get inspired?

Nature, travel, movies and my enormous collection of design books. 

Name one object you'll never part with.

My grandmother’s Wedgwood Jasperware Mother plate. 

When does a house truly become a home? For me, it's when its interior design reflects the style and personalities of the people who live there. By that definition, this open-plan four-bedroom house in Texas is most certainly a home, and following a comprehensive redesign it's a very stylish one too. 

Interior designer Jennaea Denhardt was responsible for creating a cohesive whole from a selection of somewhat disjointed spaces in this 1990s home. Even though the rooms were connected architecturally through an open-plan layout, there was much work to be done to give the home a sense of flow. The other challenge facing Jennaea was how to make the best of the homeowners' fascinating but eclectic collections of music-related items, vintage and retro furniture, and travel souvenirs. 

Take the tour, as the designer talks us through the process and explains how she successfully captured the owners' personalities and style, and blended old and new elements to create transitional design perfection.

'The biggest challenge in this home was the layout itself,' explains designer Jennaea Denhardt. 'There is an awesome eat-in kitchen/great room where the owners spend most of their time. Then there is also a huge living room and a smaller dining room that are open to the entry foyer and the hall to the master.' 

Making sense of how this plan could work was key. 

'The solution ended up being something I often do in projects, namely throwing out the labels on the plan and renaming the spaces,' adds Jennaea. 'So what was the living room became this dining room. The dining table is actually a full-size ping pong table, creating a space that the owners can use any time they want, whether it is just the two of them, or a crowd.'

Besides that stunning walnut ping pong table, dining room ideas include Eames Eiffel-style dining chairs and a barely-there Perspex bench seat. The art includes a mix of classic Texas icons and pieces from the owners' travels around the world.

The designer introduced a quiet color palette of neutrals, natural woods, and warm white walls, a good choice of backdrop when you're bringing together collections on different themes. 

This kitchen corner is part of the much larger open-plan space, comprising the family room with an eat-in kitchen, and a sizeable butler's pantry and utility room. 

Kitchen ideas for this practical space, explains the designer, were about 'creatively reworking the existing kitchen, and making a few minor changes in the family room to strip back some of what was there and feeling dated'.

'We squared off the island and reworked all of the existing cabinetry, painting uppers in the kitchen and adding glass panels,' continues Jennaea, who was delighted when the couple opted to modernize the outdated kitchen and decided to paint kitchen cabinets instead of bringing in full-scale replacements. The countertops are new, however, and freshen the overall look. 

The flooring across the kitchen and family room is Texas slate, which was installed when the house was built in the 1990s and read a little dated. 

The designer's solution to counteract and update the hard surfaces was to add softness and texture wherever she could. 'Because of the quiet color palette and the only real contrast being the walls to floors, the tiles we used became the art,' she explains. 'Thus, we took the textured kitchen backsplash right up to the ceiling.' 

The refresh for the butler's pantry, consisted of repainting the cabinetry in a handsome gray, and changing the countertop materials. Designer Jennaea advised the owners to choose the same material for this smaller space, to match the kitchen countertop ideas. This helped to draw together the previously disjointed areas of the open plan. 

It's in this entrance space turned living room, however, where the designer's vision really paid dividends. 

'This is both the homeowners’ and my favorite space in the home,' explains Jennaea. 'First intended as the dining room of the home, we shifted the plan and call this the lounge. It’s basically the home’s “hotel lobby.” This space truly embodies the clients style and vibe. It’s an eclectic mix of pieces from their previous space, new pieces, some vintage, a music corner, loads of natural light and an incredible plant, inherited with the house!' 

Designer Jennaea worked with all these elements to create the reimagined space. 'It includes some comfortable but super interesting seating,' she says. 'And it's actually where several of the amazing pieces from their previous place came to shine. There's a bar nearby and a music listening niche, all right next to the entry of the home, so it just felt like the most perfect way to use the space.'

We love the idea of creating a living room inspired by a smart hotel lobby. It's the perfect solution for these particular homeowners who love to travel the world and creates an airy backdrop for some of their prized possessions and favorite pieces of furniture.

At the opposite side of the open-plan space is the eat-in kitchen, which is set up to enjoy the most stunning views of protected land at the back of the property. 'All the focus here is on the views out the windows,' says the designer. 'And we added a swing for a place to sit, sip coffee, and birdwatch!'

The primary bedroom suite is where the major renovation took place. The footprint stayed the same but the aesthetic and bedroom ideas couldn't be more different. The room was previously carpeted and changing all of the flooring for a wood-look porcelain tile created a more modern, yet bohemian space. 

A nicely curated corner in the bedroom brings together some treasured vintage pieces and newer items, such as the chaise daybed. This inviting couch alternative is perfectly positioned to enjoy the panoramic view of open country beyond the property's boundaries. 

The bathroom was almost completely gutted. Designer Jennaea explains that her bathroom ideas for the primary suite involved removing everything but the cabinetry, which was refinished with white and black paint. 'We seated this new freestanding tub in front of a stunning stone wainscot,' she says. And with the high window above it to balance the scheme, this is the final piece in the jigsaw. 

The home is now a showcase of new and old ideas, vintage and contemporary styles rubbing shoulders in these oh-so thoughtfully reinvented spaces. The owners' treasured but eclectic collections have found their true places. The owners in turn, and with Jennaea Denhardt's help, have found their true home. 

Interior design: Jennaea Denhardt Interiors
Photography: Wing Ho

My mantra when it comes to house design is putting the unexpected together,’ says interior designer Sean Symington. ‘I love combining country or cute items with more contemporary lines, such as the scalloped banquette and tulip table in my kitchen diner. I love the contrast.’ 

Sean’s Victorian terrace in Bath is awash with the unexpected. Its light Bath-stone exterior belies the kaleidoscopic interior – a far cry from his first viewing when it was a dingy student house with a bed in virtually every room. 

‘I knew it would scare people because it needed lots of work,’ Sean says. ‘It was all very closed – even the corridor had a door. I didn’t know the sitting room had a fireplace because there was a chest of drawers in front of it.’ 

Also offputting was a 1970s lean-to and a bathroom off the kitchen that the students shared. But Sean could see the house’s potential: ‘I knew I could open it up.’ His instinct, however, was to keep the sitting room separate, as he likes to have a defined formal living room. 

Making the most of the space was key. So the house was reconfigured with the bathroom on the ground floor replaced with a cloakroom and utility, while a bedroom upstairs was partitioned to create a new bathroom. ‘It allowed us to have more rooms but not compromise the space,’ Sean says. 

The lean-to was replaced with an airy part glass-roofed extension which involved digging down to increase ceiling height, while a loft conversion provides a bright bedroom at the top of the house, with plenty of built-in storage. 

The main bedroom features a wall of wardrobes, but the layout of this room caused difficulties. Sean wanted to position the bed in front of the chimney breast, freeing up a wall for storage. ‘I like to walk into a bedroom and face the headboard, so we widened the chimney breast to accommodate a king-size bed.’ 

The beating heart of the home is undoubtedly the kitchen-dining-living area. The Bath stone fire surround is a hero feature and frames the range, but it meant Sean was limited as to what he could do with the space. ‘We tried to pack in as much storage as possible and included a generous kitchen island.’ 

Offering a worktop as well as drawers, the island also houses the dishwasher and sink. Alcove units on either side of the range, concealing a microwave and coffee station, open to another of Sean’s surprises. ‘I painted the interior a deep red to give it that punch of color when the doors are open. I like that unexpectedness.’ 

Colour and pattern are an integral part of Sean’s style and he was keen for the palettes to flow throughout. ‘The whole house is pinks, blues and greens,’ he notes. The sitting room exudes eclectic maximalism. Its modern twist on stately home style embraces a bold backdrop of blue walls, interspersed with pastel pinks and peppered with playful prints, all overseen by the portrait of a commanding Georgian gentleman. 

The extension, meanwhile, is a symphony of color and pattern that focuses on pinks and blues and features a striking chequerboard floor. The pattern-laden dining and sitting areas are offset with warm white walls, while an eye-catching fish artwork turns out to be a TV.

Sean has cleverly linked the hero Pierre Frey fabric motif through to the cloakroom where it is showcased as a statement wallpaper. This careful curation and skillful color and pattern blending have ensured the end result is a small but perfectly formed interior.

Meet the designer

Sean Symington shares his style inspiration 

What was the biggest indulgence?

We invested in window treatments and upholstery. I had fun playing with gorgeous textiles and fringes as they hold such an important part in the overall feel of the house. 

Which part of the project do you consider your greatest success?

Renovating each individual room to make it a liveable space. The kitchen needed the most love as it was dark and cold – we were able to create one big open area. 

Who is your design hero?

At the moment, I have a big design crush on the American designer Miles Redd. 

Finish the sentence 'I know I'm a creative because...'

...I never stop designing. I was fortunate enough to turn my passion into my career and I am constantly drawing inspiration from every aspect of my life. 

Can you reveal a secret address we should have on our radar?

I love shopping for antiques. My favorite shops include Lorfords and Brownrigg in Tetbury. What I love about Tetbury is that there is something to be found for everyone. 

How should home make you feel?

Safe, warm, comfortable, happy… the list goes on!

This was an artful redesign on more than one level. First, the house in Westport, CT, was built in 1914 and is on the state's historic register. Along with such heritage and listing comes a whole raft of challenges and complications to work around, and of course many delights too. 

Second, you might say there were some important artistic considerations to take into account. The home was originally the studio of early 20th-century American sculptors James Earl and Laura Gardin Fraser, and their legacy and some examples of their work are still very much part of the fascinating fabric of the building. 

The historic value of the property alone is sufficient to ensure its place among the world's best homes, but its recent renovation at the hands of architect and designer Lisa Schwert, of Innate Studio has elevated the interiors still further.  

Take the tour, as Lisa Schwert explains how a thoughtful approach to the home's unique challenges took its design and comforts to a whole new level.

1. Celebrate and cherish original features

The home's former life as a sculptors' studio has clearly left its mark in this bright, double-height space. Architect and designer Lisa Schwert, and her clients, felt this was an important part of the property's history and chose to enhance and celebrate it with their living room ideas. 'As with many old home renovations, we were challenged with finding the right balance between restoration of original detailing and redesign,' says Lisa.  

2. Turn architectural challenges into unique opportunities

'The home is so special and unique, which is both an asset and a challenge when renovating. So much of the inspiration came directly from those interesting details,' explains designer Lisa Schwert, whose inspired solution for fitting this stunning home bar into one of the most awkward spaces in the house is quite breathtaking. 

'A small corner of the primary living area where the structural beams intersected was too small to furnish properly,' she explains. 'Right below the ceiling in this space is an incredible limestone relief, by sculptor Laura Gardin Fraser, that is integral to the home. We custom-designed a bar clad in beautiful Calacatta marble to occupy the corner and play with these existing elements. The bar added so much drama and utility to a challenging space.'

We love the fact that the bar has such a quiet contemporary form and finish amidst the home's original period features. The classic patina of light-reflecting marble is the perfect material to tie in with whitewashed beams, the pale limestone relief, and the original metal detail windows. 

'It’s imperative to me that any home should be able to lean into its heritage while still feeling modern and innately livable,' says designer Lisa. 'That's the ethos of my studio.'

3. Bring the kitchen right up to date with new faucets and tiles

The homeowners love to cook and entertain, so coming up with practical, attractive, and sustainable kitchen ideas was a priority. If you're looking to upgrade a kitchen without replacing it, take note: the remarkable thing about this kitchen refresh is that the faucet and tiles are the only new elements in the working section of the room. 

Designer Lisa Schwert explains how it's done: 'We worked with the existing kitchen cabinets and countertops but swapped out the two more contemporary chrome faucets with classic, polished nickel faucets from Perrin & Rowe to match the space's more historic character. 

'We then replaced the kitchen wall tiles with a beautiful handmade selection from Clé Tile that tied together the cabinet color and Carrera countertops,' she adds. 

4. Balance modern family life with a traditional aesthetic in an eat-in kitchen

This historic home is also a modern family home and so functional everyday elements are just as important as honoring the period details. 

Designer Lisa wanted to improve the flow of the space for cooking and entertaining but also prioritized a practical eat-in kitchen that captures the essence of the home's tailored eclectic style. 'We custom designed a built-in banquette, upholstered in Schumacher’s Arbre Chinois fabric, with matching window treatment,' says Lisa. 'This provided additional much-needed storage and created a wonderful light-filled eat-in area, utilizing an existing table we had refinished. It is now one of the family’s favorite hangout spots.' 

5. Add a touch of luxe to an old-world dining space

Although the eat-in kitchen sees everyday use for the family, this more formal dining room comes into its own when there's a crowd. The room is a lovely mix of natural finishes, antiques, and statement pieces that feel timeless and at home in this unique property.

Explaining her dining room ideas for the centrally located space, architect-designer Lisa Schwert says: 'Our client wanted to preserve the existing silk wall covering and had a beloved oil painting of exotic birds that fit beautifully between the original rough-hewn columns and beams, giving a nod to the incredible bird motifs in the home's stained-glass windows. ⁠

'The design began with a perfectly scaled antique rug that beautifully married the colors of the interior architecture and the oil painting,' adds Lisa. 'We sourced an antique walnut table that had originally been in a Spanish Monastery and paired it with custom dining chairs upholstered in a beautiful performance velvet from Castel Maison. The finishing touch was a linear crystal chandelier in a brass finish that added the perfect amount of sparkle to the space.'

6. Put original features in the spotlight with a symmetrical scheme

The home's original fireplace adjoins the living room and has space for its own seating area, an inspiring set-up for anyone looking for cozy living room ideas. The layout, with four leather chairs arranged around an ottoman and twin mirrors framing the fireplace, gives a pleasing symmetry to the smaller space, but the fireside setting, and vintage furniture and rug keep the vibe eclectic and homey. 

'We sourced a set of four vintage leather art deco club chairs from France, along with a Heriz rug with blue highlights that complement the pops of blue throughout the home. Along with a Moorish-style sideboard and mirrors, it’s a cozy space perfect for a nightcap or playing board games,' says designer Lisa Schwert. 

7. Find space for a powder room

Because the home’s original layout didn’t include a powder room, guests had to go down a flight of stairs to the lower level or use the primary bathroom on the main floor, which wasn’t realistic for this family who love to entertain. 

Architect-designer Lisa came up with some ingenious and glamorous powder room ideas for what she terms 'the small but mighty must-have: a main-level powder room'. 

'Through a surgical renovation, using the small AV closet under the stairs, we were able to incorporate a dramatic yet functional powder room,' says Lisa. 'We furnished it with stunning wallpaper from Cole & Sons, a custom marble sink, and Waterworks fixtures. Alabaster sconces by Kelly Wearstler add a warm glow to the otherwise moody space.'

8. Elevate a bedroom with a showstopper headboard

Remedial work was required in the primary bedroom to bring the design up to the standard of the rest of the redesigned home. The existing décor included a blue grass cloth wallcovering that the homeowners wanted to keep. However, to do that there was a practical challenge that designer Lisa Schwert had to overcome in her bedroom ideas. 

'The sconces on the bed wall didn’t work with the preferred bed configuration,' she explains. 'So we designed a custom upholstered headboard and bed that covered the entire wall to allow us to install new sconces in an ideal location that worked with the bed and would cover up the necessary patching in the grasscloth.' 

The finished effect is a perfect example of how Lisa has made a virtue out of a challenge, being sensitive to the home's unique features, and taking a sustainable approach wherever possible to get great results. 'We chose an incredible fabric, Cranley Garden, from Schumacher that tied in beautifully with the existing wallcovering and made the room,' she adds. 'The bird motif on the fabric and the cerulean blue extends the narrative from other areas of the house into the bedroom.'

9. Reflect the home's setting in its interiors

The home is surrounded by a lovely outdoor space with a large patio, pool, outdoor kitchen, and grounds and it was important to Lisa and the team from Innate Studio to take the setting into account as they worked on the interior design.

'The exterior architecture and backyard landscaping are unique,' says designer Lisa, 'and we wanted to ensure its whimsical, timeless nature was reflected in the home’s interiors. We’re working on the redesign of the pool house now.'

'From a design perspective, the homeowners and I share a love of things with a story and patina. It was a very collaborative process and a fun challenge to design and source beautiful items with a previous life and history that worked with the story of this exceptional home. We sourced most of the furnishings through 1stDibs, Chairish, and local antique dealers, re-upholstered some items, and did many new upholstered items through our local workroom. 

'Overall, we intended to create a completely comfortable home while standing up to the life of a family with pets and young children, and we're delighted to have achieved that successfully.'

Architecture and interior design: Lisa Schwert, AIA, ASID, at Innate Studio
Photography: Read McKendree

Color, pattern and sculptural forms create a feast for the senses in this London pied-à-terre. Home to a French national with an eye for art and textiles, the apartment brims with unexpected style moments. A fine thread gathers those moments together, a fantasia of beautiful objects curated in an exquisite house design. 

It’s the result of a collaboration between an owner who has a penchant for botanical prints and a fearless disregard for conventional interiors, and designer Sophie Ashby of Studio Ashby, who wanted to create ‘a scheme that would be the perfect fit for the client’s character, lifestyle and taste’. 

At 180 square meters, it is a relatively small space. ‘But whether we’re working on a huge sprawling house or a smaller apartment, the clients’ requirements are the same: to have a practical set-up, good storage, moments of calm versus areas for entertaining,’ says Sophie. ‘It’s all about making the best of the space.’

A major steer in the interiors was showcasing the client’s paintings and sculptures, a challenge the designer relished. ‘My client loves color and pattern, as do I,’ says Sophie, ‘but while my instinct is to exercise restraint, more is more for her. That attitude is fun for a designer and it opened my eyes to another world.’

Much to Sophie’s delight, it turned out to be a world where portraits hang nonchalantly on top of de Gournay wallcoverings. ‘People are usually afraid to cover handmade wallpaper,’ says Sophie, ‘but the client was happy to hang paintings and mirrors to make an even more interesting build-up of layers.’

She also convinced Sophie that the two bedrooms should be wrapped wall-to-wall in the papers, whereas the designer had initially specified it only in the main bedroom behind the bed. ‘There were moments,’ says Sophie, ‘when I worried whether it was going to be balanced enough, but I’m so pleased with the result.’ Indeed, the effect is magical, a kind of flowery bower.

In the living room it’s the floor that gets the floral treatment, with a poppy-scattered rug adding a touch of the countryside. ‘I knew the client would appreciate the design as I’d seen her wear similar patterns in her clothing,’ says Sophie of the Rodarte collaboration rug.

The fireplace wall was going to be mirrored, but plans were changed to incorporate access panels to the heating and cooling system. The volte-face offered an opportunity to display more art. ‘The client embraces intense portraiture of any period,’ says Sophie, and there are portraits from her collection in each alcove, while Studio Ashby sourced the mesmerizing Irreversible by Peggy Kuiper above the fireplace.

The sitting room and bedrooms were a collaboration between client and designer but Studio Ashby led on the more practical decisions. The tile installation in the kitchen is a case in point. ‘The design was based on a Japanese vintage screen,’ says Sophie. ‘I wanted to treat the kitchen walls as art, not another piece of chinoiserie, but a fresher look. A kind of meadowy, floral wrap, as if you’re in a garden.’

So far, so flowery – but where do you go with kitchen furniture against such a rich backdrop? Strong and sculptural was the response: green units, a banquette in toning fabric, and the room’s co-star (alongside those tiles), a table made of London plane wood. 

Exquisitely proportioned with a cone-shaped base, the table is an oasis of calm. Spend a little time there and you’re refreshed and ready to appreciate the color, pattern and florals all over again

Meet the designer

Sophie Ashby shares her style inspiration 

BIGGEST INDULGENCE
The bespoke de Gournay wallcoverings. 

GREATEST SUCCESS
The tile mural in the kitchen, which we commissioned Anna Glover and Balineum to create. 

SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT
The reclaimed timber parquet flooring was hugely successful in bringing character and warmth to the interior. I

INSPIRATION
Art, travel, nature. 

NEXT GAME-CHANGER IN DESIGN
Humbly, I hope United in Design, the charity I co-founded to address the lack of diversity in my industry, will bring lasting and badly needed change. 

YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS
Artful, soulful, layered. 

WORDS TO LIVE BY
Don’t sweat the small stuff. 

LAST PODCAST DOWNLOADED
Incredible Women by Net-a-Porter.

An eccentric sea captain’ is how siblings Tom and Kate Cox of Hám Interiors describe the imaginary owner of this coastal home, a former net loft perched on the clifftop overlooking Trevone Bay in North Cornwall. ‘This is a holiday property but we designed it with a character in our minds,’ recounts Tom. ‘We wanted to acknowledge the seaside location, but we didn’t want to be too obvious. It’s so easy to overstep that line.’ 

There are no lighthouses or jaunty stripes in this house design. Instead, architectural details such as shiplap cladding and aged stone cobbles help to ground the building in its setting, while intriguing treasures including framed ships’ flags and a flock of decorative coastal birds suggest a collector with an eye for the unusual.

‘We had so much fun,’ says Kate. ‘Not many clients let you cover a room in wooden ducks and geese.’ The clients are Jessica and Ash Alken-Theasby, owners of Atlanta Trevone, a Victorian mansion with four luxury holiday rentals. The pair recently renovated all of the guest houses, opting to convert the dilapidated net loft to add a fifth property to the portfolio. 

‘When my great-uncle bought the guest house in the 1950s, he used to keep his little boats in this building,’ says Jessica. ‘I knew the loft would turn out to be Atlanta’s eccentric relative, and Tom and Kate were the perfect fit for creating a look that offers a sense of sheer escapism.’

Working with floor plans drawn up by architects Harrison Sutton, Tom and Kate collaborated closely with Jessica and Ash – who own bespoke construction company Alkenby – to rebuild the loft, fine-tuning every detail to create interiors that appear to have been there forever. 

Timber boards in the main living room are beautifully aged cheeseboards that were individually selected by Tom; the kitchen cabinetry features a scumble paint effect that nods to old mahogany furniture.

‘There is a folk art element to a lot of the joinery,’ says Kate, pointing out the cabin-style bed in the main bedroom, a playful piece that Jessica was initially hesitant about: ‘We went backwards and forwards with this idea as my practical brain told me it may not appeal to some guests, but everyone seems to love it,’ she notes.

The paint colors are predominantly blues and each tone was carefully chosen to complement the surroundings. ‘There is a powdery, mineral quality to the colors that creates warmth,’ explains Tom of the rich blue woodwork and pale blue walls in the entryway and living area.

‘On a lovely sunny day, it feels fresh and uplifting, but in the winter when you have the log burner going it is really cozy.’ The wall decor brings a sense of whimsy to the spaces and includes folk art, flags and signs, as well as commissioned pieces such as maritime paintings that reference the naivety of sailors’ woolwork.

In the surf gallery, where guests can park their cars and hang wetsuits to dry, a Californian vibe pervades, thanks to a wall that showcases a carved marlin trophy and a vintage Tigger Newling surfboard belonging to Jessica’s father, who lives in the village.

Before it opened for business, the couple and their two young sons took the opportunity to stay in the loft and Jessica recalls the magic of experiencing it through her children’s eyes: ‘It was like a wonderful journey, as if we had dived into something completely exciting and unknown.’

Meet the designers

Kate and Tom Cox of Hám Interiors share their style inspiration 

MOST SUCCESSFUL ASPECT OF THIS PROJECT
The playful storytelling. 

SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT
The scumble paint finish on the kitchen cabinets, applied by our artisan decorator during installation. It transformed the space. 

GO-TO COLOUR
An earthy red.

YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS
Eclectic, timeless, whimsical. 

INSPIRATION
As a family business, we constantly inspire each other with different design ideas and tastes. It creates a shared vision driven by our collective influences. 

MUSEUM TO VISIT
Lytes Cary Manor, Somerset, with its arts and crafts-style garden. 

LAST PURCHASE
A vintage lumberjack’s axe from America. 

A HOME SHOULD BE…
Comfortable, relaxed and not taken too seriously. 

Leaving London and upping sticks for Jersey wasn’t something that interior designer Bryony Richardson and her husband Laurence had planned, but they sought a more rural life after having their first baby. ‘Jersey is a bit like living in an Enid Blyton novel,’ says Bryony. ‘It’s a really magical place to bring up children.’ 

After months of house hunting, they came across an unusual property: a granite 1840s townhouse replete with its original mottled glass windows, surrounded by cedar trees and coastal views. ‘As we headed down the sweeping hill, we got more and more excited,’ Bryony recalls. Although impressive, the house – Le Rocher – suffered from neglect after being rented out for nearly 40 years, and it had been on the market for a while. 

‘No one wanted it,’ Bryony adds. But as soon as they walked in, she was captivated by the Georgian proportions and potential of the house design, so she decided to take on the mammoth task of rekindling it into a rich and cocooning home. 

Following an initial period of sinking funds into essential structural and electrical work, the entrance porch – a decaying plastic lean-to – was one of the first things Bryony focused on, replacing it with an elegant black metal frame. ‘It’s a fairly decadent use of the space, because there’s just a seat with baskets underneath for shoes. But visually it really sets the tone for the interior and creates an instant atmosphere upon stepping inside.’

It’s perhaps not surprising to learn that Bryony grew up in an artistic household. ‘My mum was an interior decorator and my dad was a keen antiques collector, so our home was filled with extraordinary and wonderful objects,’ she says. As a designer, she always aims to create spaces that inspire and delight.

However, it’s the use of grounding color, inspired by the surrounding nature, that really sets her home apart. Sobek, an earthy green by Paint & Paper Library, is Bryony’s go-to shade. ‘It’s got this ethereal quality,’ she explains. ‘This whole house, with its huge windows pulling in so much natural light, really wanted color. In the living room, I was trying to capture the color of lichen, reminiscent of walks along Jersey’s coast.’

While there were few original features remaining, the beautiful concave plaster coving presented a natural opportunity to continue the color up the wall and onto the ceiling. Bryony has contrasted the lichen tone with soft shearling wool cushions in an autumnal bracken hue.

She also set about increasing the usable space in the kitchen. ‘The rental kitchen layout was nonsensical. Closing up a secondary doorway and recessing a range cooker into the chimney breast unlocked the room’s potential,’ she says. Bryony also enlisted the talents of local friend and cabinetmaker Christian Delafield to create bespoke kitchen cabinetry that honors the property’s wonky bones.

The kitchen island is reclaimed, painted in an earthy shade, and Bryony turned the original cupboard shelves into deep drawers. The walls are a plaster pink with a brown base that stops it from feeling too sweet, especially when clashing against the green on the cabinetry, mirroring the room’s focal point painting of a ruby chard.

Upstairs, Bryony used a deep glossy green in the boys’ bathroom, a pale neutral and earthy red in the main bedroom, and a warm brown hue in the en suite. ‘Using natural colors boosts the feeling of wellness within a space. My mood improves when using tones inspired by nature,’ she says. ‘It’s amazing how bold you can go, and how much colour a house can take, as long as there are natural elements to ground it all.’ 

Bryony has managed to reinvigorate the property and fulfill its potential with a varied palette of rich colors, bringing warmth and visual stimulation to this joyful family home.

Meet the designer

Bryony Richardson shares her style inspiration 

SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT
Panelling. Introducing wall texture immediately creates atmosphere and interest and can be achieved easily with a variety of styles evoking different feels. 

GO-TO COLOR
Paint & Paper Library’s Sobek – an ethereal color that flits between blue and silvery green depending on the light. 

FAVORITE DESIGN DETAIL
Bronze curtain rails – I love their slender elegance. 

DESIGN HERO
Piero Portaluppi – the renowned interwar Italian architect who designed Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan. 

YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS
Atmospheric, authentic, expressive. 

I KNOW I’M A CREATIVE BECAUSE…
When it comes to films and TV programs, I could be accused of taking more interest in the backdrop than in the plight of the characters. 

HOME MAKES ME FEEL
In my element.

'There’s a real Oscar Wilde-y feel to this home,’ Jennifer Hamilton, director of The Vawdrey House, says of one of the firm’s latest projects in London. The clients, an Australian couple, had watched as Jennifer and her team worked on their neighbors’ house design and acted quickly to appoint the firm for their own home. 

‘We get a lot of work through client referrals, but this one was particularly exciting as we had already redeveloped one side of this pair of grand semi-detached Georgian houses,’ Jennifer explains. 

While both houses had the same footprint, their respective owners differed dramatically in taste. ‘We really enjoy the variety of the work and we are versatile with our design language,’ she adds. ‘We always look at both architecture and interior design from the start, anticipating usage and planning with foresight.’ 

The owners had lived in the house for 23 years, and with two teenage children, they wanted more space, connectivity and to overhaul the lower-ground floor of the house, which had been neglected and underused for years. 

‘At one point the house had been divided into flats, so on the lower-ground floor there was a side door, but little connection to the garden. There was a study and a guest room, but they were damp and cold. It felt like a lost floor,’ Jennifer says.

The owners, having always enjoyed the kitchen and living layout on the raised upper ground floor, opted to leave them put. ‘Not many houses have stuck to this tradition,’ Jennifer notes. ‘So, our challenge was how to give this main floor a greater connection to the garden.’ 

The solution was for the kitchen to open onto a roof terrace above the new lower-ground floor extension. A new set of steps lead into the large garden. ‘It feels much closer to the house now,’ says Jennifer. ‘Previously, you had to go out of a side door and down a narrow steel spiral staircase to reach it.’

While planning permission for the extension had been granted previously, Jennifer realized that a central internal staircase connecting the lower and upper-ground floors would invigorate the layout with a dynamic central axis. 

‘The owner, who is a great lover of all things vintage and antique, didn’t want to slap something on the back and lose the period feel of the house. We discussed what sort of windows to use for the extension at length, opting for fine new timber French doors. The brickwork obviously looks a lot cleaner than the rest of the house, but in time it will all blend down effectively and appear as one.’

The house had previously been decorated in neutrals, but for its new manifestation, the owner felt emboldened to try richer hues. ‘She was keen to introduce color and warmth and has a lot of pieces from flea markets that we designed joinery around,’ says Jennifer. ‘We aimed for more variation from room to room with dark window and door frames creating a period look. We used Farrow & Ball’s Green Smoke and Railings for these accent colors.’

The lower-ground floor itself has been transformed into a vast, light-filled space for leisure and relaxation. A library area greets visitors with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, opening into the sitting room with inviting sofas backed by pages of the famous Rocque Plan of London from 1746. 

‘The guest suite remains in its old location, but it’s away from a window so we designed a reeded glass screen and sliding doors for privacy and connectivity,’ explains Jennifer. From lost to found, the newly configured basement has breathed life into the home from the ground up.

Meet the designer

Jennifer Hamilton shares her style inspiration 

SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT
Opening up the entrance to the kitchen to enable it to work with the dining room.

INSPIRATION
I get design inspiration through travel and visiting National Trust properties and stately homes – and that is a much-loved way to spend a weekend. 

FAVOURITE BUILDING
I love the Royal Pavilion in Brighton – it is so over the top and opulent. We often draw from the maximalist style and then simplify it.

LAST PIECE OF ART YOU BOUGHT
A pencil drawing of the New York skyline acquired on a recent trip there. 

CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT
Nice brunches at the weekend. 

SECRET ADDRESS
We love Ardingly Antiques Fair and the whole town of Midhurst is great for vintage finds. 

WORDS TO LIVE BY
Look at all the options available to you so that, at the end, you can be sure why you didn’t choose something else.

This cabin-style mountain home has won us over with its inviting interiors. It's cozy, yet elevated, with a playful mix of rustic and contemporary styling. It's now the ultimate lake house retreat, and there was never any question that this would be one of the world's best homes. 

Built in the 1980s, in Crystal Bay, Nevada, the four-story house was dark and dated, but recently underwent a huge renovation, as its owners saw it as a lake home, rather than a mountain home. Cue designer Jen Samson of Jen Samson Design, who set about transforming every room. 

'We were brought on to the project to completely update and remodel the home so that it was more suitable and aligned stylistically with the new homeowners. They wanted to make it about the water, not as much about skiing, although both are prominent in this area,' says the designer. 'With that in mind, we worked to remove anything that felt like a mountain cabin and create light, bright, and fun spaces, with a relaxed modern lake house vibe.

'We reconfigured the layout so that most rooms have an unobstructed view of the lake. That included quite a bit of interior construction, including all new flooring materials, removal and redesign of some cabinetry, and new masonry work.

Take the tour, as designer Jen Samson explains how this elevated and cozy look came about.  

'We focused on rectifying the dark nature of the space, adding in elements that allow for light, flow, and unobstructed views of the lake beyond,' says designer Jen Samson. 'We also modernized any parts of the home that felt dated.'

Living room ideas feature a blend of rustic and modern style notes. The sofa is custom, the rug, a definite favorite, is from Pampa in Australia. 'We added the showstopping leather chair from BDDW and a pair of little bouclé Petra chairs to add to a more playful and contemporary feel,' says the designer. 

In the words of the designer: 'The dining room is quite special'. 

'Pulling from the gorgeous exterior, we opted for a bit more color in our dining room ideas. The handmade oak wishbone table from Jacob May is so beautiful and inviting, and I love how it pairs with the dark green leather chairs from Barnaby Lane. A blue vintage kilim rug grounds the scheme and we found the vintage Hungarian handwoven textile by Eva Nemeth on 1st dibs. That piece, along with the gorgeous lake and trees surrounding the home help to inform the overall palette throughout the home' says designer Jen Samson.

Rather than taking out all of the cabinetry, and starting the kitchen afresh, the designer opted to keep and repurpose where possible, including the wood cabinets, with a clear vertical grain Douglas fir from old-growth trees. 

'The high-quality craftsmanship made them a must-keep,' she says. 'We removed some of the heavy upper cabinets as well as the peninsula and island and reworked the layout with a new, more modern feel.'

The designer kept the design of the kitchen clean and the palette simple with oak cabinetry. Above the wood kitchen cabinets, she installed open shelves for the homeowners to display their vintage accessories on. The island is a new custom addition, with coordinating stools from Industry West.

This space was designed as a multipurpose family room that would appeal to both kids and adults. The studio designed a custom sofa, with oversized ottomans that can be reconfigured in different ways. The furniture selections are elevated, yet durable and casual. 'We wanted to maximize the livability of these spaces and give the family plenty of room to spread out and have fun!' explains designer Jen Samson.

'The owners wanted the interiors to reflect the natural surroundings of the home and pay homage to the fact that it is a mountain home, but more importantly a lake home – reflecting the water’s elements and less about the skiing element,' she adds. 'The true beauty of this home is how prominent the outdoors are even when lounging.'

In the corner of the family room, there is a large game table, with oversized chairs, a vintage pendant, and a plethora of collected art and objects that all help to bring the space to life. 

The entryway is on the upper level since the cabin home is built into the mountain. As part of the renovation, a glass wall was added to divide the upper level from the lower main level of the home. 

'This created a separate quiet seating space in the house without taking away from the view or light,' explains Jen Samson. 

The designer's entryway ideas included swapping a dark tile with tumbled limestone pulled from the wood tones, the beams, and the stone wall to create a very neutral, welcoming palette. The rope sculpture is by Cindy Zell, the patchwork jute rug by Nanimarquina. The chairs are from Industry West and the tables from Blu Dot. 

With textured wallpaper from Thibaut, the son's room features a more vibrant play on the overall color palette of the home, the designer explains. 'We chose a playful fabric from Les Indiennes for the bench seat and a buffalo check for the bed,' says Jen Samson. 'This room also features my favorite rug in the house! A 1960s Ulla Parkdal Swedish flatweave round on 1stdibs.' The chair is from CB2. 

Designer Jen Samson included a grass cloth printed paper from Peter Dunham in her bedroom ideas for the primary bedroom, which has stunning views of the lake. 'It makes the whole room feel warm while still keeping the room light and organic in texture,' she says. 'I also love the pop of burnt orange that we added through the Blueprint sconces and the bedding.' 

Bathroom ideas for the primary bathroom, were about making the most of what was there already since the existing cabinets and layout were well put together. 'We gave this bathroom an update by painting the vanity, adding the terracotta colored Concretti sinks and custom lighting bought from DL Design Works on Etsy,' says designer Jen Samson. 

For all the beautiful and ingenious updates that designer Jen Samson came up with for the cabin's interiors, one of the biggest challenges of the whole renovation was the large fire pit, central to her deck ideas for the upper level of the home.

'We had no idea how many hoops we would have to jump through to get it safely delivered to the residence. We worked with the highway patrol to close the road completely in order to bring the crane in to carefully place it onto the deck.

'It was a very nerve-racking process, especially when the crane was swinging the firepit from the street over the house to the upper deck. The clients tell me it is their favorite outdoor spot now, with gorgeous views and a blazing fire to keep them cost during the chilly Tahoe summer evenings.'

Interior design: Jen Samson, Jen Samson Design
Photography: Chad Mellon, Mellon Studio
Styling: Kara Perlis, House of Kara

Coming upon oversized florals festooned across double-height walls and a pitched ceiling in an East Hampton heritage house feels a little incongruous. It turns out that the dramatic Josef Frank linen wall treatment is just one in a series of unexpected house design choices made by the couple who live there with their young family. 

The far-from-ordinary renovation, overseen by New York-based interior designer Neal Beckstedt, brings a whole new meaning to the concept of ‘old meets new’. It entailed restoring a late 18th-century saltbox house and decorating an adjacent sleek no-frills new build that the couple commissioned from Architecture Outfit. 

Tasked with marrying these two distinct styles, Neal conceived a farmhouse whose decor recreates the natural world via leaf-laden fabrics and autumnal hues, while the modern structure’s more minimal schemes look outward, paying homage to the garden beyond. 

‘But there is a note of cohesion running through both buildings,’ says Neal. ‘The spaces, used equally by the family, each have a European sensibility with an emphasis on color, fabric and design classics.’ The couple’s collection of unusual finds, notably a ceramic wall hanging by Fernand Léger and Roland Brice, prompted relaxed neutral schemes in the new build, interspersed with pops of color. 

‘We wanted to be brave enough to do something atypical,’ says Neal. ‘A traditional Long Island home is beachy, but a bit buttoned up; either that or it’s all poured concrete and glass, which can feel a bit sterile. We wanted to add warmth and youthfulness and enjoy the interplay of new and old sitting side by side.’ 

Much of that informality came from spending time with the couple and their children and, in particular, observing the owner’s wardrobe. ‘One day, she came to a site meeting wearing a denim jumpsuit,’ says Neal. ‘We had been looking for just the right durable fabric for the sitting room and I realized that the answer was in front of me.’ As a result, soft blues make an appearance throughout both buildings. 

Key to the renovation was creating schemes that suited the lifestyle of a growing family. ‘We are casual people with two young teenage boys,’ says the owner, ‘and we didn’t want anything too fussy or too stark. We also wanted our home to reflect our cultural identity, including some meaningful mother-of-pearl pieces from Damascus and Lebanon.’ 

Neal’s approach was to focus on ‘the progression of color and pattern’ in both spaces. ‘The farmhouse is more insular because it doesn’t have such generous windows,’ he says. ‘So we created drama within via bold pattern and playful touches, such as the kitchen with its retro fridge and geometric tiling. 

In contrast, the new-build kitchen is all about framing the views.’ In the farmhouse, plaid fabrics and walls covered in checks and stripes nod to classic Hamptons style, while, in the new build, mid-century lines, Berber rugs and sculptural lighting evoke a modernist air.

‘This project was the closest I’ve come to the feeling of decorating my own home because the owners’ imagination was so free-ranging,’ reflects Neal. The designer, who wasn’t known for embracing pattern until now, says the renovation prompted him to play further with form too. ‘The exchange of ideas is key for an interior decorator. There’s nothing more exciting than to be challenged in style and scale.’ 

MEET THE DESIGNER 

Neal Beckstedt shares his style inspiration 

What one small change has a huge impact?

Using dark colors in a small space. 

Describe your style in three words.

Warm, understated, luxury. 

How do you get inspired?

Nature and travel. Seeing new places expands my mind – whether through color palettes and the way other spaces are put together, or through cultural differences seen in texture, color, form and assemblage. 

Finish the sentence, 'I know I'm a creative because...'

...I’m always thinking about design, every second of every day. 

How does home make you feel?

Centred and at peace. It’s my safe space – it’s where my sense of design is worked to its highest degree as I constantly shift and re-style so that all my favorite items live peacefully around me. 

What does New Year's mean to you?

Time to rest, recharge and start new projects.

Having spent her childhood growing up in a 14th-century cottage in Devon, English-born interior designer Elizabeth Hay moved and set up her eponymous house design firm in Singapore in 2013 and, for the past 10 years, has been developing her signature ‘quintessentially English and layered’ decorative style. It was this color and pattern-rich aesthetic that the owners – an Australian and Korean couple – sought for their modern townhouse in East Singapore. 

Describing it as having ‘typical architecture’ of the 1980s and 1990s Singapore housing development, Elizabeth Hay says the property is ‘more functional rather than architecturally striking’. The owners had been following her work on Instagram for a while. ‘They travel a lot and they wanted to bring an international and multicultural feel, making it layered, bold and cozy.’

The project is smaller in scale compared with those Elizabeth normally works on, however, tasked with only a few key areas to design and decorate, it offered an opportunity to focus solely on soft furnishings and decorative finishes. ‘This means that you can be creative and you get to see everything you’ve suggested come to life much sooner!’ 

That creativity is certainly in full flow throughout the sitting room, as Elizabeth explains. ‘At the core of the project brief, the clients wanted the double-height sitting room to be a fun space to entertain in, and one that would make guests and visitors think “wow” when they first walked in.’ The statement Ikselwallpaper felt like the perfect answer. 

‘It was quite a big commitment, so we did a 3D mock-up so the client could see what it would look like in the room – and they loved it. It looks incredible.’ It also brings a strong sense of decorative detail into the property. ‘Given the lack of internal architectural features, the Iksel paper gives the room structure and impact,’ Elizabeth continues. 

Describing the result as breathtaking, she also points out that it doesn’t feel overpowering when you’re living here on a day-to-day basis. ‘This is because we kept the colors quite soft and the overall feeling is quite classic, and because it’s classic it has longevity and the house won’t feel dated.’

While the sitting room feels vast in scale, the snug, which has a view of the garden, is very different. The petite space has French doors and an L-shaped sofa upholstered in Christopher Moore Monfaucon fabric with matching wallpaper. ‘For this room, we wanted to curate something all-enveloping and cozy, hence the all-over pattern choice. When you are in the snug it feels just as it should – cocoon-like. The owners wanted to achieve this feeling as it’s where they relax in the evening when it’s just the two of them.’ 

An indulgence in contrasting colors, the blue and yellow decor in the bedroom, featuring Peter Fasano’s Fiddlehead wallpaper and a curtain and headboard fabric from Bombay Sprout called Mughal Marigolds (now discontinued), mirrors the bright garden aspect and is styled with scatter cushions that Elizabeth had custom made. 

Looking ahead, Elizabeth is about to complete two further projects in Singapore (one of which is the conservation of a historic shophouse) along with the design and decoration of a Georgian house in Buckinghamshire. ‘I am also doing up a home for my family in the UK, which is exciting.'

MEET THE DESIGNER

Elizabeth Hay shares her style inspiration

What was the most indulgent part of this project?

The wallpaper in the sitting room.

Can you suggest one small change that has a huge impact?

Scatter cushions.

What's your go-to color?

Blue.

Who's your design hero?

Veere Grenney. 

What was the last thing you bought for your home?

Bhutanese antique textiles.

Can you reveal a lesser-known place we should know about?

Thow Kwang Pottery Jungle in Singapore. 

What was the last exhibition you visited?

Forces of Nature at Blanton Museum of Art in Austin, Texas. 

Who would be your ultimate dinner party guest?

Barack Obama. 

What's your favorite Instagram account?

@trinnywoodall

Built 200 years ago by the celebrated Buckingham Palace architect John Nash, this home, in a prestigious setting overlooking London's Regent's Park, was already a special residence. Now, following a major redesign of the interiors the luxurious three-story home truly merits its place among the world's best homes.

When the art collector owners asked designer Marie Soliman of Bergman Design House to renovate, update, and open up the living spaces, they knew she would turn their home into something quite remarkable. 'The client also asked us to bring colors while he appreciates neutral in his daily life!' recalls the designer. 'I thought to myself, that could be a challenging brief!'

Take the tour; as you'll discover, it was a challenge Marie Soliman met head-on with creativity and innovation.

The inspiration for Marie Soliman's approach was, she says, 'about celebrating the architecture and bringing the views in, blending the boundaries between indoors and outdoors, maximizing the open spaces and the light.' Additionally, it was about creating a timeless, elegant look.

'This home celebrates the owner’s art collection and their love of discovering pieces and displaying them in style,' adds the designer. 'It is a listed building, so we devised ways to create a feeling of openness without touching the fabric of the building.'

The middle floor of the home contains the refined and zen-like living room space, open plan to the dining area and kitchen.  

'This is the space to entertain,' says designer Marie Soliman, 'we imagined this big double-height room filled with laughter. It's a space to make memories. We used very light colors to emphasize the tall windows and bring the views in. Living room ideas include sofas and chairs designed by Bergman Design House for the company's bespoke Blackberg Collection. Each piece is a one-off, curated and tailored for the client. 

Marie Soliman's approach to any project is, she says, 'to start with the art'. In this home, she was working with fine pieces such as this composition by Zhuang Hong Yi, entitled Flower Explosion, and in the stairwell The Thinker Astronaut by Joseph Klibansky (both from Hofa Gallery). With her dining room ideas, the designer aimed to balance a sense of glamor, with an elegant understated space featuring plaster moldings and herringbone floors. 

The dining furniture is bespoke from the Blackberg Collection. 'The furniture has been designed to subtly echo the existing shapes and tones in the owner’s collection,' says Marie Soliman, 'complementing but never detracting from their beauty. In this way, the design plays to the strengths of the architecture and treasured objects, ensuring the rooms exude a sense of balance and considered calm.' 

The ceiling lighting installation was designed by Bergman Design House and manufactured by Northern Lighting in the UK. 

The designer's kitchen ideas for the newly opened-up space started with this conundrum: 'How to have an open plan kitchen without the feeling that it's a kitchen but rather a beautiful bar and a focal point in the living room. How to make the open kitchen more of a date, or meet you at the kitchen moment!' she says. That's quite some ambition, but one she achieved with this smart and uncluttered space.

'I enjoyed designing and sourcing the specific stone for this kitchen, I chose the Blue Sky Roma for the main kitchen island as we didn't want to go for the expected grey or white marbles used everywhere,' she adds. 

All the appliances are hidden behind oak veneer doors, with fluted glass behind the island and an ombre effect lighting inside the cabinets. 

The staircase deserves a special mention, as the stairwell now forms a central artery of the home's interior design, and becomes a feature of each level. Viewed from this angle it's clear that there could be no better position for the Thinking Astronaut. At the foot of the stairs, at the entrance level, you can see the den. 

The den, or winter room as the family know it, is designer Marie Soliman's favorite space in the home. Her den ideas were designed to create a moody vibe, using heritage colors, layered with a soft velvet midnight blue sofa and hand-laid marquetry. 'We wanted it to feel like a gentleman's club,' she says. The artwork is a 1980 silkscreen limited edition poster by Howard Hodgkin. 

The top floor of the 3000 sq ft residence became the primary suite. It contains an open study/office space overlooking the beautiful views and lush greens of Regent's Park. 

The bedroom designs play to the client's love of neutral shades, but touches of warmth are introduced with the caramel throw and earthy mushroom tones in the false wall behind the bed. The overall effect is of a grounded sense of calm. 

The primary ensuite bathroom picks up the colors and finishes seen in the bedroom next door, with the same earthy tones and patina creating a harmonious top-floor suite. The same herringbone floor has been used throughout the house to give continuity. 

Now the project is complete, and the keys handed back to the owners, is Marie Soliman happy with the results? 'I am never satisfied,' she says. 'It's part of the interior designer's life, but I believe we have a beautiful, timeless, balanced, attractive home designed for our client's lifestyle and it feels like home! We are very happy with the bespoke and tailored design and the stunning craftsmanship in this project. True luxury is in the details.'

Interior Design: Bergman Design House
Photography: Nick Smith 

This charming home is in the town of St. Helena, in the heart of California's Napa Valley wine country. It's surrounded by vineyards and has a relaxed Californian aesthetic, with high notes of English country house style. Its homey, cozy good looks are to die for, but factor in the beautiful wallcoverings and fabric treatments and we think this truly is one of the world's best homes. 

Yet just over a year ago it was quite a different story. It was built in the 1980s and, according to San Francisco-based interior designer Benjamin Dhong, 'it lacked soul and authenticity'. The designer took on the project and set about transforming the space, room by room. 

Take the tour and discover the perfect blend of California Casual and English country style. 

'The 1980s-built house had very suburban features,' says designer Benjamin Dhong. 'So we tried to minimize it and give it a wine country feel with a bit of English country house charm.' The homeowner also had a selection of East Coast and English antiques, and the designer worked with her to include those in a refreshed scheme.

The new dining room ideas made use of the owner's existing dining table and Queen Ann chairs, which were enhanced by layers of texture.  A yellow blockprint fabric has been used as a wallcovering. Seagrass carpet, a rattan draped console, a bamboo side table, and an overscaled lampshade pendant in a cheery yellow blockprint (by Pigott's Australia) bring a cottage flavor and make the space more relaxing and inviting. 'Portieres (fabric from Quadrille) at both openings frame and make the space more cozy,' says Benjamin Dhong. 'And simple off-white linen drapes at the windows add softness. The existing, rather odd, contemporary soffits were improved by adding a faux bois wallpaper from Nobilis.' 

Since the dining room and living room were interconnected through a double doorway, the designer sought to link the spaces with his living room ideas, too. 'I knew that fabric wallcovering in a cheery mustard yellow print (from Lee Jofa) would both unify and provide an interesting backdrop,' says Benjamin Dhong. 'We added layers of seagrass, wicker and bamboo furniture to harmonize with all the brown furniture. A pair of skirted tables with an embroidered sun motif adds more softness. An extra large round butler's mirror in the living room is both statement, pop of gold and gives a reflection of the pretty garden.' 

An extra large scalloped coffee table in a parchment finish expands the seating area, and a Louis XVI gives an elegant silhouette. 

In the family room, which is open to the kitchen, designer Benjamin Dhong again turned his attention to some very dated brown beams, painting them in a neutral cream paint that gave the whole room a lift. At the heart of his family living room ideas is another luxurious fabric wallcovering. 'I chose a wonderfully quirky floral print from Bennison Fabrics to use on all the walls,' says the designer, 'and a giant round mirror from Carvers' Guild reflects the garden.' 

Part of designer Benjamin Dhong's remit was to give careful consideration to how each space might be better used. For this guest room, that meant quite a transformation, in looks and purpose. 

'We decided to make this a garden room,' says the designer. 'Another Lee Jofa floral fabric was chosen for the walls, a sophisticated design, rather than too sweet. A French daybed was placed in front of the window and a skirted center table (fabric by Brunschwig et Fils) provided coziness for the daybed, and visual interest and allowed it to be the hub for a variety of furniture. The Bliss Studio tub chair is comfortable enough to lounge in, while its spoked top keeps it from being too visually blocky. I hate plain white ceilings so faux bois wallpaper was added.' 

A faux bois demilune from Currey & Company is another nod to the garden room ideas and an extra large plaster quatrefoil mirror provides a graphic element. The simple seagrass floorcovering adds further texture to the space. 

Anyone looking for bedroom ideas could take inspiration from this charming primary bedroom scheme, with its paneled walls and grass cloth (from Phillip Jeffries) on the ceiling. 'The texture brings in coziness,' explains designer Benjamin Dhong. 'It's like wearing a light cashmere sweater.' 

The designer felt the center of the room was too awkward for seating, so a skirted table in a central Asian pattern (from Lee Jofa) with a pair of Serena & Lily wicker chairs was used instead. 'Their skirts anchor the pieces,' adds the designer. 'The low bookcase was brought in to manage and display her objets, while a pair of cement pots bring a garden element. Natural woven Roman blinds shield from the bright Napa sun, and a cheery block print cotton fabric from Pigott's Australia adds a pop of yellow. The brass porthole mirror adds interest to a bland flat door.'

It's hard to believe that this upbeat mudroom had no natural light and was, according to designer Benjamin Dhong, 'terribly bland and pedestrian'. 

Gleaming electric yellow paint for walls and millwork, a bench seat with a country check cushion, and artwork hung at bench height are the three mudroom ideas we love in this beautiful space.

The house as a whole is a testament to the successful collaboration between the designer and his client, who is a serious gardener and beekeeper. 'I love it when a client has a point of view and fine heirlooms. This helps to create a more personal story,' the designer adds.

Interior design: Benjamin Dhong
Photography: David Duncan Livingston

'The original property was a time capsule,’ explains Mike Fisher, the creative director who oversaw the impressive house design of this renovated Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse in London. 

The founder of interior design company Studio Indigo continues, ‘It was like stepping back in time. The house hadn’t been decorated since the 1940s – it even had a little bomb damage – with most of the original architectural features from the 1820s still evident.’ 

The owner, Nathalie Hirst, is a property buyer and, according to Mike, has a good eye in terms of buying in the right location and looking at what the important qualities are in a house. ‘She knows what she likes and doesn’t like - what features would add value to the property, and what was important to make it feel special.’ 

Bringing the property into the 21st century necessitated planning permission, although Studio Indigo was limited in terms of the structural work that could be done because it is a listed building. ‘The starting point was the rear extension and how we could make the closet wing at the back feel like it was much more part of the house,’ says Mike. 

The original form of the closet wing was retained, but the ground floor was extended and opened up so that a space comprising the kitchen, sitting and dining areas forms the convivial heart of the home. In addition, spaces were reworked to create en-suite bathrooms that are modern ‘but not so ultra-modern that they are out of character with the house’. 

Although the house is quite small – less than 3,000 square feet – the priority of Tyché McCaig, Studio Indigo’s director and project architect, was to make the small house feel as large as possible. This was done by opening up links between rooms and creating views from one space to the next, and to the garden. ‘It feels like everything is on a miniature scale and it’s perfect,’ she notes. 

Because the building is part of a terrace, Studio Indigo was also able to build on the approvals that were bestowed on neighboring houses and so was able to reintroduce a light well at the front of the house to tease natural light into the basement. Restoring and reinstating the period details, such as paneling, cornices, skirtings and architraves, was also a priority. 

Having formed the basic bones of the house, interior designer Dominique Bonino worked with Nathalie on the decor, curating her existing furniture and art. ‘We wanted to keep the color palette fresh and in keeping with its Georgian roots, then play with colors with the furniture and soft furnishings. Our aim was to create an inviting, cozy space that was functional for everyday living. 

Nathalie has a lot of heirloom pieces, so we wanted to make them sing in the spaces and have everything else complement them. Each room needed to feel like a reflection of Nathalie, her travels and history, and like it’s always been there for her.’ A careful balancing act was performed regarding furniture, mixing and matching modern and traditional pieces to keep the look timeless. 

The result is a classic scheme that exudes light and is peppered with soft rustic and tonal hues of yellow, green, blues and ochres.

‘We didn’t want to incorporate particularly dark colors', says Dominique. ‘We needed to keep the decor light, but at the same time bring in beautiful fabrics and exquisite patterns so it wouldn’t feel bland. Nathalie knew where she wanted to introduce color and pattern to give it character and she also wanted to have some fun along the way.'

MEET THE DESIGNER

Mike Fisher shares his style inspiration

What is your favorite design detail?

Shadow gaps are a great way of resolving difficult junctions and connections, making them look very elegant and sleek. 

Can you recommend one minor change that can have a great impact?

Paint can be a relatively small change that has a huge impact. It can instantly transform a room from feeling cozy to feeling spacious, or from feeling light to feeling dark. 

What's your go-to color?

Pink – any shade. 

Who are your design heroes?

Sir John Soane, Edwin Lutyens, David Hicks. 

Where do you find inspiration?

I get very inspired by my home in the countryside, Ven House in Somerset. The nature, the heritage and the peace. 

Tell us about a little-known place that we should all have on our radar.

Southern Guild – it’s an incredible gallery in Cape Town, South Africa, representing contemporary artists from Africa. 

Finish the sentence 'home makes me feel...'

...sheltered and protected, inspired and relaxed, and with a deep sense of belonging. It’s my sanctuary. 

What are your words to live by?

Never give up.

When the owners of this 1930s Colonial Revival-style house in Presidio Heights, a family-friendly neighborhood near San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge, needed help to create an equally family-friendly interior, they turned to the designer who had overseen the home design of their first property, a small condo back in 2015.

‘Fast-forward to 2020, and we were married, trapped indoors with a one-year-old in said condo during Covid,’ explains the client. 

‘We longed for more space and a backyard. When we saw this place, close to friends, and a few blocks from my sister, we had a feeling this was our house.’ On the outside, the property was beautiful, not needing much beyond landscaping and painting, but the inside told a different tale. It hadn’t been touched for decades.' 

They enlisted the help of interior designer Lauren Nelson as well as architects Stephen Sutro and Melissa Kim of Sutro Architects, and work began in January 2021. 

‘The language of the house was good, but the scale of the rooms wasn’t great,’ recalls Stephen.  ‘Our goal was to design a home to serve a growing family of now four. When the children are little, you need more visual control of them, but as they grow up, they require a separate space where they can retreat with friends.’ 

With Lauren’s previous knowledge of her clients, she set about creating a home that reflected them on every level. ‘We knew they wanted something more formal than the laid-back California casual look,’ she says. ‘This excited me as I love to mix things up, leaning towards more traditional style on some projects, more contemporary on others.’ 

The bulk of the work was on the ground floor. ‘The kitchen was opened up to the family room, with steel doors added,’ says Lauren. ‘The dining room was moved to the middle of the house, with the lower floor becoming a media room, a guest room/office, gym, wine room and powder room.’ Upstairs, the main bathroom and closets were enlarged, with en suites for the two children’s bedrooms. 

When it comes to design, Lauren always starts with the house itself and the location. ‘Then we dig down into the clients and their lifestyles,’ she says. ‘Our goal is to create a home that withstands the test of time and does not tire.'

'We place emphasis on antiques and vintage pieces, layering them from different eras and countries. My clients love visiting France and New York,’ she continues, ‘and wanted a blend of Paris and Provence-meets-Brooklyn brownstone.'

'We mixed Parisian apartment references that blended classic French design, such as parquet floors and wrought-iron furniture, with modern features like sculptural marble islands and dramatic lighting.’

The client says, ‘I also wanted a stronger indoor-outdoor connection, like those Brooklyn homes with glass doors that open to beautiful patios.’ 

Lauren has balanced modern and traditional design effortlessly, such as in the dining room, with its contemporary Lindsey Adelman light over a stone table, Scapinelli chairs and chinoiserie de Gournay wallpaper. ‘This mix creates a tension that piques interest and keeps rooms from feeling too expected.’ 

Both Lauren and her client share a love for natural stone, with nine different marbles used. The kitchen’s Calacatta turquoise provided the biggest challenge. ‘We were using it in such a big way that this stone had to be special, and my client searched far and wide for the perfect fit,’ says Lauren. 

This is a project that has drawn on a past design relationship, a love of travel, soft palettes, surprise pattern and a happy juxtaposition of modern and vintage. ‘The decisions made by the client came out of true passion,’ says Lauren, ‘and you can see how much love they have for their home because of this.’

MEET THE DESIGNER 

Lauren Nelson shares her style inspiration

What was the most indulgent part of this project?

The kitchen, with the sheer amount of marble used on the island unit, the back wall and even on the ceiling above the range. 

Were there any particular challenges?

Sourcing the nine different types of stone used throughout the house. 

Have you got a favorite room?

The media room, with its deep-green cabinets and bespoke sofa, stone splashback and wood-clad ceiling. It’s dark and moody, but still cozy. 

What's your go-to color at the moment?

Intrigue by Benjamin Moore – a moody grey-green. 

Who inspires your work?

Axel Vervoordt, Joseph Dirand, Beata Heuman, Nickey Kehoe. 

Can you recommend a hotel with an incredible interior?

Maison de la Luz in New Orleans, by Studio Shamshiri. 

What was the most recent thing you bought for your home?

A Danish brutalist sideboard for my dining room.

Designer Nina Farmer didn’t grow up in an old house. Her unique approach to house design, defined by richly layered interiors punctuated with antiques, evolved as she moved through periods in her life. 

‘My parents built our first home from scratch. It was in the countryside in Connecticut and there was nothing remotely historic about it,’ she recalls. ‘But then I went to school in New Orleans, which felt very rich and patinaed, and I realized how much places that showed their age appealed to me. My parents met in London, so along with Venice and Paris, it has been a strong influence on my style.’ 

The Beacon Hill neighborhood of Boston that interior designer Nina Farmer has made her home, along with her husband and two daughters, is steeped in history. ‘We’ve been here for 15 years. I love the cobbled streets and old gas lamps. There’s a very charming British feel to the area,’ she says. 

The housing stock, made up of Federal-style and Victorian brick terrace houses dating from the 1850s, is protected, making them some of the best-preserved historic homes in the US. 

Nina’s remarkable appetite for designing for older properties is the subject of her new book, Timeless by Design, published by Rizzoli. Her love of all things British can especially be seen in the interior design of her friends’ Federal-style brownstone home, also located in Beacon Hill and featured here.

‘There’s something about a certain British way of living that somehow manages to feel formal, friendly and familiar all at the same time. There’s an exciting boldness to the way interiors are being designed in the UK. Colours are deeper and richer and more patterns are used. Contrasting textures are highlighted and designers show a willingness to layer in the most sophisticated way. There’s also a healthy dose of playfulness and whimsy that ensure any floral prints and chintzes feel more fresh than frumpy,’ Nina enthuses. 

‘The clients are a married professional couple with two school-age children and, being regular visitors to London, they shared my affinity with England,’ Nina elaborates.  

‘The tall, narrow building had already been renovated in the 1990s but was white and sterile. It was lacking personality and missing characterful mouldings. Whilst the exterior couldn’t be touched, we completely rethought the floor plan, moving the kitchen from the first to the ground floor and created a parlor and adjoining office where it was formerly located. We all play cards regularly so this was expressly designed for that purpose and entertaining in general with an intimate, cozy and welcoming tone,’ she explains. 

‘My friends are great lovers of antique and vintage pieces and were keen to use bold colors, especially picking up on my fondness for decorating with green. It extends throughout the house, at its brightest in the kitchen and getting moodier from there, shifting toward moss and olive in other spaces, such as the board-and-batten-clad dining room and the living room and parlor, where a variety of greens are set off against paler neutrals and deeper cognac hues,’ Nina explains. 

Designing for such Anglophile clients meant Nina mostly sourced from British brands as well as taking trips to the UK for antique hunting. Paint colors are from Farrow & Ball, the kitchen cabinetry was supplied by Plain English and light fittings came from Jamb. There are also wallcoverings from Soane Britain and fabrics from Robert Kime.

‘I chose works by British artist Tom Hammick for the living and dining room as his style transcends both place and time, which felt appropriate for this house.’ Evoking the interior of an English ancestral manor house, this home transports both through time and over the ocean. 

MEET THE DESIGNER 

Nina Farmer shares her style inspiration 

What's your go-to color?

For this project, Bancha by Farrow & Ball. 

Do you have a favorite room in this project?

The parlor space where everything was really layered on. 

Who is your design hero?

There are so many but Jacques Grange who designed Yves Saint Laurent’s house in Marrakech is a perennial favourite. 

Describe your style in three words.

Timeless, layered, sophisticated. 

Right now, what objects would we find on your coffee table?

My father’s turned wood bowls, a stack of books, an English wood tray, candles and antique finds. 

What was the last museum you visited?

The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. It’s fashioned after a Venetian palazzo and the courtyard in the center always has stunning seasonal displays.

Name an indulgence that you can't live without.

I have a soft spot for Art Deco tea services 

What are your words to live by?

Shy away from things on trend that will have an expiration date.

An apartment in an iconic and historic building calls for beautiful and considered interiors. This particular apartment, on the third floor of an award-winning converted vocational school in Charleston, SC, has an interior design scheme that elevates it to another level of luxury. In fact, we're so wowed by the careful placement of antiques and paintings, and the bespoke wallcoverings and finishes, that we've added the penthouse to our list of the world's best homes. 

Its owners turned to Moe Draz, owner and principal of Architrave Interior Design, to redesign the interiors for their top-floor corner penthouse. 'I always think that the architecture of the space should inform the design,' says the designer, 'so I try and start with the building envelope, paying attention to the scale of the rooms, the windows and the natural light in the space.' 

There were quite a few other considerations, however, in the form of the owner's extensive collection of modern art and European antiques, all of which needed to find their perfect placement. The finished results are remarkable. This is a layered and luxurious space, that's at once traditional and unexpected. 

We think there's a lot to be learned from this Charleston apartment about how to place familiar antiques alongside bold and challenging artworks, and the important role pattern and texture play in tying these elements together. 

Designer Moe Draz give us the tour and shares his insights, below, on creating this beautiful transitional style. 

1. Make a strong start with the entry walls

'We wanted to strike a balance between the clients' colorful modern art, the European antiques, and the historic structure that still felt fresh and light,' says designer Moe Draz. 

That intention is strong right from the get-go. His entryway ideas in this transitional space feature a confident and dramatic brown paint for the walls. 'The vestibule was a great place to use the client’s lacquered chinoiserie secretary and gilt wood chandelier, and the dark chocolate paint creates a bold contrast for these fine pieces,' the designer adds. A pair of antique gilt chairs and an Oushak Rug from Mottar Rugs complete the scene. 

2. Soften bold colors with texture

It's the sunroom that benefits from the penthouse's position on the corner of the building. With windows on two sides, it enjoys good daylight and so seemed the natural space to create a relaxing area to enjoy the city and river views, and to play the grand piano. 

The abundance of natural light makes this the ideal space to appreciate the subtle textures of a grass cloth wallcovering, which also brings an element of softness and balances the stronger architectural features of the space, namely the high ceilings, steel framed windows, and glass screen. 

Explaining his sunroom ideas, designer Moe Draz says, 'We used this room as a space for lounging and cultivating house plants. I really love how all the dark elements of the room interact with the chartreuse green grasscloth (by Innovations in Wallcoverings) on the walls.

3. Use built-in bookshelves for color and character

The library is designer Moe Draz's favorite room, and no wonder since this home library epitomizes his approach to the whole apartment. Taking traditional furnishings and placing them in an unexpected way gives the space a fresh look but with a respectful nod to the past. So while the floor-to-ceiling shelves, library steps, molded cabinets and brass wall lights might bring to mind an English country house library, the sleek built-in design (and let's not ignore the wall-mounted TV), custom rug, and another textured wallcovering all give the room a modern twist. 

'After searching for months for a fabric to re-cover the sofa, the client loved a Lewis & Wood printed linen. From there, I selected the tweed-like chevron patterned woven paper from Cowtan & Tout to cover the walls and provide a nice masculine feel to the space,' says the designer. 'We commissioned Sullivan Fine Rugs to make the rug for the room which has a more muted and modern look. We echoed the green in the sofa fabric on a swivel club chair in the room and used leather from Holland & Sherry for the Lee Industries high-back chair.  

4. Let the room's features be a guide

Just as in the sunroom, the high ceilings and huge steel-framed windows in the dining room give the space a strong architectural identity, which designer Moe Draz leaned into as he placed the owner's art and antiques. Strong lines call for an equally strong response from the furnishings: note the symmetrical placing of the artwork and area rugs in the open plan dining-living room. 

Thoughtful design is about so much more than simply matching a room's architecture, however, and Architrave Interior Design add some exquisite softening touches to layer the space. Decorative paint effects specialist Kristen Bunting gave the walls a Venetian plaster finish, the old-Italian styling beautifully complemented by an 18th-century Genoese chandelier and custom-embroidered window treatments by Holland & Sherry. 

5. Keep a thread of color for a harmonious effect

'The client loves greens and yellows so we implemented a citrusy color palette that looked fresh yet not overpowering,' says the designer of his color choices for the apartment as a whole. Picking shades from the same color palette and similar accent colors (in this case, recurring pink and raspberry tones), for each room ties the interiors together in a calm and harmonious way. 

'Here in the living room I wanted to create an elegant soft space for entertaining,' adds Moe Draz. There's ample inspiration here for anyone looking for a new perspective on traditional living room ideas. 

6. Soften the edges of a modern kitchen with artwork

'We decided to go minimalist and modern for our kitchen ideas, with custom cabinets in high gloss finish to maximize the space and light in this interior galley kitchen,' says designer Moe Draz. Yet even in such a sleek workspace, there's scope to bring in another layer of interest and personality to soften the edges. Brass hardware and light fitting, and a small painting over the sink, an antique piece by a Charleston artist, add welcome depth to the space. 

7. Embrace the unexpected

This elegant Charleston apartment is full of surprises, and that's a design lesson we've loved learning from the unusual eat-in kitchen ideas, here in the breakfast room. 

'In this space, rather than placing a table in the center of the room with chairs all around, we decided to use their 19th-century fruitwood farm table more like a console table, with a custom bench and flanked by two chairs,' explains Moe Draz. 'The room had very tall walls that created a great opportunity to use a custom mural by Gracie Studio, showcasing a low country marsh scene with citrus trees, palm trees, and azalea bushes.' 

8. Go bolder in transitional areas

You might be just passing through, but that's no reason to give the hallway any less thought than the rest of the home. Designer Moe Draz thought long and hard about his options for this space and turned a previously dark, narrow passageway into a gallery space for some of the owners' treasured paintings. 

'I had the walls covered in paper-backed silk by Gracie Studio in a sunny yellow tone to brighten the space and provide a nice background for art display,' says the designer. 'I also decided to have the floor hand stenciled by specialist Kristen Bunting to create a classic geometric pattern to break up the narrow linear space.'

9. Display meaningful pieces to give rooms personality

The homeowners had a lifetime collection of art and antiques, explains designer Moe Draz. 'They really wanted us to try to use as many of their pieces as possible and I was excited to do it,' he adds. 'I love incorporating antiques in our work but it's rare that someone comes to us with a huge collection of beautiful antique pieces and all we have to do is fill in the gaps to complete the rooms.'

The focus for this showstopper of a primary bedroom began with the client’s own painted bed, from Alfonso Marina, and a vintage rug from the dining room of their previous home. The designer then carefully sourced additional antique and period-style pieces to complete the curated scheme.

'Playing off the colors of the bed, I found the vintage 1930s chandelier in Italy, with its emerald green crystals,' says the designer. 'I selected a damask-printed wallcovering by Zoffany that is based on historic archived documents. Next, I wanted to bring the scale of the room down a bit and make it feel more comfortable so I designed the bed canopy inspired by one I saw in a French chateau. I used Sarkis Studio to create a custom painted and gilt wood cornice form, which we draped a pink silk by James Hare lined by a small print pattern by Silk Works.' 

10. Experiment with patterned walls in a bathroom

There is another stunning wallcovering in the primary bathroom, a Lewis & Wood large-scale design by UK decorative artist Adam Calkin. 

'It provided this interior bathroom with a garden atmosphere,' says designer Moe Draz, who had to negotiate several obstacles before coming up with an alternative plan to achieve his dream bathroom. The space needed to be fully refurbished; however, the team at Architrave Interior Design were not able to move any of the plumbing lines without having to disturb the ceiling of the unit below. 

'Rather than relocating the tub and water closet to create a larger shower, we designed a fully tiled wet room with ample space for an open shower and tub,' explains Moe Draz. 'The mirrored paneling above the vanity has hidden storage behind the mirrors and I had the woodwork and vanity painted and glazed like old French furniture.'

Interior Design: Architrave Interior Design
Photographs: Katie Charlotte Photography 

When working on the design of a new build, the expert's brief is often to try to instill a sense of character. Instead, working on the Roman and Williams-designed Fitzroy in New York, designer Shawn Henderson already had plenty to play with with this house design - from the reclaimed oak parquet floor to the oak surrounding the doors and windows to the copper soaking tub in the bathroom. 

‘It’s so unusual to walk into a newly developed building that has such a high level of detailing to it – it was very bespoke and a dream to work with,’ Shawn explains. 

His own aesthetic, which combines beautifully crafted vintage pieces with modern contemporary, resulting in sophisticated, yet inviting schemes, amalgamated perfectly with the building. It also matched the tastes of the couple who wanted his help to personalize their new family home where they were settling with their two young boys. 

Shawn took his design cues from the wife, who ‘is incredibly fashionably dressed and you can tell just loves to surround herself with beautiful things’. She was involved in the design process from the start. ‘It was such an exciting relationship, sending pictures back and forth and really pushing each other,’ he says. 

One example was the dining room. While the rest of the three-bedroom apartment is painted in calm, chalky paint tones, Shawn wanted to do something different to the walls. ‘I suggested wood paneling or perhaps a lacquer, then we started talking about a wall mural and she found the amazing de Gournay wallpaper called Early Views of India that we ended up choosing. That was how we worked; it was so fun.’ 

Aside from this wallpaper, Shawn tends to work with sumptuous layers of texture, rather than pattern. The sitting room, for example, has a huge custom-made rug that grounds the space, in an off-white color that chimes with a Carl-Axel Acking daybed and the linen blinds. 

Shawn has then layered warm mid-tone vintage wooden pieces, such as a 1950s Josef Frank table, and Ole Wanscher side tables besides a sofa that was designed by Swaine, a furniture company Shawn has with fellow interior designer Mike Rupp, covered in a warm mustard velvet to provide a pop of color.

One obvious omission from the sitting room is a television. ‘That’s a funny story,’ Shawn notes. ‘I was trying to find ways to hide the TV and had found a cabinet maker who could make a beautiful piece that would conceal it, when the wife said she just didn’t want it in there at all. But the husband wanted somewhere to watch TV.’ 

The solution was to turn a spare room into a luxurious but relaxed family den, complete with Pierre Frey-covered upholstery, a lightly textured linen wallcovering and a large television on the wall. ‘To be honest, I think its days are numbered, even in there,’ Shawn laughs.

The family room solution was made possible because the two boys share a room, with cork wallpaper and bespoke bunk beds made from the same mid-tone wood as the rest of the house, ensuring a glamorous retreat. 

Shawn says, ‘They look so slick. I love how they feel really special and are pieces that the boys can continue to grow into.’ Shawn admits that children’s rooms are often his favorite spaces to design. ‘I live vicariously through these kids – I think they bring out my inner child.’

MEET THE DESIGNER 

Shawn Henderson shares his style inspiration 

Finish the sentence, 'I know I'm a creative because...'

...ever since I was a little kid, I’ve been obsessed with space. 

How do you describe your style?

Context is important and I adapt my aesthetic to fit what is appropriate for the clients and architecture. 

Can you share your go-to color for decorating?

Farrow & Ball Slipper Satin. 

What one small change has a massive impact?

Getting proportions right is vital. It has to start at the beginning of a project. 

Who is your ultimate design hero?

British architect John Pawson. 

How do you find inspiration?

When I’m at my most relaxed and surrounded by nature, I get inspired.

What is your favorite museum?

The Clark in western Massachusetts. It has buildings designed by Tadao Ando – it is beautiful and endlessly inspiring. 

Any New Year's resolutions this year?

Sleep more, get more rest – and stop scrolling Instagram. 

Finish the sentence, 'home makes me feel...'

...safe and comfortable. 

Built in the 1980s, this house sits on a picturesque tree-lined street overlooking a forested ravine in Rosedale, Toronto. Its exterior is adorned with the rambling wild roses that give the neighborhood its name. The stone facade with leaded glass windows evoke a traditional French country style that belies the contemporary interior within - a perfect lesson in creative yet elegant home design.

The owner moved here, with her partner and young boys, from New York City, where she pursued a career in fashion for several years. On returning to Toronto to raise her family, she became a style consultant and started a concept store focusing on vintage finds and curated designer pieces. It was important that the aesthetics of the interior reflected her creative flair. 

The owners turned to Elizabeth Metcalfe, founder of Elizabeth Metcalfe Design. It was a true meeting of minds and Elizabeth knew immediately that she wanted to work with them. ‘We were inspired by the owners’ desire to create a family home that felt stylish, modern and had an eclectic edge. Nothing was ever off the table,’ explains Elizabeth. 

‘It was important to design a space where their children and pets had full rein; an amazing kitchen for their passion for cooking; and approachable interiors to entertain and socialize with friends and family.’ 

Spread over two floors, with a third-floor loft and a fully functional basement level, the 6,000 square foot house had huge potential. ‘As the full scope of the project unfolded and evolved, we found the homeowners open to bold design choices and unconventional materials,’ reveals Elizabeth. 

The renovation took two years to complete, while the family isolated in New York City during the pandemic, relying primarily on weekly video meetings. 

The main floor comprises the sitting room and dining room flanking a central staircase, with the kitchen and family area along the back of the house; a sun-filled garden room that overlooks the leafy ravine; and a study tucked away behind a hidden bookcase. 

The second floor consists of two areas: one with the main suite, including an en suite and double walk-in wardrobes, and one with a boys’ wing and shared bathroom. 

 Wrapped in a de Gournay handpainted silk wallcovering, the third-floor loft is dedicated to the guest suite that hosts family and friends visiting from Europe and the United States. 

Nurtured by the homeowner’s fashion background and love of beautiful textiles, the different areas feature a mix of natural fabrics including linens, cotton velvets, mohair and cashmere. 

Hand-woven blinds by Hartmann & Forbes and hand-knotted rugs by Atelier Février combine with painted clay and lime walls by Portola Paints, high-gloss lacquer cabinetry, and handpainted silk wallcoverings, resulting in a soothing and inviting atmosphere that highlights the beauty of craftsmanship. 

Playing with pattern and bringing together unexpected pairings, Elizabeth has included vintage finds, such as a restored lounge chair by Adrian Pearsall with a high-back sculptural walnut base. ‘Colour is truly everything and one of our signature trademarks,’ says Elizabeth. 

‘Our palettes have a distinctive point of view with an emphasis on subtle tonal complexities, creating a layering of hues that play off one another to form a cohesive story. Color should never feel forced or contrived.’ 

Atmospheric neutrals with a dark inky blue, pale celadon, and chalky blush tones have been complemented by stripped-back natural oak, walnut, and cedar. ‘Through a very open collaboration, we worked together to create a home that reflects uncomplicated sophistication grounded with natural fabrics and finishes, while representing the owner’s unique sense of style and comfort.’

MEET THE DESIGNER

Elizabeth Metcalfe shares her style inspiration

Which is your favorite room in the home?

The sunroom is magical. Natural light filters through from the forested ravine and engages everyone who steps into this room. Custom handmade clay tiles from Italy, a cedar-lined ceiling and beautiful handwoven blinds add charm.

What's your go to color?

I don’t have a ‘go-to’ color, but rather a ‘go-to’ palette incorporating chalky whites, soft lavenders, atmospheric blues and a faint blush. 

Who is your greatest design hero?

I have two design heroes who have shaped how I approach my work. John Saladino and Thomas Pheasant have informed my sensibility to incorporate time-honored design principles that are the foundation of our design studio.

Choose three words to encapsulate your style.

 Graceful, personalized, layered.

 Which hotel has the best interior that we should know about?

The Amanzoe in Greece designed by the legendary Ed Tuttle. The interiors reference Greek classical architecture reimagined in a contemporary context. The minimalist interiors open up to beautiful views of olive trees, lavender fields and the serenity of water.

From the outside, it's the quintessential Canadian log house, built in the 1990s in the traditional style that dots the mountainside and hunkers down next to the forest in Whistler, BC, Canada. The home's recently renovated interior architecture and interior design, however, are refreshingly unexpected. Sparse and minimalist in places, organic and natural in others, and with furnishings and artwork that reference a retro vibe, the finished look perfectly encapsulates the brief homeowner Lyndon Cormack gave the team at Little Giant, led by architect Mark Burkart. 

Take the tour to discover how one cozy cabin embraces both contemporary and retro styling, all under one picture-perfect snow-topped roof. 

'Despite being a modernist at heart, when looking to establish a basecamp for his family in Whistler, Lyndon rejected the idea of creating a modern architectural statement in the mountains,' remembers architect Mark Burkart. 'Instead, he opted for the authentic, mountain character that only a log house could provide. Our design juxtaposes this nostalgic spirit of shelter and warmth with a modern sensibility and focus on art.'  

Owner Lyndon Cormack, co-founder and MD of Herschel Supply Co., specializing in backpacks and travel goods, says he wanted a 'cabin, not a cube' and aimed to respect the original features while introducing fun 'zones'. 

Living room ideas here in the main living room balance the cabin's original rustic log construction with contemporary and organic moments, including a dramatic Bocci lighting fixture and river stone fireplace. On the mantel, Andy Warhol's Space Fruit Watermelon introduces a splash of 1970s color, with B&B's Husk chair adding to the retro vibe, with a black Riva wooden stool alongside. 

'We wanted to create a true mountain cabin experience, but with an irreverent and playful twist. While the exterior is part of the fabric of the mountain village, experiencing the interior is meant to be an exploration into the unexpected,' says Mark Burkart of Little Giant Studio's approach. 

The room's original lofted structure maintains the focus on the landscape outside, with inviting window seats set before panoramic views of the mountainside. The sofa is the Flexform Magnum sofa.

'Canadian cabin culture, my childhood memories of time spent in our family's A-frame house, snowboarding, vintage vibes, music and records, and the coziness of fireside chats inspired the project,' says owner Lyndon Cormack. 

A dramatic arch in the log walls gives a view through to the contemporary kitchen space. 'Dark, modern, wire-brushed cabinetry is scribed against the irregular, golden hue of the log structure,' says the architect. 'In contrast to the original home, the architectural intervention is formally minimal and modern while the materials complement the organic, natural tones.'

'Introducing a modern aesthetic of clean lines to the traditional log architecture produced logistical construction challenges,' says the architect. His kitchen ideas have that minimalist, sleek character and he says the room is one of the areas that presented particular construction challenges: 'It required particular finesse on the part of the carpenters and millworkers when scribing new paneling or millwork against the organic forms.'

For the so-called hideout, used as a family living room and music space, architect Mark Burkart introduced texturally rich cedar shingles, an architectural feature also found on the exterior and intended to blur the lines between outside and inside. Mossy green wool carpeting also hints at the natural colors of the forest seen through huge picture windows.

Family living room ideas in keeping with the home's retro style include the Moroso Take a Line for a Walk chair and the Polder sofa from Vitra, with a B&B ottoman used as a coffee table.

Setting the scene in the music room section is a 1970s design classic, Cassina's Maralunga armchair, with the quirky Pluto side table from Tacchini. This is surely one of the home's fun zones and playful, statement furniture underlines that aspect of the design. For rooms like this, without the exposed log structure, the ceilings were paneled in light white oak for a clean-lined contemporary finish.  

A further living space showcases black display shelves that intricately complement and contrast with the original log structure. An Eames Aluminum Group chair partners with a Benson sofa (just seen) and Mabeo Thuthu stool. The room doubles as a home office and the shelving is used to display owner Lyndon Cormack's prized collection of work by Vancouver sculptor Cameron Kerr. 

Who wouldn't sleep well in a room like this? Among the bedroom ideas we'd like to see becoming more of a 'thing' is the bedroom fireplace. This one is constructed in river stone for a truly organic look and feel. The windows are dressed with curtains from Cloth Studio; the chair is B&B's Maxalto Febo. 

As for the cabin's bathroom ideas, it's not the roll-top that has us talking, much as we love it. It's the ceiling light that gives this small space the wow factor. The Copper Suspension light from Bocci, part of its 38 series, it's a mix of glass light sources and vessels deep enough to contain succulents, cacti and air plants. Now that's the way to brighten up your bathroom lighting ideas!

Photography: Ema Peter
Architecture & Interior Design:  Mark Burkart, principal at Little Giant Studio
Homeowner: Lyndon Cormack co-founder and MD of Herschel Supply Co.

When it comes to house design, designer Emilie Fournet has an uncanny ability to decorate with colors that look as if they’ve always been there. ‘I’m drawn to palettes that feel authentic to the period of a house, but also work with more modern elements,’ she explains. 

This meant that when her clients brought her on board to redesign the interiors of their Georgian Grade II-listed townhouse in London, a key part of the process involved rethinking the house’s hues. 

‘The owners described the existing decor as 'bankers’ grey', and were quite happy to erase all memories of it,’ Emilie says. Alongside making the house colorful, cozy and warm, Emilie’s role included sourcing furniture and fabrics, restoring original features that had been stripped out during the house’s grey era, and changing the functions of some rooms. 

Working within strict planning constraints, Emilie turned a former spacious ground-floor utility room into two new rooms: a shower room and a boot room that has plenty of space for family paraphernalia. This was just as well because, as the project progressed, the couple broke the happy news they were expecting their first child. Now the boot room accommodates a buggy as well as coats and shoes. 

Emilie worked with Stevensons of Norwich to reinstate period moldings and sourced a replacement antique fireplace for the first-floor drawing room, which is now an elegant space with walls in a dusty pink paint – a color Emilie sensed would work in this room that overlooks a private square. 

‘For me, choosing paint colors is intuitive. When I enter a room, I can often visualize which colors will work. Sometimes, we try alternatives but then find ourselves coming back to that original, instinctive idea.’ 

As Emilie points out, color is never experienced in isolation. ‘It is not about picking one shade from a chart, it’s about how colors interact.’ In the drawing-room, she combined Rouge II by Paint & Paper Library with Mushroom by Little Greene on the ceiling. ‘Seen in isolation, Mushroom is a beige, but here it works as a foil for the pink. A bright white paint would be too harsh a contrast.’ 

Emilie’s favorite approach is to use one color on the walls and skirting boards but switch to a second shade for the ceiling and other woodwork. ‘I find this technique cuts down on visual distractions while highlighting period features,’ she says.

However, Emilie is a firm believer that while paint ideas can set the mood, it should not dominate. ‘Colour can be strong, but it must also visually recede and allow all the other elements to breathe.’ 

Emilie also sourced furniture, rugs, lighting, and fabrics that suited this house’s Georgian proportions, from refined antique finds to contemporary design shapes. Crucially, she dovetailed these new pieces with a few of the clients’ favorite mid-century designs and some heirloom pieces. 

Then, to keep the mood upbeat, she added in some modern details. ‘I like to throw in the odd wild card,’ she says. ‘In this home, a few subtle animal prints soften the historic character so it feels less formal.’ 

The result is a home that reflects the past but has its sights set firmly on the future. ‘A design has to be true to the people who live there as well as the building,’ Emilie explains. ‘I want the owners to take pleasure from these rooms every day'.

MEET THE DESIGNER 

Emilie Fournet shares her style inspiration...

Describe your style in three words?

Considered, color-rich, and coherent.

What was the last thing you bought for your home?

A framed stitched textile artwork by Jessie Cutts of Cutts & Sons, as a rare present to myself. 

Where's next on your travel destination wishlist?

Rome – to soak up design inspiration, ancient and modern. 

What was the most recent exhibition you went to see?

I loved A World in Common: Contemporary African Photography at the Tate Modern and I’m looking forward to seeing the work of performance art pioneer Marina Abramović at the Royal Academy of Arts. 

Can you reveal a hidden gem store?

Kernow Furniture, for anything vintage and antique. It does great pieces that are nicely priced and is always a pleasure to work with.

Finish the sentence, a home should be...

...a place where moving through the spaces feels effortless, like a natural journey. 

Courtney Smith’s adobe hacienda, located in the hills of Marin County, California, with views over the East Bay, both surprises and delights. The home’s Spanish-influenced architecture is not common in northern California, nor is the bold interior within that sings with color and pattern.

‘A mash up of East Coast traditional and California cool’ is how Courtney of Courtney B. Smith Design describes her style. And it is a heady mix. ‘The East Coast with its sense of history appreciates provenance, while the West Coast is more casual, approachable and easy breezy,’ she says. ‘In the West, we really connect our interiors to our exteriors, but I use more pattern and color than many Californian designers, with my house designs informed as much by their settings as they are by specific fabrics and wallpapers.’

The love affair with the house began in 2016 when Courtney ‘was craving a project’ and she and her husband Greg and their children Jackie, now 15, and Drew, now 12, first viewed the property. 

The cottage had been built in the 1950s, with a wonky extension added in the 1980s. ‘It hadn’t been touched in 35 years but it had great bones,’ says Courtney. ‘Greg and I love Santa Barbara but for us northern California is home. The house’s Spanish-style architecture and tiled roof reminded us of the properties there - they have a very particular aesthetic. Our dream was to create a home that was reminiscent of Santa Barbara, using the property’s hacienda bones as inspiration.’

With help from architect Jessica Fairchild of Fairchild Broms Design, they spent three years planning a renovation that maximized the beautiful views. The plan was to double the house’s size while merging the old and new, creating a property that felt like it had always been there.

The 1980s extension was torn down but the original hacienda with its adobe walls remained intact because each wall was interconnected. ‘Greg and I have traveled in Europe and we’ve always been inspired by the patina of homes that have been lived in for generations. It’s hard to buy that here,’ Courtney says.

She then had to rework every space in the charming older part to serve the family’s needs. ‘We wanted something that would be cozy for our family but also accommodate large groups for entertaining.’

The spaces flow beautifully with the focus on sightlines from one room to the next as Courtney selected wallcoverings, fabrics, furnishings and lighting. ‘I love a challenge, and used different textural and patterned wallcoverings throughout, broken up with some white V-groove walls and original adobe, also painted white,’ explains Courtney.

The starting point for the interior was the statement Josef Frank wallpaper in the kitchen. ‘It’s a traditional 1940s pattern and features citrus trees, which I’ve always loved and which we have in our front yard,’ says Courtney. ‘The decor was then all created around what made sense in the next space, working from the Josef Frank pattern.’

A blend of old and new furniture enhances the relaxed, eclectic look. ‘I have a lot of treasures from my family and Greg really appreciates antiques, too, but we mixed it up with new items.’ 

The design of the interior has a nod to practicality, too. ‘It’s really nice to live in spaces that have color and pattern,’ notes Courtney. ‘Not only does it help hide inevitable wear and tear in a busy home and gives decorating more longevity but it adds an energy to a space. I’ve always loved color – it inspires me.’

MEET THE DESIGNER
Courtney Smith shares her style inspiration 

SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT
It is always the last 10 per cent that really finishes a space – custom lampshades, throws and decorative cushions, trays and accessories.

GO-TO COLOUR
Different shades of green. 

FAVOURITE DESIGN DETAIL
Decorative trim on drapes, contrast welt on chair cushions, custom lampshades. 

DESIGN HERO
Albert Hadley. 

YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS
Joyful, timeless, memorable. INSPIRATION Colour combinations found in nature, 1940s decor, fancy hotel bars. 

I KNOW I’M A CREATIVE BECAUSE…
My creative outlet is creating homes. HOME MAKES ME FEEL Happy. 

SECRET ADDRESS
Elsie Green in northern California.

We knew which piece of art would hang above the sitting room fireplace before the house was even built,’ says Taline Findlater of Olivine Design. ‘And it’s no exaggeration to say that we moved walls to accommodate the owner’s dining table. She was bringing it with her from her previous, much larger house and it had precious memories, as well as being the perfect size for large-scale entertaining.’ 

Taline and co-founder Victoria Gray were commissioned by the owner from the time she, with the architects Technical Design Solutions, were looking at a piece of land in south Oxfordshire, taking in the views, seeing the way the light fell, and imagining how the house design would evolve. 

During the planning and construction stages, Taline and Victoria photographed and logged the owner’s art and items of furniture she wanted to bring with her. Collected over the years, they were much loved and would come to form the cornerstones of the new house.

‘It was a lovely way to work,’ says Taline. ‘The color palette was inspired by picking out shades from the paintings, and rooms were designed around her existing furniture, although this did prove a challenge as the owner wanted the house to be light with large windows to enjoy the views, which of course meant less wall space for furniture.’

One of the joys of a new build is that you don’t find disasters when knocking down a wall. ‘In this case we just got nice surprises as the house evolved and rooms took shape,’ says Taline. The hallway is luxuriously large and the kitchen-diner, sitting room and three en-suite bedrooms are generously sized. 

‘However much you study a plan, the feeling of scale isn’t there until the walls are up,’ she says, ‘and with this house, delightfully, it felt more lavish than anticipated.’ Although only completed in October 2022, the house with its ceiling beams, rich textures and eclectic furniture has the feeling of a period home, but with all mod cons. The exterior reflects this, too, with finishes that give it a special charm.

‘We were lucky in that we had a great team with the builders, Seymour Building Company, along with the architects,’ says Taline. ‘The owner is young at heart and loves entertaining and wanted a home where friends and family could stay. However, it had to feel cozy and manageable for when she was on her own, too,’ says Taline. ‘The house is designed so she makes full use of the downstairs, areas such as the boot room, laundry and cloakroom, without any unused rooms or wasted space.' 

‘The owner was excited by fresh ideas and was open to going out of her comfort zone – like taking the wallpaper in the guest bedroom and main bathroom up to the vaulted ceilings,’ says Taline. ‘She was initially wary of the idea but soon understood that if we’d simply painted those ceilings the flow would’ve been broken and the rooms would look unfinished.’ 

Olivine Design came to the owner’s notice through word of mouth. ‘She was looking for a practice that shared her love of color, pattern, and texture, along with mixing contemporary furniture with antiques,’ says Taline. 

The duo, who also have an online shop, are renowned for their hands-on approach and the business is purposefully small but operates worldwide. ‘That’s how we want to keep it,’ says Taline, ‘offering a personal service is important to us.’

MEET THE DESIGNER
Taline Findlater shares her style inspiration 

What was the most successful part of the project?
We wanted this home to reflect classic British style while remaining practical. It shows our love of layering pattern and bold colors alongside showcasing the charming antiques and collectibles. 

Which small change has the greatest impact?
Add a rug – vintage, antique or new – it always finishes a scheme. 

Describe your style in three words?
Colorful, comfortable, layered. 

What's your favourite design detail?
Pattern on pattern – mixing florals and prints of different scales with textures to make a striking combination. 

At home, what's on your coffee table?
Too many interiors books to count, but our favorites right now are the latest book from Luke Edward Hall, A Kind of Magic, and Nathalie Farman-Farma’s book Décors Barbares.

In the eyes of Leena Nasser, house design and style should reflect the homeowner's inner ‘creative womb’. As a social scientist, writer, artist and dancer, her imagination is the driver behind many of her undertakings, not least her landmarked Upper West Side apartment built in 1915. ‘There’s a joy had in arriving here after a long walk up the stairs to discover this magical space. It has a charm – and the exposed bricks transport you to an older time,’ she says.

Leena found her interior designer – Molly Torres Portnof of DATE Interiors – through a recommendation and the pair met for the first time just as Leena was closing on the sale. ‘We had a great connection from the beginning,’ says Molly. ‘The apartment looked very different then with lots of builder-grade finishes, but we bonded over our excitement at its great potential with tall ceilings, exposed bricks and a gorgeous terrace.’

Over time, Leena and Molly’s partnership flourished. Leena, who was born in Saudi Arabia and lives between New York, London, Argentina and Saudi Arabia, often sent Molly ideas from her travels. 

‘There was an apartment in Amsterdam that we pored over. We both loved the classic New York look and were both drawn to a Parisienne influence,’ says Molly. In designing for one individual, Molly was able to celebrate everything that makes Leena unique rather than having to moderate for anyone else’s taste.

‘Leena studies the divine feminine and she loves the female form and its strength and power. She is also a dreamer, in every sense of the word. The mural in her bedroom was inspired by a dream she had about a waterfall cascading over a woman, so I wanted to make that scene a reality for her every day. Creatively, we were firing on all cylinders and it made a huge difference to the project as it felt like there was nothing we couldn’t do,’ Molly enthuses.

‘From the moment I walk into my apartment I feel transported into a feminine goddess sanctuary. Each room in my home has its own magic and feels like you’re walking into a jewel,’ Leena adds. Both women were motivated to make the apartment as comfortable and beautiful as possible.

‘There is an inviting softness to it, which of course has feminine associations,’ says Molly. Sheepskin armchairs and plump sofas seduce guests, while the live-edge wood shelving and terrace foliage bring nature into the equation. 

‘In the bathrooms, we used zellige tiles, which are a personal favorite – I love that every piece is unique, bringing a real texture. We’ve captured a spa-like vacation feel of escapism,’ says Molly.

‘I’m someone who’s always thinking about Arab history and the stories of forgotten Arab queens. I love different cultures and fictional worlds, so I felt strongly that there needed to be historical elements throughout the apartment. We constantly talked about our favorite stories, from classics like Beauty and the Beast to more modern tales like the A Court of Thorns and Roses series,’ Leena continues.

Molly maximized this sense of narrative by framing Leena’s collection of fairy tales. ‘We worked with a framer, Ilana Lobet, on the Upper West Side. You cannot underestimate how much fun we had framing more than 75 of Leena’s pieces – each one unique. It makes for a very arresting sight on the exposed brick walls of the dining area,’ says Molly.

‘As Leena’s a dancer it was also important that the furniture in the middle of the room was light enough to push aside when she’s practicing tango – or has the urge to paint a large canvas.’ Having created a city sanctuary for work, rest and play, the by-product of Leena and Molly’s endeavors is a firm friendship.

MEET THE DESIGNER 

Molly Torres Portnof shares her style inspiration 

What part of the finished project makes you the happiest?

The fact that Leena texts me every time she’s in New York to tell me how much she loves the apartment. 

Can you point out a small change that has had a huge impact?

Enlarging the doors onto the terrace – the change has brought so much light and life in. 

What color is your go-to when designing?

A combination of golden mustard with deep purples and greens. 

Who is your design hero?

There are lots of amazing Australian designers inspiring me at the moment. In particular Tali Roth and Flack Studio. 

Can you tell us your favorite building?

I’ve always loved the Empire State Building – I had a view of it from a former apartment and it inspired my company name acronym, Designing A Tiny Empire. 

Any hidden gems that you'd like to lift the lid on?

The Demolition Depot in Harlem. It’s a treasure trove. 

In your home, what would you find most difficult to part with?

My rug collection. I love how a vintage rug tells a story. They are pieces of art on our floors.

Never mix business with pleasure? We think that's a bit of a cop-out and anyway, aren't some rules just asking to be broken? The owners of this New Orleans apartment certainly thought so and wanted the space to function as a comfortable and welcoming pied-a-terre, but also as a workspace. 

The private residence overlooks the Mississippi River and is close to the city's lively French Quarter. It's part of the iconic 34-storey building that now houses the Four Seasons Hotel, once the World Trade Center and recognized on the National Register of Historic Places. That alone puts the apartment among the world's best homes, and since the landmark tower was recently restored and enhanced to become a five-star hotel it's become a very desirable address indeed. 

The owners bought the home in the early stages of the property's redevelopment, with plans to stay here when they're in town. They also needed to work from here so specified enough seating that they could host executive team meetings from the space. It needed all the practicality of a lock-up-and-leave, but the interior design had to bring the warmth and style of a desirable home from home. 

Balancing the apartment's different functions was the challenge for designer Hattie Collins of Hattie Sparks Interiors and her response was to create a stylish and welcoming home, that draws on a modern southern vibe, but with traditional touches and a new sense of comfort. 'The goal was for the space to feel contemporary and warm, with a sprinkling of antiques,' explains the designer, 'all the while ensuring that the interiors felt cohesive with the distinctive style of the building itself.' 

So what does this apartment teach us about balancing work and living space in an open plan? 

1. Make an entrance with wow factor

'The challenge was how to make a model unit in the New Orleans Four Seasons Hotel special and unique to the homeowners,' adds designer Hattie. 'The client purchased the unit as it was being built, and while the standard condo was top of the line and had beautiful bones, the modern high rise lacked a personal touch.' 

The homeowners had requested a few 'wow' moments in the design, and the designer's entryway ideas certainly provide the wow factor and the previously missing personal touch. By adding in the opulent gilded wallcovering (from Gracie Studios), a vintage runner, and a mirror and 19th-century commode from Dop Antiques, topped with a lamp from Visual Comfort, the designer elevated the foyer way beyond the idea of a lock-up-and-leave. This is now a welcoming space with character. 

2. Be bold and creative with space design

Designer Hattie Collins' living room ideas were bold and creative and putting them into practice meant reconfiguring the apartment to achieve the best balance between private and public spaces for this dual-purpose home. Making the best use of available space is essential, even in a part-time home, but it does take a little bravery, as Hattie explains. 

'The unit had amazing views – downtown on one end and the river on the other, but these were originally separated by one of the bedrooms. Given that it’s the client’s pied-a-terre and not their primary residence, we proposed getting rid of the unnecessary third bedroom and creating one impressive great room where both views were visible. The client chose the view and we promptly knocked down the walls,' says the designer. 

In this seating space within the great room, a teal sofa is paired with two cream armchairs, both colors which pick out those in the room's artworks. The great room's upholstered furniture was sourced from James Craig, Atchison Home, and Found Houston, all recovered in a variety of fabrics. The room's artworks include a Hunt Slonem painting and Marjorie Pierson mixed media sourced from Martine Chaisson Gallery. The antique rug is from NOLA Rugs. Case goods are a mixture of vintage and modern, from Jade New Orleans and LAM Bespoke. 

3. Use style and color to unify areas of the home

'We created harmony in the new, expansive great room, which now included two living areas and a dining room, through both thoughtful contrasts and through-lines in the light fixtures, art, color palette and textural fabrics,' says the designer. 'We juxtaposed clean millwork with beautiful antique case goods and traditional and transitional pieces in warm bronze and gold tones.'

Part of the success of this open-plan room, and the way it fits with the rest of the apartment, can be put down to Hattie Collins' approach to the color palette. With a white sectional sofa and teal armchairs, the colors in this seating space are almost a mirror image of the great room's other living area, and it's an excellent example of why designers use whole house color schemes. The lighting also ties the two seating spaces together, with Mouille fixtures above both areas. The other light fittings are from Visual Comfort. 

4. Don't forget the fun elements

The fact that the designer found space for a home bar, albeit in this compact alcove set-up, adds another layer of luxury to the pied-a-terre and helps bring a sense of style and fun both to its entertaining function, and for when the owners are alone or just among family. 

We love the neat arrangement of open shelves, dark tiles, and under-counter drawers and the bar's unobtrusive monochrome scheme. 

5. Choose showstopping paint effects for a luxe look

With a multi-function, open-plan room like this there's always some debate over how to choose paint colors, but by selecting Farrow & Ball's classic Cornforth White for the walls, designer Hattie Collins could be sure the furnishings would be the stars of the show. In a paint effects masterstroke, the ceiling has a luxurious glistening finish, with Fine Paints of Europe lacquer, which reflects light back into the room and ensures the dining/boardroom table gets its share of jazz age glamor. 

6. Check everyone's sitting comfortably

Hattie Collins' dining room ideas for this section of the great room had to double up as home office ideas, since the homeowner sometimes needs to seat 12 colleagues around the Villa Vici dining table for meetings. 

The backdrop is more domestic and traditional, with an antique sideboard from Fireside Antiques. The burned paper piece from Katrine Hildebrant was sourced from the Martine Chaisson Gallery. The chandelier is from Visual Comfort and marks the difference for this more formal section of the great room. 

7. Opt for a minimalist kitchen in multi-function spaces

In an open-plan, multitasking living-kitchen-diner it works well to keep your kitchen ideas pared back and clean-lined, particularly in an apartment like this where there are some highly decorative and wow elements within sightlines. For this kitchen, specified and fitted as part of the developer's initial refurbishment of the building, designer Hattie Collins believes it also made good financial sense to keep it as it was. 

'If I could have changed anything about the completed project,' she says, 'it would be some of the builder selections that were already in place when the client purchased the unit and didn’t make sense to remove. However, they did seem to fade into the background once we applied our design plan to the space.' 

The designer's pragmatic approach saved time and money, and the simple white kitchen still has style but doesn't intrude on the business workspace element of the apartment. 

8. Indulge bedrooms with luxury and personality

The public business areas of the New Orleans pied-à-terre are clear-cut white-walled affairs, brought to life with well-curated furnishings, artworks and vintage pieces. Meanwhile, the home's private spaces have extra personal touches and a more eclectic style. 'The mix was super important to me in this space, and it reinforced for me how powerful a few well-placed antiques and vintage rugs can be in a home,' says designer Hattie Collins. 

Anyone looking for unusual bedroom ideas will surely be won over by the primary bedroom's beautifully textured Schumacher grasscloth wallcovering, which cocoons the room, and the 1940s Danish mohair loveseat, which adds a joyful splash of color alongside the antique rug from Nola Rugs.

Other key pieces include the Atchison Home nightstands and chair, Visual Comfort lamps and chandelier, and the Katrine Hildebrandt burned paper pieces, sourced from Martine Chaisson Gallery. The bedding is from Matouk. 

9. Play with pattern to add warmth to guest rooms

We're often asked for tips on how to decorate a guest bedroom and in this much smaller second bedroom, we think designer Hattie Collins has got it spot on. Introducing a soothing pale green textured wallcovering (grasscloth from Schumacher) for the walls, with a darker green for the headboard, the scheme picks an accent color from the living rooms, and takes it a stage further. The patterned bedcover (a Schumacher x Matouk collaboration) ties the whole look together in a more playful way and, along with the vintage rug, adds character and warmth to the overall look. 

Other key pieces include: Coley Home bed, Visual Comfort lamps and chandelier, Atchison Home nightstands, a Clark Derbes wall sculpture. 

10. Add impact to a powder room with a bold wallcovering

Designer Hattie Collins' powder room ideas were designed to pack a stylish punch and make a good impression on visitors. The unexpected moment here comes from the quirky Schumacher wallcovering and is combined with art from Andrew Fisher sourced at the Martine Chaisson Gallery. The scheme demonstrates how effective a striking wallcovering can look in a smaller space. 

Interior design: Hattie Collins at Hattie Sparks Interiors
Photography: Alison Gootee
Styling: Page Mullins 

This Beverly Hills, CA, house had plenty of charm but many of the rooms were small and outdated and its owners, a family of four, wanted to make it more suitable for their modern, active lives and so a major remodel was planned. 

The house is a two-story, Cape Cod-style property with a mix of shingle and stone veneer siding, a central front door, and a gabled roof. Its size, history and desirable location already put it in line to be one of the world's best homes, but a recent redesign has taken it to a whole new level. 

Interior designer Betsy Burnham, founder of Burnham Design, oversaw the whole 5,500-square-foot project, inclusive of construction, furnishing, accessorizing, and art placement. 

'My clients are busy, hard-working, down-to-earth people who told me they wanted a great family house and not a “fancy Beverly Hills house”, which made perfect sense to me and was an excellent starting point,' designer Betsy recalls. 'We set out to create welcoming, attractive, comfortable rooms. We reconfigured the entire back of the house to be a more open, better functioning kitchen and family area.' 

One of the most striking elements of the remodel is its confident use of color and pattern. 'Wallpaper was used in a few key places, and we chose a lot of traditionally-inspired, printed fabrics. We tried to use color in interesting ways,' explains designer Betsy Burnham, who picks out her highlights below, and explains her approach. 

Where previously there was a small, vintage kitchen and several small back-of-house rooms, walls were taken down to open all the rooms up. The space was reconfigured to provide an up-to-date kitchen/family room as well as a first-floor guest suite.

'This was really the heart of the remodel,' explains designer Betsy Burnham. 'Dave Lach, one of my senior designers, did a major reworking of the layout of this entire part of the house before the project even started and his plan is ultimately what was used for construction.'

The aim was to create an easy working layout. Kitchen ideas included a large island with a butcher-block top and room for three stools, the Lewis Windsor counter stools in black oak, from Four Hands. A full-sized refrigerator and freezer were also integrated. 'The kitchen sink is under a large window which faces the driveway greenery and gets a ton of natural light,' adds Betsy. Heritage-style notes in keeping with the age of the house are provided by the stools and pendant above the island, the Vaughan Designs' Lancaster Kitchen Downlight with shades in Serena Dugan's Oletta /Canyon fabric.

Anyone looking for painted kitchen cabinet ideas can't fail to be inspired by the soft green shade used in this kitchen: Farrow & Ball's Card Room Green. The hardware is from Restoration Hardware and the perimeter cabinetry is topped with white Caesarstone 'Blizzard' countertops. The range is from Wolf, and on the floor is an eye-catching and highly practical indoor-outdoor runner, Stone Soup by Annie Selke. 

A challenging space at the back of the house became a practical butler's pantry with warm white cabinetry and walnut countertops. 

'By adding a large window with an “x” design, as well as a tall storage hutch and polished nickel bar sink, we gave new life to the space,' says designer Betsy Burnham. 'The Lake August Matilija wallpaper keeps it fun and casual.' 

The room retains a nostalgic link to the home's past by retaining the back stairs, and a richly colored vintage rug from Mehraban completes the scene. 

Dining room ideas evolved around the room's standout piece, a tapestry made from vintage textiles (collected on the clients’ many travels). 'We selected a subtle wallpaper to complement, but not distract from, the textiles, and added a long table with plenty of seating for family holiday dinners,' adds designer Betsy.  

Explaining her living room ideas, designer Betsy Burnham says: 'We wanted to create warmth and intimacy in what is actually quite a large room. The layout of the room was done with conversation in mind; two sofas arranged around a pair of coffee tables help fill the space and allow for plenty of seating.' 

The existing sofas were reupholstered in Ralph Lauren's Ivin Stripe fabric to give them a fresh look. A pair of Clubcu Reedition Elm Shelves have been painted in Sherwin Williams Bravado Red and help to ground the room and give it symmetry, they also reference the front door color (see exterior photo below). The Moroccan rug and the artworks were part of the homeowner's existing collection.  

The library is one of designer Betsy Burnham's favorite spaces in this home. Since one of the homeowners planned to use it regularly as a study, its design required careful thought. 

'This was always a special room, with floor to ceiling moldings and a hidden bar – all of which were original to the house, and all of which got a refresh,' explains designer Betsty. 'The client loves green, so it was fun finding a color (Farrow & Ball's Green Blue) we could use everywhere – moldings, bookcases, fireplace surround – and then finding fabrics that played with it.' The 

Key pieces include custom armchairs from Burnham Design, upholstered in Tiana fabric from Kravet. The area rug is from Lulu & Georgia, the sconces are by Urban Electric, and the side tables are vintage. The Roman shade fabric is Rose Cumming's Sabu on Linen.

Once the library scheme was drawn up, home bar ideas soon followed. 'For that 'secret' bar, we refurbished the entire inside of it and painted it in Farrow & Ball's wonderful India Yellow, which provides a splash of unexpected color-within-color,' explains Betsy Burnham. Walnut countertops provide a pleasing contrast with the yellow. 

We absolutely love this original feature of the 1930s home and, thanks to its beautiful vibrant yellow paintwork, we doubt it will be staying secret much longer. 

The home's second office space is affectionately referred to as the 'Wintergarden', says designer Betsy Burnham. 'Originally, this was an outdoor room, and as part of  the remodel we added wood flooring and treated it like an extension of the living room. We added wallpaper that relates to the living room palette (black, brown and shades of red), but which also helps define this as its own space.'

Home office ideas here include Schumacher's Endimione wallcovering; Lee Industries chairs covered in Kravet's Feline fabric; vintage bookcase from Chairish; and a vintage area rug.

'Great wallpaper, a vintage rug, a special table, and interesting light fixtures work together in the hallway to achieve the primary goal, which was to make a splash and give the entry some gravitas without doing anything too fussy or showy,' says designer Betsy Burnham.

'When I found that wallpaper I just knew it would be a knockout,' says designer Betsy Burnham of her entryway ideas. 'It’s equal parts showstopper and subdued. I know that sounds crazy but the navy-blue-on-cream floral print is fabulous enough for the beautiful, focal staircase and just understated enough not to be in any way flashy.' 

The wallpaper is GP&J Baker's Kamala design in Indigo and as part of the designer's staircase ideas, new white oak flooring and simplified pickets and a new Granada Diamond runner, from Bradford’s Rug Gallery, were fitted to elevate the space and add impact as you arrive at the house. 

Bedroom ideas for the new guest suite at the back of the house have a classic English look about them, says designer Betsy Burnham. 'We went with a traditional turned-post bed, faux bamboo nightstands, and a liberty-inspired print for the drapes,' she adds. 

A Quincy bed from Ethan Allen is topped with Matouk bedding, and flanked with Chelsea Textiles' side tables. The lamps are vintage, with shades in Pierre Frey's Semi Kalamkar fabric. The area rug is from Loloi, and the drapes are in Namay Samay's Keeda print. The walls are painted in Farrow & Ball's Light Blue.

'Even though the spaces are big and the furnishings are upscale, I hope the intended coziness and “unfussiness” comes through, and the result is a warm and welcoming house,' says designer Betsy Burnham. 

Mission accomplished, and with style. 

Interior design: Betsy Burnham and Dave Lach at Burnham Design
Photography: Laura Hull
Architect: Thomas Johnson
General Contractor: Alisal Builders
Landscape Architect: Dryden Helgoe

This house has been decorated from our hearts,’ says Amanda Back of the Victorian former vicarage that she shares with husband Dan and sons Xavier, 18, and Raffi, 14. ‘We didn’t sit down and create a plan; we only knew that we wanted it to feel warm and comfortable and neither grand nor stuffy.’ 

It’s a sentiment that plays out beautifully across these schemes, especially at Christmas, when fires burn in the entrance hall and sitting room and surfaces are adorned with foliage foraged from the surrounding west Cornish countryside. Nor is it any surprise that this home is both a lesson in decorating with pattern and deeply rooted in nature’s tones, given Dan’s profession as a garden designer and Amanda’s 35-year career at Designers Guild, where she is currently head of communications. 

‘Working with color and pattern runs through my DNA and has influenced my more adventurous design choices,’ says Amanda. ‘However, a palette of greens, coupled with chocolate woodwork, anchors our home – perhaps a surprising departure from blue, given our coastal location. But we both wanted our interiors to work across all seasons, so greens, ochres, and yellows felt right.’

The bones of this home, built by Victorian architect J P St Aubyn, are the perfect backdrop for the couple’s mixture of vintage decor, collections of green glassware, and layers of hardy fabrics, including tweeds, sheepskin, linen and velvet.

Having spent many a season criss-crossing Cornwall in their 1970s camper van, the couple knew they wanted to put down roots and this Gothic-style building fitted the bill. 

‘There’s a deliberate eccentricity to it, with its mix of round and mullion windows on the more austere north elevation, contrasted with a symmetrical façade on the south facing side,’ says Amanda. ‘That has very much fed the relaxed and creative approach behind our interiors.’

By the time the family bought this house in 2019, a kitchen, scullery and pantry had been turned into one double-height, brick-floored dining hall, undoubtedly the beating heart of the space. 

‘But the rooms felt a little monastic and so our task was to imbue them with character,’ reflects Amanda. ‘Each one needed a big piece to set the tone – such as the dining hall’s huge armoire – but we also wanted our guests to feel relaxed enough to have supper in their walking boots.’

Handsome original features include the terracotta tiles in the entrance hall, imprinted with heraldic Cornish flags and the St Aubyn family coat of arms; wide oak floorboards, leaded mullion windows and an ancient fireplace or two.

‘I’m always mindful that villagers would have streamed through these rooms on all sorts of occasions when it was a vicarage and so I wanted to preserve that sense of conviviality,’ says Amanda, who trawled local antique shops, junk stores, car-boot sales and fairs to find fitting pieces.

‘I don’t mind things looking a little scruffy and I love the contrast between a reupholstered antique bench and a modern Marcel Wanders chair, for example.’

That flair for unexpected pairings is seen in every corner, from a collection of wall-hung blue-and-white Delft plates and tiles contrasted with rich, earthy tones to the farmhouse table combined with schoolhouse chairs.

At Christmas, the family gather early in the dining hall to open gifts around the tree before working up an appetite with a long country walk. ‘Our home probably sums up Cornwall itself,’ says Amanda. ‘A little bit wild and rugged, but endlessly reinvigorating. It’s become an emblem of everything we love.’

MEET THE OWNER
Amanda Back shares her style inspiration 

SMALL CHANGE, BIG IMPACT
In the winter, when it’s not easy to find flowers, I look for beautiful leaves and branches instead. I often use rosemary, sage or bay. Trees and foliage remind us of nature’s rhythm, which to me feels very comforting. 

DESIGN INSPIRATION
The landscape, the coast, nature and my boss and dear friend Tricia Guild.

I KNOW I’M A CREATIVE BECAUSE
As relaxed as I am at home, I can’t help rearranging the cushions everywhere before going up to bed. 

YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS
Relaxed, characterful, comfortable. 

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS RITUAL
Studding oranges with cloves and making Shrub - a wonderful Cornish drink. 

WINTER MEANS
Long walks on the coast path, roaring fires, stews and dumplings, candlelight. 

HOME MAKES ME FEEL
Calm, cosseted and grounded

You can book to stay at this wonderful home via trenowethhouse.co.uk.

The location and provenance of this LA home are hard to beat. It was designed and built in Brentwood, LA, in 1996 by Robert L Earl, who earned himself a reputation as California's celebrity architect over the years having designed for homes for the likes of Madonna, Sylvester Stallone, Nancy Sinatra, and Warren Beatty. The architect's homes lean towards a more traditional style, and this, in the Mediterranean/Spanish Colonial Revival style, was no exception. 

With such fine heritage behind it, it's no wonder that this is one of the world's best homes, but time has not stood still and a recent renovation and remodel have transformed the interiors, adding further refinements and elegance. 

Interior designer, Kara Smith of KES Studio was tasked with these updates, equipping the home for a more contemporary lifestyle and bringing harmony to the original somewhat divided (by today's standards) floorplan. She shows us around, picking out the highlights. 

Designer Kara Smith approached the full house remodel with characteristic pragmatism. 'We struck a balance between classic and fresh, refined but not stuffy, luxurious but approachable,' she says. 

The kitchen is where she first turned her attention. Her kitchen ideas showcase luxe designs and finishes, but first there was some structural work to tackle. 'The interior spaces were very separated and enclosed,' she explains, 'So we re-planned the entire space, removing walls and opening up spaces to create a large open-plan kitchen with a huge center island, marble and plaster hood, coffee station and walk-through butler’s pantry.' 

Note the smart new steel-framed glass screen that links the formal dining room to the new kitchen. 

Progressing through the home, you are aware of a harmonious palette of sepia tones – soft beiges, creams, caramels, with highlights of black and white give the space a natural calm and create the perfect relaxing mood. In the kitchen, it's the bleached walnut cabinetry, striking Arabescato Vagli marble countertops, and blackened steel accents that are the key materials contributing to the sepia palette. And anyone looking for kitchen island ideas can't fail to be wowed by the stunning curved design topped with that luxurious marble.

The furniture includes a Holly Hunt dining table used for informal meals, Thomas Hayes dining chairs and counter stools, and Lawson Fenning pendant lights.

Asked about her inspiration and style for the new-look rooms, designer Kara Smith says: 'The interiors are classically modern, featuring furnishings with clean, simple lines, sumptuous fabrics and dramatic chandeliers.' Indeed, her dining room ideas for the home's formal dining space distill that style exactly. 

This was an awkward space in the home's original floorplan, sandwiched between the kitchen and main entrance and staircase. It's now linked to the kitchen through a grand bifold steel and glass screen with arched doors (pictured below), and so is connected to the other spaces, but sufficiently separate to create the right atmosphere for more cozy entertaining with friends. 

This refined space showcases some great modern dining room ideas, for instance we love the arched-back dining chairs. These subtly complement the arched openings that are a theme throughout the home and typical of its Mediterranean/Spanish Revival architecture. 

Other key pieces that caught our eye include the bleached herringbone wood floors topped with a custom Art + Loom wool/silk area rug, while above the custom Una Malan dining table is a magnificent Ochre crystal chandelier. A custom marble fireplace mantel gives the room a new focus. 

The new must-have for the home that has everything: meet the wine room, and this one is sensationally luxurious. Wine room ideas we're lusting over here include the curved glass wall which circles Breccia Capri marble panels set in custom oak wine cabinetry, and the oval Arteriors console that acts as a tasting table. 

It's in the libary/home office that the home's original Robert L Earl architecture is still very much in evidence. A row of arched windows overlook the backyard and the look is enhanced with new painted molding details in the classical style.

Among her home library ideas for this elevated space, designer Kara Smith specified a custom marble and bronze executive desk with KES Studio pull-up chairs, a Manolo Ballesteros artwork, and Holly Hunt wall sconces. 

Providing a smart framework for the home library ideas, are twin custom ebonized oak built-in bookcase cabinets, set on either side of the doorway in walls with ornate classical molding details, while a KES Studio for Marc Phillips area rug keeps things soft and luxurious underfoot. 

There was even space in the generously proportioned room for designer Kara Smith to indulge her home office seating ideas. An Una Malan sofa and lounge chair do the honors, matched with a Castilleja coffee table. It's the perfect spot to enjoy a good book. 

Living room ideas developed from a desire to pare back some of the 90s details. 'We respected the original architectural style of the house,' says designer Kara Smith, 'but modernized the interior architectural details by simplifying moldings, creating new stone fireplace mantels with modern profiles, and adding sculptural coved ceiling details.' There's a simple elegance to the new living room scheme, still in keeping with that sepia palette, but this time with a hint of calm gray-blue mixed in. The room features the same bleached herringbone wood floors that we see elsewhere in the main rooms. 

Other key pieces include: KES Studio for Marc Phillips area rug, custom two-tone plaster coffee table, a pair of Gallotti & Radice lounge chairs, and a Chen Chen & Kai Williams Geo Transitions mirror above the fireplace. 

The family/entertainment room is perhaps the most surprising space in the remodeled home. The entire space was converted from the original attached 4-car garage, while a new detached garage has been built in the grounds.  

The interior design of this new room is striking and though it reflects the color palette elsewhere in the house, there are daring new treatments and departures in Kara Smith's media room ideas. The custom bar is created from backlit travertine slab wall panels, and there are coved ceiling details, plus plenty of room for friends and family to gather to enjoy a movie and have fun together. 

The huge sectional sofa is a custom piece, the area rug is from Erik Lindstrom, the coffee table is from Liaigre, and one of the room's most indulgent details is a bespoke leather-wrapped backgammon table.

Another living room? Err, no. This cozy and tranquil seating space is part of the primary bedroom. If there's space in a bedroom for a sofa, coffee table, armchairs and a wall-mounted fireplace, well, by all means make them part of your bedroom ideas, advises designer Kara Smith. Nothing says relaxation quite like a bedroom sofa. 

On a practical note, the coved ceiling features integrated drapery pockets, while there's a custom walnut TV pop-up at the foot of the bed (not pictured), the custom fireplace surround and hearth are of a sand-colored marble, and the area rug is from Art + Loom, another custom piece. 

Last stop on the tour is the sumptuous bathroom, where Kara Smith totally re-planned the space. 

'I created his and hers baths flanking an enormous wet room space with double shower heads and a built-in tub,' she says, 'all featuring some of the most beautiful book-matched Calacatta Manhattan marble we’ve ever seen.' 

Praise indeed, but it certainly makes a lasting impression among these bathroom ideas and is a standout moment in the remodeled home as a whole. 

Interior design: Kara Smith founder of KES Studio
Photography: Ingalls Photography 

With the interior of this ski lodge in Val d’Isère, France, being the epitome of chic chalet style, it’s little wonder that it’s an irresistible draw after a day on the slopes and a go-to for Christmas celebrations. 

Extended and renovated by Amy and Hewie Dalrymple of Dalrymple Studio, it was an ambitious project. ‘We’d worked on the client’s London house and 18 months later she asked us if we’d like to redesign their cabin in France,’ says Amy. ‘We both love skiing, so it was an amazing opportunity.’  

The project was a challenge on a number of levels. ‘The timing was unfortunate as it coincided with the beginning of the Covid pandemic,’ explains Amy. ‘It was just before France was locked down so we had to fly into Italy and then dash across the border to go and see it before we did a concept presentation.’ 

As expected, this home is a lesson in cabin decor that's as chic as it is cozy. Let's take a tour.

The clients, a family with three children, wanted to completely renovate and extend it. ‘It was totally gutted and we started again so nothing has remained in the same location,’ says Amy. ‘We moved the staircase and literally doubled the size of the space.’ 

The chalet grew from a three-bedroom property with a tiny annex into a spacious home with five bedrooms, all en suite, and an indoor swimming pool. The whole of the back of the property is new and had to be shaped into a triangle because it extends into the mountain.

Amy and Hewie embraced the challenges of the jaunty angles to fit the bedrooms, kitchen and swimming pool into an awkward space. ‘We wanted the pool to be as long as possible, but we had to fit it around two large concrete pillars that hold up the chalet,’ explains Amy. 

A basement was also dug out to house the utility room. The spaces were flipped with the bedrooms, which had originally been on the top floor, relocated to the floor below, while the sitting room and kitchen were moved upstairs where the best views can be enjoyed and where the ceiling pitch delivers high ceilings.

Windows on the front elevation were enlarged. ‘This opened the space up, plus it has the most beautiful views out across the mountains,’ says Amy. Reclaimed boards from old chalets were used for the cladding of the extension. ‘With reclaimed boards, you get different color tones depending on where the sun hit it on the chalet or whether it didn’t see any light at all,’ reveals Amy.

The largely warm white color backdrop rubs shoulders with the timber beautifully, evoking a sense of calm that is beguiling. Inspiration was taken from traditional Alpine style but blended with more current interior design trends. The soft, soothing palette incorporates chalky greens, blues and greys, with the painted Shaker kitchen being something the French joiners hadn’t come across before.

Durability was also important as the family rents out the chalet when they’re not using it. Much of the furniture in the chalet was made bespoke, and often specifically designed to fit within awkward spaces. Some pieces, such as the statement live edge dining table, were handmade from fallen oak. 

‘Because the temperature changes from hot to cold we had to make sure the furniture didn’t warp or twist,’ explains Amy. The emphasis is on comfort throughout with relaxed linens, textural headboards, and slouchy sofas, making this the perfect place to unwind after a long day of skiing.

Meet the designer

Amy Dalrymple shares her style inspiration.

GREATEST INDULGENCE IN THIS PROJECT
The bespoke kitchen we designed. 

BIGGEST SUCCESS
Linking the original chalet to the new part – doubling its size – and creating a seamless flow through the use of finishes. 

DESIGN INSPIRATION
Travel and art. 

YOUR STYLE IN THREE WORDS
Home, hidden quirks, timeless. 

SECRET ADDRESS
A fabulous interiors shop called Puckhaber. 

DESIGN HERO
Amber Interiors design studio. 

INSTAGRAM ACCOUNT TO FOLLOW 

@lucywilliamshome. 

CHRISTMAS SCENT
The Fir Tree candle by The White Company.

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATION
Ones by Tom Martin – baubles that are hand-painted from the inside. They’re absolutely beautiful.

This California ranch-style home had a distinctly 90s-noughties look about it when its new owners took it on around 12 months ago. Now, however, with a sophisticated, pared-back décor that puts it among the world's best homes, the one-story home in Saratoga, CA, is far better set up for modern family life, entertaining and all-round relaxing. 

Following a redesign, spearheaded and project managed by interior designer Carolyn Brandwajn of CBespoke, the once-bland and somewhat problematic 2002-built living space has been transformed. 

Carolyn describes the new look as 'hints of New England with a splash of California Casual meets Upper East Side', a winning combination that you'd expect to have been a long and complicated job, involving building, renovation and wholescale replacement of fittings, and that's before you even get to the redesign. 

However, time was of the essence here so designer Carolyn had to work smart, as she explains. 'The couple was expecting their second child six months out from when they bought the property. They were living on the East Coast while I managed the design and installation and they wanted a quick turnaround time so they wouldn't be bringing a baby into a construction zone.'

The project was completed on time. 'It took us six months with not a minute to spare!' says Carolyn. 'The baby came home from the hospital as the cleaning crew was finishing up! The designer gives us a tour of the redesigned home, and shares her tips for creating sophisticated, livable style when there's no time to lose.

1. Keep structural changes to a minimum

'The house had a lot of the 90s, early 00s interior design that dated the aesthetic,' explains Carolyn. 'But the bonuses were tons of light and a one story layout for the kids to run around in. My approach towards the design was to pull elements from the family's current home in New York, as well as favorite places they have traveled to. The goal was to give them the look of a custom new build without having to start from scratch since we did not have the luxury of time. They wanted the design to look elegant but approachable, and their must-haves were a practical, working kitchen and a spacious dining room for hosting family and friends.'

Keeping structural changes to the absolute minimum is one of the key ways to keep to a strict timeline when you're renovating, freeing up time for the design, refurbishment, and install stages. 

Carolyn worked with architect Glenn Katz to put her kitchen ideas into practice. 'He moved one non-structural wall where the refrigerator is and almost doubled the size of the kitchen, instantly opening it up.' This was the one small change to the home's layout, but it has had a huge impact on the space. 

2. Select in-stock items to save wait times

Carolyn's next practical tip relates to supply hold-ups, which can be a real drain on already limited time. 'We used only in-stock materials throughout the house,' she says, 'and leaned really hard on the vendors we work closely with for items with longer lead times, such as the appliances and the huge pot rack in the kitchen.' 

Put simply, don't order something unless it's in stock or unless you can have guaranteed delivery dates. So if you're updating a kitchen and working to strict deadlines, supply delays are definitely something to bear in mind when buying a range oven. Waiting for a product to arrive on-site may cause knock-on delays for the remainder of the project. 

3. Paint kitchen cabinetry instead of replacing it

This is a popular time- and money-saver for refreshing a kitchen. If the cabinetry is of good quality and in good condition, it's more sensible and sustainable to give it a new look by painting it. Brush up on your painted kitchen cabinet ideas to get some inspiration. Find out how to paint kitchen cabinets for a good finish if you're planning on doing it yourself, or consider having them repainted professionally. Cabinets can even be relocated to suit a new kitchen layout, which will still be a quicker and cheaper option than replacing the whole kitchen. 

Designer Carolyn opted to keep the existing cabinets here, which were good quality. They've been painted in Benjamin Moore's Creamy White. 'We used both burnished brass and polished nickel finishes, as well as a walnut countertop opposite the marble countertops to add warmth and depth to the room,' says Carolyn. The cabinet hardware is from Armac Martin.

4. Don't rip out wood flooring, try refinishing it

Flooring can make or break a space, especially in an open-plan layout where the floor is very much on display. Designer Carolyn was confronted with a red oak hardwood floor and if her flooring ideas had involved replacing the existing one, this would have significantly added to the project's timeline. Instead, she chose to refinish the existing flooring, 'picking a stain color that was more current with the style'. Again, this is a more sustainable approach that saved time and money, and instantly brightened the space. 

Although this is an expansive open-plan space, it was important for it still to have character and interest. The bespoke Ann Morris two-tone pot rack is one of the kitchen's key accessories and showcases the clients’ growing pot collection. 

5. Give molding details a new look with paint

There was one detail running throughout the house that designer Carolyn couldn't wait to update.  'Every room had 10'' tall cherry red crown molding that screamed 1990. We painted these the same colors as the walls to blend them in,' she says. 'The transformation is amazing and makes a much more contemporary look.' Wainscoting was then added to the entire wall to balance out that large crown molding,

The family uses this unusual space to play games or enjoy afternoon tea, although since it's just off the kitchen it could also work well as an informal dining nook. 

'We converted this space into a flex room,' says designer Carolyn, 'where multi-generational family members gather to or enjoy afternoon tea or play mahjong.'

6. Embrace and enhance existing architectural features

An arched opening and sweeping curved steps up to the dining room might not be to everyone's taste, but since they worked well to divide the room from the rest of the space, designer Carolyn chose to embrace rather than replace them. The lighter finish for the flooring has improved the look of the steps up to the dining area, and the arch, painted in Benjamin Moore's Simply White, to match the walls throughout, creates a pleasing frame. 

Among Carolyn's other dining room ideas for the space is the new area rug, from Suite NY. 

7. Ring the changes with dramatic dark paint

'My favorite space is the library which is now also a formal dining room,' says designer Carolyn. 'The high ceiling and the incredible light gave us the confidence to paint the cabinets a dark color, giving the room a very dramatic feel. I love how grand the space is, the way the morning light hits the dark cabinets and the room feels both formal and casual at the same time.' 

The existing built-ins have been painted in Benjamin Moore's Black Beauty. And the dining chairs are by Suite NY. 

8. Streamline the look by evening out dropped ceilings where possible

Designer Carolyn's main bedroom ideas began with a desire to streamline the space and give it more of a serene look and feel. First, however, there was a bit of a structural obstacle to overcome. 

'There was a strange and unnecessary dropped ceiling in the primary bedroom,' says designer Carolyn. 'We evened it out, then added wainscot for architectural interest and infused the clients’ Manhattan background with West Coast vibe.'

9. Plants, artwork and a warm palette are speedy bedroom updates

This room was furnished and set up in just one day, once the furniture arrived. With the new-look flooring already giving the bedroom a warmer look, it was simply a matter of bringing the space to life with a new plant, a striking painting, and a curved sofa for added luxury. The minimal four-poster bedframe with no drapes elevates the space while keeping to the contemporary vibe. 

10. Simply adding texture can make all the difference

'The couple's young daughter wanted an all pink room ( who doesn’t? ) so we focused on adding texture by using cement tile for the bathroom shower wall and Schumacher sisal wallpaper,' says designer Carolyn. Including textures in your kids' room ideas in this way gives the room a more sophisticated look, which will help to ensure its longevity.  

11. More space or built-in storage? Decide what works best for you

In the family's bathroom, designer Carolyn Brandwajn was faced with a dilemma: keep the wall of cabinets for extra storage, or remove them to make space for a larger bath? In the end, she opted to remove the cabinets, since the room already featured ample storage in the double vanity and dressing table set-up. 'That way we could accommodate a large tub so the kids can bathe in it. The family lives mainly in Manhattan so we want to emulate the Upper East Side vibe.' 

And there was another issue to tackle: 'The space is large but it felt like a cave because of various soffits and another dropped ceiling constructed for no reason at all,' adds Carolyn. 'With an evened-out ceiling, the primary bath is now bright and spacious.'

12. Look for quick fixes for wasted space

That's a masterclass on how to maximize space in a powder room, right there. 

As Carolyn worked through the house planning its new look, she realized there was good space going to waste behind a false wall. 'We expanded the existing vanity niche by opening up the wall,' she says, 'which has given the small room a much-needed boost.'

Explaining her powder room ideas, Carolyn adds: 'As the main palette of the house is fairly neutral, the husband wanted to use a more masculine piece of stone for the powder room. The leathered quartzite has a rich dark base, yet a lot of lighter warm veins that tie in really well with the limestone floors and the rest of the house.' The elegant sconce lights are from Visual Comfort. 

We are so impressed with designer Carolyn Brandwajn's practical approach to redesigning and updating this Saratoga home, working under such tight time pressure. Not only has she created a sophisticated and elegant new look for the family home, she's also made sensible and sustainable decisions to update and adapt the home's existing features where possible, with no detriment to the finished effect.  

'I am happy we reached our goal of giving clients a custom look that reflected their lifestyle without taking the house to the studs,' the designer concludes. 

Interior design: Caroline Brandwajn at CBespoke
Photography: Agnieszka Jakubowicz 

Built in 1905 in the Pacific Heights neighborhood of San Francisco, this Colonial Revival style home already had many advantages. The young family who had made it their home had got to know the house when their friends lived there. 

Although they loved the property and particularly its historic detailing, they were keen to put their own stamp on the space and update it in areas, to improve the connectivity between the formal and informal spaces, but also to improve its offering for entertaining guests. 

Following a recent redesign, the house is one of the world's best homes, and interior designer Marea Clark, who spearheaded its renovation, shows us round.  

'Preserving the home’s original details while updating outdated features for modern living always requires a lot of thought and planning,' says designer Marea Clark. 'We wanted the more informal spaces to flow to the more formal spaces with ease, and balancing the design of these was a challenge - making sure it felt like a family home, but also sophisticated.'

We think the entry and stairs really aces the sophisticated look. Less is more here, and by keeping the entryway ideas simple, with white walls and just one or two well-chosen pieces of furniture, including a well-matched vintage console, the entrance appears more spacious and luxurious.

Vintage console, refurbished by Antonios Antiques. Lamps by Christopher Spitzmiller

The dining room was an important space in this house as the homeowners use it a lot. 'We wanted it to feel ethereal and playful - not childlike but that children live there, so although it's a formal space it still has a playful, approachable quality that feels appropriate for a lively family of six,' says designer Marea, who explains that her dining room ideas started with the De Gournay butterflies. 'Putting them on the ceiling was a way to bring the outside in and add a whimsical quality to the room,' she adds.

It was important for the home to be kid-friendly but also elegant and interesting, explains the designer, adding: 'The moody den we created was meant to feel like a place that you could pour a cocktail or hang out and watch TV with the family.'

The library/den is connected to the living room so den ideas had to be somewhat formal but comfy and inviting too. 'We wanted the two rooms to speak to each other but still feel separate. We made the custom sectional with storage ottomans,' adds Marea. 

Walls painted in Temptation, with the ceiling in Sea Life, both Benjamin Moore, with Fermoie's Hewn Pattern Astrea. The sectional sofa is custom from Marea Clark Interiors. The rug is from Abbey Carpet. 

'The home as a whole is now a good mix of modern and traditional styles,' explains designer Marea Clark. 'Our goal was to give the home an ethereal and romantic quality, using moody purples, pinks, and coastal blues to achieve a subtle femininity

Occasional table: Kneedler Fauchere Lens Table. Rug: Abbey Carpet & Rug. Central light fixture: Urban Electric. Art above fireplace by Hunt Rettig at Dolby Chadwick Gallery. 

The designer's living room ideas really showcase that balance between traditional and contemporary ideas, with a contemporary curved sofa, and classic and traditional built-in shelving.

This more casual eating space is a part of the kitchen. Eat-in kitchen ideas were all about creating a functional space for everyday meals, so designer Marea built a custom dining table with enough seating for the whole family. 

'We worked with the architect to create a larger opening between the kitchen and dining room to allow for better traffic flow, adding a new pocket door, and made a few changes in the kitchen like building a larger storage hutch.'  

Dining table: custom made by Marea Clark Interiors, with a lava stone top. Chairs: Quintus Upholstery. Art: Jenifer Kent at Dolby Chadwick Gallery.

The primary bedroom is clad with a pale blue silk wallcovering from Holland & Sherry, that gives the space a soft sheen, and fits right in with the designer's wish to create an ethereal, romantic space. Anyone looking for bedroom ideas could take inspiration from the cool, relaxing shades layered in this space.  

The carpet is from Abbey Carpet. Loveseat at the foot of the bed, custom from Marea Clark Interiors. Console, Cuff Studio. 

Bedrooms for visitors can occasionally look somewhat soulless, and lacking in personality. Not so, this room because even though space is tight, it's packed with guest room ideas that add character. Check out the warm color scheme of blush and apricot shades, the pretty pillows and throw on the bed, and the pleated lampshades. 

A painted console and framed wallcovering print add more pretty details to the room. 

This eye-catching vanity is part of the primary ensuite, 'an intimate little jewel box of a nook within the larger space, for the owner to get ready at'. Vanity ideas we'll be copying from here, include the striking quartz backsplash and basin, and the vintage-style foxed mirror above. The black flowers, well, they're an optional extra.

Interior Design: Marea Clark Interiors
Photography: Paul Dyer & Isabelle Eubanks
Styling: Kendra Smoot
Architecture: Stephen Sutro
General contractor: Clayton Timbrell 

The move from a garden-less city flat to a five-story townhouse with its own small garden and roof terrace is a huge one, physically, financially, and emotionally. But for the young couple in this case, experiencing such a leap is one that has reaped benefits aplenty, not least the opportunity to work with interior designer Rebecca Hughes. 

The couple – he is in property, she is a full-time mother to their young daughter – had discovered Rebecca’s work through a recommendation and realized her collaborative approach to interiors, as well as her focus on delivering a holistic end-to-end design experience, was one that chimed with their needs. ‘The new house gave them more space than they’d had before. They had big rooms to fill and an unusual lower-ground floor layout to consider. All the questions and decisions were ones we could resolve together,’ says Rebecca.

The house had been refurbished by a developer and although it was in good condition, the decor was wall-to-wall gray, offering a bland look. ‘They are a young, creative couple, who wanted a non-stuffy, colorful home where they could enjoy family life and do plenty of entertaining. They were keen to create something vibrant but sophisticated.'

‘The house is narrow and long,’ says Rebecca. ‘It needed elements of surprise throughout, so there are metal-framed doors as you enter and downstairs there is an internal curtain which can be pulled back on the dining area for wow factor.’

On the ground floor, an elegant entrance hall, featuring metal-framed doors and an arresting tableau of console table and mirror, gives way to a formal drawing room. 

Populated with a mix of contemporary but classic furnishings, and pieces from the owners’ previous home, it’s a smart, calm space. Rebecca added wall paneling to show off their collection of art, and replaced unattractive radiators with more traditional ones. 

In the warming, cozy dining room, sumptuous curtains are the perfect foil for the naturalistic, organic aesthetic of the furnishings.

In the kitchen, the color pink was always on the cards. ‘She definitely wanted a pink kitchen and, yes, you can go strong with pink,’ says Rebecca, ‘but too much can be intimidating. Break it up with a walnut kitchen island and wall cabinets and equilibrium will be restored.’ 

The owners agreed. Having lived with an all-cream scheme in their previous home, such delicious color combinations were warmly received.

Practical as well as pretty, this space was an important part of the lower-ground floor redesign.

‘We worked closely with our architect to reconfigure the odd-shaped ground floor. It had a weird turn within the space, which we squared off with a glazed timber wall to create a little boot room off the kitchen. It’s perfect for parking the baby buggy and kicking off shoes, and it feels very separate. It was a relatively small change, but it has had a huge impact on their use of the space.

In the main bedroom, a luxurious feel has been established using textured wallpaper and tactile, ruched fabric for the dressing room doors.

The main bathroom features elegant brass fittings and a feature shower enclosure that lends a truly glamorous touch.

Built just over 30 years ago, this five-bedroom home in Bethesda, Maryland, a suburb of Washington DC, was ready for a revamp. Its owners have three young children and felt the was outdated. 

The kitchen was small, the windows, fireplaces, lighting, and staircase detailing were all in need of a new look. And the owners were looking for a way to improve function and flow through the main level of the home. 

A recent 10-month program of improvements has brought the house up to date, dramatically improving the cohesion between the spaces on the main level. With a clean, contemporary style that puts the house among the world's best homes, the redesign has achieved exactly what the homeowners set out to do. 

Designer Dara Beitler, took charge of the home's new look, removing walls and relocating doorways, updating flooring, and renovating the kitchen, dining room, entry, living room, and powder room.  

To do this, explains Dara, she took on board her clients' feelings about color, pattern, and style. 'Most importantly, I had to fully understand how they function within their home and what their goals are to maximize function amongst and within their spaces,' she adds. 

Designer Dara gives us the tour, highlighting the techniques used to improve flow and harmony.   

1. Opening up sightlines between spaces

Walls were removed during the redesign in order to open up the sightlines between key spaces and increase the sense of flow for the whole of the downstairs. 

Although the homeowners wanted to preserve some of their home's existing features during the updates, the kitchen was one area that required a more dramatic approach. 'They wanted a larger space to cook and entertain,' explains designer Dara Beitler, 'and a better flow throughout the first floor, improved storage and a kid-friendly open space.'

Dara's kitchen ideas ticked all those boxes, and then some. The pared-back, open-plan space now looks out from the central hub of the kitchen onto both the family's dining nook, and the more formal dining room, and gives a calmer look and a more relaxed vibe overall. 

The round kitchen table was an existing piece, now repositioned to a bright sociable spot to fit in with the designer's family-friendly eat-in kitchen ideas and the kitchen chairs were from West Elm.

2. Match walls and floors throughout for cohesion

Key to the serene new look, is the beautiful natural oak wood flooring. In fact, designer Dara's kitchen flooring ideas were continued across the whole downstairs footprint to improve the links and flow between the spaces. The walls across the whole downstairs space are painted in Pure White by Sherwin Williams, while contrasting windows with black detailing in the brand's Tricorn Black to create a neat and contemporary new backdrop. 

Anyone looking for kitchen island ideas could take inspiration from this largescale design, with multiple drawers on one side and a breakfast bar on the other. 

'I invited Häcker Kitchens, Greenwich, to join my vision for the new epic kitchen,' says Dara. 'Together, we specified cabinetry in white and vintage oak, appliances, stone, plumbing fixtures, hardware, and functional and organization features to make an inviting and cohesive space within the home.'

The two striking antique brass and black pendants above the island are by Visual Comfort.  

3. Add subtle layers of pattern to a unified theme

White walls emphasize the new open-plan flow in the family's living space and enhance the ample natural light, but it was important to add further layers and interest. The pale wood flooring and wood detailing on the cabinetry is further complemented with the striking kitchen countertop ideas. Calacatta Valentin® quartz countertops, backsplashes and hood encasement, all by MSI Surfaces, bring in a hint of pattern and a lot of luxury. 

Key pieces in this working section of the kitchen include a freestanding oven range, the Nostalgie 48" by Ilve, with other appliances by Miele. The satin brass faucet and pot filler are from California Faucets. The cabinetry hardware is the Arch Pull by Hickory Hardware. Counter stools were sourced at Article. 

4. Furniture, lighting and artwork create a strong contemporary look

Dining room ideas came together once the custom round oak and ash table with walnut base was sourced from Aronson Woodworks. The statement table anchors this space beneath the sculptural and adjustable chandelier from Regina Andrew. Black oak and boucle chairs, designed by Sarah Sherman Samuel for Lulu and Georgia add flair to this space. The striking artwork is from Merritt Gallery, its vibrant colors the perfect complement to the architectural details and furniture in the dining room. 

5. Pare back on decor and let the architecture shine

The two-story foyer was one of the problem areas facing designer Dara Beitler as she sought to make sense of the disjointed home and restore its flow. The old space was complicated with wall cut-outs, shelving, and a sunken floor but Dara stripped these back to create a much more harmonious entry space that sets the tone for the home. She also found a good place for the family's baby grand piano. 

Entryway ideas include a three-tiered aged brass chandelier (just seen) by Hudson Valley Lighting Group, a stained staircase and painted rails, balusters, and posts. 

6. Don't overcomplicate

Proof that staircase ideas needn't be too complicated, and creating a showstoppingly graphic moment all of its own, this curved bench is perfectly positioned to complement the renovated stairs (and to enjoy listening to the family pianists!). A monochrome patterned rug and cushion enhance the striking effect. The bench in noir bouclé is from CB2. The simple blue artwork adds all the color that's required. 

7. Open plan spaces can be zoned into distinct areas

The family's main living room is part of the dramatic double-height foyer. By removing the shelving and wall cut-outs, the newly streamlined space has a far more contemporary feel, particularly now the bank of windows has been accented in black paintwork. The warm white sectional sofa is a good choice for the open-plan setting, as it helps to divide the seating space from the music area behind. 

Living room ideas include textured rugs from Morocco to add warmth to the spaces along with sofas sourced at Article and Crate & Barrel. The tables are from Room & Board and AllModern. The artwork is from Merritt Gallery. 

8. Comfort should come first

When it came to living room fireplace ideas, designer Dara Beitler had plans in mind to improve comfort and ease of use. 'In keeping with the original architecture and millwork, we enhanced the existing fireplace surrounds with paint and converted both wood burners with new white birch gas fireplace inserts by Real Fyre,' she says. 

The new gas fires are easier to operate and maintain than the old wood burners. 

9. You can create big impact in the smallest of spaces

Powder room ideas gave designer Dara an opportunity to add bold color and movement, away from the white walls and pale wood treatments in the open layout elsewhere in the main level. That said, you'll still find subtle nods here to the home's main themes. 

The wallcovering is the lake and cream colorway of the Kelly Wearstler Collection by Lee Jofa. A matte black ceramic vanity by Scarabeo Ceramiche anchors the main wall and references the black accents elsewhere in the home. 'The oversized dark espresso and gold mirror by Uttermost above aims to lift the eyes, thus creating a broader vertical view and reflection,' adds Dara. 

Black plumbing and hardware fixtures are by Delta and the light fixture by Mitzi.  

Interior design: Dara Beitler Interiors
Photography: Angela Newton Roy
Styling: Limonata Creative

When a home has been lovingly maintained for more than 100 years, it deserves owners who want to preserve its character and charm; custodians to move it gently forward with a sympathetic renovation to embrace modern life without sacrificing its magic.

‘That was exactly the intention of the couple, with a baby daughter, who bought this historic, redwood shingled, craftsman's-style home,’ says interior designer Heidi Caillier, who worked with them on its revamp. ‘The couple – he is in the wine trade; she is in luxury travel – consider themselves caretakers of the home and wanted to preserve as many of the original details as possible,’ she says of the house, built in 1910 and located in Berkeley in the San Francisco Bay Area of California. 

The owners found Heidi on Instagram, and instinctively felt in tune with her passion for design and fearless, confident attitude that comes from a natural flair and a fount of eclectic influences garnered over the years, rather than from formal training. 

‘The couple wanted the house to feel timeless, but youthful and like a reflection of them,’ says Heidi who has a love of tension in design, ‘a play between masculine and feminine, old and new, modern and traditional.’

When Heidi’s clients were discussing influences, they mentioned they were drawn to the quirky style of London-based designers, who are skilled at combining vibrant color with cozy elements and a traditional countryside aesthetic – think Beata Heuman, Maddux Creative, Ben Pentreath – and that gave them the impetus to come up with a new way of spinning classic ideas.

The ground floor enjoys a special quality of light that filters through the tall windows that embrace the structure of the building and enliven its dark timbers. The front door opens onto an entrance nook, also known as the ‘mudroom’, with built-in day beds, which is a good spot for morning coffee

The traditional living room is enlivened with modern-luxe touches like pink tiles in the fire surround, a playful rattan ceiling pendant, and a surprising yet harmonious denim-blue Indian dhurrie. ‘We wove in natural materials and textures throughout the house that feel lived in with a mix of sage green, soft pink, light blue, and small and large scale floral prints,’ says Heidi.

The rest of the space is divided into rooms that flow from one to the next: a ‘listening room’ for playing records, a dining room presided over by a family heirloom blue porcelain chandelier, and the kitchen with copper-wrapped worktops.

For the kitchen, the beautiful existing wooden cabinetry was kept as it is timeless, with the beautiful copper-wrapped worktops perfectly complementing the aged patina of the wooden finishes.

The kitchen island by Matthew Cox is a new addition but has been matched to the original, art-deco-like cabinetry.

The main bedrooms and bathrooms, a home office and a garden room are all upstairs. ‘Because the ground floor leans towards being dark, the owners wanted the first floor to be airy and light with a feeling of luxury and sumptuousness,’ says Heidi.

The upstairs landing is papered in a John Derian print, a stunning floral that feels both charming and modern. The garden room gets beautiful light and is surrounded by stunning views of the outdoors. 

There is a sitting area and a game table in the corner. ‘It’s a lovely place to play backgammon or read a book, and, like the rest of this unique and thoughtful home, it’s very reflective of the people who inhabit it,’ says Heidi.

‘We kept the existing shutters and chose pretty textiles, like a vintage quilt and antique kilim for the main bedroom.’

It’s a charming feature of the house that many rooms have a useful anteroom leading off them, in this case, the bedroom has a small study attached.

In the petite powder room, the marble basin and dainty wallpaper are beautifully whimsical, creating a wonderfully immersive effect.

Built 25 years ago, this family home in Austin, Texas, was dragged down by a difficult floorplan and interior décor that had scarcely been updated in the interim. 

Now, however, following a major redesign, the house is almost unrecognizable. Its smart new interiors and redesigned floorplan have created a much better flow and the results put the house among the world's best homes. 

Interior designer Judi Fuller of J Fuller Interiors was brought in to redesign the space, and explains the very considerable challenges she faced on first seeing the house. 

'One of the biggest problems was the U-shaped staircase positioned in the middle of the home that nearly blocked off the entry rooms from the kitchen and main living area,' says Judi. 'Typically American homes are known for their open concept design, but this house had no rhythm to it and the lines were all wrong. There were dead spaces that served no functionality.'

Take the tour to discover how the designer gave the house its dignity back, with many a contemporary style update along the way. 

The backdrop to the couple’s main living area was the huge mature oak trees peeking in from outside. So far so good. However, the room's furniture layout proved challenging due to its unusual angles and the position of the fireplace. 

Living room ideas for the space involved replacing the drab outdated fireplace surround with a black mist stone with minimal lines. 

'From there we were able to formulate a functional furniture layout which included ample seating for guests and parties with a cozy L-shaped sectional from Arhaus and black swivel boucle chairs,' says designer Judi Fuller. 

A bench was added to easily move in front of the fireplace when needed. A side table from is placed between two pieces of the sectional, and a round coffee table made of patinaed steel molded around a reclaimed yukas was crafted in Mexico, both tables sourced through Arhaus.

'To accentuate the fireplace wall above we added lap and gap millwork made of walnut (which tied to the same feature in the kitchen),' says Judi, explaining her fireplace ideas which were pivotal to updating the space. The built-in units flanking the fireplace are painted in Tricorn Black by Sherwin Williams.

The kitchen design was of special interest to the homeowner who loves to cook, Judi explains. He had two requirements for the space; the cabinet color had to be Farrow & Ball’s Stiffkey Blue and the countertops had to be marble. These were the two non-negotiable features he loved from their former kitchen. He was also keen to have a professional-grade oven range combo. 

'This expansive kitchen needed a little extra something to break up the lengthy blue cabinets and island,' adds Judi. 'So we designed the typically disappearing corner in the kitchen to have custom lap and gap millwork and integrated shelves to display accessories and cookbooks.' 

Kitchen ideas also had to work with the adjoining open-concept living room, with the same wooden treatment above the fireplace. To tie the two areas together, another walnut panel was placed on one corner of the island. 

The art on the adjacent wall was an original painting from the homeowner’s friend.

'The kitchen was coming together nicely but we knew the key piece was going to be the selection of the marble,' says designer Judi. 'After shopping multiple stone yards we settled on slabs that were so good that we had to have them as our backsplash as well.'

The black chandelier was sourced from 1st Dibs and custom-made from a shop in New York City. 

Redesigning the stairs made space for some very creative home bar ideas. Between the new floating stairs and breakfast room, above, is a small glass-walled wine room and bar. 'The breakfast area flanked our glass wine room and was a fluid extension of the kitchen,' explains Judi. 

A long leathered bench seat from Arhaus and chairs originally from Paris and sourced at the Round Top antiques show, contribute to the cozy eat-in kitchen ideas for family meals.

The second sitting room was designed to be a more intimate space, and Judi's den ideas took shape once the old U-shaped stairs had been replaced with a modern floating set. 'This proved to be the most striking architectural feature and was key to opening up the space visually,' the designer explains. 

'The sitting room is set off with two oversized art pieces (from Wendover art) that have a European vibe. The curves in the kidney sofa have a modern element we were looking for while the blue swivel chairs are a stark contrast to the camel-colored leather daybed from Arhaus and the room has a clean, sophisticated modern Paris apartment vibe,' adds Judi Fuller. 

The stand-out piece in the room is a natural teak wood coffee table that features organic shapes, also sourced from Arhaus, while quirky side tables with hooved-footed legs and a vintage-style floor lamp complete the scene.

The home's formal dining room is open plan to the home's main entry. Key to the new dining room ideas are the amber-colored mohair chairs and a handcrafted black table with sculptural column legs, both from Maiden Home, and an Ian Fowler designed chandelier from Visual Comfort. 

'The airy entry was grand in scale and we needed to match that feel in the furnishings,' says designer Judi. The most important of her entryway ideas was to change the front entry door to an extra wide steel and glass swivel door. This brought in additional light to the entry and dining room. 

The new media room/library is a striking space, and one in which designer Judi says she was able to really let her imagination run wild. 'It is to date one of my favorite rooms ever to design,' she says. 'My inspiration was that of old England libraries found in large estates in days gone by. I began to envision combining both the library and media into one and jotted down a quick hand drawing, hoping everything I had planned would fall within the measurements of the space.'

As far as the colour scheme was concerned, Judi's media room ideas were brave and bold. 'Since the room had an entire wall of windows providing ample light by day, I was able to convince the homeowners that painting all the walls Caviar black by Sherwin Williams, including the ceiling and all of the built-ins.' Judi promised a show-stopping space, and she didn't disappoint.

Key pieces include couches from Maiden Home, swivel channeled brown leather chairs from Four Hands, unique mesh lanterns on either side of the television, from Hudson Valley Lighting, and Talon chandelier by Regina Andrew.

'This bathroom serves not only as a powder room (due to its location in the home), but also a full guest bath with a shower in the event that the adjacent office is turned into a guest room one day. The challenge was to have a fully functioning bathroom but with a powder bath vibe,' explains designer Judi Fuller. 

Anyone looking for inspiration for their modern powder room ideas will find plenty here to delight, including the floor-to-ceiling Black Cloe subway tile from Bedrosians,  which crosses the full vanity wall and into all sides of the shower. A triple crosshatch pattern adds further visual interest. Plumbing fixtures by Brizo in Luxe gold finish include a gooseneck shower head to help keep splashing under control. Black Zola Field tiles in Nero and matching mosaic shower floor tiles from Ann Sacks add to the fine details. 

'Our moody bathroom was not complete without a custom-designed floating vanity in walnut. The final jewel to this bath was a modern rail sconce from Southern Lights Electric. A custom piece of art hand drawn by a friend of the clients added a touch of nostalgia,' adds Judi. 

Interior design: Judi Fuller of J Fuller Interiors
Photography: Madeline Harper Photography

The property in question was a classic 1960s bungalow. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms. So far so ordinary. What was extraordinary, and the reason the current owners bought it, was the home's stunning setting perched in the hills of Marin County, California with incredible views for miles. 

The house has reached a whole new level following a recent redesign, with the emphasis on making the most of every inch of available space and bringing harmony to the mostly open-plan layout. That's why we believe this to be one of the world's best homes and there are lessons here for us all in how to reconfigure a room plan and color palette to achieve a more spacious and harmonious look. 

The owners had already completed a major remodel of the house some years before turning to interior designer Courtney B Smith for help with the layout and décor. 'By the time they reached out to me they were frustrated with what they thought was too little square footage, no space for the occasional overnight guests, and a lack of comfortable flow, both visual and physical,' explains Courtney. 'Like lots of families, they’d inherited hand-me-downs over time, or purchased items on a one-off basis, and nothing felt like it belonged. When we initiated, they were done with their Ikea phase, and ready for more permanent solutions.'

Take the tour, and find out how some well focused changes created a much improved sense of flow and established design connections between the distinct areas in the home. 

'When we started, the home was a sea of neutrals of different undertones and mismatched furniture placed in ways that didn’t maximize its footprint,' says designer Courtney. 'The overall goal was to create a functional and beautiful home for this young family of four who needed selections that weren’t precious or delicate. They wanted to use existing pieces we could find a spot for, but weren’t hung up on saving things that didn’t make sense in the context of our plan.' 

'The biggest challenge in this project was the great room, or family room, which is long and narrow, and open-ended on both sides,' explains Courtney. 'There was also a lopsided fireplace that dominated the room and needed to be balanced.'

Key to the family living room ideas here, were additions to rebalance the space, including a soffit above the existing fireplace, and incorporating it into a custom built library wall which had the advantage of creating lots of additional storage.  

'This room is the heart of this home, and a multifunctional work horse,' says Courtney. 'We infused the room with more pattern, great art, and a decent amount of color.'

Key pieces include the blue swivel chairs from Lee Industries, pillows from Les Indiennes, and the mirror above fireplace from Ballard Designs. The coffee table and Persian rug already belonged to the owners and work well with the room's new design. 

The new red sectional was a custom piece, designed to make the most efficient use of the space in the family living room. The upholstery is a Thibaut Performance fabric, a practical choice in a family home. 

A fun gingham-style check skirt highlights the table by the window, and a Roman blind adds further pattern interest, both in Les Indiennes fabrics. 

At this end of the bespoke fireplace built-in, the display ideas for decorating shelves are a mix of treasured objects and ceramics, as well as useful items such as table linens. Closed cupboards contain everyday crockery for the adjacent breakfast table. 

Open plan to the family living room and sharing one end of the clever library wall, the kitchen had previously been updated as part of the owner's initial renovations.

However, it still required Courtney's designer's eye and smart space-planning kitchen ideas to bring it into line. The counter stools from Serena & Lily are new additions, picking up on the blue in the new palette that weaves its way through the house.

No open-plan family home worth its salt can be without a breakfast nook, and the eat-in kitchen ideas here have really nailed a relaxed boho vibe that adds layers of pattern and interest to the space. The tulip table is by Rove Concepts, the rattan bench from Red Egg, and the chairs are from Ballard Designs. The pillows are made in Les Indiennes fabric and the artwork abover the bench is by Caroline Pacula. 

Living room ideas in this more formal space continue the color themes from the other downstairs rooms, maintaining the harmony that designer Courtney was keen to create for the home. 

'Because the floor plan is a very open one, with sight lines from almost every space to the next, it was very important to consider the entire scheme together. Every room had to make sense in the context of the next,' she says. 'I love the layers of pattern and texture in here. The perfectly-scaled blue and white stripe pair of sofas, the patterned window treatments, and the statement ceiling fixture all work together to create a space that is warm, welcoming, and comfortable.'

Don't underestimate the power of a good living room rug in harnessing a room scheme. 'One of the pieces we all loved from the start of this project was the family's existing living room rug. In shades of red and coral, with hits of blue, cream, gold and green, this became the foundation for our color palette, and we selected everything else to tie back to this statement,' says designer Courtney. 

'This room looks out to a major view (hello Mount Tam!),' she adds, 'and is oriented for quiet visits and adult time, since the kids prefer to use the family room.'

The living room's hero pieces are: drapes in a Schumacher fabric; sofas from Robin Bruce; Suzani accent pillows, Etsy; vintage black chinoiserie coffee table,1st Dibs; ceiling lamp, Oly Studios; vintage blue and white lamp, Chairish; cane highback chairs, Red Egg, with custom cushions. 

'The dining room is a room between rooms,' says Courtney. 'It’s a bridge between the living room and great room, and relates to both without overpowering either.' For exactly that reason, the designer's dining room ideas had to integrate well with all of the other downstairs spaces, and this quiet, curated and softly vintage look excels. 'I love the Les Indiennes wallcovering here – referencing the botanicals we’re all obsessed with in northern California, without screaming girly,' adds the designer. 

This striking and unusual space is the kids' play room. 'This room is small but mighty and we went for it in here!' says designer Courtney. 'Those forest walls are happy, and the cacophony of pillows on our custom daybed are pure fun.'

Topping the list of all playroom ideas of course, is storage for toys and games, with huge drawers incorporated wall-to-wall beneath a custom-built wide daybed/window seat. In doing this, the designer overcame the home's second biggest design challenge (after the great room), namely, finding space to accommodate overnight guests. The 11ft-long bench was cleverly designed to double as a spare bed for visitors and sleepovers. 

Key pieces in the play room include wallcovering by Rebel Walls; pillows on daybed,  Anthropologie; side table, West Elm; reading lamps, Schoolhouse Electric. 

'Like many California homes, this one opens to decks and gardens which offer an immediate outdoor connection,' says designer Courtney. 'We were inspired by views of nature in every direction as we made design decisions.' The red bistro set is by Fermob. The backyard landscaping (below) was completed as part of the owners' first round of renovations.

'I always start in the same place for inspiration: the home itself, and the people who live there,' says designer Courtney Smith. 'This home is a great bungalow perched in the hills of Marin County, with incredible views for miles. This is northern California: what you see out their windows is blue sky, green hills, and the twinkle of ambient light. We wanted to reflect that feeling inside, but in a fun and unexpected way.' 

The result, as we've seen, is a truly harmonious home, at one with the landscape and with a strong design thread running through it. Practical and space-saving solutions have transformed family life in the home, and its aesthetic, allowing the owners to make the most of every room, and indeed every foot of available space. 

Interior Design: Courtney B Smith
Photography: Alanna Hale
Styling: Mikhael Romain  

Fun fact about this Georgia home: two of its reception rooms were empty for almost a year and the kids used to ride their tricycles through them. It's hard to believe but this family home, now one of the world's best homes, was once a bit of an empty shell, lacking design direction and practical purpose. 

The young family of five had upsized, moving from DC to Atlanta and had prioritized getting to know their new house and neighborhood before thinking about furnishing and décor. After almost two years, however, they felt it was time to get the professionals in for some fresh interior design ideas. The design experts at Atlanta-based GordonDunning were only too happy to help, coming up with a series of room schemes to put the house back on track. 

The main aims were to create a classic dining room where they could entertain friends and family, and a music room that doubled as an office. Cate Dunning and Lathem Gordon, co-founders of the design studio explain how they arrived at the perfect solutions. 

Kitchen ideas are the perfect fit for the home's historic detailing. The cabinetry is simple and traditional, with clean lines and heritage-friendly subway tiles, vintage style lighting and dark wood flooring. 

This is a practical family space, but the quiet, classic look and traditional kitchen ideas here speak of generations of good cooks catering for friends and family over the years. Importantly the room is in line with GordonDunning's vision for the rest of the home. 'We wanted to create a space for them that was rooted in classics but packed a punch,' says Cate Dunning. 'We wanted the spaces to be family-friendly but have elevated style.'

'The idea is that the home should feel cohesive but become cozier as you moved further in, so we incorporated some warmer tones and textures in the living room to complement the peacocks, blues, and bolder hues elsewhere,' says GordonDunning's co-founder Lathem Gordon. 'This is the center of their home, where the Christmas tree lives, where family movie nights happen, where the core family memories are made – and we wanted to embrace that.'

So this space factors in all those living room ideas to create a relaxed and welcoming room. There's space for everyone, and it looks especially cozy with the fire lit in the big stone fireplace. 

Coming up with music room ideas for this previously empty room was a key part of the family's brief. Designers Cate and Lathem of course considered these in the context of the whole house. 'Given that this and the dining room spaces are the first you see upon entering the foyer and are directly across from each other, we really had to consider how they worked together,' explains Cate. 'We wanted the dining room to be the star of the show, but the music room needed to be complementary.  We incorporated blues and oranges into the music room to mirror the dining room.'

A small workstation has been included in one corner of the music room, perfect for occasional working from home days. The style is matched to the overall aesthetic so that the home office ideas add to rather than taking over the elegant look and feel of the room. The gallery wall above the desk is made of maps from the family's travels.  

The new dining room décor is the home's showstopper. First, that vibrant paint color, the aptly named Sherwin Williams Notable Hue, was applied to specially designed and custom made millwork. The color was painted all over, 'to cocoon the room', explains designer Lathem. 

Thinking back to how it looked when they first saw it, designer Cate recalls, 'The room was a white box! There was no molding, no light fixture, no nothing. It was exclusively used as a kid racetrack.'

Explaining the starting point for their dining room ideas, she adds: 'The owners knew they wanted a dedicated dining space, but they wanted to wait until their children were a little older and they could fully focus on doing the space as they dreamed' 

How did they go about marrying a traditional look with a more fun and contemporary vibe? 'We took great care to design and map out the millwork and select the “just right” blue to be the backdrop of the memories created in this room,' says Cate. 'We worked to incorporate classic lines to give the space a strong foundation, but we also brought in some punchy color and pattern for spunk.' 

Aside the dramatic color scheme, designer Lathem explains that the banquette was to be the focus of the space. Covered in Lee Industries in Jofa fabric, it is indeed a beautiful piece, a key player in bringing the furniture back into the realms of the traditional. 

Anyone looking for entryway ideas for a more traditional setting, will find plenty to inspire in this simple but elegant space.  'We wrapped the entire space in wallpaper to really add some pizazz,' explains Lathem Gordon. 'We didn’t want to add color in order to allow the dining room to be the color star, but we wanted texture and visual interest.

'We wanted it to feel classic but have meaningful and memorable impact as you entered the home. The Lindsay Cowles wallpaper provides textural and pattern interest, allowing the architectural details and artwork to be the main focus of the space.' 

Alongside the wallpaper, the statement rug is a key player in the hallway ideas, echoing the warm rich tones of the wooden front door and flooring. 

In keeping with the downstairs spaces, bedroom ideas for the main bedroom have a traditional elegance, but with fresh colors providing a contemporary twist. Soft blue walls and bold floral print drapes offer a good counterpoint to the dark wood bedframe and flooring. Bedding in soft beige linen grounds the whole scheme.

Bathroom ideas for the compact ensuite started with the clapboard paneling on the walls. The dark flecked granite vanity top complements the gray cabinetry, with black faucets adding a further contemporary detail. 

In the bathroom, as elsewhere in the home, designer Lathem says they were very conscious about 'specifying fabrics, upholstery, and case pieces that could hold up against crayons, trampolining, and spills, but aesthetically, our goal was to make the space feel refined enough for entertaining friends, family, and colleagues.'   

While Cate adds: 'We were thrilled to play a role in making the home truly reflect them as a family.'

Interior design: Cate Dunning and Lathem Gordon at GordonDunning
Photography: Emily Followill

This five-bedroom family home was built in 1923, in the historic Los Angeles area of Hancock Park. The area contains some of the grandest, oldest homes in Los Angeles. It is completely walkable and is in the center of Los Angeles, and residents love its convenience to the other areas of town.  

A recent full-scale redesign puts this house among the world's best homes and we're lucky enough to be able to have a good look round, with designer Lucie Ayres, principal and founder of 22 Interiors, who came up with the stunning new look. 

She picks out her favorite design moments from the project and explains how she arrived at the sophisticated yet fun schemes for the house. 

Anyone looking for inspiring living room ideas will be spoilt for choice in this home. There are three distinct sitting rooms in the house, four if you count the outdoor seating space, and each serves a slightly different purpose and has a subtly different look. 

This space is the family room, a relaxed living room with easy access to the garden. 'Key here was full on neutrality. We purposely didn’t do throw cushions in different fabrics as a discerning choice to keep the area free of visual noise,' explains designer Lucie. Key pieces include a Crate & Barrel coffee table, a custom sectional by 22 Interiors in tweed fabric, and the stylish custom Baldwin white oak credenza from Faithful Roots.  

One of the must haves for the homeowners was an elevated and beautiful formal living room that they could entertain guests in. 'A room that looks pretty and they are proud to show off to friends,' explains Lucie. 

Anyone looking for living room wallpaper ideas would do well to consider this pleated linen wallcovering in a livable taupe shade, from Omexco, which designer Lucie says 'screams formal and luxurious'. 

'We wanted formality without too heavy of a vibe,' she adds. 'The quintessential Californian style is dressed up AND casual simultaneously. The color palette is moody earth tones with elements of brightness. 

'We used wood and the warmth with burlwood pieces as well as a variety of seating styles to take the formality down a notch.'

The Roundel Bunching coffee table from Lemieux et Cie grounds the room, with another custom sofa from 22 Interiors, pillows in House of Hackney fabric, and a bar cabinet from Soho Home – all signposting this more sophisticated adult sitting room. 

At the opposite side of the formal living room, is a custom chaise sofa from 22 Interiors, which, along with the wallpaper, is one of Lucie's hero pieces in the room 'With its nod to 20s art deco, but also maybe the bar? It's hard to pick,' she says. 'We also love the candle holders and decorative accessories from Rose Tarlow.'

Kitchen ideas incorporated the existing kitchen island color, which came with the house. 'We toned down the rest of the space with oak woods, neutral fabrics, and plenty of black and white,' says designer Lucie. 

It was clear that statement lighting would feature in the kitchen lighting ideas here, and the triple pendant lights from Visual Comfort helped to ring the changes in the reworked space, along with Crete bar stools in faux leather from Four Hands. 

'The dining room was tricky,' says designer Lucie, 'as you can see this space the second you walk into the house – we wanted the dining area and the entry area to compliment each other and look elevated. The lighting fixtures had to work together and not be too similar so that the dining area is anchored as a defined space between the family room, kitchen, and entry. Picking the fabric for the dining chairs was key. We went with a vegan leather that is soft and fully wipeable.'

Key pieces here, alongside the Fontaine chandelier from Visual Comfort, are the William Sonoma Home table with custom chairs from 22 Interiors. 

This room was originally the dining room in the house, but with Lucie's help the owners turned it into a central playroom. In reality, it serves a dual purpose as yet another stylish (and appropriately playful) living room, and takes playroom ideas up a notch in style and comfort. 

'The wallpaper for sure is the hero piece in here,' says Lucie. 'I love the whimsical vibe overall and we played off that as much as we could – very much including the color palette. We created custom modular seating in various corresponding colors that can be moved around as needed which I think is key in designing any playroom.' 

The wallpaper is House of Hackney's Plantasia design in sage, which give the room depth and interest. The idea is that the wallpaper will stay the course if the owners decide to revert this space back to a dining room when the children have outgrown the playroom. The sectional is from Villa Nova, while on the floor are Flor's practical Heaven Sent carpet tiles. 

'The clients asked for their room to feel like a hotel room but better, and I was inspired to give them a place that would transform the way they feel when they enter,' says Lucie, explaining her bedroom ideas for the primary suite. 'The Phillip Jeffries wallpaper was key – it has a beautiful texture and a perfectly ethereal feel, and is definitely the room's hero piece.' 

The Anders pendant light from Pinch is the perfect complement to the wallcovering while hand made lamps by Danny Kaplan add another luxury element. The wallpaper is Mist Whisper on Marshmallow Manila Hemp, by Phillip Jeffries. 

There are plenty of inspiring kids' bedroom ideas to copy in this fun and adventure-inspired space. 'The color scheme was based on camping,' explains Lucie. 'The color of the walls is Benjamin Moore's Jack Pine. We added a fun tent bed which really sets the mood.'

Key accessories here include the tent bed from Crate & Barrel, rug from Jaipur, and activity table from Pottery Barn. 

Lucie's design remit extended outdoors, where her backyard ideas incorporated an outdoor lounge area where the homeowners can relax while watching the kids play and swim in their backyard. Further along the patio there's also a large outdoor dining table for meals alfresco. 

The sofas and lounge chairs are from Restoration Hardware, and the rug is from Jaipur.

Interior design: Lucie Ayre, 22 Interiors
Photography: Noah Webb

On the north shore of Long Island, NY, this historic waterfront house is one of the world's best homes thanks to its location and authentic landmarked status. It is a wood frame house covered with shingles, a Cape Cod, colonial building type. The façade has Dutch details typical of the area. 

Home to an artist, it's also filled with her bold artworks and colorful collections. And the reason for buying the home? The stunning location and the views of the water and the owners' collection of antique boats, moored by the house. 

The home was sympathetically restored in 2014, and its interiors redesigned in keeping with its setting and its early-20th century origins. The team responsible for the redesign were Thomas Jayne and Egan Seward, principal and former designer respectively, at the Jayne Design Studio. Thomas Jayne describes his reworking of this unique home as 'contemporary, eclectic and midcentury bohemian', and says it provokes 'unabashed love by all who enter here!'.

You'll soon understand why, as he picks out his highlights below. 

'The owners wanted a relaxed nautical and artistic feel. And to avoid the costal clichés of blue and white and sea shells,' explains Thomas Jayne. 'This living room is one of my favorite rooms. We were able to engineer a new high sloped ceilinged space with a shelf (or frieze) of antique boat models.  I like the mix of old an new here.'

Living room ideas in this room, also known as the 'view room', are indeed about making the most of the waterfront views, with the owners' antique boat collection moored up outside. The curtains are Eté Moscovite linen voile by Décors Barbares.

The owner's studio, pictured above, has amazing light, with windows on three sides of the room: perfect for watercolor work. Note too, the view of the couple's antique sailboats. 

'The owner favors the ethos of old fashioned artists’ studios,' says designer Thomas Jayne, 'and the collection of rustic and well made furniture alongside works in progress references the precedent and tradition of artists having antiques in their studios.' On the left is a 19th-century Swedish Allmoge cabinet from New York’s Dienst & Dotter. The handpainted wallpaper is from Adelphi Paper Hangings. 

The kitchen and dining room interconnect through a large opening, which helps to bring light into this space. Kitchen ideas for the working section of the kitchen include white base cabinets, with the island providing a splash of color to balance the white walls and cabinets. 

This side of the kitchen references a more homey farmhouse aesthetic, and typical Jayne Studio kitchen touches of artworks, comfortable seating and antiques. 

Dining room ideas began with the striking Gardeners design wallcovering, by Hamilton Weston Wallpapers, which gives the whole room a beautiful glow. Although it's a contemporary print, it has, says Thomas Jayne 'a distinctly 1930s spirit'. Above the gothic sideboard is a painting by Henry Finkelstein. 

This second sitting room, adjacent to the 'view room', is somewhat more formal in style with its textured wallcovering providing the backdrop to gilt-framed old masters and artworks. An impressive collection of antique furniture and rugs completes the scene. 

Bedroom ideas in the primary bedroom create another striking space. A canopy bed from Barton Sharpe is decked with a bed hanging that was hand embroidered in Madagascar by Simon Peers and based on a Balinese pattern. The white chair to the left of the bed is by Carl Malmsten. 

The fireplace is a new addition, designed by Jayne Design Studio using 18th-century Delft porcelain tiles commonly found in historic homes in the region. Here they've been arranged in a contemporary fashion to great effect.  

Interior design: Thomas Jayne and Egan Seward, Jayne Design Studio
Photography: Don Freeman
Architecture: Katherine McGray Berry
Landscape design: CeCe Haydock 

This newly built eight-bedroom home is a classic Hamptons shingle-style summer residence. The white clapboard exterior faces a pool and outside there are open and covered spaces because this wasn't just going to be a summer escape. The owners were looking for a house for all seasons, and wanted something a little different. 

It's the 'different' that puts this among the world's best homes. Sure, there are references to classic coastal style in the interiors but there's a fresh, contemporary and elevated look too, and you won't find coastal grandmother taking up residence on this particular stretch of the beach. 

Interior designer Anelle Gandelman, of A-List Interiors, was involved from the start of the build, tasked with designing all aspects of the home, from custom cabinetry and millwork, tile, plumbing, flooring, lighting and furnishings down to the very last details including the flatware and glassware. 

'The clients wanted a very livable home that could host a house full of guests,' says Anelle, 'and although we had some delays due to Covid they gave us their wishlist and trusted us to execute which helped move the project along.' 

'The goal was to design a home that didn't feel overly coastal but still felt like it belonged at the beach,' explains designer Anelle. 'Provincial French elements are layered with more contemporary furniture pieces and various interpretations of the classic blue and white color palette throughout the house.' 

Stepping into the living room, it's easy to see exactly how well the designer met that brief. Living room ideas here, and particularly the palette, reflect the area's iconic seascape, but this is a smart room. 

It's also open plan to the kitchen, so there had to be a continuity of tone and mood across the two spaces and it's designed with functionality in mind. A bench seat sofa and daybed are perfect for lounging while the lounge chairs and ottomans provide flexible seating for entertaining. It may be smart, but nothing is too precious with performance fabrics throughout and a slip cover on the sofa.  

'The furniture is more tailored than you would expect from a typical Hampton’s home,' adds Anelle, 'but the interiors still feel fresh and inviting. The home feels 'happy', especially on this lower level.'

Key pieces include a Verellen sofa, Stark rug, Gabby lounge chairs, Kravet Ottomans & throw pillows, Bernhardt chaise and side table, chandelier from Corbett Lighting and lamps from Visual Comfort. 

'We wanted to give the kitchen a distinct personality and make it as inviting as possible,' says designer Anelle. 

Kitchen ideas mix natural oak finishes with white cabinets to bring warmth to the space. While the blue Lacanche range adds a traditional French touch and the full-height backsplash tile adds pattern and character.

'The X pattern on either side of the island references the location’s equestrian history,' explains Anelle. 'The home was built on the grounds of a former Olympic equestrian center.'

Key pieces in the kitchen include: Artistic Tile backsplash, Urban Electric sconces, Armac Martin hardware, and walls painted in Benjamin Moore's Oxford White.

Dining room ideas for this space had to work in harmony with the kitchen, as the home doesn’t have a separate formal dining room. Instead there's this spacious nook in the open-plan kitchen, which functions as both a casual breakfast area as well as the place to host dinners and holidays. 

'As a result, we had to strike the right balance between a casual and formal space,' says designer Anelle. 'We opted for full length drapes rather than roman shades but used a linen fabric that felt light and relaxed. The table was custom made and the chairs sport a playful coastal stripe in on the inside and a richer performance velvet on the back. The Urban Electric chandelier has custom blue shades that reference the blue range in the kitchen.' 

Key pieces in the dining space include: Holland & Sherry drapery, Highland House dining chairs, Old Biscayne Designs dining table  

Anyone looking for movie room ideas, can't fail to be inspired by this airy setting, where there's plenty of room for guests and family to enjoy the latest releases. The furnishings balance the classic coastal palette, but add in the quirky round striped ottomans, a contemporary tailored armchair and two French-style chairs. 

In the primary bedroom, bedroom ideas show the same tailored style we see elsewhere in the home, and still with the coastal palette of cool blues, grays and soft warm whites. This continuity of style ensures the whole house feels harmonious and in keeping. Designer Anelle chose the following key pieces: bed from Vanguard Furniture, sofa from Lee Jofa, lamps from Visual Comfort, bedding from Matouk, and a rug from Stark. The walls are painted in Benjamin Moore's Swiss Coffee, a color that looks every bit as delicious as it sounds! 

The family like to host friends and family on a regular basis, so guest room ideas need to be easy, versatile and ready to go. Here, a geometric print for the bedhead, and a softer pattern on the bedding give the room a relaxed welcoming feel. Soft gray walls pick up the color scheme from the rest of the house. 

For younger guests, the loft room ideas in this space will surely prove irresistible. It really is the dream sleepover venue, complete with beautifully built-in steps and an eye-catching blue and white wallpaper, not forgetting the sheepskin rug for little toes! 

As designer Anelle explains, 'In general the house doesn't take itself too seriously. From the reclaimed limestone in the mudroom to the playful custom designed bunk room, this house was designed to be loved and used.'

Designer Anelle's bathroom ideas for the guest bathroom were all about bringing a touches of luxury and texture, while harmonizing with the home's other main color themes. 

We love the reeded vanity unit, the boat bath and the pale driftwood-effect flooring that references the home's coastal location. 

'The outside spaces were very important,' says designer Anelle. 'The pool is the focal point of the exterior and we have both covered and uncovered seating areas so that the outside can be used regardless of the weather.' Pool deck ideas include garden loungers from Summer Classics, and dining furniture from Harbour Outdoor 

Interior design: Anelle Gandelman, A-List Interiors
Photography: Brittany Ambridge
Stylist: Frances Bailey 

It was the classic blank canvas, a newly built home on the Westside of Los Angeles in the Cheviot Hills district. The property was spacious indoors and out, and everything was in good condition as you'd expect from a home that was completed in 2021. There was, however, still something missing. The owners were looking for a way to bring their new home to life, to add character and a cohesive sense of style throughout. 

In short, the brand-new property needed a new identity. Once that was established and in place, this LA family home became one of the world's best homes. It's relaxed and welcoming and gets the balance just right between practical everyday living and generous entertaining. Nothing is too perfect that you're afraid to use it but there's a touch of luxury to the designs and finishes that elevates the space. 

Interior designer Jenn Feldman is the creative talent behind the home's transformation and says: 'Our challenge was how to create a contemporary, comfortable home that was well-loved and could be well lived in... how to keep everything clean-lined and tailored and let them live.'

Find out how, as Jenn Feldman shares her solutions and design insights below. 

'We approached every space with equal parts fixed and flexible,' says designer Jenn.  'Beautiful silhouettes but with performance fabrics. Vintage curations layered throughout kept the home grounded with the large, open space plans.'

This is apparent from the moment you step through the (very fine) front door.  Entryway ideas take their cue from the strong design elements of the large steel-framed door, and the statement Baker table, stool and artwork by Richard Serra. 'It's the entry hall of our dreams' says Jenn. 

Family room ideas in California are as much about the outside living spaces as the inside ones, and this relaxed seating area fits the bill with its glass wall and doors to the garden. 'The family room shines with light and showcases California indoor outdoor living at its best,' says designer Jenn, who specified a custom Sofa by JFD and wallpaper by Lindsay Cowles.

Who wouldn't want to cook and entertain from this glorious kitchen? Better still, who wouldn't want to just hang out on the smart bar stools chatting to the cook! Anyone looking for kitchen ideas for a larger space, can't fail to be inspired by the serenity of this set-up, where pale wood finishes combine with white countertops to ensure there's a sense of calm whether catering for the family or a big party crowd. 

'The open concept kitchen was packed with function and finished details,' says designer Jenn. The custom stools are from Thomas Hayes, the lighting is from Visual Comfort, and many of the accessories are vintage, giving that layered lived-in look that had been so lacking before the redesign. 

This tailored corner of the open-plan kitchen takes eat-in kitchen ideas to the next level. With an unusual long, oval table, banquette seating on three sides and a finish to tone with that in the working part of the kitchen, it's not hard to see why this is one of designer Jenn Feldman's house highlights - although getting her to admit that was tricky. 'It’s like picking a favorite child! I can't! But if I really had to, I'd say, the kitchen nook came out really special. As did the front entry hall. I love when a space feels like it’s always been there and just “fits” and both of those areas really had that feeling and connection.'

Banquette custom designed by JFD, fabric by Schumacher, chandelier from Mint Bliss Decor, chairs from Design Within Reach and art by John Baldessari.

This more formal room marks quite a contrast with the other parts of the house. Explaining her dining room ideas, Jenn Feldman says she was aiming for a timeless and tailored look. When you look at how the curves of the chairs, table and then the pendant light all complement one another like a well put together outfit, you realize that 'tailored' is exactly the right word. Dining table by Restoration Hardware, chairs custom by JFD.

When the room doubles as a music room, your living room ideas have to work doubly hard. This room is also the 'front of house showpiece' according to designer Jenn. 

A pair of Pacha chairs by Pierre Paulin flank the family’s grand piano. The art is from Amalia Saban, the rug is a vintage find.

As discussed earlier, there's a sense of luxury even in this home's most practical spaces. Keeping this element to the fore in her home office ideas, Jenn says 'our client's home office was drenched in sun-kissed, tonal splendor.' A fair summary, I'd agree, and doesn't having a beautiful workspace do wonders for productivity? The custom fluted front desk was designed by JFD, the wallcovering is by Kravet.

If it's bedroom ideas you're after, then this clean-lined look might just be the perfect solution for an uninterrupted night's sleep. 'The Primary Bedroom was scaled large enough for a canopy bed which was high on our clients' wish list,' explains Jenn. The pared back minimalist design is the perfect option in this setting. 

Wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries, lumbar pillow custom in a fabric by Romo. Vintage lamps from Amelia Tarbet.

Bathroom ideas in the primary bathroom are all about contrast. It's a long, lean room, with a full dark-colored marble wall on one side, providing a counterpoint to the pale wood cabinet, and warm-white walls. Lighting by Visual Comfort.

I'm not sure I've ever seen such comfort-first mudroom ideas. Well-organized built-ins provide storage for all manner of household and personal items, and there are two smart storage bench seats with Schumacher fabric covers and even a desk. The rug is vintage. 

'Los Angeles living means outside areas are used the same if not more than interiors,' says designer Jenn Feldman. 'The lifestyle is to live outside most of the year and it’s always a priority to give the exterior spaces the same level of detail and aesthetic integrity to the interiors. We had so many areas to play with and create meaningful spaces.' This outdoor living room is directly outside the family room, easily accessible and ready for lounging, eating and socializing whenever the need arises. 

The outdoor-indoor living space is what puts the whole of this home into perspective: it's both luxurious and down to earth, comfortable and smart. In fact, when we asked designer Jenn Feldman how she'd describe the home's style, she came up with even more descriptors, 'Modern Aged. Clean, classic, tailored, and layered, curated and collected'. All apply equally to this multi-faceted family home, for this is a success story on so many levels.  

Interior design: Jenn Feldman Designs
Photography: Amy Bartlam

This classic turn of the century house is located in the waterfront town of Greenwich, on Connecticut's exclusive Gold Coast, about an hour from New York City. The home's interiors showcase an English-inspired look, with references to classic London townhouse style. 

This relaxed yet carefully curated look puts this house among the world's best homes. The homeowner and creative behind its stylish looks is interior designer Analisse Taft-Gertsen, founder of ALT for Livingand co-founder with Kristin Fine, of The 1818 Collective. Analisse lives here with husband James Gertsen, who's a hospitality consultant.

'We wanted to create a space of both yin and yang so we used a lot of soft fabrics and textures, balancing them with black accents of hardware, stone and lacquered black paint,' says Analisse about their home.

Take the tour, as designer Analisse Taft-Gertsen picks out her favorite moments in the house. 

The couple moved in during the Covid 19 pandemic, and it became a true escape and sanctuary, and an absorbing distraction when normal life had ground to a halt. 'It was a big challenge to design  this project during the pandemic in under six months,' says Analisse. 'The house had amazing bones and history but needed a lot of work to suit our lifestyle and design aesthetics.'

Open-plan to the kitchen, this family dining space was one area that took a great deal of work to bring it into line. A bench seat makes itself at home between two cabinets, and the over-table lamp on a long arm is a particular high point in this space.

Explaining her interior design ideas, Analisse says: 'We have always dreamed of living in a townhouse in London, so we used this reference as our inspiration,' says Analisse. 'We opted for a lot of light fabrics and a light palette backdrop, but we accented it with very moody vignettes to add an ‘old world’ feel.'

Dining room ideas here in the dedicated dining room have a midcentury modern aesthetic, with the chairs, oval table and the classic retro palette of black and tan. The dining table is by Guillerme et Chambron, the chairs by Charlotte Perriand.

'The design focuses a lot on the millwork of the house, keeping in line with the original architecture,' explains Analisse. 'Soft cream cashmere sheer drapes and curtains everywhere allow warm light to filter throughout the house at all times of the day while still keeping our privacy.'

Kitchen ideas demonstrate Analisse's wish to keep within a limited palette. That simplicity of tone maximizes the plentiful natural light in the house, and makes it a relaxing space throughout. '

'We wanted the color palette to be light and with an airy feeling so we actually used very few colors throughout the whole house,' says Analisse. 'We used the same color, sheer drapes and the same paint tone everywhere so it had a more even flow as well as a design more focused on the architecture and the furnishings.'

Analisse considered her kitchen countertop ideas, eventually opting for a classic white veined quartz teamed with a simple white square tile backsplash. It's the stylish accessories that do the talking here, against the quiet backdrop, with statement glassware displayed in glazed wall cabinets, and curated collections in industrial-style shelving units in the dining nook.  

In the family living room, there's a sense of restraint and calm (and look how the couple's two dogs are enjoying it!). Living room ideas include a smart black coffee table, custom designed by Analisse Taft-Gertsen and Orange (Los Angeles). The Shadow Collection sofa was a collaboration between ALT For Living and Jouffre. The lamp is by Dumais Made from The 1818 Collective.

Occasional chairs with the classic English wingback shape hint at the London townhouse inspiration, but are given a modern East Coast twist with ivory and black upholstery. 

In the second living room it's a vintage Camaleonda sofa, the iconic Mario Bellini design for B&B Italia, that takes the limelight. That's not to say its room mates fade into the background however, since this is a beautifully balanced room where each element plays its part. Small living room ideas include artwork, coffee table, round rug, wall light and armchairs, all in strong designs with plenty to say for themselves. 

The home shares the proportions of a London townhouse, a tall linear space on several stories. Given that layout, it made sense to turn one of the attic spaces into an office. Anyone looking for home office ideas can't fail to be inspired by the smart monochromatic scheme, comprising the dark gray sectional, Berber-style area rug, and the room's standout pieces, a custom leather chair by Sean Anderson and desk by Brazilian designer Joaquim Tenreiro.

Bedroom ideas for the primary bedroom are neutral and clean lined. With the same pared-back palette of warm-white walls with touches of tan, unusual black artworks and blue armchairs add notes of contrast. The vintage chairs are by Marco Zanuso. 

More English style references can be seen in the bathroom ideas, where a period-style roll-top cast-iron tub is positioned under the window. 

Designer Analisse Taft-Gertsen describes how she fell in love with this home, but felt it needed a new ‘point of view’. She and her husband were excited about renovating it during the pandemic. 'We needed a change that felt good,' remembers Analisse.

And from our point of view the changes made to this historic 1900s home have indeed been good ones. It's an understated and welcoming space that takes English townhouse style, throws in some midcentury classics, then adds a twist of modern East Coast poise. A real recipe for success. 

Interior design: Analisse Taft-Gertsen at ALT for Living
Photography: Tim Lenz
Styling: Mieke ten Have 

There is personality and curiosity woven throughout Aiveen Daly’s airy, romantic home which she shares with her husband and two teenage daughters in northwest London. 

As an internationally renowned contemporary textile artist – whose intricately hand-cut, hand-painted, beaded, and ribboned works have become showstoppers for private homes, hotels, and luxury residential developments – it is no surprise that here, against a calm, cocooning backdrop, she has layered in subtle but striking details everywhere in the home.

‘Having something that’s totally unique and bespoke, that nobody else has, is much more luxurious than buying something off the rack,’ says Aiveen. ‘You can have quite a simple scheme of subtle colors and plain fabrics, but that magic of layering in hints of textured, tactile materials brings a whole other dimension to a space.’ Of course, it's expected that this house will be a lesson in decorating with patterns and layering textures and colors.

They bought the four-story Victorian terrace house eight years ago from an elderly couple who had lived there for 50 years but ‘had never done anything to it,’ Aiveen recalls. In their dotage, the previous owners had resorted to turning the ground floor living room into a makeshift flat while upstairs was left riven with empty bedsits.

A huge boiler sat in the middle of the kitchen, and ‘if you looked up, you could see all the way through every floor to the roof beams where huge bags of spices were being stored,’ she says. 

Everything original had been completely ripped out, so they started again, gutting, rewiring, replumbing, reinsulating, ‘before putting the bones back in,’ she says. They looked to their neighbor’s house for clues on period-appropriate cornicing and fireplaces and delightedly discovered that the original doors still existed, they had just been hidden behind boards of ply.

Once the house had been returned to good working order, Aiveen could then focus on decoration. She went through at least 50 paint samples to find just the right comforting tones of buttermilk and terracotta used for the kitchen color, and the seductive shades of milky beige and soft pink awash in the adjoining living and dining room.

Carved antique consoles and quirky art picked up on the roadside in Italy work alongside mid-century dining tables and armchairs; bold contemporary artworks complement famed fashion illustrations.

The mood is eclectic and intriguing. ‘I’ve collected everything over many years, from local antique shops to eBay and Facebook Marketplace. We’re the idiots always trying to squeeze the stuff we’ve bought at markets while on holiday into our hand luggage,’ she grins. ‘I find so much more joy in rummaging for unusual pieces, imagining what they might go within our home,’ Aiveen says.

‘Somehow it all gels together in a higgledy-piggledy way.’ The house’s warm embrace also reminds Aiveen of her childhood home in Cork. ‘My mum was a total magpie, just like I am now. It was all about comfort – big squishy sofas and creating somewhere to cosy up and block out the world,’ she reminisces.

‘It’s important to me that my home looks good, but everything can be messed up a little too, where you can plonk cups of tea on top of things and the kids and pets can lie all over the furniture. It can’t feel too precious.’

Textile designer Cathy Nordström has a plan. ‘I’m working on my fellow Swedes to encourage them to incorporate more color and pattern,’ she confesses to Jennifer Morgan. ‘I think it’s going well; we are getting there slowly.’ 

If they need a little inspiration, then a tour of the Stockholm home she shares with her husband and their three children should certainly fire the imagination. Like her brand, it’s not typically Swedish in style, although Cathy’s ethos is very much focused around Swedish production, with her wallpapers and fabrics designed, produced and hand-printed in her native country by local, skilled print masters and craftsmen.

‘We actually use very little fabric in our homes across Sweden and Scandinavia,’ says Cathy, ‘which is strange given that we like to be cozy.’ 

This ‘cozy’ is something Cathy has achieved in her own home, a 1925 four-bedroom property perched up on a hill. It was designed by Sven Markelius and built to be part of a community – ‘almost a mini society’ as Cathy explains, with a butcher in one house and a pharmacy in another. 

‘Ours was planned to be the local café/restaurant, although it was never used as such, and a family moved in.’ 

And it’s a good family house today, almost 100 years later. 

Cathy believes that a home should be ‘an eclectic mix of who lives there’, preferring to keeping people guessing as to where things are from in a scheme. 

‘I don’t really like it when I look around and think “this interior designer did this house” or “that’s the work of one interior designer”. A home needs to look like one, and not a showroom.’ 

In her own home, she ‘naturally’ has her own patterns, but not in abundance. ‘I have lots of designs from other fabric houses and designers that I love and admire too,’ she tells, as well as lots of online auction site finds. ‘I’m always encouraging my clients to mix things up, telling them not to buy eight cushions (although of course, that would be nice!), but to mix with what they have at home, finds from their travels or pieces inherited. A home should be personal.’

Cathy has also worked with other creatives to create her unique Swedish home, such as Australian Rebecca Pitt of Inuti Design, whom she turned to help renovate the kitchen (above). 

‘I wanted to create something that wasn’t your typical Swedish kitchen,’ says Cathy, ‘rather one that felt more international in its design. Rebecca brought in a totally different look, which was just amazing. We just clicked.’ 

While work went on with the kitchen, Cathy discovered the installation team comprised of one of the co-founders of furniture design studio Diaform, Philip Duniec, who collaborated with Cathy to produce her beautiful dining table (above), with its chunky green legs painted to echo her ceramics collection on the nearby shelves. 

The living room (above), which leads off the dining space, is Cathy’s favorite part of the house, ‘although I do love the banquette seating in the kitchen (just above), which is lovely and deep. I’m convinced one morning, in a few years’ time, I’ll come down to find one of the children’s friends sleeping here.’ 

The living room is very much a place to sit and relax or socialize with friends. Visitors ask how Cathy’s managed to make pattern mixing look so easy? 

‘I just know when something works and when it doesn’t,’ says Cathy, although she does admit to getting things wrong sometimes. ‘I’ll put something on the couch, back away and think “no”, then it’s back to the studio I go.’

Cathy has always loved textiles and pattern, training as a graphic designer. It was after the birth of her youngest, in 2014, that she had a ‘lightbulb moment’, when she discovered a year-long online course in pattern design. 

‘I juggled a baby, a four-year-old and a two-year-old – no idea how, but I did it,’ she confesses. Cathy then freelanced as a pattern designer for brands big and small – IKEA and Uniqlo included – before establishing Cathy Nordström in 2019. 

‘I wanted more control over the color, quality and use of my designs, and also started to look at Swedish production.’ 

When she started her brand, one ‘particularly dark November, with three hours of daylight a day’, she knew she wanted her palette to work with many other designs and brands, ‘with lots of greens, reds, blues and yellows’. 

It’s a palette that continues around her home, although luckily her family are on board with frequent changes. ‘There’s always a new wallpaper popping up in one of the kids’ bedrooms,’ Cathy laughs. ‘They are just used to it.’ 

And as Cathy Nordström continues to grow, having opened a showroom on Stockholm’s Karlavägen in 2022, perhaps her fellow Swedes will get more attuned to her pattern hits, love of layers and confident color choices. 

‘Every room gets better with textiles,’ she concludes, ‘I always feel I come home to a hug when I walk into a room that has pattern.’