The hardest thing to believe about this farmhouse isn't that it's in Texas – it's that it's brand new. Everything from the plaster walls and reclaimed oak beams to the worn limestone and antique-inspired details suggests a home that's been evolving for generations rather than one completed only recently. But that's exactly the illusion.

When Blair Burton Interiors was tasked with creating a timeless family homestead that blended the romance of a French farmhouse with the practicality of Texas ranch living, the goal was never to simply build a new house, 'but to create a timeless family homestead that felt as though it had always belonged,' says Blair. The result is a house that doesn't chase perfection, but embraces patina. As Blair puts it, 'Those imperfections give the home a soul.' And that's precisely what makes this house so convincing: although every beam, finish, and fixture may be new, it already feels wonderfully rich with history.

There's a subtle but important difference between designing a house to look old and designing one that will simply become more beautiful with age. Blair Burton wasn't interested in recreating a picture-perfect French farmhouse or relying on distressed finishes to manufacture a sense of history. Instead, the aim was to create a home that would earn its character over time. 'Every material was selected with patina and longevity in mind,' Blair explains. 'We chose unlacquered brass fixtures that age beautifully, leathered stone countertops, reclaimed wood elements, and flooring that reminded us of old European churches. We wanted the details to feel collected and appreciated over time.'

Nothing feels overly polished or precious. Instead, every surface invites touch, promising to soften, deepen, and gather memories alongside the family who lives here. After becoming empty nesters, the homeowners left Austin in search of a slower pace of life in the Texas Hill Country, fulfilling a long-held dream of living on a large stretch of land where ranch and family life could coexist. 'We wanted the home to feel rooted in its surroundings rather than placed on top of them,' Blair explains. 'The architecture, materials, and palette were all selected to complement the natural landscape, including limestone, native grasses, mature trees, and expansive views.'

That link to the outdoors extends far beyond the views. Blair describes 'an intentional connection between indoors and outdoors throughout the home, with natural materials, organic textures, and spaces designed for a slower, more relaxed way of living.' The boundaries between inside and out feel deliberately softened, whether through terraces that encourage long afternoons outside or rooms that seem to borrow their color palette directly from the countryside.

Unsurprisingly, the kitchen sits at the heart of it all. More than a showpiece, it's a hardworking space designed for everyday life, whether that's a quiet morning coffee or a house full of family and friends. 'The heart of the home is truly the main living space where the kitchen, dining, and gathering areas connect,' Blair says. 'It reflects the way the homeowners live: casually, comfortably, and always welcoming family and friends.'

While the home borrows plenty from French country design, there's nothing theatrical or overly rustic about its interpretation. Blair wasn't interested in recreating a postcard-perfect Provençal farmhouse, but in capturing the qualities that make those homes feel so enduring. 'French Country design brings a sense of history, craftsmanship, and romance, while the Texas Hill Country setting called for warmth, durability, and ease,' Blair explains. 'We incorporated elements like reclaimed beams, plaster walls, antique-inspired finishes, and classic silhouettes, but balanced them with comfortable furnishings, natural textures, and pieces meant to withstand real family living. The result feels elevated but never overly formal.'

That balance is perhaps most evident in the home's central living spaces, where timeless materials are softened by inviting upholstery, layered textiles, and collected antiques. Rather than feeling decorated, the interiors feel assembled over time – exactly as Blair intended. 'We were inspired by old French farmhouses – spaces that evolve naturally over generations and feel collected rather than decorated,' she says. 'Our goal was for every room to have a sense of history: antique pieces mixed with new, imperfect finishes, natural materials, and layers of texture that make the home feel warm and deeply personal.'

Arranged beneath reclaimed oak beams, the open-plan living, dining, and kitchen feels generous without ever becoming cavernous, thanks to thoughtful zoning, soft upholstery, and antique pieces that temper the scale of the architecture. 'It brings together family, connection, craftsmanship, comfort, and a strong relationship to the land,' says Blair. 'We think it feels elegant but approachable, which really does reflect the clients themselves.' Rather than treating each space as a separate room, Blair allowed them to unfold into one another, making entertaining feel effortless.

Like every room in the home, the farmhouse kitchen was designed to strike that balance between elegance and everyday. There's no shortage of beautiful details, from the reclaimed beams overhead and oversized lantern pendants to the veined marble kitchen countertops and unlacquered brass fittings, but none of them compete for attention. 'The kitchen was designed to be both hardworking and beautiful, with classic materials and details that feel timeless,' says Blair. White cabinetry keeps the palette light and understated, while the warm wooden kitchen island grounds the space and introduces another layer of natural texture.

One of the most personal spaces is the second-floor office, affectionately known as 'The Perch'. Positioned high above the property, it was designed so its owner, a ranch developer, could look out over the land and creek below. It's a thoughtful detail that perfectly captures the spirit of the project: a home where every view, material, and room exists to strengthen the relationship between the people who live here and the landscape beyond.

The reclaimed oak beams continue overhead in the primary bedroom, but here they're paired with a restrained scheme of warm whites, soft linens, and gentle earth tones that create an immediate sense of calm. 'The palette was intentionally quiet and organic, allowing the architecture and surrounding landscape to take center stage,' Blair explains. Comfortable seating invites slow mornings with a coffee and a view, while the generous steel-framed windows ensure the landscape remains as much a feature of the room as the interiors themselves.

In the primary bathroom, symmetry does much of the work, with twin oak bathroom vanities framing a freestanding bathtub perfectly positioned beneath a picture window overlooking the Hill Country beyond. The room manages to feel classically elegant, yet wonderfully unfussy. Honed marble wraps the walls and countertops, a small antique chair and rug introduce softness, and patinated fittings will continue to develop character with age. Rather than trying to be bold, each finish complements the next, creating a space that, much like the rest of the house, balances refinement with ease.

Every great homestead needs a barn, but few are asked to work quite as hard as this one. While it serves its purpose as a place to store equipment and support day-to-day ranch life, it also needed to 'serve as a natural extension of the home', doubling as one of the property's most inviting entertaining spaces. 'We wanted it to maintain its purpose and character while creating a comfortable place for everyday living,' Blair explains. 'The design embraces the contrast of hardworking materials and rustic architectural elements alongside thoughtful furnishings, lighting, and inviting details. It’s practical, but also captures the magical feeling of being out on the property.'

For Blair, the success of the project was never measured by how the home looked on move-in day, but by how it would continue to evolve over the years ahead. As finishes soften, materials weather, and family traditions take shape, the house will only become more inviting. After all, the aim was never simply to build a beautiful new home – it was to create one that felt as though it had always belonged there.

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Design: Blair Burton Interiors

Photographer: Julie Soefer

Stylist: Jessica Holtam

Architect: Sam Burch

General Contractor: Vick Pope

Landscape: Raiz Design

If there were ever a season to disappear into an adobe home in the high desert, it's summer. While everyone is chasing breezy beach houses, there's something undeniably appealing about retreating to sun-baked plaster walls and cool shaded rooms. Tucked into the mountains overlooking historic downtown Santa Fe, this Pueblo Revival home is the perfect escape – one that proves the best summer homes aren't always the lightest and brightest.

When French & French Interiors first stepped inside, however, the house wasn't quite living up to its setting. The condominium had all the hallmarks of classic Santa Fe architecture – curved adobe walls, hand-painted Spanish tiles, and timber vigas – but it felt dark, heavy, and decidedly ranch-like. Rather than trying to chase every last drop of natural light, founders Heather and Matt French chose a far more thoughtful approach. 'The setting was central to the entire design,' they explain. 'Rather than fighting that, we embraced it.' Now, earthy hues borrowed from the landscape are layered with botanical wallpapers, playful prints, antique finds, local art, and textiles that soften the home's rugged architecture – without losing its soul.

Built into the rocky mountainside, the home's crescent-shaped footprint follows the landscape, meaning many of the interiors are naturally tucked into the shade. While plenty of designers would see that as something to fix, French & French saw it as the home's greatest asset. 'Santa Fe has an otherworldly beauty – a mix of mountains and high desert, adobe forms, and a palette that feels baked out of the sun and earth,' Heather and Matt explain. 'This home is quite literally built into that landscape, and because it is shrouded by mountains, the interiors naturally feel darker and more enclosed.' Rather than fighting it, the designers leaned in. 'We embraced it,' they continue. 'We leaned into a moodier, cozier atmosphere that felt more cocoon-like and appropriate to the setting, then brought in patterns, fabrics, and colors that softened the heavier architectural elements.'

Built in the 1980s, the condominium is a beautiful example of Santa Fe's iconic Pueblo Revival style, with wonderfully irregular lines that give every room a soft, organic feel. 'One of the things that makes the home so special is that it already had such a strong sense of place,' they add. 'We wanted to honor that history while layering in new patterns and textures that would make the home truly sing.' The brief from the homeowners naturally reinforced that approach. Now used as a holiday retreat for a Texan family, the home needed to feel welcoming, relaxed, and designed for gathering rather than formal entertaining. Flexible layouts, cozy conversation areas, and spaces that could effortlessly adapt from movie nights to family dinners became just as important as the decorative details.

Once French & French had decided to embrace the home's cocooning feel, the next challenge was softening its weighty architecture without stripping away its character. 'The goal was to bring in elements that would soften and balance that heaviness,' they explain. Based in Santa Fe themselves, for Heather and Matt, that often means working alongside thick walls, flagstone floors, and rustic timber rather than competing with them. Their answer? Pattern – and plenty of it. Rather than relying on a single hero print, Heather and Matt layered graphic geometrics, whimsical botanicals, and richly textured fabrics throughout the home. 'We edited them carefully so the rooms could still speak to one another,' they explain. 'The home has a lot of personality, but it doesn’t feel chaotic because the tones, patterns, and materials are all connected by an earthy, soulful sensibility.'

The color scheme for the home follows a similarly thoughtful approach. Instead of the sandy beiges often associated with Southwestern interiors, French & French looked to the muddier, more nuanced colors of the desert. Olive greens, clay reds, weathered blues, warm browns, and soft ochres sit against baked plaster walls with pops of color that give the home a more distinct point of view. It’s a unique take on traditional Santa Fe style,' they explain. 'Because the home sits within the mountains and feels naturally dark inside, we didn’t try to artificially brighten it. Instead, we embraced richer, moodier tones and layered them with patterned fabrics and wallpapers. The result is cozy rather than heavy, and playful rather than overly serious.'

While the interiors are undeniably rooted in New Mexico, the duo was careful to avoid the ranch aesthetic so often associated with the local style, instead creating something softer and more layered, where craftsmanship, collected antiques, and locally sourced pieces feel just as important as color and pattern. 'I would describe the home as soulful, layered, cozy, and deeply rooted in Santa Fe,' they say. 'The architecture itself has such a strong voice... so the design needed to respond to that rather than impose something rigid onto it.'

That sense of place reveals itself in the smaller details. The original Spanish tiles were thoughtfully preserved throughout the bathrooms and guest kitchenette, while artwork from local galleries and an antique Navajo rug sourced in downtown Santa Fe help tie the home to its surroundings. 'They pay homage to the original character of the home... I love that we preserved them rather than replacing the counters,' they explain of the restored tile. 'They bring in a soulful charm and nod to Santa Fe interiors of decades past.' It's this thoughtful balance of old and new, rustic and refined, that gives the home its personality. 'The biggest throughline was soulfulness. We wanted the home to feel cozy, playful, and full of life, while still honoring its architecture and setting,' they add. 'We wanted the interiors to feel collected and intimate, with a balance of rustic materials, playful patterns, rich color, and softer decorative moments that brought warmth and life to the home.'

If there's one room that defines this home, it's this cozy snug tucked just off the living room. Equal parts reading nook, morning coffee spot, and reading retreat, it's the kind of space that immediately draws you in. 'The banco area really captures the spirit of the project,' they explain. 'It was the starting point for the entire design, and the Adam Calkin wallpaper set the tone for the rest of the home.' Rather than treating the alcove as something to brighten or open up, French & French leaned into its intimacy, wrapping the built-in seating in a richly atmospheric botanical wallpaper. 'It feels cozy, playful, soulful, and a little unexpected, which is exactly what we wanted the whole home to embody.'

The main kitchen is relatively bijoux in scale, but that's exactly its charm. Rather than filling every inch with cabinetry, French & French kept the room feeling open and airy with simple open shelving, allowing more of the home's softly plastered walls to remain on show. 'Upon entering the home, the first area you encounter is the kitchen. It’s modest in size, with open shelving that allows more of the light plaster walls to show through, bringing a sense of brightness and ease to the room,' they explain. 'Off the kitchen is a bold dining area featuring built-in shelving with a wallpapered back wall, used as a bar moment for entertaining and displaying glassware.' The house also features a second kitchen in the adjoining guest suite – more of a charming kitchenette than a full cooking space, but every bit as charismatic. Here, painted blue cabinetry sits alongside the home's original hand-painted tiles.

The bedrooms strike a slightly different note. In the primary suite upstairs, they dialled the palette back just enough to create a more restful retreat. Timber vigas, softly plastered walls, and a traditional fireplace remain, but floral textiles, muted blues, and warm terracotta tones lend the room a quieter elegance. 'The palette in the primary bedroom feels softer in contrast to the moodier colorways throughout the rest of the home,' they explain. The downstairs guest suite was designed with flexibility firmly in mind, created to work just as well for visiting couples as it did for individual guests. The solution was an oversized custom-upholstered headboard spanning two twin beds, allowing them to remain separate or be pushed together to form a king guest bedroom when needed.

The upstairs guest room leans confidently into the richer scale of the palette. Here, earthy plaster walls and rustic timber beams provide the perfect backdrop for deep greens, warm reds, and layered florals, proving that bold decorating can still feel wonderfully restful when it's grounded with natural materials. Boasting a 'dramatic black-painted kiva fireplace' as the room's focal point, French & French designed a second built-in banquette dressed in graphic textiles to create a cozy reading nook tucked into the wonky walls. The perfect spot to escape the midday heat.

Like the rest of the house, the bathrooms resist the temptation to feel overly polished. The original hand-painted Spanish tiles remained intact, and rather than replacing them in pursuit of a cleaner, more contemporary finish, Heather and Matt made them part of the story. 'You see tiles like these throughout Santa Fe, and I love that we preserved them rather than replacing the counters,' they add. Painted bathroom vanity cabinets introduce fresh hits of color without overwhelming the patterned tiles, while floral textiles, vintage mirrors, and seasonal branches soften the rooms in a way most practical spaces fail to achieve. In the guest bathroom, a mirror positioned in front of the window allows natural light to bounce around the petite space.

Stepping outside, it's easy to see why they resisted the urge to dramatically reinvent the home. With its curved adobe walls, weathered beams, and earthy tone, the building itself feels as though it has grown from the surrounding landscape. The outdoor seating areas continue that conversation rather than interrupting it, layering woven furniture with joyful cushions. 'Botanicals became an important motif, beginning with the wallpaper in the banco area and continuing in softer ways throughout,' they explain. 'That consistent approach to color and pattern helped soften the architecture while creating continuity throughout the house.' It's a subtle thread, but one that ties every space together.

Perhaps that's what makes this home feel so memorable. It never tries to outshine its setting or compete with the dramatic beauty of New Mexico. Instead, every room, every textile, and every carefully preserved detail works in harmony with it, embracing the changing desert light, the cool shade cast by the mountains, and the rich craftsmanship of the Pueblo Revival architecture.

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At first glance, this 1887 Victorian carriage house in New Jersey looks every bit the historic outbuilding. But behind its timeworn façade lies an entirely different world: a sun-soaked pool house where brutalist concrete sits happily alongside disappearing walls of glass and reclaimed terracotta, and every room opens effortlessly onto the landscape. If there were ever a building that deserved a second act, it's this one.

Part of a wider renovation of a historic estate in Montclair, designer Michael Aiduss worked alongside Oasis Architecture to carefully weave a contemporary addition into the existing structure, allowing old and new to exist in harmony. Hidden in the hillside is a now resort-style escape inspired by the easy glamour of 'Palm Springs meets the South of France,' – the sort of place, as Michael puts it, where you're 'ready to kick off your shoes and grab a gin and tonic.'

Long before it became a destination for languid afternoons by the pool, this building served a far more practical role within the estate. Nestled into the steeply terraced gardens below the main residence, the historic carriage house remained full of character, but it no longer suited the way its owners wanted to live. With an existing swimming pool sitting disconnected at the top of the garden and nowhere to relax before or after a swim, the brief wasn't simply to restore the carriage house, but to reimagine it entirely. 'The owners were very committed to design and wanted to keep the bones and history of the carriage house while creating a modern retreat tucked into the landscape,' he explains.

Rather than allowing the contemporary addition to overpower the Victorian building, every decision was made with restraint, from preserving the original scale and proportions to using a slim glass connection that bridges old and new. 'Part of the success of the joining of the building is that the carriage house is built into the side of the mountain and disguises the integration of postmodern design,' says Michael. 'One of the most important things with this project is the simplicity of the palette and materials, knowing that the upper addition to the carriage house would be sharply modern in comparison to the original.'

That thoughtful balance extends beyond the architecture to the atmosphere itself. Michael describes the aesthetic as 'Palm Springs meets South of France in the 1950s' – a vision that combines the optimism of California with the warmth and romance of European living. 'Naturally, the project is in the States; however, it was hard to resist capturing the "joi de vivre" of summertime living,' he adds. It's evident everywhere, from reclaimed French terracotta and rough plaster to expanses of glass that dissolve into the surroundings. Yet for all its contemporary interventions, the project never feels as though it has been imposed on the original building.

You first arrive in the original garden room, where on a clear day, you can look out towards the New York skyline. 'I selected a reclaimed terracotta stone from France, laid with a more modern format, and the walls are rendered in a rough plaster which carries through both the historical and modern spaces connecting them in a seamless way,' Michael explains. 'It was necessary to use materials that could withstand time.' From there, the architecture begins to unfold. A slim expanse of glass subtly separates the original structure from its modern counterpart, creating a deliberate pause, while at the heart of the transitional space is the sculptural cast concrete and bronze staircase, designed to appear as if it is floating.

The lower level feels intimate, but as you ascend, daylight begins to flood in, materials become lighter, and the architecture unfolds towards the pool terrace, where floor-to-ceiling accordion doors dissolve the boundaries between inside and out. Michael describes the experience as stepping into 'a different time period, ready to kick off your shoes and grab a gin and tonic.' For all its architectural ambition, this is ultimately a space designed to be lived in with the doors wide open.

'The kitchen area is surrounded by floor-to-ceiling doors and windows that glide open to fully reveal the covered dining and sitting area of the pool terrace, making them feel as if they are one space,' says Michael. Beyond the kitchen, an outdoor cooking area doubles the entertaining opportunities, while a ten-foot dining table sits beneath a curved canopy overlooking the pool. Across the water, a pergola and fireplace create a quieter corner for long evenings, while the surrounding terraces, reimagined by landscape designer Susan Cohan, soften the architecture with a distinctly Californian spirit. It's this constant dialogue between architecture and landscape that gives the pool house its unmistakable sense of escape.

The open-plan kitchen is perhaps the clearest expression of the home's easy-going approach to summer living. Restrained rather than showy, its palette of warm oak cabinetry, softly veined stone and sculptural lighting feels quietly luxurious, allowing the landscape beyond to do much of the talking. At its centre, a monolithic stone island anchors the room, while open shelving and tactile natural materials keep the space feeling relaxed rather than overly polished. 'Altogether, these warm earth tones and materials captivate the senses and create a sense of calm,' Michael adds.

'The focus was to create a casual, easy-going atmosphere that encourages outdoor living and entertaining,' says Michael, and nowhere is that more apparent than in the living room. Deep, inviting sofas are arranged around an oversized coffee table and even larger screen 'for afternoon viewings', while carefully chosen vintage furnishings add character without competing with the clever architectural details, like the custom glass corners embedded with linen and the white oak ribbing that stretches behind the screen and over the ceiling. 'Although the second level is nestled into the mountainside, a ridgeline skylight was added to bring in as much light as possible in the center of the building,' he adds.

While the lower level is designed to spill outdoors, the loft embraces a cozier atmosphere. Tucked beneath the pitched roof and framed by the building's original arched windows, the former games room now offers a distinctly different mood to the open-plan spaces below. 'The walls are coated in a deep shade of terracotta plaster reminiscent of the antique floors on the ground floor, giving the impression of a warm sunny afternoon at any time of day,' Michael explains of the space, which is now used as a cossetting den for lounging, reading, and napping.

Running through the modern upper level, a glazed, greenhouse-inspired skylight washes the pool house in daylight. More than simply connecting the rooms, the light-filled, elongated gallery becomes a destination in itself, creating a gentle rhythm between the historic carriage house and the contemporary addition. That same design language continues into the bathroom, where the pitched skylight transforms what could have been a compact space into one that feels unexpectedly expansive. 'A full bath has been lined with soft ivory matte tile in combination with modular panels of concrete and travertine,' explains Michael. 'The materiality of the bathroom has been reinforced by utilizing natural materials that are synonymous with the rest of the design of the house.'

Rather than reading as a bold architectural statement, the entry demonstrates an exercise in balance, pairing the rawness of cast concrete with the warmth of terracotta tiles underfoot and softly plastered walls beyond. 'It was important to use materials that would translate in a synonymous way,' Michael explains. 'I was excited to combine brutalist concrete together with reclaimed 18th-century terracotta. The staircase floats in a brutalist way but also feels light and airy,' he adds.

Every detail was designed with entertainment in mind. From the entry, the greenhouse also provides ample space for wintering seasonal plants as well as dining. 'The clients can experience intimate dinners as well as various seating areas to facilitate multi-season use of this special space,' Michael adds. 'Anything from a long, narrow candle-lit dinner table, to ping-pong.' Meanwhile, the outdoor space was, of course, designed around the pool, but also boasts a large outdoor kitchen, a sitting area that 'affords a perfect city view that glistens a fiery orange color during afternoon sunsets', and a curved canopy held up by a Y-shaped brutalist column. 'Opposite the dining area, across the pool, is a pergola for shading the afternoon sun or intimate evenings by the fire,' he adds.

In many ways, this project is about far more than a beautifully designed pool house. It's a lesson in how thoughtful architecture can breathe new life into historic buildings without asking them to sacrifice their story. By balancing the carriage house's Victorian bones with a contemporary intervention, Michael has created a retreat that is both deeply rooted in its setting and wonderfully transportive.

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Malibu may be synonymous with the California dream, but for one creative couple, paradise looks a little different. Trading ocean views for privacy in Los Angeles' leafy Tarzana neighborhood, they set out to build a forever family home that felt less like a beach house and more like a European hotel – one where craftsmanship, natural materials, and quiet moments took precedence over passing trends.

Designed and built from the ground up by developers and interior designers Lidan Sfadia and Edward Grigoryan, every inch of this sprawling, 7,300-square-foot one-story house was shaped with slowing down in mind. Arranged around a central courtyard, the six-bedroom property balances soaring ceilings and windows with a remarkably intimate atmosphere. 'We wanted to create a calm and relaxing environment but with wow moments created by scale,' the pair explain. 'The house feels very livable even at such a large size – that was always a part of the goal.'

Trading ocean views for something quieter, the clients moved inland with a clear vision: to create a forever home where family life could unfold at a gentler pace. As a full-time residence shared with their two children and three dogs, the brief wasn't simply to build somewhere beautiful, but somewhere that felt restorative every single day. 'It is a resort-like home that brings a sense of peace and serenity,' explain Lidan Sfadia and Edward Grigoryan, who designed and built the house together from the ground up. But unlike a boutique hotel, where grandeur often comes at the expense of comfort, every decision here was made with livability in mind. The home's generous proportions certainly make an impression – 12-foot ceilings and 10-foot-tall steel-framed windows will do that – yet nothing feels cavernous or untouchable.

From the earliest sketches, Lidan and Edward knew they wanted to build around a generous central courtyard, allowing every major space to enjoy a connection to light, landscape, and fresh air. Arranged in a U-shape, the home's layout features a wing dedicated to gathering, housing the kitchen, dining room, family room, and theater, while the other provides a more peaceful retreat for the family's bedrooms. 'The idea from day one was to have a massive courtyard in the center, so we created a 35-foot bridge right at the entrance,' Lidan explains. 'Greeted by French iron doors, tumbled stone floors, Belgian linen drapery, this is the perfect blend of timeless European influence and contemporary craftsmanship,' he adds.

Although firmly rooted in California, the home's aesthetic was borrowed from much further afield. Rather than looking to coastal decor, Lidan and Edward found themselves inspired by memories of their travels through Europe to create the home's organic modern style. 'Travelling around the world, specifically throughout Europe, and seeing how well timeless materials and architecture hold up and look better and better over time inspired me for this project,' Edward explains.

Its warm plaster walls, tumbled limestone, loose linens, aged brass, and imported olive trees were all chosen with longevity in mind – materials with 'traditional European influence' that will only grow more beautiful with time, resulting in a home that is impressive enough to stop you in your tracks, yet comfortable enough to kick your shoes off and stay awhile. That influence is felt long before you step inside. Limestone walls softened by climbing vines nod to the villas of Tuscany, while four mature olive trees imported from Napa and rosemary planted around the property's perimeter evoke Mediterranean landscapes, filling the garden with both texture and fragrance. Inside, the same philosophy continues thanks to rough-edged limestone flooring, hand-applied greige plaster walls, elegant iron-framed doors and windows, and linen drapery that gently diffuses the Californian light. Even the more decorative details, from brass-clad shower screens to handmade Moroccan clay tiles, were chosen for their ability to patinate beautifully.

The family room is where the house relaxes into itself. The fireplace may provide the architectural anchor, but it's hard not to be distracted by what's beyond it. Framed by floor-to-ceiling glazing, the garden almost feels like another room, blurring the line between indoors and out while filling the space with soft, shifting light. Two oversized linen sofas invite long afternoons of lounging, while sculptural plaster, warm oak shelving, exposed timber beams and a bold abstract artwork create a cocooning and welcoming atmosphere.

The kitchen doesn't shout for attention, but that's precisely its charm. Floor-to-ceiling oak cabinetry keeps everything feeling calm and understated, allowing the mix of natural materials to do the talking. A striking marble backsplash sits behind a vintage-style range cooker, while the dark, moody island introduces just enough contrast to the neutral palette. 'We used neutral colors that are easy on the eye but with some pops like the green leathered soapstone,' the duo explains. Beyond its dramatic veining, the stone – aptly named 'Bonsai' – was chosen as a nod to the ancient bonsai olive tree planted in the home's central atrium just beyond the kitchen. 'It was a full-circle moment,' they add.

After the light-filled airiness of the main spaces, the theater offers a complete change of mood. Wrapped in rich olive green limewash from floor to ceiling, it's one of the moodiest spaces in the home – proving that decorating with restraint doesn't always have to equal neutrals. Beamed ceilings add depth overhead, while soft boucle stools, a generous linen sofa and layers of natural materials prevent the room from ever feeling heavy. The result is somewhere equally suited to movie marathons or simply escaping with a good book.

The primary bedroom is where Lidan and Edward stripped things back even further. Garden views take center stage again, framed by walls of glazing that blur the boundary between inside and out. Rather than competing with the scenery, the interiors retreat into layers of linen, warm oak and textured plaster, allowing the outside to do most of the decorating. A grand fireplace lends the room a sense of occasion, while a pair of slipcovered armchairs creates the perfect spot for a morning coffee before the rest of the house wakes.

The bathroom continues the home's quiet luxury approach. The freestanding tub naturally draws the eye, but the real luxury lies beyond it, where the space boasts a private garden terrace. Inside, warm oak cabinetry, creamy stone, unlacquered brass and an oversized walk-in shower create a palette that's rich in texture rather than color, while floor-to-ceiling glazing ensures the landscape remains part of the scheme. 'We used limestone and travertine in the secondary bathrooms with Moroccan hand-glazed clay tile in the master shower,' they add of the material palette.

Elsewhere on the property, a guest bedroom continues the home's organic modern aesthetic. A woven headboard, linen bedding and warm timber accents keep the space feeling calm and understated, while floor-to-ceiling glazing opens onto a private courtyard garden that acts as the backdrop to this serene room.

The sprawling backyard is divided into a series of distinct outdoor rooms that flow effortlessly into one another. A sleek rectangular pool forms the focal point, framed by billowing ornamental grasses, olive trees and Mediterranean planting, while lounging, dining and entertaining spaces are carefully positioned to make the most of the home's U-shaped layout. Crisp white stucco walls and simple gabled rooflines provide a quiet architectural backdrop, while the landscape softens every edge.

'There are so many special features that make this place unique: an ancient bonsai olive tree craned into the center of the home, a double kitchen, imported designer lighting, massive glass sliders that bring in the most beautiful light all day long,' says Lidan. 'I'm in disbelief of what we've completed,' adds Edward.

The homeowners may have left Malibu behind, but they didn't leave California's indoor-outdoor lifestyle with it. Instead, they swapped beach house tropes for European-style craftsmanship, timeworn materials and spaces designed around slowing down, to create a distinctly West Coast home reimagined through a Mediterranean lens. It's proof that organic modern doesn't have to be pale, pristine, or predictable.

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'At night, you can sit outside and hear the frogs – the area is very quiet,’ says Tanya Saban, co-founder of Broad Project, the studio behind this home in Nichols Canyon, Los Angeles. Shrouded by such evocatively California trees as avocado, lemon, olive, and eucalyptus, the house was designed not with a client in mind, but for the designers to flex their decor muscles, work together for the first time, and see what they could create, a calling card in the biggest and boldest of ways.

'The neighborhood feels like a reprieve from the noise and madness of LA, and that sense of sanctuary, of retreat from the city, is what we wanted to fill this project with,' Tanya adds.

And so a peacefully pared-back aesthetic was developed, a melding of creative minds from different backgrounds, fusing architecture from collaborator Sarah Luhtala with Broad Project's decor know-how to create this stucco-fronted home with its sweeping arches, its blend of old and new, and its surprising number of totally blank walls.

'We leaned into the idea of having empty space, because there is a sense of sanctuary in the idea of simplicity,' says studio co-founder Lucie Klimes. 'Instead, we honed in on the details we loved and made sure not to over-clutter them, to allow space and air for them to be appreciated.'

But this isn't your classic minimalist mansion, and there is plenty to delight the eye as it travels around the three levels, with its four bedrooms sandwiching the living area on the middle, ground-level floor. There are Rose Uniacke fabrics, vintage dining chairs by Tobia and Afra Scarpa, and lights by Michael Anastassiades and Charlotte Perriand. Around these carefully curated pieces, you'll find a backdrop of Roman Clay walls, often left unadorned, their texture enough to enhance the design elements within.

'We wanted it all to feel yummy,' says Lucie. 'We wanted your feet to want to touch the hand-tumbled oak flooring, for the hand-poured terracotta tiles to be really inviting.'

'Yes, and everything had to be wonderful to sit at, or even on,' Tanya adds. 'We pictured the owners opening the window, having a glass of wine, sitting actually on the island, talking to their friends.'

Every detail in the house was chosen with this relaxed and gently hedonistic sense in mind. 'If design doesn't make you feel poetic in some way, then it hasn't done its job,' Lucie says.

As the project developed, so did Broad Project's viewpoint, and it's through the ideas on display here that the designers were able to piece together their shared sense of style.

'We love to mix the old and new, to have vintage pieces aging gracefully and lending character and soul to more contemporary things,' Lucie says.

'We want to exercise restraint,' says Sarah Luhtala, the architectural collaborator who intends to work with Lucie and Tanya again.

'Take the bathrooms, for example. You can fill them with marble very easily, but with too many gleaming surfaces, they can quickly become cold. When you pull back a little and only have it on the one wall behind the bathtub, it becomes merely an accent; the plaster seems to shine more, the window somehow feels like it lets in more light. The simplicity allows the room to sing.'

'And we want to create a home that has the perfect canvas,' Tanya says. 'Where you have space and time to add pieces gradually that you've collected on your travels, where the blank walls are works of art in their own right, ready for you to add an actual artwork whenever you happen to find the perfect piece. We want our work to be visual palette cleansers as much as they are spaces to live in.'

Nowhere is this more evident than in the kitchen, which Sarah says 'set the precedent and tone for the whole house.' 'We refused to put upper cabinets because they'd have sacrificed the light from the arched windows and instead chose materials like rustic woods that are the design equivalent of asking your shoulders to drop, of ensuring that you feel relaxed.'

It's a prime example of the studio's interpretation of what peaceful design looks like: a paring back not necessarily of color or texture, nor even of objects, but of ideas, allowing the best and most visually enticing ones to shine.

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Move over Scandi minimalism – there's a new aesthetic on the horizon. This cosseting summer house on Sweden's southern coast swaps stark white walls and sparse styling for antiques, floral fabrics, sisal rugs, and rooms that feel beautifully collected. It's warm, welcoming, and layered – more the charm of a Nantucket summer house than the pared-back Scandinavian beach homes we've come to expect.

Designed by Studio Ramson, the house sits among the dunes of Falsterbo – often dubbed the Swedish Riviera – where the brief was to create a home that felt 'colorful but soothing'. With an American homeowner, the designers intentionally looked to East Coast interiors for inspiration, without leaning into the usual coastal clichés, before softening the scheme with local craftsmanship, soft coastal light, and a palette inspired by the surrounding landscape.

Originally built in 1987 as two separate homes, the property has since been completely reimagined into one seamless family retreat. Today, generous shared spaces, a statement blue-tiled fireplace, and interiors designed to feel 'collected over time rather than newly furnished' make it a home that's just as inviting in the depths of winter as it is during long Swedish summers. 'We wanted the house to feel connected to its coastal setting without becoming overly nautical or seasonal,' founders Ika Ramel and Sanna Nathanson explain. 'Instead, the aim was to create a home that feels warm, timeless, and welcoming throughout the year.' That ideal runs through every room, where sandy neutrals, buttery yellows, soft blues, and rich toffee tones echo the surrounding coastline.

Just as important was creating a home that felt as though it had evolved naturally over time. 'The family wanted the house to feel collected over time rather than newly furnished,' explains Ika and Sanna, who filled the rooms with antiques, vintage furniture, artwork, and layered textiles instead of decorating everything at once. Rather than chasing the pared-back perfection Scandi homes have become known for, the designers leaned into warmth, personality, and interiors that feel lived in from the moment you step through the door.

Scandinavian design and American 'Eastcoastal' style don't often share the same sentence, but this home makes a compelling case for bringing the two together. It has the easy elegance of a Nantucket summer house, yet every space remains unmistakably Nordic – light-filled and understated. 'Since the husband is American, there were certain references to American East Coast interiors that felt important, such as the paneled dining room and sisal carpets,' they explain. 'Those influences were then combined with Scandinavian materials, colors, and light to create something that feels personal rather than themed.'

That balance is what sets the home apart. Instead of the crispness of classic Hamptons interiors or the pared-back perfection often associated with Scandi homes, these rooms feel softer and more relaxed. Vintage furniture sits comfortably alongside contemporary pieces, floral textiles soften clean lines, pleated lampshades and well-stocked bookshelves bring warmth, while thoughtful details – from the checkerboard pantry to a bright blue fireplace – create the sense of a home that's well-loved. The ambition was to create a home that feels 'timeless, playful and slightly international' – 'Rather than creating a traditional coastal home, we wanted something that felt layered, relaxed and able to age beautifully over time.'

As effortless as the finished home feels, the transformation was anything but straightforward. Built in 1987, the property originally existed as two separate houses, complete with two kitchens, two laundry rooms, and duplicated living spaces that made little sense for modern family life. 'Everything else was redesigned to better suit the family’s way of living and to create a completely new flow throughout the house,' they explain. In fact, very little of the original house survived. 'One of the biggest challenges was completely rethinking the layout and transforming it into one cohesive family home. Because it had originally been divided into two residences, it meant rethinking almost every part of the floor plan,' they add.

One of the most transformative changes was relocating the staircase and removing part of the upper floor to create the soaring double-height entryway the homeowners had always dreamed of. Flooded with natural light, it immediately sets the tone for the calm, airy interiors beyond. That newfound openness continues throughout the ground floor, where the kitchen, dining room, living room, and snug flow seamlessly into one another. Rather than relying on a single open-plan floor, Studio Ramson created a series of connected spaces that encourage different ways of living – somewhere to cook, read, entertain, or simply rest. As Ika and Sanna explain, the aim was to create 'several different places to spend time together'. 'Although the house is relatively compact, these carefully planned zones make it feel much more generous than its footprint suggests,' they add.

At the heart of the home, the kitchen was 'intentionally designed to feel calm and understated'. Simple cabinetry in warm sandy tones creates a serene backdrop for everyday life. 'To introduce a more playful element, we designed an open pantry featuring light blue and toffee-colored checkerboard tiles,' they add. 'Adjacent to the kitchen is the dining room, where the American East Coast influence becomes more apparent through the paneled walls. The dining room, living room, and TV room form one large open-plan space, subtly divided by partial walls that define different zones without interrupting the flow of light.'

The smallest spaces are where Studio Ramson had the most fun. Tucked just off the kitchen, the checkerboard walk-in pantry turns everyday storage into a design moment while open oak shelving keeps everything within easy reach, and neatly stacked cookbooks, ceramics, and glassware add to the home's relaxed, lived-in feel. It's practical, playful, and proof that hardworking spaces deserve just as much personality as the rooms guests often see. That same philosophy continues into the powder room, where an intricate wallpaper transforms a tiny space into something far more memorable. Rather than treating these areas as afterthoughts, they approached them as opportunities to introduce pattern, color, and a little surprise.

The blue-tiled fireplace forms the heart of the living room, 'which quickly became the focal point of the entire house,' they add. 'During the colder months, it creates warmth and coziness, while in summer its fresh color feels equally at home,' says Ika and Sanna. Avoiding anything overtly beachy, the duo still managed to reflect the blues of the sea just beyond the dunes. 'Brighter accents are introduced through artwork, furniture and accessories, adding personality without disturbing the overall sense of calm,' they continue. Open bookshelves are filled with well-read novels, collected ceramics, and treasured objects, while ruffle pillows, relaxed upholstery, antique wooden pieces, and fresh flowers soften the neutral walls. It's these thoughtful layers that give the house its charm.

While the ground floor takes its cues from the sandy landscape outside, the bedrooms introduce a more playful palette. 'Upstairs, the colors become slightly richer and more personal, with soft yellow walls, a powder pink master bedroom, and a green built-in bookcase in the library,' they explain. 'Each room has its own identity while remaining connected through the overall palette.' In the primary bedroom, blush pink walls create a soft backdrop alongside crisp white linen, pale timber flooring and generous rooflights that temper the joyful hues, allowing the rooms to remain light-filled and restful despite the layered pattern and color.

'The upper floor is reserved for quieter moments, accommodating the bedrooms, a home office, library, and a bathroom with sauna,' they continue. 'It offers a more private retreat while maintaining the same calm and inviting atmosphere found throughout the house.' The library perfectly captures that idea. A striking green-backed bookcase injects one of the boldest colors in the home, while a mix of vintage furniture, contemporary lighting, and shelves lined with well-loved books gives the space a distinctly relaxed feel. Equally, that sense of soothing simplicity continues into the bathroom, where pared-back cabinetry, woven baskets, and natural materials allow texture to take centre stage.

While each bedroom has its own personality, they all speak the same design language. Here, soft butter yellow walls create a warm, sunlit backdrop, complemented by a green linen bed skirt and a delicate floral upholstered headboard. 'The changing coastal light was something we considered throughout the project,' says Ika and Sanna of the color scheme for the whole home. 'The materials and colors were chosen to respond beautifully to the shifting daylight, allowing the interiors to subtly change in character from morning to evening and throughout the seasons,' they add.

It's perhaps no surprise that a house so deeply rooted in its surroundings feels impossible to separate from them. Beyond the garden lie Falsterbo's windswept dunes, long stretches of white sand, and the soft coastal light that first shaped Studio Ramson's vision. 'From the very beginning, the clients knew exactly how they wanted the house to feel,' they explain. 'A fireplace and a sauna were absolute must-haves, as they wanted the home to be a place for relaxation in every season. They also described the atmosphere they were looking for as “colorful but soothing” – a home with personality and warmth, while still feeling calm and restorative.'

If Scandinavian minimalism has long defined the Swedish aesthetic, this home makes a compelling case for something softer. Layered instead of sparse, collected rather than curated, and quietly colorful instead of all white, Nordic Nantucket feels like a natural evolution of coastal decorating.

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Some of the best renovations are undetectable. At first glance, this Upper East Side apartment looks as though it's always been this elegant – from the mural-wrapped dining room and patinated antiques to the layered rooms that feel as if they've evolved over generations. But appearances can be deceiving.

When architect Elizabeth Graziolo of Yellow House Architects was commissioned to work alongside interior designer Annabelle Moehlmann to transform her own pre-war house after a move from the West Coast to New York, the ambition wasn't to erase its history. Rather than chasing contemporary trends, the pair focused on something less obvious. Instead, as Elizabeth explains, 'we wanted the home to feel lighter, more connected, and more intuitive'. Behind the scenes, rooms flow more naturally, entertaining spaces sit comfortably alongside family life, and, in Elizabeth's words, 'the architecture works quietly in the background.'

There's a reason Upper East Side apartments are so coveted. Behind their handsome façades lie soaring ceilings, beautifully proportioned rooms, intricate moldings, and the kind of architecture that simply can't be replicated. But for all their elegance, they were designed for a very different era.

'While it possessed many beautiful qualities, the layout felt more formal and compartmentalized than the way families tend to live today,' Elizabeth explains. 'From the outset, I saw the potential to create a home that felt lighter, more connected, and more intuitive, while still respecting the architectural language and history of the building.'

Rather than stripping away those traditional bones, Elizabeth's vision was to soften them. The design, she says, 'embraces traditional proportions and detailing but interprets them in a way that feels lighter, warmer, and more relaxed.' It's a balancing act that's easier said than done – open up too much, and you risk losing the intimacy and grandeur that make these homes so special. Preserve too much, and they can feel frozen in time. 'The goal was never to recreate a period interior,' Elizabeth says. Instead, the aim was to create a home that respected its history but also where children could spill into family spaces, friends could gather, and everyday life could unfold against a 'welcoming rather than overly formal' backdrop.

Together, Elizabeth and Annabelle – the latter of whom had recently relocated from the West Coast and took the lead on the interiors – sought to bridge two different design languages: the sophistication of New York's Upper East Side and the easy, informal spirit often associated with West Coast living. 'There was a strong shared commitment from the beginning to creating a home that felt highly personal and deeply livable,' says Elizabeth. 'My role was to develop the architectural framework that would support those aspirations.'

The beauty of Elizabeth's renovation is that much of its prowess isn't immediately visible. There's no dramatic double-height extension or large, contemporary openings. Instead, the biggest transformation lies in how you move through the home. 'The project involved a comprehensive rethinking of circulation and spatial relationships across all 13 rooms,' Elizabeth explains.

'One of the most significant interventions was opening the kitchen into a light-filled breakfast room, creating a more social and functional center of the home,' she continues. 'We also introduced a dedicated family room that now serves as the heart of daily life. The library was relocated to engage more naturally with the living room and dining space, and the primary suite was transformed into a true retreat with a seating area and fireplace. Collectively, these changes improved flow, encouraged connection, and made the home feel much more aligned with contemporary living.'

If Elizabeth's architecture provides the structure, it's Annabelle's interiors that bring the apartment to life. She wasn't interested in recreating the formality often associated with grand Manhattan apartments. Instead, she embraced a softer, more layered approach. Elizabeth describes the overall aesthetic as 'timeless and refined, balancing classical architecture with contemporary living.' Hand-painted murals wrap both the dining room and bathroom in charm, antiques sit comfortably alongside contemporary lighting, while thoughtfully chosen fabrics, art, and collected objects soften the home's classical architecture rather than competing with it.

'The overall atmosphere is one of warmth, sophistication, and restraint,' Elizabeth continues. 'Architectural elements such as fluted wall treatments, parchment paneling, and custom millwork introduce texture and depth rather than relying on bold gestures. The emphasis is on craftsmanship, materiality, and subtle layering, creating a home that feels timeless rather than trend-driven,' she adds.

In a quieter foil to the pattern-drenched dining room, adjacent to the kitchen sits the family room, which 'serves as the home’s central hub and represents one of the most important additions to the layout,' Elizabeth explains. Framed by generous windows, the space trades drama for comfort, where a conversational-ready layout, antique accents, and inviting upholstery create a room designed to be lived in rather than simply admired.

Upstairs, the atmosphere is noticeably more serene. The primary bedroom was 'completely reimagined as a private retreat,' Elizabeth says of the restful palette, where sage green upholstery, antique accents, and layered textiles create a sense of upscale relaxation. 'A seating area and fireplace create warmth and intimacy, while the dressing room incorporates custom millwork with glazed doors and French wire mesh,' she adds of the adjoining dressing room.

The sense of escapism continues into the primary bathroom, where a hand-painted mural transforms the room with a tranquil landscape of swaying palms and follies. Rather than competing with the striking Arabescato marble vanity and freestanding bathtub, the artwork softens the space, lending it the atmosphere of a boutique hotel rather than a traditional en suite.

Like the rest of the apartment, the nursery strikes a careful balance between elegance and ease. Botanical wallpaper wraps the room in a gentle pattern, while pale green trim, woven rattan furniture, and soft textiles create a space that feels playful and whimsical. It's a room designed to grow alongside its young occupant, but rather than relying on bright colors or novelty motifs, Annabelle layered natural materials, vintage pieces, and timeless prints to create a nursery with the same collected character found throughout the home.

Patterned wallpapers, painted millwork, and antique-inspired furniture continue into this children's bedroom, connected to the nursery via a Jack-and-Jill bathroom. A carved four-poster bed becomes the focal point of the bedroom, layered with striped fabrics and botanical prints that nod to the family's roots. Beyond, the bathroom continues the story with pale blue cabinetry, patterned wallpaper, and textured finishes, creating a seamless flow between the spaces.

Even the apartment's transitional spaces are given the same level of consideration as its entertaining rooms. The entry sets the tone immediately, pairing a cloud-like blue finish with a classic checkerboard marble floor that feels both timeless and theatrical. Just beyond, the bijoux powder room embraces elegance. A richly veined marble sink and niche, antique mirror, and a gallery wall of black-and-white photography transform a compact space into one of the apartment's most luxurious moments.

By the time you reach the front door again, it becomes clear that this renovation was never about changing the character of a classic Upper East Side apartment. By resisting the temptation to either preserve the apartment as a time capsule or erase its past entirely, Elizabeth and Annabelle have found the sweet spot between heritage and modern life. The architecture works 'quietly in the background', while layered interiors filled with antiques, patterns, and personal treasures bring warmth and individuality to every room.

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The homes that stay with you are rarely the ones that play it safe. Case in point: this enchanting 1932 Brussels villa, where a sunshine-yellow living room, a raspberry-hued kitchen, and a jewel-toned bathroom come together. Bold? Absolutely. But every choice has been made with intention.

When interior architect and designer Victoria-Maria first encountered the house, it was in a state of disrepair. Yet beneath the tired interiors she saw the charm of its shell – from half-timbered details and dormer windows to overhanging eaves and even a tiny turret. Working within the original footprint, she completely reimagined the home for a family who wanted something colorful, characterful, and entirely unlike anyone else's. 'The goal was for the project to be unapologetically itself,' she says. And oh, did she deliver.

It's easy to assume that this colorful scheme came together on instruction, but every bold choice in this Brussels villa began with a remarkably simple brief. Having previously designed a home for a family member, the client already had a level of trust in Victoria-Maria before the project even began.

'The clients' brief was clear from the outset: they wanted a home that was colorful and one of a kind – something far from traditional or trend-driven design,' she explains. Embarking on a complete home renovation, Victoria-Maria reimagined each space from scratch while still honoring the 1932 villa's 'subtle eclecticism'. 'It was surrounded by a garden, and when we first encountered it, it felt like stumbling upon a little enchanted manor, with a subtle touch of Normandy in its spirit,' she says.

Rather than repeating the same finishes or tones from room to room, each space was given its own distinct identity. 'It blends multiple cultures, different epochs, and an array of colors. The atmosphere is warm, cozy, and layered with personal touches – not following any particular trend, but entirely its own world,' says Victoria-Maria. What stops the house from feeling overwhelming is the goal behind every choice. 'Every choice was made with intention and joy. When clients are brave enough to embrace what they truly love, and trust us to bring it to life, the result is always a home with a soul,' she continues.

As Victoria-Maria explains, 'Color is at the very heart of this project'. The joy begins in the living room, where sunshine-yellow walls ('I love yellow, and so did the clients!') and deeper-toned ceiling beams wrap the space in warmth, creating an uplifting backdrop for vintage seating, abstract art, and well-stocked bookcases.

'The yellow living room is perhaps the most emblematic space – it is the room that most clearly declares the spirit of the house. It is warm, confident, and entirely its own,' says Victoria-Maria. 'But in truth, every room carries that same energy. The project is one where the spirit is consistent throughout, simply expressed differently from space to space.'

The palette, which she describes as 'bold yet considered', evolves in the kitchen with raspberry-pink lava stone countertops that bring unexpected richness to the wooden kitchen, while zellige tiles and striped upholstery transform the breakfast nook into a corner full of character. Further into the house, a deep blue-green bathroom feels cocooning and serene, while a dining room wrapped in rich red silk turns every meal into an occasion.

Yet despite the variety in the color scheme for the home, the interiors never feel disjointed. Bespoke natural oak joinery appears throughout the home to ground the bolder moments, while layered linens, velvets, silks, and handcrafted ceramics introduce softness and texture. Rather than filling the house with off-the-shelf finds, Victoria-Maria created interiors where even the smallest details were designed specifically for the family who live here.

'Several elements were customized for this project: the attic floor with black-and-white carreaux de ciment, the pink lava stone kitchen countertop, the breakfast corner with pink Moroccan zelliges, and the staircase rug, custom-colored to perfectly fit the palette,' Victoria-Maria explains. 'Interestingly, the lava stone countertop arrived with a surface slightly less uniform than anticipated – but that is also the magic of craftsmanship. It gives the piece a soul and an authenticity that perfection sometimes cannot,' she continues.

While the house has since been completely reimagined, that storybook character still lingers in spaces like the dining room. Wrapped in rich crimson silk beneath a painted beamed ceiling, it's one of the home's most atmospheric rooms. A sculptural dining table softens the palette, while a dramatic gold pendant and contemporary artwork keep the space feeling fresh rather than formal. 'Inspiration was born directly from the story of the house and the people who live in it. The architecture itself offered clear references, which evoked a miniature manor with a countryside soul,' Victoria-Maria explains. 'From there, the clients' love of color and personality guided everything else.'

The kitchen offers a gentler pause. Bathed in natural light, the bespoke walnut cabinetry and pink stone surfaces create a calm backdrop for one of the home's happiest corners: a built-in breakfast nook framed by an elegant oval window.

'The lava stone kitchen countertop, with its slightly uneven surface, is easy to overlook – but it carries the soul of the entire project in a single material choice,' says Victoria-Maria. It's easy to imagine the family gathering here each morning, with handcrafted Moroccan zellige, striped upholstery, and fresh flowers bringing warmth and personality to an otherwise understated palette. The downstairs powder room, with its bespoke joinery, rosy stone basin, and equally sweet oval window, feels like a considered continuation of the kitchen's story.

The home's playful personality continues upstairs, where the primary bedroom swaps saturated color for pattern, texture, and warm materials. More oak joinery wraps around the room, framing the bed, while a fireplace painted in a vibrant coral hue and walls lined with Victoria-Maria's own wallpaper for Pierre Frey bring the fun. Like the rest of the house, the room strikes a careful balance between bespoke craftsmanship and collected character. A velvet-upholstered headboard, crisp white linen, and thoughtfully styled open shelving add personality without sacrificing the sense of calm expected from a bedroom.

The thoughtful progression of color continues into the adjoining dressing room and bathroom. The dressing area benefits from the sunny backdrop of the bedroom and pairs bespoke oak cabinetry with terracotta tones, soft textiles, and integrated storage, creating a space that feels as elegant as it is practical.

Step through to the bathroom, and the atmosphere changes entirely. Glossy blue-green tiles envelop the room from floor to ceiling, creating a cocooning backdrop that's offset by cement tiles underfoot and globe wall lights. It's a bold departure from the simplicity of the closet space, yet they're connected with an air of confidence.

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It's tempting to assume a home this colorful would feel overwhelming, but this historic home proves quite the opposite. Every bold decision is grounded with thoughtful craftsmanship, every room has its own distinct identity, and every material has been chosen with purpose. Rather than chasing trends, Victoria-Maria sought to create a home that feels deeply personal and that tells the story of the family who live here.

As she reflects, 'It is the result of a true collaboration – between both of our genuine love of color, craft, and individuality. This home has personality because no decision was made for safety's sake,' she adds.

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The light in San Francisco is never quite the same. Softened by the city's ever-changing fog and marine layer, it shaped almost every design decision made in this late-1940s Sea Cliff home. Over the course of a three-and-a-half-year renovation, designer Kara Piepmeyer of Studio Kosma transformed a once-disjointed 1940s house into a light-filled sanctuary that feels, in her words, 'restrained yet soulful' – balancing sculptural architecture with warmth, craftsmanship, and a wabi-sabi sensibility. 'The most beautiful homes aren't perfect,' Kara says. 'They're deeply considered but fully lived in.'

The result is a home that's every bit as calming as it is considered, embodying the relaxed and blended 'Cali wabi-sabi' aesthetic with effortless ease. Vaulted ceilings, sweeping curves, richly grained oak, and tactile plaster create a warm, layered backdrop, while views of the Golden Gate Bridge steal the show from almost every room.

For many clients, the view would have been enough. Perched in San Francisco's coveted Sea Cliff neighborhood, this home enjoys sweeping vistas across the Bay. But for Kara, the landscape offered more than just a beautiful backdrop – it became the starting point for the entire renovation.

'Unlike Southern California, where the light tends to be bright and consistent, the light here is constantly changing,' Kara explains. 'The fog rolls in, the marine layer softens everything, and the quality of light can shift dramatically throughout the day.' Rather than trying to compete with that ever-changing light, Kara chose to embrace it. 'We were very intentional about creating a home that always felt warm and luminous,' Kara continues. 'We selected materials and finishes that would hold their richness even on the grayest days – the home never feels drab or dark. In many ways, the soft cloud cover makes it feel like the house is glowing from within.'

The renovation completely reworked the home's previously fragmented floor plan, replacing a maze of small rooms with stronger sightlines and larger openings to create a seamless connection between indoors and out. Steel-framed doors, expansive windows, and carefully framed views ensure your eye is constantly drawn outwards. 'The lack of intact original features gave us tremendous freedom to rethink the architecture and create a floor plan that better celebrated the views, natural light, and the way this family lives today,' Kara adds.

One thing is immediately apparent with this project: nothing feels overdesigned. Despite its high ceilings and architecture, there's an ease to every room that makes it feel warm, welcoming, and wonderfully lived in. That was no accident. 'I believe soul comes from the tension between refinement and real life,' says Kara. Rather than relying on bold colors and pattern, Kara looked to craftsmanship and materiality to create spaces with lasting warmth and character.

Throughout the home, oak, stone, bronze, plaster, wool, and linen create a layered palette, chosen not because they feel new, but because they will continue to age beautifully over time. 'We were less interested in materials that felt new than materials that felt timeless,' Kara explains. 'They are materials that carry memory, reveal craftsmanship, and become more beautiful through use – qualities that help a house feel grounded and lived-in from the very beginning.' Furnishings in deep indigos, earthy greens, warm brown, and soft neutrals were all chosen to ground the architecture, while sculptural lighting, vintage finds, and handcrafted pieces were brought in to introduce 'warmth, personality, and a sense of history that keeps the spaces from feeling overly polished.'

Designing for one client is challenging enough. Designing for two with completely different tastes? That's where the real challenge begins. 'He gravitates toward clean lines, simplicity, and a more monolithic architectural presence, while she loves warmth, character, and thoughtful detail,' Kara explains of the client's differing interior design styles.

Fortunately, they shared one important goal: creating a home that felt light-filled, welcoming, and deeply connected to its surroundings. Rather than choosing one aesthetic over the other, Kara looked for ways the two could strengthen each other. 'The most successful homes don't feel like two competing visions forced together,' she says. 'They feel like a shared story.'

'Throughout the home, you'll see that balance play out repeatedly,' Kara continues. 'Expansive volumes are softened by arched openings and textural materials, clean architectural lines are paired with heavily grained wood, honed stone, and hand-forged metalwork. Ultimately, the goal wasn't compromise – it was to create a home where both perspectives could exist in conversation with one another,' she adds.

'The architecture feels expansive and sculptural, but we worked hard to ensure it never felt cold or austere. Instead, it balances openness with intimacy, restraint with warmth,' Kara explains of the 'comfortable and unpretentious' mood of the home. Curves became one of the defining motifs, appearing in the arched openings, staircase, range hood, built-ins, and even the subtle half-round detailing integrated into the cabinetry of the home. 'We were very intentional about creating a consistent architectural language throughout,' Kara explains. 'That repetition creates a sense of rhythm and softness throughout the house,' she adds.

As Kara explains, there isn't one defining feature that makes this home so memorable. 'The conversation between the architecture and furnishings is what gives the home its sense of soul. Neither is complete without the other,' she continues. 'Those repeated gestures became the thread that ties the entire project together.'

Relocating the kitchen to the rear of the home transformed it into the true heart of family life, creating a seamless connection to both the garden and adjoining living spaces. 'Now, light just pours in through steel-framed doors and continuous windows,' says Kara. It encapsulates everything we were trying to achieve throughout the project. 'It combines the home's expansive architecture and connection to natural light with the warmth and richness of deeply textured materials.'

A dark-stained oak island contrasts beautifully with the lighter custom cabinetry, while marble surfaces, plaster finishes, and bronze accents bring richness without competing with the stillness. Look closely, and you'll notice the subtle half-round detailing on the cabinetry. Just beyond, the breakfast nook offers a softer, more intimate moment. 'This nook is all about comfort and connection,' Kara explains. Designed with a built-in banquette and a bespoke table that echoes the cabinetry, it's an inviting spot for everything from family dinners to homework sessions.

The formal living room sets the tone for the rest of the home. Framed by a vaulted ceiling, arched built-ins, and a plaster fireplace, the room is intended to feel 'calm, balanced, and full of warmth' with a symmetrical layout that grounds all those curves. A rich oak coffee table, vintage side tables, and layered textiles bring warmth and texture, while a deep navy rug adds a punch of color underfoot. 'It’s all polished yet relaxed – it's meant to be lived in,' says Kara.

More than any other space, the family room is where this young, social family comes to gather. 'This is where life unfolds,' says Kara. Flooded with natural light through steel-framed doors, it was designed as a relaxed space where comfort takes center stage. 'The deep indigo and soft neutral palette create a casual sense of calm, while the plaster fireplace and custom oak cabinetry bring architectural presence, and the walnut coffee table adds a beautifully imperfect nod to Northern California’s natural richness,' she continues. 'Nothing feels overly precious – it’s layered, comfortable, and quietly sophisticated.'

Designed as a place to unwind, the primary bedroom embraces the same quiet material palette seen throughout the home, with warm woods, soft neutrals, and a deep indigo headboard creating a sense of calm. 'This room is designed to exhale,' says Kara. 'It's serene but never sterile; the materials bring it to life, and the light shifts beautifully throughout the day.' A hidden TV, built subtly underneath the window, is the home's most unexpected design moment. 'It's the kind of detail no one notices when it's successful – which is exactly the point.' The adjoining bathroom continues the same refined approach. Honed marble, oak cabinetry, and burnished brass detailing create what Kara describes as 'a daily retreat' – luxurious without feeling overdone.

While the home's larger spaces embrace a soft, understated palette, the two equally bold powder rooms offer moments of surprise. In the first, a striking Viola marble vanity takes center stage. 'The moment we saw the slab, we knew it was non-negotiable,' says Kara. Paired with stained oak millwork and aged brass accents, it proves that even the smallest rooms can make a good impression. The second powder room brings a more playful energy, with hand-glazed checkerboard tiles. 'This bathroom has a little wink to it – playful but grounded,' Kara explains.

It would have been easy for the wine cellar and sauna to feel like disjointed luxuries, but Kara approached them with the same thoughtful restraint as the rest of the home. 'These spaces were some of the most enjoyable to design because they allowed us to introduce moments of surprise and personality within the home,' says Kara. 'The challenge was ensuring they felt like natural extensions of the home's design language rather than standalone features,' she explains. In the wine cellar, natural oak millwork and carefully considered proportions create a space that celebrates craftsmanship, while the cedar-lined sauna is beautifully simple.

The idea of 'connection' is the red thread that runs throughout this project. 'For me, great design is fundamentally about connection – the connection between rooms, between a home and its surroundings, and ultimately between the people who live there and the spaces they inhabit,' Kara explains. Sometimes, that's something tangible you can see, but other times it's more of a feeling that a home inspires. 'That idea guided every decision in this project, from carefully reworking the floor plan to the final layers of materials, furniture, and styling.' As the Northern California light shifts from morning sunshine to moody fog, every carefully considered detail comes into its own in this home, proving that good design simply gets better with time.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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If ever there were a home that proves age has little to do with character, it's this colorful family property in Orlando. Situated on a canal, the house was built in 2014 as part of a wider development. Yet step inside today, and you'd be forgiven for assuming it had stood for decades, layered with collected treasures, architectural quirks, and stories of its own.

When the homeowners enlisted Studio Day Design, however, the reality was quite different. Like many new-builds, the house was essentially a blank slate – while the bones were solid, the family longed for a home with more personality; somewhere they could 'come home, relax, and encourage their kids to grow up creating and exploring creative ideas,' says founder Deidre Webster.

The inspiration came from an unlikely source: the 1996 cult movie classic The Birdcage. Drawing on the film's theatrical spirit, vibrant colors, and Art Deco architecture of nearby South Beach, Deidre began building a scheme that felt equal parts playful and nostalgic. Gothic details, dark wood, shiny metals, tapestry textiles, striped beach umbrellas, and pastel-painted buildings all found their way into the mood board.

What followed was less a home renovation and more a process of storytelling. Vintage furniture was sourced from across the country, architectural details were introduced where none existed before, and every room was given its own distinct personality. Throughout, the guiding idea remained simple: nothing should feel too precious. Instead, the home was designed to be used, enjoyed, and filled with the energy of everyday family life. The result is an interior design style that feels difficult to pin down – part Florida retreat, part theater set, part family home. And somehow, despite all the color, pattern, and collected pieces, it feels entirely effortless. 'They wanted to give the home some layers that make it feel less new,' Deidre explains. 'They knew they would need to furnish it as well as add paint, wallpaper, and other colorful moments.'

Every home has a starting point, and in this case, it wasn't a paint color or a piece of furniture. 'The very first thing selected for the project is probably the most special in my mind,' says Deidre. 'The client was living in L.A. when he found this incredible French play backdrop. It fills the entire wall of the dining room with no room to spare. People might expect a tapestry or something a little more Spanish, but I think this piece alludes to the tapestry moment, but with an unexpected twist,' she explains. Hung floor-to-ceiling against deep navy walls, it brings a sense of history to what was once a blank-slate new-build. The effect feels almost cinematic, as though the room itself has become part of a stage set.

More importantly, Deidre felt it echoed something deeper about the family that lives here. 'I think this piece reflects the family's creativity, and it circles back to the concept – Birdcage is set in a South Beach club with performances, and one scene in particular is during practice on a stage,' she adds. Part artwork, part conversation piece, the backdrop establishes the playful, imaginative spirit that would come to define every room that followed.

While the theater backdrop may have inspired the creative direction, it was the layering of color, pattern, and vintage furnishings that brought the vision to life. Throughout the home, Studio Day focused less on changing the footprint and more on introducing the style of character often associated with much older houses. New arches were added where walls felt flat, custom millwork created focal points, and rooms were given a stronger sense of identity despite the open-plan layout. The living room offers one of the clearest examples of this approach. Connecting the kitchen with two outdoor spaces, it serves as the heart of the home, yet Deidre was keen to ensure it felt like a room in its own right.

'We added the 1930's Spanish-inspired glass front cabinets to create a focal point in the room,' says Deidre. 'The furnishings in this room are mostly vintage, including a Kagan sofa recovered in a tapestry-like fabric. Although we integrated a lot of vintage items, we stuck with the client's saying – "nothing precious!" – and ensured the fabrics were durable and easy to clean,' she adds of the approach to family-friendly design.

Elsewhere, details such as decorative ceiling beams, medallions, and custom built-ins continue the illusion that the house has evolved naturally over time. Vintage pieces were equally important in creating that lived-in feel. 'We are always searching for the best quality vintage sellers and finds,' she says. 'We appreciate the quality and the history of furniture that already exists. I also love how it's never really perfect. It has a character that you can't find in something new.'

Throughout the house, antique desks, Swedish armoires, rosewood chairs, vintage lighting, and one-of-a-kind accessories sit comfortably alongside custom designs and contemporary pieces. 'We used a few new items, but we tried to source them from quality makers like Alfred Newall, Lawsone Fenning, and Stahl and Band,' Deidre adds. The home's playful personality announces itself almost immediately. Washed in a rich green limewash, the entry sets a decidedly different tone from the neutral new-build interiors that once occupied the space. Inside, a tiger candle holder 'brings in some humor and color', while outdoors, vintage teak twig chairs evoke an authentic Mediterranean style.

Just off the foyer sits the homeowner's office, a space designed to support both focused work and creative thinking. Anchored by a substantial antique desk, the room balances the weight and character of vintage finds with more playful touches. 'The client uses the large wall to post his creative process with different colored masking tape,' Deidre explains of the wall decor. 'When that presentation is done, he pulls down the pages from the project but leaves the tape on the wall. Over time, the tape will build up and create what feels like an art installation of its own,' she adds. From there, you're led through to the living area. 'Although the space is an open floor plan, we wanted the living area to feel like it was its own room,' Deirde adds.

Rather than gutting the kitchen and starting from scratch, Deidre focused on making a series of thoughtful changes that would give the space greater warmth and personality. 'We painted the cabinets, replaced the plumbing fixtures, and built a new custom bar,' she says of the transformation. 'We wanted the bar to feel like it was a piece of furniture, so we used walnut burl for the inside panels and red oak for the frame.' The project also embraced a more sustainable approach where possible. Rather than replacing the marble countertop that originally sat atop the kitchen island, the team carefully removed and repurposed it for the primary bathroom vanity. Meanwhile, in the adjacent breakfast nook, a newly added archway introduces the architectural detail the space had been lacking.

While the home's shared spaces celebrate creativity, the primary bedroom was conceived as a place to slow down and recharge – but of course, it doesn't lack the joy of the rest of the house. 'The clients are so busy at this phase of life, and this space was very important in making it their personal retreat,' says Deidre. The room's standout feature is a remarkable 19th-century Swedish folk armoire, sourced after an extensive search for a solution that could discreetly conceal the television without allowing it to dominate the space. 'They wanted a small area for a TV but didn't want it to be the focal point,' explains Deidre. 'We paired it with vintage armchairs in the original upholstery – the client's favorite color is orange, so these could not have been a better fit!'

The project's sense of whimsy extends effortlessly into the children's spaces, where color, pattern, and imagination take center stage. 'This project felt easy and fun. The client pushed for more creative solutions rather than being nervous or reserved,' Deidre adds of the home's playful side. In one bedroom, a bed nook transforms a simple sleeping area into something far more magical. Packed with color, personality, and practical furnishings, the nearby family room 'is a place that is important for the whole family to come together and create, watch movies, and relax. We wanted to keep it casual and packed with color,' Deidre adds.

That same playful spirit continues in the bathrooms, where Studio Day Design embraced a lighthearted side. For the pool bathroom, Deidre leaned into 'Florida in a cheeky way'. House of Hackney's iconic flamingo wallpaper immediately sets the tone, while a custom vanity and a mosaic floor add further layers of character. Meanwhile, for all the memorable moments throughout the house, it's the powder room that ultimately became the homeowner's favorite. 'It reminds me of going to the beach and finding treasures in the sand among all the striped umbrellas,' she continues. 'This bathroom felt like a really bold moment, and I wasn't sure how it would translate to a powder room, which originally had such a modern aesthetic.' But the gamble paid off.

The playful spirit that defines the interiors continues outdoors, where Studio Day Design transformed the rear terrace into an extension of the home's vibrant personality. Framed by a series of Mediterranean-style arches and overlooking the pool, the covered patio balances the relaxed atmosphere of a resort with the eclectic, color-filled vibes found inside. Coral dining chairs, striped upholstery, and punchy accents bring energy to the space out back, while the home's front courtyard offers a glimpse of the character that awaits within. 'We wanted the front to feel like a Spanish courtyard but with a little more color than expected.'

It's hard to believe this colorful, character-filled home began life as a blank-slate new-build just over a decade ago. Today, thanks to Studio Day Design's fearless use of color, vintage treasures, and movie-inspired flourishes, it feels as though it has been evolving for generations.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

6 Design Lessons From The Sanderling Resort

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

1. Let a Sense of Home Lead the Design

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

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

2. Use Setting as Influence, Not a Literal Interpretation

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

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

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

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

3. Build Warmth Through Layered Texture

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

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

4. Treat Lighting as a Decorative Element

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

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

5. Anchor Rooms with Rugs and Pattern Underfoot

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

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

6. Mix Eras, Influences, and Stories

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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Design: Atelier Julienne

Millwork: Revival Millworks

Styling: Mood & Measure Styling

Florals: Wild Hare Floral Design

Photography: Salt Haus Photo

Builder: AUM Construction, Inc.

At first glance, this Coral Gables home appears to embody everything we love about Florida design: soaring windows, sun-drenched rooms, a breezy palette, and an effortless connection to the outdoors. But look a little closer, and a richer story begins to emerge.

Designed by Marie Flanigan Interiors, behind the bright and breezy first impression of this house design unfolds a series of increasingly dramatic spaces – think jewel-toned studies, cocooning bedrooms, and hand-painted wallpapered spaces. The result is a study in balance: timeless architecture paired with fresh, contemporary sensibility, statement-making design moments, and a palette that grows increasingly sophisticated the further you venture inside – one that reveals itself room by room.

While every room in this home tells an important part of the story, the living room is absolutely the heart of the project. Wrapped in a hand-painted Gracie wallcovering, the space captures the balance between refinement and relaxation that Marie and lead designer, Kristin Fitzgerald, sought throughout the project. The mural became the starting point for the color scheme for the home. Soft greens, blues, and earthy tones drawn from the landscape scene reappear in rooms throughout the house, creating a thread that ties everything together.

'Its hand-painted landscape introduces many of the colors that appear elsewhere in the house, creating a subtle visual link between the softer, neutral rooms and the more richly layered spaces,' Marie explains. 'It also reinforces the relationship between the home and its lush surroundings, bringing a sense of the outdoors into the interior in a very refined way,' she continues. It's also the room Marie feels best captures the spirit of the project. 'There is a quiet confidence to the room that feels representative of the house as a whole,' says Marie.

The home's evolution from airy to atmospheric was entirely intentional. Inspired by the 'natural surroundings of Coral Gables and the quality of light unique to South Florida', Marie wanted this home to feel layered and enduring, with each room revealing a little more depth than the last. 'I would describe the home as classically informed, but tailored for the way families live today,' says Marie. 'The interiors feel relaxed and approachable rather than formal. We focused on craftsmanship, proportion, and materiality to create spaces that feel enduring without feeling traditional in a predictable way.'

'We kept the primary living spaces light and airy, using soft neutrals and warm woods as a foundation, then introduced more saturated moments as you move through the home,' she explains of the palette, which is echoed in the connected kitchen and breakfast room. 'One of my favorite details is the built-in cabinetry, which creates a gentle transition between the kitchen and breakfast area,' adds designer Kristin. 'It gives each space a distinct purpose while preserving the openness that makes the home so well suited for gathering and entertaining.'

For all its light-filled grandeur, some of the home's most memorable spaces are also its moodiest. As the palette deepens, jewel tones and cocooning wallcoverings introduce a sense of drama that feels entirely unexpected within a South Florida home. The powder room offers perhaps the boldest move. 'Wrapped in a Kelly Ventura wallcovering, the room offers a striking contrast to the lighter spaces nearby, creating an immersive experience filled with color, movement, and personality,' Kristin describes. 'The brass fixtures lend a sense of age and permanence, which was important in a newly constructed home,' she adds.

That same approach continues in the bedrooms, where color is used to create intimacy without jeopardising the home's overall sense of calm. 'The guest bedroom drew inspiration from the deep racing greens associated with Kentucky horse country (per the client’s request),' Marie adds. 'That rich hunter green introduces a sense of history, contrasting the lighter spaces throughout the home.' Rather than feeling jarring, these darker moments in the home gradually deepen as the spaces get more and more private.

While the home's gradient of color makes an immediate impression, it's the craftsmanship that gives the home its sense of character. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the kitchen, where a charming library ladder sits along bespoke cabinetry. 'The kitchen is a masterclass in restraint,' says Kristin. 'The architectural detailing takes center stage, from the custom hood and herringbone floors to the built-in cabinetry and library ladder. Because the room receives such beautiful natural light, we kept the material palette fresh and understated, allowing subtle moments of brass and stained wood to add richness and contrast,' she notes. 'The kitchen opens directly to the breakfast area and family room, so it was important that each space feel connected while still maintaining its own identity.'

'The library ladder in the kitchen is certainly a memorable feature because it adds both functionality and personality,' adds Marie. As she explains, many of those custom details were really driven by the architect, Portuondo Perotti Architects, and their vision for the home. 'Elements like the library ladder, millwork, cabinetry, and trim work were thoughtfully integrated into the architecture from the beginning. That foundation allowed us to layer in furnishings and finishes that complemented the overall vision.'

By the time you reach the home's deeper spaces, it's easy to focus on the rich colors and striking design moments. Yet Marie believes the project's success lies less in the dramatic gestures and more in the quieter decisions that underpin them. The pair of home offices is a perfect example. While one is wrapped in glossy purple cabinetry, and the other is color-drenched in navy, neither feels disconnected from the rest of the home. 'Rather than treating the rooms as purely utilitarian, we wanted them to feel cheerful and elevated,' says Kristin.

'I think people often notice the larger design gestures first, but what makes the home successful are the decisions that happen behind the scenes,' Marie explains. 'The alignment of architectural elements, the way materials transition from one space to another, and the consistency of scale throughout the house all contribute to its sense of ease. Those details are not meant to stand out individually, but together they create a feeling that the home has always been exactly as it should be,' she adds.

For all its detail, what makes this home particularly enchanting is its sense of ease. Balancing grandeur with softness, the formal dining room sits off the foyer opposite the living room. 'The two spaces were designed to be in conversation with one another,' Kristin explains. 'In the dining room, a hemp wallcovering envelops the room in texture and complements the mural across the hall, allowing the two rooms to feel related without being identical,' she continues. 'We treated wallcoverings almost as architectural elements rather than decoration,' adds Marie. 'Each one was selected to enhance the character of a room and contribute to its mood rather than simply add visual interest.'

Even the home's hardest-working spaces feel welcoming, despite their pared-back palette. In the kitchen, warm wood tones and herringbone flooring bring richness to an otherwise light and airy palette, while the laundry room proves that utility spaces can still have a decorative moment with a timeless plaid tiled floor. 'While there is a refined elegance to the spaces, they never feel too precious. We incorporated pieces with beautiful lines, thoughtful craftsmanship, and a sense of character, while ensuring they remained comfortable and practical for a family environment,' says Marie.

The primary suite might be drenched in a deep blue, but it still manages to feel soft and restful thanks to plenty of natural light and layers of pale upholstery, linen, and textured neutrals. As Marie explains, 'We used a rich jewel-toned wall color to create depth and intimacy, while the furniture, rug, window treatments, and bedding remain light, soft, and airy. That balance was something we carefully navigated with the clients as we wanted the room to feel serene without becoming heavy.'

Conceived 'as a retreat', the adjoining primary bathroom shifts its atmosphere from moody tones to a more restorative one. 'The freestanding Waterworks tub serves as the focal point, framed by soft finishes and abundant natural light,' says Kristin. Warm wood accents add dimension and ensure the room feels inviting rather than clinical. 'By varying scale, tone, and application throughout the home, we were able to create moments of interest while maintaining an overall sense of restraint,' adds Marie.

The outdoor living spaces are framed by lush landscaping and designed with both relaxation and entertaining in mind. The covered terrace functions as a true outdoor 'room', complete with comfortable couches, a fully equipped outdoor kitchen, and views across to the pool. As Marie notes, 'Rather than treating the exterior spaces as an extension of the house, we approached them as an integral part of the design from the outset. In a climate like Miami's, indoor and outdoor living should feel like part of the same experience.' It's a fitting finale for a home that embraces the best of Florida living.

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Despite being newly built, Marie and her team created a series of thoughtful, lived-in spaces that were designed not just to impress at first glance, but to become more interesting the longer you look. Every detail, from the hand-painted wallcoverings to the custom cabinetry and gradual palette, contributes to a home that feels both timeless and rich.

Interior Design: Marie Flanigan and Kristin Fitzgerald

Photography: Julie Soefer

Styling: Jessica Brinkert Holtam

Builder: Hidalgo Construction Group

Architecture: Portuondo Perotti Architects

Landscape Architects: SMILandscape Architects

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Designing a new-build home comes with a unique challenge: how do you create a sense of history in a place that has none? For Studio McGee founder Shea McGee, the answer wasn't to imitate age, but to design for it. In Arizona, just outside Phoenix, Shea created a family home that feels layered with character from the moment you step inside. Natural materials, patinated details, vintage finds, and custom craftsmanship all work together to give the house a warmth that belies its brand-new status.

'When you're working with a new build, you get to write the history,' says Shea. 'We wanted this home to feel like it had already been lived in, even on day one.' Inspired by the colors of the Sonoran Desert and shaped by the homeowners' East Coast roots, the result is a house design that balances timelessness with relaxed family living – a home designed, in Shea's words, to look even better in 20 years than it does today.

For Shea, creating a timeless home isn't about trends but about designing for longevity. Because Studio McGee joined the project from its earliest stages, the team was able to influence everything from the architecture and floor plan to the way light moves through the house. Rather than simply decorating completed rooms, they helped shape the experience of living in them.

The setting played a key role. 'The landscape was our starting point,' Shea explains. 'The palette came directly from the environment: warm ochres, soft terracottas, that subtle desert sage. The wide windows were designed to frame the views – we never wanted you to forget where you were.' The result is a home that feels deeply connected to its surroundings without ever feeling cliched. 'People often default to a very specific aesthetic when they design in Arizona,' says Shea. 'But there are so many other ways to respond to this landscape. Texture, material, silhouette. You don't have to announce that you're in the desert; you can just let the land lead.'

Yet the project wasn't shaped solely by its roots. One of the homeowners grew up on the East Coast, and 'she brought that sensibility with her,' says Shea. It was this combination that ultimately gave the home its identity. As Shea puts it, 'it's a home with East Coast bones and a desert soul.'

The approach reflects her 'New Heritage' philosophy – interiors rooted in tradition but designed for modern family life, as Shea describes it. Classic architecture and traditional proportions are layered with earthy materials that will only become more beautiful over time. 'Nothing trendy. Nothing that's going to feel dated in five years.'

'We chose materials and made decisions we knew would age beautifully and develop patina over time,' she adds, noting the hand-drawn parquet floors in the entry – 'You can't half-commit to an entry. We went all in' – the unlacquered brass fixtures in the kitchen, and the vintage finds throughout the home. 'Those are the things that will look better in twenty years than they do today.'

'We sourced things that brought soul to a new build, including a runner in the butler's pantry, a wall hanging tapestry in the entry, woven textiles, and pieces with age and patina,' Shea continues. 'That layering of things collected over time is what gives a new build soul.'

While the palette and mood were shaped by the landscape, the wooden kitchen was defined by the family who would use it. Designed as both a gathering spot and a hardworking hub, the room strikes a balance between being beautiful enough to wow but practical enough to withstand the realities of family life. At its center sits a custom island measuring more than 13 feet long, conceived as a piece of furniture with an open base that displays the family's collections. Opposite, a Lacanche range dominates the wall, while zellige tile, marble countertops, and unlacquered brass fixtures introduce the texture and patina found throughout the rest of the house. 'The vision was for the kitchen to feel like it belonged in the home, not like a kitchen that happened to be installed there,' says Shea. 'There's a difference, and you feel it.'

Yet for all its carefully considered details, one of the room's defining features came directly from the homeowners themselves. The client had a single request: a sink under a window opening directly to the backyard. 'They plan to host a lot in this home, and she understood instinctively that design should serve how you actually live,' says Shea. 'That window changes the whole feel of the kitchen. You're never cut off from the outdoor space. The inside and outside breathe together.' Supporting the heart of the home is an equally thoughtful butler's pantry concealed behind the main kitchen, where porcelain countertops, open shelving, and a vintage runner allow the practical work of daily life to happen out of sight.

For all its thoughtful detailing and careful layering, this was never intended to be a show home. From the outset, the clients – a family with four children and a love of entertaining – wanted a house that felt 'elevated but never stiff.' That balance informed everything from the layout of the main living spaces to the smaller decisions that make daily life run more smoothly. 'The brief was really about family: spaces that could handle real life, but also felt intentional and considered at every turn,' says Shea.

That idea is perhaps most evident in the spaces designed purely for enjoyment. The games room, complete with tongue-and-groove paneling, oversized woven pendants, pool and shuffleboard tables, was imagined as a place where the family could gather, entertain, and make noise without worrying about perfection. 'It's a room that wants to be used loudly,' she notes. 'The gallery wall even has skate decks on it because one of the kids skates. That's the kind of detail that makes a room actually belong to the family.' Elsewhere, practicality is elevated rather than hidden away. The laundry room pairs reclaimed stone floors and soapstone countertops and boasts two washers and two dryers. 'Even utility spaces got the same level of attention. That's always the goal,' she adds.

Throughout the home, Studio McGee looked for opportunities to layer in pieces with meaning and history, introducing a sense of age that new construction often struggles to achieve. Some of those details are immediately visible, such as the custom parquet floor that greets visitors in the intimate entryway. 'You genuinely don't need a rug in here; the floor IS the rug. From there, you move through leaded glass windows into the great room, and the scale opens up completely. I love a house that makes you slow down before revealing itself,' says Shea. Together, this establishes the tone for everything that follows.

Many of the most meaningful details, however, are easy to miss. In the kitchen, heirloom plates once belonging to the client's grandmother are displayed on custom plate racks, woven naturally into the kitchen rather than preserved behind glass. Elsewhere, a piece of the grandmother's needlepoint hangs in the primary bathroom. 'You could come through this house and never notice either of them,' Shea explains. 'But the family will notice them every single day, and that's the whole point.' Even the blue herringbone stone lining the fireplace in the great room speaks to the studio's belief in details that need closer attention. These are not elements that command attention, but they are the ones that linger longest.

The butler's pantry – or 'back kitchen' – may sit discreetly behind the kitchen, but hidden as it may be, it is one of Shea's favorite spaces in the home. 'I know that might seem like a surprising answer, but the butler's pantry is where the philosophy of this entire home lives,' she explains. Designed with porcelain countertops, antique brass hardware, tile extending to the ceiling, open shelving, and a vintage runner underfoot, the room balances utility with beauty in a way that feels distinctly 'McGee'. 'It exists almost entirely behind a door. Nobody sees it except the family and whoever's close enough to be back there,' she adds.

Although the kitchen may be the home's natural gathering place, the adjoining dining area plays an equally important role in the flow of everyday life. Positioned between the kitchen and great room, it acts as a transition between cooking, entertaining, and relaxing, while maintaining the openness that defines the home's layout. Framed by floor-to-ceiling drapery and generous windows, the space is filled with natural light throughout the day. 'Window placement was everything,' Shea explains. 'We designed wide windows specifically to frame the landscape like living art. They're not incidental, they're deliberate. In the Arizona desert, you're managing the sun as much as welcoming it.'

After the openness and activity of the home's entertaining spaces, the primary suite offers a quieter note. 'It's calm. It does what a primary bedroom should do,' says Shea. While the room shares the same warm palette and natural materials found throughout the house, it feels noticeably more restrained. 'The freshness comes from restraint, from not doing too much,' she notes. 'The palette is warm and tonal, pulled directly from the desert. The handwoven textiles add warmth without the weight.' Marble-top nightstands sit alongside collected decorative pieces, while the McGee & Co. Clemence settee at the foot of the bed provides both function and elegance.

The primary bathroom pairs traditional design with natural materials chosen for their longevity and warmth. Arabescato Calacatta marble wraps the floors, countertops, and shower enclosure, creating a sense of quiet luxury, while a vaulted ceiling introduces texture overhead. 'The ceiling gets tongue and groove, which adds warmth to all that stone,' Shea explains. 'The vanity is color-matched to the trim throughout the house, and the shower door is powder-coated to match. Tucked in just the right spot is the client's grandmother's needlepoint – that's the piece that makes the room personal,' she adds.

Perhaps nowhere is the family's personality more evident than in the children's bedrooms. Rather than following a single decorative scheme throughout, Studio McGee approached each room as an individual reflection of the child who would inhabit it. One bedroom features framed drumsticks and a vintage map of Paris for a music-loving son, while another embraces a softer palette with a scalloped headboard for a Taylor Swift fan. Elsewhere, cowboy influences, a gallery wall of meaningful collections, and Morris & Co. wallpaper bring character and individuality to such playful spaces.

'Morris and Co. wallpaper in Lou's room is probably the boldest pattern statement in the house, and even that is rooted in heritage. It belongs,' she continues. For Shea, these rooms represent the most personal side of the project. 'The best projects come from clients who trust you but also bring their own personality to the table,' she says. The children's spaces became a natural extension of that collaboration. 'Those rooms are the most joyful spaces in this house,' Shea adds. 'Every one of them could only belong to exactly that child.'

One of the clearest indicators of a thoughtfully designed home is how much care is given to the rooms visitors rarely see. Rather than treating the laundry and mudroom as purely functional spaces, Studio McGee approached them with the same attention to detail found throughout the rest of the house. Tongue-and-groove wall paneling, soapstone countertops, custom cabinetry, and reclaimed stone flooring elevate the everyday rituals, while generous storage ensures the spaces work hard behind the scenes – 'and two washers and two dryers, because this family is serious.'

While the interiors are rich with texture and personal details, the landscape was the true starting point for this home. The clients envisioned a house that could comfortably accommodate family life and frequent entertaining, and the outdoor areas play an important role in achieving that. 'The deep overhangs aren't just beautiful, they're functional,' Shea explains. 'They invite you to actually use the outdoor spaces, which in Arizona is everything.' The pool sits at the heart of the backyard, extending the home's entertaining spaces beyond its walls.

Despite its scale, the home never feels stark. Instead, every decision appears rooted in the needs of the family that lives here. For Shea, that was always the ultimate goal. 'At home. Not impressed: at home. There's a difference,' she says when asked how she hopes visitors feel when they walk through the front door. 'I want people to walk in and feel the warmth of the materials, feel the care that went into every decision, and feel like this house was made for exactly the family that lives here. More than anything, I just want this home to feel like somewhere you could exhale,' says Shea.

When asked to describe this home in just three words, Shea's answer is simple: 'Rooted. Personal. Earned.' Sure, this may be a brand-new build, but through thoughtful design, meaningful details, and a deep connection to the surroundings, Studio McGee has created a house that already feels as though it has a story to tell – even on day one.

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If your idea of a dream escape involves a floating sauna, a flower-covered thatched roof, and ducks drifting in and out of your kitchen, you've come to the right place. Tucked beside a tranquil pond in the French countryside, this enchanting cottage looks as though it has been pulled out of the pages of a storybook.

Created by Paris-based studio Label Experience for Velvet House, every detail, from the furnishings to the glossy green tiles, was designed to deepen the connection between the house design and its surroundings. As Sophie Darriere of Label Experience explains, they wanted to 'reveal the place rather than transform it.'

The setting is what immediately captured the imagination of the team at Label Experience, then the interiors followed. 'The house sits directly on the water in the Norman countryside, giving it that rare connection between architecture and nature felt both soothing and deeply inspiring,' Sophie explains.

'From the very first visit, we were captivated by its unique atmosphere and potential,' she continues. 'It marked the beginning of a wonderful partnership that has since brought two houses to life, and hopefully many more to come,' she adds of their collaboration with Velvet House. 'Opening onto a serene pond, it feels closely connected to the landscape, with a strong emphasis on the presence of water,' she says. 'It allowed us to explore a new relationship with nature.'

Becoming affectionately known to the design team as 'the house on the pond', this thatched holiday home not only had the perfect setting for a dreamy retreat, but great bones too.

'We essentially worked within the existing footprint,' Sophie explains. 'A few targeted interventions, though, we moved the original front door to replace it with an entrance through the glass doors and added a second set of glazed doors in the living room to amplify the view and the light. Everything was already there,' she says. 'We wanted to reveal the place rather than transform it.'

So rather than approaching the project with a defined interior design style in mind, Label Experience built a narrative around the project, reimagined as The Fisherman's House. 'The project draws on the quiet poetry of lakeside living: early-morning mist drifting over still waters, the rhythmic gesture of casting a line, the soft creak of a wooden dock.'

'It's English, family-oriented, and lived-in,' says Sophie. 'It's a house that evokes emotions and memories, that feels intimate, warm, and authentic.'

The palette begins with what Sophie describes as Velvet House's signature colors: 'Green as the defining hue for the house, beige for softness, and dark, aged wood to bring a sense of history.'

'From there, it is adapted to the environment and the unique story of each holiday home, whether inspired by the lake, the surrounding trees, or the thatched roof,' she continues. Bathed in natural light and framed by views, the open-plan living and dining room feels reassuringly comfortable. It is here that the home's palette comes to life, with rich mossy greens, soft neutral walls, and vintage furnishings that create a collected feel.

The kitchen demonstrates Label Experiences' commitment to maintaining a constant dialogue with the landscape. Compact yet characterful, the space was designed as an extension of the outside. Through the open doorway, views stretch directly towards the pond, while an ever-changing cast of wildlife provides a daily reminder of the home's setting.

The cabinetry adopts the same deep green tones found throughout the house, paired with painted timber walls, simple hardware, and continued pale stone flooring. The result feels timeless and unfussy – exactly the sort of cooking area you might hope to discover on holiday en France.

Though the home draws inspiration from life by the water, its references remain subtle. 'A handful of decorative and everyday objects evoke that world, recalling the kind of pieces one might find in an old house shaped by time and filled with memories,' says Sophie.

'Nothing is overt; everything is gently implied.' A rowing oar mounted above the fireplace and a model sailboat perched on the mantelpiece allude to the fisherman's story, while plaid upholstery, stone floors, and time-worn rugs evoke the feeling of a well-loved family retreat.

Rather than introducing a completely different tone, Label Experience chose to extend the palette into the bathroom, creating a sense of continuity from room to room. Again wrapped in deep green tones with dark cabinetry, the bathroom boasts glossy handmade tiles to ensure the space feels cocooning and atmospheric while remaining remarkably simple. 'The material palette also subtly draws from this universe,' she adds of the connection to the lake. 'The glossy green zellige tiles, for instance, capture and reflect the light dancing on the water.'

'On the ground floor, the palette is centred around warm beige tones accented with touches of green, creating a feeling of openness and ease,' Sophie continues.

'Upstairs, the atmosphere becomes more intimate, with deeper shades of green and a richer, more enveloping character,' she says of the bedrooms. The result is a collection of spaces that feel perfectly suited to retreating, reading, and slowing down after a day spent by the water.

'Rather than a strict room-by-room gradient, it is a gradual evolution of feelings,' Sophie explains of the color scheme for the whole home. Though modest in scale, the rooms are rich in character. Vintage-inspired furnishings, woven cane details, dark-stained timber, and collected artworks reinforce the sense of history that runs throughout the house.

In one bedroom, deep green walls drench the bijoux small, creating a cocoon-like feeling punctuated by antique art prints. In another, warm neutral tones, a simple writing desk, and plenty of natural light lend the room a gentler, almost monastic calm.

Much of the home's charm lies not in its setting or its palette, but in the feeling that the house has been added to over time. Achieving that sense of history, however, required a carefully considered approach to sourcing.

'The concept is rooted in the idea of homes that tell a story, spaces rich in character, memory, and everyday life,' says Sophie. 'Therefore, vintage pieces felt like a natural choice. We worked closely with vintage dealer Chloé Dourissian, whose eye and sensibility were invaluable in composing this atmosphere.' It is this balance of old and new that gives the home its distinctive warmth. 'The design is timeless, with subtle references to the character and spirit of the house. Nature is ever-present, but never at the expense of comfort,' says Sophie.

At every turn, the landscape is treated not just as something to admire but as something to experience. Windows frame views of the pond and surrounding trees, while new large doors 'frame the landscape like a painting'.

Indoors, the continuity of the flooring between the living space and the outdoor terrace allows the connection to the outdoors to flow without any abrupt transitions. 'The place is conceived as a whole, as a moment out of time,' she explains. 'The inside doesn't exist without the outside, and vice versa. The aesthetic and the experience had to carry through outdoors.'

Of all the features at the property, there is one that guests are unlikely to forget: the floating sauna. 'The sitting room and the kitchen are the truest reflection of what we wanted people to feel,' says Sophie. 'But the sauna, suspended above the water, is something quite extraordinary.'

'We wanted to create multiple views of the surrounding landscape while ensuring a strong sense of comfort indoors,' she adds. 'We wanted to offer the refinement of an exceptional hotel within the warmth of a private home. For guests to feel welcomed, as though they had discovered a secret retreat designed entirely for them. Above all, we hope that the first impression sets the tone for a truly unique stay.'

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In this project, even the roof contributes to the story. 'The flowers planted on the thatched roof in the traditional way, is an example that speaks volumes about the attention paid to every last detail.'

In fact, when asked about the details guests shouldn't miss, Sophie points not to a piece of furniture, but to a simple walk around the water's edge. 'The walk around the lake, to catch a glimpse of the house from the opposite bank, it's magical and creates an image that stays with you.'

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'Celebrating the house’s sense of history was important,' notes interior designer Laura Stephens of a recent project, a four-bedroom Victorian terrace in Dulwich.

'It’s quite a wide, lateral house design, and the proportions are lovely. It also still has many beautiful original features. We aimed to modernize it, while making sure those were highlighted.'

The clients had lived in the house for some years and had begun a home renovation that included structural work, such as building kitchen and loft extensions, but when their children, who are now school age, came along, the update ground to an abrupt halt.

They had considered moving, but then decided to reinvest in the house and future-proof it. Craving character in the interior, they enlisted the help of Laura and her team.

The client was drawn to the studio’s use of color and pattern, as well as their propensity for working with traditional houses. 'She liked the way we brought the clients’ personalities to period properties,' says Laura.

A collaborative partnership ensued, where the designer and the client’s styles aligned. 'The client has a very good eye, and she was quite confident with her choice of fabrics and wallpapers,' explains Andrea Williams, lead designer on the project.

'She knew what she was drawn to and what patterns she liked, but she didn’t know how to bring it together as a whole.'

The result is a quintessential example of the studio’s signature style. 'It has roots in traditional decoration, with elements of elegance and restraint. Injections of color and personality provide an updated, fun and playful take that makes it feel completely modern and appropriate for a young family,' explains Laura.

Bold jewel tones lead the charge in the design, and key colors were woven through the rooms to ensure that they flowed. The open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area, for instance, is a light-drenched space showcasing a pared-back palette of warm neutrals, punctuated by the arresting hues of the rich green island and the teal velvet sofa.

Laura teased the green through into the hallway, parading softer hues of it on the paneling and wallpaper, and juxtaposing it with daring red in the contemporary stair runner.

The sitting room at the front of the house leans into the drama, flaunting earthy red walls and cabinetry that are carefully tempered with teal highlights.

The audacious use of color isn’t confined to the reception rooms. The bedrooms follow through on the blues, reds, and greens that are laced through the downstairs.

'Within each room there’s a key color palette, but it’s adjusted to suit each space and give it its own identity,' says Laura. The effect is invigorating.

'The word joyful definitely applies,' notes Laura. 'I think it’s an important part of our design philosophy – you want to feel uplifted by the spaces.

The schemes are very cohesive, so it’s calming to live in, even though there are lots of different elements of texture, color and pattern at play.'

The studio’s signature decorative flourishes and layers of pattern are showcased throughout, too.

In the sitting room, the curved contemporary armchairs are finished with skirts whose romantic ruffles lean into period style, blending old and new and bringing organic shaping that offsets the room’s clean lines, while swooping headboards, upholstered in exuberant patterned fabrics, add impact in the bedrooms.

Practicality was also a consideration in a household with children and a dog.

Double doors were replaced with windows, creating space for a dining area at the back of the kitchen. Here, Laura designed a banquette in a dapper stripe that nods to period style, yet, teamed with pink and blue chairs, makes for a space that exudes joie de vivre.

'It is an extension and it needed character adding in,' explains Andrea. 'The clients wanted a cool space and we wanted to avoid it being a white box.'

A bespoke bench was built into the entrance cabinetry, while joinery in the open-plan living area was redone to allow for a dog bed. This carefully considered refresh has brought new energy to this beautiful home.

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It wasn't love at first sight for architect Lea Schein. While the Pacific Palisades property came with ocean views, fruit orchards, and more than 300 varieties of plants, the house itself took a little more imagination.

Despite an exterior that blends California Mediterranean, Italian, and French Country influences, the interiors felt like an early-2000s white box – it had good bones, but very little soul. So, over 18 months, Lea and her family set about changing that. Finishing just a week before the 2025 fires hit L.A.

Today, custom millwork, paneled walls, vintage lighting, family heirlooms, and vine-covered pergolas give the architect's personal house design a feeling of character and 'casual formality' that it was so desperately missing.

Set within a quaint town in the Pacific Palisades, an area currently being rebuilt after the fires, the journey to making this house a home was quite the 'emotional rollercoaster' for Lea, founder of Lea Schein Studios, and her family.

After coming back for a second viewing and finally falling for the property – 'it was definitely worth saving,' says Lea – she set her sights on fixing the inside to match the out.

Despite it having rather bland interiors, with a mash-up of several different home renovations, the previous owners had turned the exterior into the 'perfect Southern California vibe – like something out of a movie'.

The biggest transformation came from restoring architectural details that the house had been missing. 'The house started as a white box with flat stock trim everywhere, so we built up details to give more character,' she explains.

'My main references were historic Belgian, English, and Italian country homes,' says Lea. 'There’s a certain ‘casual formality’ I was trying to achieve that you often find in European spaces – elevated but still comfortable and livable.'

While many renovations begin with plans to expand, Lea took a different approach. Working within the home's existing footprint and exterior shell, despite substantially renovating every room, her goal wasn't to make the house bigger – it was to make it better.

'Most people don't realize how much work was actually done; they assume it's always been this way. That's really the goal: to make it feel timeless.'

While Lea was confident with the layout changes, it was the design decisions she questioned. 'Decision fatigue is real! I had so many ideas I wanted to integrate from years of collecting inspiration, so learning to edit and get to the core of the design was an important step,' she adds.

To combat her decision fatigue, Lea kept the walls and trims fairly neutral, opting to use Farrow & Ball's Slipper Satin as the base color throughout.

'We wanted the house to feel warm and livable, so we layered colors like burgundy, brown, ochre, and navy paired with warm wood tones,' she explains. 'The goal was to create a cohesive, calm, and livable space, but each room has its own personality.'

Before you've even reached the main living spaces, that sense of peace and personality greets you at the front door.

As part of the entryway renovation, Lea designed a custom limestone door to set the tone, laid Belgian bluestone floors, and reworked the staircase with oak and iron detailing to create a stronger first impression.

'Ahead is a large gallery hall, which used to be twice as long, similar to a bowling alley,' she explains. 'We added plaster cornice details and applied trim to elevate the entrance and frame locations for art and lighting.'

The family room is where Lea's layout changes had their biggest impact on day-to-day life.

'The downstairs family room underwent a significant structural change,' says Lea. 'We removed a large wall that separated the gallery and family room, which required new steel beams and foundations. It was worth opening the space and essentially doubling the size of the room without adding new square footage,' she explains.

'The structural modifications allowed us to double the room size and open up the center of the house,' she adds. 'It’s the heart of our home.'

At first glance, a wall of stainless steel cabinetry in the kitchen might seem an unexpected choice, but it's precisely that contrast that gives the room its character.

Having lived in the house for a year and a half before renovating, Lea had already developed a clear understanding of how the space functioned. 'We liked the kitchen layout so we kept it similar, but rebuilt the kitchen with custom cabinets by Swiss Wood Working, skilled millworkers based in LA,' she explains. In a fitting twist, the team had originally built the previous kitchen for the home's former owners some 15 years earlier.

'I referenced scullery kitchens from the 1900s,' Lea explains of the inspiration. 'They were the workhorse of the home, and I wanted our kitchen to be both beautiful and functional.'

'I love the juxtaposition of traditional oak paneled cabinets with modern, sleek stainless,' she continues. 'Everything is durable and meant to be used. The stainless steel is a hygienic material, and the countertops are Absolute Black granite, which is used in science laboratories,' Lea adds.

'I fell in love with the handmade backsplash tiles from Cle Tile, which add a rustic, soft feel. Overall, the materials play well with each other and create an interesting, unexpected mix that feels traditional but fresh.'

Functionality was every bit as important as aesthetics. 'The kitchen tends to be the space where family and friends gather, so it was important to be large and open and have areas for people to congregate as well as cook,' says Lea.

The dining room captures that balance between European and Californian style perfectly.

Framed by what Lea describes as 'the most magical view of Los Angeles at night,' the space combines architectural charm with personal touches.

During the renovation, a full wall of wine refrigerators was removed to prioritize gathering and connection instead. 'We removed a full wall of wine refrigerators to allow for more seating,' says Lea. 'We integrated the same beam design as the family room, which really warms up the space. Added family heirlooms make this room feel especially meaningful.'

'The living room was another non-negotiable space for me,' Lea continues. 'I had dreams of this room from day one.'

Surrounded by full-height windows and doors leading to vine-covered pergolas, it's a room designed for both entertaining.

'We replaced the modern fireplace with a custom-carved Nero Marquina marble mantel to elevate the room,' she explains of the added detail. 'We used plaster moldings to highlight the tall ceilings and bring the space more into proportion. It’s the perfect room for family, gatherings, and celebrating special events,' Lea adds.

Some of the most meaningful pieces, however, are the ones with personal stories attached. 'The armchair in the family room was my parents' for many years,' says Lea. 'It was originally upholstered in a deep red velvet, but needed a bit of TLC. We reupholstered it in Rose Tarlow fabric, fixed the springs, and gave it a new life.'

'We also created a new heirloom piece, the custom daybed in the living room, inspired by a 1930s Josef Frank design,' Lea continues.

'We adjusted the proportions and used ‘Design Of The Time’ rust-colored fabric and Samuel and Sons cord for contrast trim,' she adds. ' Mixing personal pieces and items collected from travels makes the house feel layered and unique.'

Upstairs, the spaces become quieter, softer, and more intimate. 'There is a hierarchy to the rooms,' explains Lea. 'More formal spaces like the entry and living room have more detailed and layered moldings, while upstairs, the scale of the trim gets smaller, but they are still cohesive.'

'The views of Downtown, Santa Monica, and the Pacific Ocean are incredible,' says Lea of the top floor. 'The primary bedroom remained mostly intact, aside from new windows and doors and lime-wash-treated walls and ceiling. It’s such a cozy, warm room,' she adds.

'We completely reconfigured the primary closets and bathroom suite,' says Lea. 'We reoriented the primary bathroom to have a strong axis point centered around the beautiful freestanding bathtub. His and Her closets connect directly off the bathroom, making it both functional and spacious.'

'The primary bathroom was the most successful in capturing my vision for the design,' Lea continues. 'We incorporated paneled walls and vanities, as well as the custom medicine cabinets with polished nickel trim. The paint color looks amazing in the space at different times of the day. It's the perfect space to start and end the day,' she adds.

'It was important to create symmetry, with the bathtub as the centerpiece and a view of the native California garden beyond,' says Lea.

But while the primary bathroom is light and serene, the powder room embraces a much darker and more theatrical character.

Lea describes it as one of the home's moments of contrast, wrapped in deep, moody tones from floor to ceiling, the bijoux space feels almost jewel-box-like. A veined stone vanity introduces warmth against the darker backdrop, while sculptural lighting and a tiny antique mirror add unexpected drama.

The outdoor rooms feel every bit as considered as the spaces inside. Located between Santa Monica and Malibu, the home enjoys ocean views, year-round sunshine, and cool coastal breezes – something Lea was determined to maximize.

'We wanted to take advantage of the indoor-outdoor living and maximize views,' she explains. 'When selecting new windows and doors, we focused on maximizing sightlines so we can open the house up and enjoy the outside. We installed a large pocket steel door in the family room so that the wall can fully open during entertaining and on warm nights.'

Step outside, and the atmosphere is even more romantic. Vine-covered pergolas create shaded outdoor living and dining 'rooms' that feel worlds away from the city beyond. Beneath the greenery, lounge areas and dining tables encourage long lunches, evening gatherings, and the kind of effortless entertaining that California homes are known for.

Following 18 months of renovations, Lea and her family had finally reached the finish line. The house was complete, boxes were unpacked, and then everything changed.

'The fire was traumatic, especially the timing,' recalls Lea. 'After more than a year of renovations, we moved back the week before the fire. On January 7th, 2025, we received the final sign-off from the city inspector. The fire started around 11:30 am, and by 1:30 pm, we were shoving clothes and important papers in our cars and fleeing.'

'Our concerns shifted to our community and to the future we had dreamed about,' Lea explains. 'The hikes with our dog, the farmers market in town on the weekends, and raising our future family in this special, tight-knit community.'

Miraculously, their home survived. While extensive smoke damage and ash remediation still had to be addressed, the house itself was spared.

'Seeing our house survive amongst the devastation makes you feel grateful, sad, and guilty all at the same time,' says Lea. 'But the Palisades has been resilient and is rebuilding. There is a deep sense of pride living here, and we feel fortunate to be a part of this community.'

Today, Lea is helping others rebuild in the area, while beginning a new chapter of her own. 'We just welcomed our first daughter and look forward to making new memories with her here.'

The home Lea Schein created was designed to feel timeless and welcoming. After everything that followed the renovations, it has since become something even more meaningful: a place for family, community, and a hopeful new chapter.

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At first glance, this 1901 Park Slope townhouse appears to have it all: soaring proportions, original stained glass, detailed moldings, and the kind of character Brooklyn buyers dream about.

But when designer Ariel Okin first stepped inside, she found a house design that, despite its beautiful bones, wasn't quite living up to its potential. As she puts it, many of the rooms felt like 'empty white boxes waiting to be given a point of view.'

Rich aubergines, moss greens, and sunshine-yellow lacquer brought instant character, while clever zoning, multifunctional rooms, and layered patterns transformed the brownstone's long footprint into a home designed for real life. The result is a house that now unfolds with what Ariel calls an 'elegant rhythm'.

Before introducing a single new color or fabric, Ariel's first priority was recognizing what was already there. The townhouse boasted the kind of enviable details that have become increasingly rare (thanks to them being ripped out), even in Brooklyn's historic brownstones.

'We were blessed to inherit original detailing in this home that just blew my mind the moment I saw it,' says Ariel. 'The beautiful stained glass windows in the front and back of the house, in the formal living room and kitchen, are some of my very favorite details, as well as the gorgeous front door and pocket doors that separate the dining area from the family room and kitchen. The incredible molding details are exquisite as well.'

Rather than compete with those historic features, Ariel set out to celebrate them. 'It was incredibly important to me to preserve those incredible details, wherever we found them,' she says.

That respect for the home's past became the foundation for everything that followed, while still trying to make the space work harder for family life.

The owners, a young family with one child and another on the way at the time (and a third since arrived), had spent several months settling into the house before calling Ariel. The home had already been restored by a contractor, so while the bones were intact, the interiors weren't supporting the way they wanted to live.

Entertaining felt awkward, family spaces were underutilized, and there was little of the personality they had envisioned for their forever home.

'They were craving jewel tones and saturated hues to bring energy and liveliness into their new home, and they wanted the space to truly reflect the full, modern life of their growing family,' Ariel explains.

'I love when clients aren't afraid of color, and these clients really were open to pushing the envelope, which was so exciting for us,' says Ariel. 'The directive was to inject color, and lots of it, so we went hunting for the most interesting hues we could find.'

The most dramatic expression of that can be found in the front of the home. 'The formal living space ended up in deep plums reminiscent of summer eggplant, paired with a patinated verdigris that gave it depth and a sense of age,' Ariel explains.

'The unifying idea was always to find characterful color and pair it with materials that have soul, so the result reads as art-forward and saturated, without feeling too high contrast or visually busy – a calm home was also important to the clients, in addition to it being a colorful home,' she explains.

Creating a colorful home wasn't the only challenge Ariel had to face, however.

For all their charm, historic brownstones come with a long, narrow floor plan that can feel more like a corridor without careful planning. 'Brownstone layouts often run as one long galley-like rectangle from the front of the house to the back, and that was true here,' Ariel explains. 'It's a tricky configuration – the formal living area can bleed into the dining room, kitchen, and family room without any clear delineation – so one of the first things we did was give that long axis some much-needed structure.'

'We used rugs and our furniture plans as markers to designate zones, allowing for front-of-house formal entertaining spaces and everyday high-traffic spaces toward the back, without adding walls or letting any one area shout over the others,' she adds.

More importantly, it has completely changed how the family uses the house.

'When they first moved in, they weren't really entertaining, because the formal living room felt cut off from the dining area, and the kitchen didn't offer anywhere casual to hang out or watch TV,' says Ariel. 'There was no playroom for the kids and no guest room for grandparents or friends to have a proper stay.'

'So we designed accordingly,' she adds. 'In the city, rooms have to flex between formal entertaining and everyday family life. That dual identity – sophisticated yet still functional and practical for everyday life, is baked into city living.'

The kitchen, where you'll note the palette pulled from the original stained glass windows, received some of the most transformative updates.

To make the space work harder for a growing family, Ariel boarded up a nonworking fireplace to create room for a built-in banquette, complete with dining table and chairs.

'We extended the island for more seating and prep space. The family of five now enjoys pancake breakfasts in a true eat-in kitchen, which makes me so happy,' she explains.

Nearby, the home bar has become one of the home's standout features.

'Tucked nearby is the wet bar in the family area, dressed in that orangey-yellow, egg-yolk lacquer paired with a honed, veined Italian marble – a real focal moment that allows for seamless entertaining, whether it's serving French pressed coffee at a casual brunch or martinis for an evening of grown-up hosting,' Ariel adds.

More than just an eye-catching decorative moment, it's also been designed to support the way the family hosts.

While the lower levels of the townhouse are designed for gathering, the upper floors offer a place to retreat.

That sense of quiet begins in the primary suite, which Ariel envisioned as a genuine escape from the demands of everyday life. 'The primary bedroom is designed as a real retreat – a place these two busy working parents can actually decompress at the end of the day.'

'Overall, I didn't want the home to feel busy or scream maximalist, and I think we achieved a nice balance of cozy and neutral – choosing solids like a mink hued velvet mohair for the sofa in the living room, or a solid marigold for the primary bedroom settee – and then bouncing patterns off of those, rather than everything being smattered in pattern down to the very last square inch,' she adds of the layered scheme.

One of the home's most unexpected luxuries lies just beyond the primary bedroom suite, where Ariel carved out what she describes as a 'dream patio' – 'an outdoor extension of the home that's become one of their favorite places to gather.'

Surrounded by greenery, the terrace feels remarkably removed from the pace of city life, while comfortable seating encourages slow moments. It's a rare feeling in Brooklyn, where outdoor space is coveted enough, let alone one with such a serene outlook.

'Aesthetically, the saturated palette and willingness to layer color and pattern feels like a love letter to the city's appetite for personality and creativity, and the patio we added at the back of the house is its own little Brooklyn fantasy: a dream outdoor moment looking right at an ancient tree in their backyard,' she adds.

The bathrooms strike a similar balance between character and calm. Rather than introducing something sleek and overly contemporary, Ariel looked for materials that would feel as though they had always belonged within the home.

'Upstairs, the bathrooms are clad in sage green Zellige tiles with their worn, lived-in patina,' Ariel adds. Wrapped in warm neutral tones, the tiles are joined by a host of timeless companions: grained wood cabinetry, cool marble checkerboard floors, traditional fittings, and delicate botanical artwork that feels perfectly at home in the historic setting.

The children's rooms continue the home's celebration of color and pattern, proving that family-friendly design needn't mean sacrificing personality.

'This house is built for living – two working parents, three kids under the age of five, friends and grandparents coming through – and we wanted it to reflect the joy and ebullience of a full, busy life,' she explains.

'Pattern can make rooms feel alive, and it's also forgiving; there's a practicality to layered prints and textures when small kids are involved (easier to hide the fingerprints!),' Ariel adds.

'On the garden level, the children's playroom welcomes at the base of the stairs, ready to transform into a guest bedroom whenever they need it,' Ariel adds of the further kid-friendly spaces.

Rather than dedicating valuable square footage to a room used only occasionally, she devised a solution that allows the space to seamlessly shift between two roles. 'The flex play space got a great pull-out sofa so that it can flip into a guest bedroom on a whim – the everyday version is a kid-friendly hangout, but it transitions into a proper room for visitors without missing a beat.'

'The rooms are multifunctional and personal, there to support them as they grow and thrive in their dynamic new space.'

Elsewhere, Ariel looked for opportunities to reclaim overlooked areas. Near the kitchen, an awkward corner that had previously sat empty was transformed into a cozy family room.

'We crafted a custom sofa to fit into a little nook tucked caddy-corner to the kitchen, giving our clients a proper family room where there had just been empty space,' she explains.

Similarly, back on the garden level, Ariel continues the theme of flexibility. Here, a 'sexy, deep navy lacquered bar with antiqued glass mirror' anchors an additional entertaining zone, complete with a card table and a snug room designed for movie nights.

In many ways, the success of this renovation has less to do with the jewel-tones, the patterns, or the beautifully preserved historic details. Instead, it lies in how the house now supports the family that calls it home.

'The best compliment we got when this project was finished was that the renovation helped our clients actually use the house the way they wanted to,' Ariel notes. 'The thought of throwing a dinner party used to feel daunting to our client, and now there's an elegant rhythm from cocktails in the living room to dinner at the table.'

'It is the kind of home you walk into and find a beautiful surprise as it unfurls while you walk through the space,' she continues. 'I hope it feels like the place that holds every chapter of their life, from pancake breakfasts in the eat-in kitchen to summer evenings out on the patio.'

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With 25,000 square feet to play with, this Utah home surrounded by mountains could easily have felt imposing. Instead, it feels remarkably intimate.

Designed by Studio McGee in collaboration with architect Colton Broadbent of Broadbent Architectural Studio, the newly completed home was created for a family of nine who wanted something timeless yet deeply personal – a house design for gathering, creativity, and connection rather than vast scale.

Yes, there are soaring ceilings, dramatic steel-framed windows, and impressive views of the Provo foothills beyond. But there are also craft rooms, music spaces, a bowling alley, and one very charming striped playroom disguised as a tent.

Ahead of the full reveal, Shea and Colton take Homes & Gardens on an exclusive first look round.

Homes & Gardens: The landscape seems to play as much of a role as the architecture itself. How did the setting shape the home's story?

Shea McGee: The clients had a clear vision – a legacy home for their family of nine, anchored by a classical European aesthetic and built to feel as though it had always been there. The setting shaped almost every decision.

The warm, brick-cut stone on the exterior was selected to settle the home into its surroundings; the steel windows pull the mountain views inside; the entry hall was intentionally framed so that the moment you walk through the front door, the landscape opens straight through to the backyard. This was never meant to be a home imposed on the site. It was meant to belong to it.

Colton Broadbent: From the outset, Jason [the homeowner and Crumbl Cookies founder] wasn’t simply interested in building a home; he was interested in creating a story. He often spoke about wanting a place that captured the essence of his childhood.

The site itself played a significant role in shaping the architecture. The mountains provide a dramatic backdrop, but there was never a desire for the house to compete with the landscape. Instead, we wanted it to feel as though it had gradually found its place there over time. The architecture draws on familiar, time-tested forms, but it is composed in a way that feels fresh and tailored to the family.

One of the central challenges was accommodating an ambitious program without allowing the home to feel oversized or overly formal. Homes of this scale can easily become a collection of features. Our goal was to create something more enduring.

Homes & Gardens: This project pivoted during the design process. How did that shift ultimately shape the final design?

Colton Broadbent: One of the things I love most about residential architecture is that the project you begin is rarely the project you finish. The design process has a way of revealing priorities that aren’t always obvious at the outset. Not only to us as designers, but often to the clients themselves.

When we first began exploring this home, the architectural language leaned somewhat more contemporary. As our conversations with Jason and his wife, Whitney, deepened, however, it became clear that what they were ultimately seeking wasn’t a particular style; it was a feeling.

As that became clearer, the architecture naturally evolved. Rather than asking, 'How can this be different?' we found ourselves asking, 'How can this feel lasting?' That shift ended up influencing almost every major decision that followed.

The final home feels richer because of that journey. The collaboration with Studio McGee and Northland Design was instrumental in that outcome. The architecture established the framework, but the interiors and landscape expanded the narrative, adding texture, depth, and continuity that extend well beyond the walls of the home.

Shea McGee: Every project of this depth has a pivot, and ours came with the dining room. It was originally imagined as a glass-lined pavilion gently set over water – an outdoor room.

As the design evolved and the family’s needs shifted, the pavilion was enclosed in glass and embraced within the home’s more traditional architecture.

The illusion remains. The room still feels as though it’s floating, with the water carrying out beneath the house and through to a cascade beyond. That single decision created some of the most layered views in the home – moments where you can look through one space and discover another. It also shaped the way we thought about the rest of the floor plan: as a collection of spaces revealed gradually, rather than taken in all at once.

Homes & Gardens: Despite the scale of this property, it's surprisingly cozy. How did you approach creating that sense of intimacy?

Shea McGee: A home this size could easily feel grand to the point of being impersonal, so we worked very carefully to bring that feeling down through layering, pattern mixing, cottage-inspired details, and antiques that feel collected rather than precious.

The architecture also allowed for a nice ebb and flow between the grand spaces and the more intimate ones, and we leaned into that contrast. We were intentional about choosing finishes with warmth – oak, for instance, throughout the great room.

We added oak moldings around the openings that create almost a hug effect around the living room before drawing you into the more intimate spaces beyond. That mix is really instrumental.

We filled every corner of the home with personal pieces – artwork and decorative objects that belong to the family – and that's what makes it feel lived in rather than staged.

Homes & Gardens: The home balances the wife’s softer, more cottage-inspired style with Jason’s cleaner, more tailored vision. How did you bridge those contrasting styles?

Shea McGee: The overall aesthetic is classic European with American livability – layered, warm, and quietly tailored.

Whitney leans toward softer, more cottage-inspired moments: the chinoiserie murals in the children’s wing, the romantic ruffled cushions in the craft room, the slipcovered seating, the wallpapered ceilings.

Jason gravitates toward cleaner architectural moves: the limestone entry, the steel windows, the dark-stained tongue-and-groove garage, the rich oak of his dressing room.

The way they meet is the heart of the project. Architectural continuity – the same paneling, the same plaster, the same material vocabulary – held the home together, and within that backbone, each room could lean a little softer or a little more tailored without losing the larger story. The home is neither his nor hers. It’s both, settled into one.

Colton Broadbent: We ultimately landed on a Belgian-inspired archetype because it could hold both sides of their taste.

It can handle Jason’s cleaner, more tailored sensibility, but it also has room for the softer, more cottage-like qualities that Whitney was drawn to. There is a sense of history and craftsmanship in that style, but it doesn’t have to feel overly ornate or out of place.

That became the bridge. The architecture could be rooted in history and European precedent, but still feels restrained, edited, and appropriate for the way they live. From there, Studio McGee was able to carry that story into the furnishings, materials, and layered interior details. It was really a shared story that we kept building together and riffing on as the project developed.

Homes & Gardens: Are there any details in the home that visitors might overlook, but shouldn't?

Shea McGee: So much of what makes this home feel personal lives in the details, and the artwork is where a lot of that comes through. A few highlights for me:

There's a painting of our client's grandmother hanging in the kitchen, and a wall of historical family photos in the mudroom. We also commissioned a local artist to paint a beautiful family tree featuring the family crest and a small rendering of the home itself – it hangs above a George Smith chaise tucked under the stairs, which is one of my favorite quiet moments in the house.

On the finishes side, I love what we did with the stone step details in a few different spots. In the entryway, there's a solid piece of limestone with a chiseled edge, and at the base of the staircase leading up to the kids' wing, there's a marble step. They're small moments most people might not register consciously, but they're the kind of details that make the home feel crafted rather than built.

Colton Broadbent: I hope people notice the spaces between the spaces.

Throughout this home, we paid close attention to moments of arrival, pause, and anticipation. There are vestibules, compressed passages, framed views, and subtle thresholds that help define the experience of moving from one space into another.

A great piece of music is not defined solely by the notes. The pauses matter as well. Architecture operates in much the same way. The moments of compression make the larger spaces feel more expansive. The quieter moments make the dramatic moments feel more meaningful.

There is a kind of cognitive mapping that happens, where your body can sense that you are moving from one type of space into another. As you move through the house, the architecture asks you to pay attention. It makes you feel that something has shifted, and hopefully it sparks a little curiosity about why that space feels different.

Homes & Gardens: From craft rooms to bowling alleys – how important was creating different moods throughout the home?

Shea McGee: If every room hits the same note, you stop hearing any of them. The conservatory is enveloping and a little theatrical – Pierre Frey Chantonnay wallpaper carried up the walls and across the ceiling, two Steinways at the center, a design narrative built around fifteen songs that mean something to this family.

The craft room is cheerful and atelier-like – soft cream millwork, ruffled cushions on the built-in benches, label holders on the drawers.

The theater room is intimate and club-like – lounge seating instead of stadium rows, deep green velvet, plaid lumbar pillows. They’re each true to themselves, but there are threads that carry between the spaces with the materials, inspiration, and color palettes.

Homes & Gardens: We have to talk about the tented playroom. Where did that idea come from?

Shea McGee: When we design kids' spaces, we're thinking about playfulness and youth, but we're also thinking about how a room can evolve over time.

The bunk room is a good example – we chose gender-neutral tones so it could grow and accommodate whoever is staying there. We did a playful design with the cutouts and shaping of the bunks, upholstered headboards, and built-in daybeds.

The star of the children's spaces, though, is the tented room. From the very first time I saw that space on the plans, I knew I wanted it to feel like a play tent inside the home. I'd always wanted to do a tented room, and our client was open to it, so I knew this was the perfect opportunity.

The blue and white stripes feel classic and elegant – every home needs a few moments that feel like surprises, and this is one of them. It is the happiest room. Tented rooms have a rich history, and with a few styling adjustments, this could function as a really inspiring lounge space as the kids grow older.

Homes & Gardens: There's a pattern in almost every room, yet nothing feels overwhelming. What's the secret?

Shea McGee: There's a rise and fall with the pattern throughout the home. Nearly every room features some sort of pattern – whether it's tile work, a textile on a pillow or chair, or wallpaper – but there are also calmer, quieter moments that let the eye rest. The goal was to create continuity and repetition without making every room feel the same.

A lot of the cohesion comes from design details we carried through the main spaces, but in subtly varied ways – the opening around the fireplace is repeated around the kitchen range, cabinet corbels, and in the primary bedroom.

We also took a lot of inspiration from the natural surroundings. You see those palettes and textures pulled directly from the foothills behind the home – many of the dusty, earthy tones throughout were chosen with that landscape in mind. That connection to place is really what holds everything together.

Homes & Gardens: Architecturally, what was most important to establish early on?

Colton Broadbent: If I had to point to a single idea that guided the project from the beginning, it would be proportion.

Large homes are not inherently grand. In fact, size alone often works against the feeling people are trying to achieve. Without careful consideration, larger homes can quickly go from feeling grand to just feeling big.

We use the phrase 'house bloat' internally quite a bit, and this project constantly challenged us to resist it. Every square foot had to earn its place within the larger composition.

From the beginning, we focused on creating hierarchy rather than simply increasing dimensions. Every space needed to understand its role within the larger composition.

A room with a high ceiling, for example, required architectural elements that could help bring the scale back to the individual. Millwork, beams, openings, and material transitions all became tools for creating comfort within larger volumes.

Homes & Gardens: Is there one room or design detail that best captures the spirit of the project?

Shea McGee: Maybe it's because it's one of my favorite rooms in the house, but I think the scullery best captures the personality of the family. It's a large, overflowing space that's incredibly practical but just as beautiful.

The Delft tile on the walls is representative of a favorite trip our client went on, so it's deeply personal. In the center, there's a huge island for baking. We hung copper pots that feel very collected, and a sentimental art piece hangs in the corner. It's so connected to a personal story, but you can also see the vibrancy and life of the family who lives here. To me, it captures everything we wanted this project to be: chic, collected, personal, and a space that actually works for the people who live in it.

Colton Broadbent: There are a lot of spaces I’m proud of in this house, but I find myself returning to the relationship between the dining room and the craft room.

On paper, those spaces serve very different purposes. One is devoted to gathering around a table. The other is devoted to making, experimenting, and creating. Yet their proximity tells you a great deal about the values of the family.

This family is very much about storytelling, inspiration, togetherness, and creation. They wanted a home where their kids could feel inspired, where creativity was part of everyday life. I think that is a really beautiful thing to foster in children.

That connection between family dinner and the craft room really captures the heart of the project for me: togetherness, creativity, and a home that encourages everyone who lives there and visits to be inspired.

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Residents of San Francisco are well versed in the phenomenon of the marine layer – that shifting veil of fog that rolls in from the Pacific, softening the outline of the Golden Gate Bridge and casting the city in diffused light across a palette of blue-greens and silvers.

Step inside this house design in Presidio Heights and that same atmospheric quality prevails: in the veining of its marbles, in the watery mural that wraps the dining room, and in a palette that hovers somewhere between sea and sky.

The house – a detached Edwardian property dating from 1905 – has been reworked by Lindsay Anyon Brier in collaboration with Sutro Architects. It was, from the outset, a house designed to keep pace with the owners’ rapidly expanding family.

With two older children from a previous marriage, a toddler at the beginning of the project, and two more arriving before its completion, it is frequently home to seven.

And yet, despite this lively dynamic, the brief was rooted in restoration and restraint.

As the client explains, 'Our vision was to honor the original San Francisco Edwardian style of the house while introducing English and Scottish inspiration.' Crucially, she adds, 'We couldn’t have articulated this without the help of a professional designer.'

Architecturally, the interventions are subtle but transformative.

The footprint remains intact but the flow between spaces has been recalibrated. A reworked staircase draws light down from a retractable skylight, while at the rear, glazing opens the main floor to the garden.

Even the facade was reconsidered, with original drawings discovered mid-project, allowing a faithful return to timber paneling. 'We were able to restore that sense of what the house would have been,' says Lindsay.

Inside, however, it is the decorative confidence that defines the project.

The clients’ appetite for color proved a catalyst. 'They kept saying, “What if we add another color?”,' Lindsay laughs.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the kitchen, where smoky green kitchen cabinetry – inspired by an English country sensibility – is paired with dramatically veined marble and copper fittings.

The stone, with its rusted undertones, feels almost elemental, echoing the tonal shifts of the landscape beyond.

That same spirit carries through into craftsmanship and narrative detail.

A subtle Anglo-Scottish thread runs throughout – a reflection of family heritage and shared travels. Plaid textiles in the main bedroom, a 19th-century Scottish rocking chair in the family room, and exquisitely crafted pieces all contribute to a sense of quiet continuity.

'They would return from trips with photographs of castles or details that inspired them and we would find ways to weave those ideas in,' Lindsay says.

There are also nautical inflections – a nod to the house’s proximity to the bay.

In the entryway, a table with a faintly maritime character sits atop a marble floor inspired by a textile. It is a moment of decorative bravura and one the clients embraced wholeheartedly. 'They weren’t afraid of investing in something that would feel special and enduring,' says Lindsay.

Art plays a similarly integral role.

A ceramic installation in the sitting room, discovered by Lindsay at the FOG Design+Art Fair, introduces a striking sense of movement.

Elsewhere, wallcoverings chart a spectrum from immersive to playful: a panoramic mural in the dining room evokes distant shores, while a thistle print by Timorous Beasties enlivens the powder room with wit and drama.

In the children’s rooms, patterns climb walls and ceilings, giving each room a distinctive personality.

For all its refinement, however, the house is resolutely lived-in. 'We love how well-rounded everything turned out,' says the client. 'It’s elevated and elegant, yet playful and family-friendly.'

That balance is perhaps most keenly felt in the quieter moments – in the main bathroom, for instance, which she describes as 'a mini escape from busy family life, like a spa day within the home'.

And perhaps that is the point.

This is not a house that relies on grand gestures, but one that builds its atmosphere slowly – through a layering of color, craft and detail.

Much like the marine layer, it reveals its beauty gradually and it’s all the more compellingly for it.

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There’s something incredibly refreshing about walking into a home where every room feels completely distinct. In this historic Federalist property, violet walls give way to deep blue moiré wallpaper, an aubergine mohair sofa sits beneath traditional millwork, and even the pantry has been treated as its own joyful moment.

Rather than relying on one continuous palette, designer Julia Miller of Yond Interiors approached the house design by 'treating each room as an individual with their own personality'.

What makes this project feel especially timely, however, is its embracing of separation. 'So many homes are open concept, not allowing for any exploration of wall color or pattern. To work on a home with proper transitions was a complete joy!' says Julia. Here, each room carries its own unique mood and identity – proving cohesion doesn’t have to mean everything matches.

Set within a historic neighborhood in Denver, Colorado, this Federal-style home offered Yond Interiors the perfect foundation for a project rooted in individuality, warmth, and layered storytelling.

While the home underwent a significant new addition – including a relocated kitchen, new primary suite, and multifunctional living space at the rear – Julia was careful to ensure the interiors still felt deeply connected to the home’s traditional bones.

'We always think of the house as one of our clients, so naturally, we're always looking for ways for the home to inform our selections,' Julia explains. 'It is so important that there is a match between the architecture and structure and the interior details and furnishings.'

That relationship became central to the project, with original millwork, traditional room divisions, and curved transitions informing everything from the furnishings to the palette.

'The overall aesthetic is layered traditional Americana with thoughtful modern-day moments, like furniture shapes,' says Julia. 'Our key concept rested on integrating more texture and color story that highlighted the millwork details.'

Rich texture, vintage references, and cocooning color all play a role throughout the home, but rather than relying on one dominant palette, each room was allowed to develop its own personality.

One of the most defining features of this home is something many newer properties lack entirely: separation.

Rather than one expansive open-plan space, the historic layout allowed Julia the freedom to approach each space emotionally, designing around how the room would be used rather than forcing the entire home into one continuous scheme.

'Given each space had appropriate millwork and separation, that gave us tons of freedom to explore color,' says Julia. 'The whole home palette was chosen to harmoniously work together, but we defined each space with a distinct color story,' she adds.

The home’s layered approach reveals itself immediately, where a grand staircase creates a welcoming introduction to the otherwise formal architecture.

'The staircase is one of my favorite moments, as it softly welcomes you to the home, the curve is just wonderful,' says Julia.

'The entryway space required some definition, and rather than just using a standard console, we paired it with a lounge chair to really anchor and formalize the space,' she explains.

From there, the front living room sets the tone for the home’s cocooning texture scheme. Designed for more gatherings, the space layers tactile materials and enveloping color to soften the room’s architecture.

'To the left of the entry is the front living room,' Julia explains of the layout. 'This space is for more formal gatherings with the chunkiest, aubergine mohair sofa and two vintage chairs covered in corduroy.'

'We added significant texture with the Beni Ourain-style rug and the softest violet walls,' she adds.

That same enveloping mood continues into the dining room, where dramatic moiré wallpaper wraps the space in deep blue texture.

'The wallpaper gives the spaces the perfect amount of texture and balance, making it feel like a super special place to spend time,' Julia notes.

Customized furnishings, including pieces made with Minneapolis-based furniture maker Rovan (Julia's favorite!), sit alongside a vintage rug sourced from Curio, balancing age and patina with the room’s more modern elements.

Elsewhere, even the smallest spaces in the home were given the same level of attention and personality as the larger entertaining rooms.

Wrapped entirely in a muted rose tone, the powder room manages to feel both warm and dramatic. A sculptural black sink and aged brass fixtures provide contrast against the earthy walls, while the soft lighting adds to the room’s intimate mood.

'The client deeply wanted the space to be [painted in] Farrow and Ball's Sulking Room Pink, and that is exactly what we did,' she says of the paint choice. 'Layered with ceramic details from Dumais, the space feels special and considered.'

As you move deeper into the home, the mood shifts from entertaining to spaces designed for everyday living, though the sense of charm remains just as rich.

One of the standout moments is the pantry, which Julia describes as 'one of my favorite spaces!'

'Drenched in Antoinette Poisson wallpaper and cabinetry by deVOL, this space is a harken to the past,' Julia explains of the nostalgic feel. 'It's such a cheerful experience,' she adds.

'As you leave the pantry, you enter the kitchen with more cabinetry by deVOL, stunningly detailed and layered with creams and shades of blue,' says Julia.

The kitchen continues the home’s heritage-inspired aesthetic, though here the palette gets deeper. Dark inky cabinetry brings a sense of grandeur, balanced by stone surfaces, brass hardware, and soft painted walls that keep the room feeling light despite the darker kitchen cabinet color.

There’s also an added softness to the room. Patinated rails, cafe curtains, and collected decorative objects give the kitchen an ease that stops it from feeling overly formal. And, rather than relying on stark contrast, Julia layered tonal creams, browns, blacks, and gray-blues to create a kitchen scheme that feels lived-in, as opposed to pristine.

'Off the kitchen is the cozy, hyphenate breakfast, TV, and fireplace room,' Julia explains of the multi-functional new extension.

This was designed as a hardworking everyday space – one that could comfortably accommodate dining, lounging, entertaining, and family life all at once without losing the warmth found throughout the rest of the home.

'This space had to pull a lot of weight, so space planning was initially the first task,' says Julia.

Rather than allowing the room to become one undefined open-plan area, Julia approached it almost as a series of three zones, 'anchoring it with a single rug to unify the spaces,' she explains.

The bijoux breakfast nook feels intentionally intimate, tucked beneath a window with a built-in banquette that wraps around a custom charcoal pedestal table, while pale oak dining chairs and sculptural lighting bring in more contemporary forms.

Beyond the breakfast area, the sitting room introduces a heavier dose of pattern. Here, oversized shearling lounge chairs sit opposite a dramatic tapestry print sofa.

'The heroes of the space are the sofa draped in Dedar's Schwarzwald, a fabric we've loved forever. The shearling chairs are a cozy, favorite, perfect for a fireside morning,' she continues.

Anchored by a substantial stone fireplace and coffee table, the room balances bold upholstery with vintage-inspired details, like a burl wood table lamp, creating a space that feels entirely inviting.

The adjoining TV zone was designed with comfort firmly in mind. A large chocolate brown sectional acts as a 'wall' and helps define it visually from the surrounding seating areas, while built-in shelving and layered lighting soften the family room.

Upstairs, the home’s emphasis on individuality continues, with each bedroom taking on its own distinct aesthetic.

The primary bedroom leans into a quieter, more cocooning mood. Wrapped in a warm mid-gray hue, the room feels noticeably softer and calmer than downstairs, with tonal layers of muted mauves, walnut wood, and tactile linens creating a sense of retreat.

Gauzy lighting, a curved headboard, and subtle patterns reinforce the restful atmosphere. 'The primary is soft, calming, and enveloping, painted in Farrow and Ball's Elephant's Breath,' says Julia.

In contrast, the daughter’s room embraces a fresher, more playful palette, pairing soft blue walls with rich marigold and rust-toned textiles that bring warmth and energy to the space.

Pattern and texture are layered throughout, from the graphic bedding to the tapestry-style wall hanging, giving the room a youthful personality without feeling overly theme-driven.

'With their daughter's room being the blue and marigold palette, something fun and fresh,' Julia explains, describing the unexpected color combination that defines the space.

What makes this historic home feel so contemporary is not just its unique palette or rich furnishings, but the way each room has been allowed to develop its own character.

'Each room had its own function, so drawing inspiration for how the room was going to be used and the vibes of the experiences in that room were our guiding force for defining each space's identity,' Julia explains of her approach.

'For us, it was all about creating individuality and cohesion at the same time. That sounds counterproductive, but once you conceptualize the spaces for their individual needs, the palettes and textures came naturally,' she adds.

Ultimately, the home serves as a reminder that the most inviting interiors are rarely the ones where everything matches perfectly, but where every room is allowed to have a personality of its own.

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'Color does not add a pleasant quality to design – it reinforces it.' So said the French painter and lover of bold color, Pierre Bonnard. It’s a sentiment that might have resonated with the owner of this west London home, as she considered its spacious, but somewhat characterless interior.

Built in the 1980s, it had worn – bar the occasional pop of color – an almost entirely gray scheme for some decades. 'Color, pattern and flow were my client’s priorities for her redesign,' explains interior designer Laura Stephens. 'She was yearning for some vibrancy.'

Laura’s client found her on Instagram and she was drawn to her use of color to create warmth, an element she felt was missing from the house design at the time.

'Her children had left home and she was ready to give the place a thorough revivify – one that would bring cohesion to her treasured collection of furniture and art, while injecting bold hues, pattern and character into every room,' says Laura.

The house had good proportions, generous lateral space and an abundance of natural light.

'The ground floor is essentially open plan, with hall, kitchen, dining and living spaces flowing into and out of each other,' says Laura. 'But it was all a bit muddled. We rejigged the layout and introduced some smart zoning to help better demarcate the different areas.'

The most dramatic upgrade was to the kitchen, which dominates the space and needed to look attractive and to feel integrated with its surroundings.

'It featured a beautiful Plain English cabinetry design and needed nothing more than a considered refresh,' says Laura. 'A Moroccan painting in the dining area, of running horses, was my starting point. It’s full of lovely purples and pinks. We added a burgundy shade – just for the lower cabinets – to the existing green and purple cabinetry, replaced the handles for a more tactile experience and fitted a bespoke backsplash to bring depth and focus.'

Laura’s client was skeptical at first about the additional deep red color, but ultimately trusted in her that all would be well. 'And it was! We’ve scattered burgundy accents elsewhere, so that the new jewel tones all work together.'

The living area has benefited from a fresh layout that sees sofas and rug moved to create a more convivial function around a new, centrally placed ottoman, while artworks featuring mountain scenes were rehung as a themed gallery.

'We softened the overall feel with a richly saturated, cinnamon-hued base, layering in color and texture through window treatments, upholstery and decorative lighting,' explains Laura. 'This created a warm, welcoming backdrop that tied together both the existing pieces and the new design elements.'

One of the most important aspects of the project was the lighting. Recessed ceiling spotlights had been fitted throughout, which did nothing to show off the owner’s art. Laura did away with the spots, fitting surface-mounted directional lights instead, which instantly brought the pictures to life.

The middle floor opens to a spacious landing that’s been painted a delightful pinkish-leather shade – it is almost Mediterranean in feel.

'You don’t generally get large landings in London houses, but that’s one of the plus sides of a more recently built property. Here, there was enough room for a beautiful armoire and a reupholstered antique chair to happily rub shoulders without the space ever feeling cramped.'

In the bedrooms and bathrooms, bold palettes were fully embraced and balanced with soft, tonal accents to ensure each room felt harmonious, yet full of individual personality.

The main bedroom, which is tucked into the loft, was more of a challenge. It was an awkward space to decorate due to its sloping eaves so Laura’s solution was to celebrate these, rather than try to disguise them.

A shapely headboard replaced the existing low-level one, instantly dealing with the unattractive void above it. 'Immediately the proportions became just right,' she says.

Design details such as these, alongside considered layering and careful zoning, genuinely work to enhance the bones of a modern build and have resulted in a home that feels deeply personal, richly textured and perfectly in tune with the family’s evolving needs.

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From the street, the modest facade of this former farmhouse offers few clues to what lies beyond. But step inside, and the house design opens out dramatically to reveal a lush, unexpectedly expansive garden – an almost cinematic reveal, given the home’s location in the very heart of Biarritz.

'We back onto huge, 82-foot-high plane trees, which create the illusion that the garden extends indefinitely,' says Patrick Gilles, who purchased the property in 2017 with his wife, Dorothée Boissier, and their two children, now 18 and 16. 'It was that element of surprise – this astonishing pocket of green right in the city – that seduced us.'

Though the family is based in Paris, where Patrick and Dorothée helm their acclaimed design studio, Gilles & Boissier, they have maintained a foothold in Biarritz for a number of years.

'I first came here as a young teenager, when I got the surfing bug,' Patrick recalls. 'I kept returning throughout my student years.'

Later, the couple were commissioned to design a project in the area, and he found himself rediscovering the city with fresh eyes. 'We both fell under its spell,' he recollects.

Their home’s spare yet lyrical interiors – a pitch-perfect balance of rusticity and refinement – give little hint to the building’s humble origins, when sheep occupied the ground floor and the upper level offered the most basic accommodations.

'The sea air had wreaked havoc on the structure so it needed everything done to it,' recalls Dorothée. 'In the end we stripped it back to the foundations and retained only the four external walls.'

The reimagined ground floor is now a generous open-plan space flowing between the living and dining areas. In the latter, the focal point is a bespoke cedar banquette running the full length of the rear wall.

'It gives us so much flexibility,' Patrick explains. 'It provides seating for the dining table, but we also have a smaller table that turns it into a work area; you can even lie down on it.'

Handcrafted from brushed cedar, the piece exemplifies the couple’s love for tactile materials. 'We adore cedar – it smells wonderful, it has so much life to it, and no two pieces are the same,' Patrick says, gesturing to the knots and grains that animate the wall behind.

In contrast, the living area is anchored by a wall of blackened cedar, which frames the passage from the entrance while discreetly concealing a pair of doors leading to the kitchen.

This interplay of light and dark timbers is a recurring motif throughout the house, lending the spaces a sense of rhythm, depth and quiet drama.

'Contrasts were very important,' agrees Dorothée. 'For example, I love that we paired rustic cedar with cushions in a glazed chintz; it’s quite a rarefied fabric to combine with the masculine timber.'

Elsewhere, the clean lines of the furniture are offset by more elaborate forms: sculptural artworks and found objects, many of them sourced at the Puces de Saint-Ouen in Paris.

Some pieces speak to longstanding creative relationships, including Christian Astuguevieille’s distinctive designs, which include tactile wall lights wrapped in natural or black rope. Others are even more personal: artworks by Patrick’s great-uncle, the artist Joseph Monin, and raku-fired ceramics by his mother, Claudia Gilles.

Amid the restraint, they introduce a note of poetry – 'un peu perturbateur', just a little disruptive, as Dorothée describes it.

The pared-back palette of materials helps to tell the story of the building and its setting, most strikingly in the kitchen, where cedar cabinetry is paired with a local Basque Country stone, its bush-hammered surface subtly connecting the interior to the surrounding landscape.

Upstairs, in the couple’s bedroom, a custom-made rug – thick, sculptural and evocative of sand – offers a nod to the nearby beach.

The original beams, retained throughout, lend a gentle cadence to the spaces. 'We mostly painted them white, although in the dining area, we added reclaimed oak inserts to introduce a touch more texture,' Patrick explains.

While the couple enjoy welcoming guests, this is, above all, a private retreat. Even with their hectic schedule (the studio recently completed The Lana Dorchester in Dubai and is currently working on several hotels, including the Mandarin Oriental in Rome) Biarritz remains a constant.

'We come as often as we can,' says Dorothée. 'We make a point of experiencing the garden in every season.'

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Perched in the hills of Zuma Canyon, Malibu, this 1960 Spanish-style home has all the hallmarks of classic Californian architecture – terracotta floors, exposed wood beams, wrought iron detailing, and sweeping views.

But rather than turning the property into another polished 'modern Mediterranean' makeover, Los Angeles-based studio Breland–Harper approached the renovation with a lighter touch, creating a house design that feels layered and deeply connected to its landscape.

'The home is best described as a layered interpretation of Spanish Revival through a contemporary Californian lens,' explains designer Michael Breland, who looked to everything from vernacular Mediterranean architecture to the shifting tones of the canyon itself for inspiration. The result is what can only be described as an elegant take on Californian casual.

One of the most compelling things about this home renovation is that it never feels as though its original architecture has been polished away in pursuit of something trendier. Instead, Breland–Harper treated the property almost like an ongoing conversation between past and present.

'Rather than overwrite the features, we saw the project as an opportunity to reinterpret them – honoring the spirit of the original architecture while evolving it into something more personal and layered,' Michael explains. 'The house already had a certain soul; our role was to bring clarity and depth to it.'

That sense of soul comes through in the home's Spanish Revival roots that were intentionally allowed to remain front and center, filtered through a more contemporary, liveable lens. Even structurally, the team resisted the temptation to completely rework the home, choosing instead to make quieter adjustments that improved flow and strengthened the connection between inside and out.

That softer approach feels especially fitting for the clients, a young family relocating from New York who were drawn to California living.

Materials and tones were chosen to echo the surrounding landscape, while a mix of antiques, handcrafted details, and tactile natural fabrics gives the home its distinctly soulful character.

'The setting had a profound influence on the interiors,' says Michael. 'We drew from the shifting tones of the surrounding landscape – the dry chaparral, the greens that emerge seasonally, and the distant blue of the Pacific,' he adds of the color scheme of the whole home.

At the center of the home – both physically and emotionally – is the kitchen, a space Breland–Harper approached less as a showpiece and more as the 'open hearth' of the home. While many contemporary kitchens lean cool and overtly functional, this one embraces something altogether moodier: rich materials, deep color, and an atmosphere that encourages people to linger.

'You arrive at the home through a landscaped approach that transitions from cultivated orchard plantings into a softer, more naturalistic garden,' Michael explains. 'Entering the home, the kitchen sits at its heart – conceived almost as an open hearth, rich with materiality and atmosphere.'

Rather than drawing from a traditional decorating palette, the materials were chosen for their connection to food.

'To capture the sensuousness of culinary experience, materials were selected for their patina and colors that were evocative of food,' he continues. 'An interplay of oxblood tile, dark stone countertops, natural oak cabinets, brass fittings, and earthenware vases conjures moodiness and atmosphere.'

Stepping down from the kitchen into the living room, the ceiling height expands, the palette softens, and almost immediately your eye is pulled outward toward the terrace.

'The living space balances custom pieces with antiques and mid-century elements, creating a dialogue across time,' says Michael.

'The hand-painted tiles at the fireplace are particularly meaningful,' he continues. 'They were commissioned from craftsmen who have been producing tiles since the 1920s, tying the home back to a longer tradition of making.'

'There’s also a strong interplay between custom-designed furniture and carefully sourced antiques, including an 18th-century Spanish table paired with a Clara Porset butaque – moments that create a sense of dialogue across eras,' he adds.

'The living room and its connection to the terrace best capture the spirit of the home,' says Michael. 'It’s where the architecture, material palette, and landscape all come together. The space feels equally suited to a quiet moment or a larger gathering, which was central to the way we approached the project.

That easy relationship between indoors and out is felt everywhere in the space. The terrace functions almost as an outdoor room, mirroring the intimacy of the interior seating areas, so gatherings can spill outside effortlessly depending on the time of day or occasion.

It’s a home designed to flex constantly between quiet retreat and entertaining; as Michael explains, the spaces were conceived to accommodate 'multiple scales of gathering', feeling 'as intimate for two as it is ample for 20.'

While the lower level of the home was designed around gathering and movement, the upstairs spaces take on a noticeably quieter rhythm.

Michael describes the upper rooms as being 'more subdued, with softer palettes and filtered light creating a sense of retreat,' and that sense of calmness is immediate the moment you enter the bedrooms.

In this bedroom, built-in oak cabinetry frames the entrance to the adjoining bathroom, adding structure while keeping the room feeling uncluttered and serene. Beneath the window, vintage-inspired furniture and collected ceramics prevent the interiors from feeling too minimal against the chalky linens, warm woods, and soft upholstery.

With sweeping views across the canyon framed by gauzy linen curtains and pale plaster walls, the primary suite feels intentionally softer – almost monastic in its restraint – while still carrying the warmth and texture that runs throughout the rest of the house.

'Natural materials like linen, hemp, rattan, and wood repeat throughout, creating a tactile continuity,' says Michael. 'There’s also a consistent dialogue between handcraft and refinement, which helps tie all the spaces together without making them feel overly controlled.'

A custom wrought iron four-poster bed introduces a subtle architectural structure to the primary bedroom. 'Wrought iron was a key unifying element, appearing in everything from structural details to furniture and lighting,' Michael adds.

The nursery takes a similarly gentle approach, proving that family spaces can still feel design-led. Rather than leaning into overtly playful motifs, the room is grounded by the same earthy palette and layering seen throughout the home, helping it feel connected to the wider interiors rather than visually separate from them.

'The palette moves between earthy depth and soft neutrality,' Michael explains. 'These moments are balanced by lighter, more breathable spaces elsewhere, where neutral tones and natural textiles allow light to diffuse gently.'

'The contrast was intentional: grounding the home in material richness while preserving a sense of openness and calm.'

Like the rest of the home, the bathrooms avoid cold minimalism and instead lean into warmth, tactility, and quiet luxury.

Nothing competes for attention in this family bathroom. Sure, the freestanding bath might be the main character, but sitting beneath a curved brass shower rail draped with linen curtains, the natural finishes stop everything from feeling overly pristine.

Even the vanity, with its slim brass legs and open shelving, strikes a careful balance between elegance and ease.

The powder room may be bijoux, but it perfectly captures Breland–Harper’s approach to layering color, craftsmanship, and atmosphere.

Wrapped in glossy green-and-cream checkerboard tile and illuminated by warm lighting, the space feels almost like a hidden jewel box within the softer neutral palette of the rest of the home.

That mix feels timeless rather than trend-driven – rooted in the architectural feel of the home but handled with a lighter, more contemporary twist.

What makes this home feel so distinctly Californian is the way the architecture, interiors, and landscape are allowed to bleed into one another.

Rather than treating the garden as something ornamental or separate from the house itself, Breland–Harper approached the surrounding two-acre site as an extension of the overall home.

'The landscape progression is something that unfolds subtly over time. As you move away from the house, the formal garden begins to dissolve into a more natural, rewilded environment.' Michael explains. 'It’s a quiet gesture, but one that reinforces the home’s relationship to the broader ecology of the canyon and the Santa Monica Mountains'.

The real magic of this home is its atmosphere. It manages to feel layered while still having space to breathe, elegant without feeling formal, and deeply connected to its setting without relying on obvious cliches.

Every material, antique, and architectural detail seems chosen not simply for how it looks, but for how it contributes to the overall feeling of ease that runs throughout the home.

Perhaps that’s why the project feels so timeless. Thanks, in part, to the clients who were 'interested in embracing Spanish Revival elements, but in a way that felt fresh and livable,' as Michael explains, but of course, also Breland–Harper's blend of historic references – inspirations ranged from golden age California interiors to vernacular Mediterranean architecture – reinterpreted through a contemporary, relaxed lens.

Simply put: it's a house designed for long dinners, slow mornings, and Californian-style indoor-outdoor living.

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'Slow and soulful' is how interior designer Eris Koutsoudakis of Meraki Design describes the sentiment behind the renovation of this West London Victorian townhouse – and that’s just what its busy owners craved.

Parenting three teenagers, traveling frequently, plus, for one, a career as a professional flamenco dancer, meant that creating a house design that enabled respite was key.

'We wanted a space that was relatively minimalist but also warm,' says one of the owners. 'For us, that meant a fusion of Japanese and Mediterranean influences.'

As it turned out, few duos could be better placed than Eris and her co-founder, Maria Kachramanoglou, to deliver that vision.

The pair, both born in South Africa to Greek families, have a style that is known for its gentle tactility, belying a forensic approach to architectural detailing.

'In Greek, “Meraki” is a phrase that indicates injecting a creative task with heart and passion,' says Eris. 'It’s about weaving meaning into an endeavor.'

That ethos is evident throughout this deeply calming space, where every small detail, from the wire-brushed oak joinery to the curved shadow-gap doorways, has been combed over.

The renovation entailed a back-to-brick approach, in part because over the years work had been carried out on top of previous adjustments. 'But that played to our advantage,' reflects Eris.

'Once we took everything apart, we found higher ceilings and a more flexible footprint than we imagined.'

The duo’s first task was to tackle what Eris describes as 'the fragmented energy of the flow', where the lower ground floor had been turned into a separate "granny flat" and the ground floor needed more light channeling through.

Meanwhile, the eaves space suffered from an inequality in the size of its bedrooms, requiring a rejig.

The duo pushed out into the side return, but most significant was the decision to remove the original staircase, tweaking its flow through the house to allow for greater usable space, particularly in the bedrooms

'For the owners, the priority was to eliminate any dead space and to allow every scheme to breathe,' says Eris. 'The wife has Japanese heritage, so we looked to honor that with sleek but warm details that could sit easily within a period home.'

A particularly successful example is the ergonomic oak screen that partially separates the entryway from the dining room.

Anchored by a suspended travertine console, it’s designed to appear monolithic while cleverly concealing two drawers.

'There’s something innately practical about it, yet it feels welcoming,' suggests the female owner. 'We also enjoy how well it offsets period details, such as the cornicing and ceiling rose.'

Though precision underpins these schemes, there’s also an appealing sense of imperfection inspired by the Japanese concept of wabi-sabi – the honoring of impermanence.

Walls are painted in Bauwerk’s natural limewash paint, prized for its breathability and relaxed finish.

The walls are finished mostly in warm neutrals, contrasted by an earthy green in the first-floor living room. 'We encouraged the owners to go for a complete color drench in that space,' says Eris. 'If you are going to commit to that tone, it needs to feel fully cocooning.'

To achieve that sense of easy flow, spatial planning was key – not just via clever additions, such as the bathroom tucked behind a sliding mirrored door in the main bedroom or wine storage hidden in the dining room, but in moments of pause.

'For example, the kitchen nook is a space for slow breakfasts, long lunches and everything in between – unpretentious, tactile and inviting,' says Eris.

Likewise, in between the kitchen and dining room, a cozy snug is framed by arched, reeded-glass sliding doors, offering privacy without sacrificing light.

Finished in washed oak, their look is contemporary yet organic.

'Ultimately, our biggest challenge was how to keep the bustle of the city at bay in this home,' says Eris. 'How could we create a functional family home while offering a sense of sanctuary? For us, the answer was to honor nature, choosing simple materials and elevating them so that each could sing in their own way.'

The resulting gently contemporary schemes certainly dance to their own tune: a considered balance of heritage and modernity, joyfulness and serenity.

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The renovation may have been complete, but this historic Austin home still didn’t feel quite finished. After five years of painstaking work on the 1914 Classic Revival property – now registered as a City of Austin Historic Landmark – the architecture had been beautifully restored, but the interiors were still waiting for personality.

That’s where interior designer Cathryn Lindsey stepped in. 'The home was impeccably renovated, with beautiful millwork, stone, and lighting. But it still felt incomplete,' she explains.

Now, the house design balances grandeur with remarkable softness. Marble fireplaces, original stained glass windows, and millwork sit comfortably alongside skirted upholstery, playful wallpaper, and family heirlooms gathered over generations. It’s elegant without ever feeling precious, ‘every space in this home is meant to be used; nothing is just for show,' Cathryn says of this home designed for real life.

By the time Cathryn was brought into the project, the hard hats had long since gone. Tasked with furnishing and styling all 6,000 square feet, she was less concerned with dramatic structural changes and more interested in creating rooms that felt layered, inviting, and genuinely lived in.

'Some rooms had very little furniture, others had none at all. It functioned for daily life, but it didn’t fully support or enhance all of the thoughtful work my clients had already done,' she explains.

After years of construction – including a period where the home was, quite literally, lifted onto stilts while the basement was excavated – the family had reached the point of total renovation fatigue.

‘The task of actually filling the home in a way that felt both functional and as thoughtfully designed as the renovation itself felt overwhelming,’ Cathryn explains. With three young children and another baby on the way, the priority was creating spaces that could genuinely support everyday life.

Alongside pure practicality, the clients’ connection to Dublin became the project’s narrative.

Having previously lived in Ireland – and still spending summers there with their three children – they wanted the home to channel the feeling of a European countryside retreat, albeit one 'layered with a bit of Texas'.

Cathryn responded with a palette of soft blue-greens, dusty pinks, botanical prints, layered florals, and heirloom antiques that feel collected rather than decorated. 'The palette for this project was inspired by mornings in the countryside,' says Cathryn. 'It’s the kind of palette that feels like an exhale.'

'Texas comes through more subtly in the materials. In each room, if you look closely, there’s a bit of leather or hide. You’ll find artwork from the clients’ international travels alongside a hometown bluebonnet print. It’s a true balance of both places that feels very personal to them.'

'When you walk in the front door, you’re immediately greeted by the formal living room to your right,' Cathryn walks us through.

The room has all the architectural grandeur you’d expect from a 1914 home – soaring ceilings, classic millwork, and a dramatic marble fireplace – but it manages to avoid feeling overly ceremonial. Instead, there’s a softness to the space that makes it feel surprisingly inviting.

'It was our intention to make everything feel elevated and slightly historic, with elements like velvet drapery, a box pleat sofa, and marble pedestals,' says Cathryn. 'At the same time, the unique shapes in the coffee table and the checkered chairs keep it feeling fresh and modern.'

'We wanted this space to make a statement, but you can also see straight through the family room into the kitchen, so those three spaces were especially important to tie together,' she explains.

Rather than matching each space exactly, Cathryn used her background in fashion to help her build continuity through repeated tones, silhouettes, and materials.

'Layering different motifs is what creates that collected, welcoming feeling,' says Cathryn. 'I’m always thinking about balance.'

'In the formal living room, for example, we had a beautiful vintage settee reupholstered in a floral. The shape and fabric felt very soft and feminine, so we balanced that with checked accent chairs in an iron frame,' she explains.

The dining room fully embraces layering. The room is certainly more dramatic than some of the softer adjoining spaces, but the palette keeps it grounded.

Wrapped in a rich botanical wallpaper that feels somewhere between an English garden and a vintage mural, the space leans into the romantic side of the project while still maintaining a touch of the restraint seen throughout the rest of the house.

'From the formal living room, you’re connected to both the sunroom and the formal dining room, which then look into the kitchen and conservatory,' Cathryn explains. 'Each space serves a unique purpose, but they all needed to flow seamlessly while still maintaining their own identity.'

The family room is where the atmosphere shifts into comfort mode.

At the center of the space is the statement sectional, upholstered in a tapestry-inspired floral that captures the home’s Irish influence. It’s undeniably bold, but because the palette remains muted, the effect feels calm rather than overwhelming.

'One of our favorite pieces was the sectional in the family room. It had already been purchased in a solid grey, but we wanted to reupholster it in a beautiful Schumacher tapestry fabric,' says Cathryn. Rather than fully recovering the piece, Cathryn proposed a more strategic solution.

'What started as a cost-saving decision – using a solid coordinating fabric on the base and the tapestry on the cushions – ended up becoming one of our favorite design moments,' she continues. 'It feels incredibly custom and actually allows the print to feel framed and stand out even more.'

The kitchen and adjoining conservatory are where the atmosphere becomes noticeably lighter and brighter. Designed by Jean Stoffer Design, the kitchen strikes a careful balance between utility and warmth, pairing classic detailing with the kind of softness and subtle texture seen throughout the rest of the house.

Cabinetry painted in a muted green-grey quietly ties in the color scheme for the whole home, while a warm oak kitchen island and unlacquered brass finishes prevent the space from feeling overly contemporary.

The marble countertops and checkerboard stone floors nod to traditional European kitchens, but the room never veers too thematic; instead, it feels wonderfully grounded – somewhere a family genuinely cooks, gathers, and lingers throughout the day.

Just beyond, the conservatory shifts the mood once again.

Wrapped in steel-framed windows and flooded with natural light, it feels almost like a modern interpretation of a traditional garden room.

Hanging lantern pendants and climbing greenery blur the boundary between indoors and out, while the large wood dining table anchors the space with a relaxed farmhouse feel.

Together, the two rooms are elegant without losing comfort. Even with their polished finishes and considered materials, the kitchen and conservatory remain deeply functional spaces at heart – warm, welcoming rooms designed as much for everyday rituals as special occasions.

While the entertaining spaces downstairs lean into sociability and grandeur, the primary suite feels noticeably quieter and more intimate.

Much like the rest of the home, contrast is what gives this bedroom depth. The canopy bed introduces structure against the softness of the textiles and wallpaper, while the vintage chest at the foot of the bed adds patina and character. The piece, dating back to the 1700s, is one of several antiques layered throughout the house.

'There are so many family heirlooms layered throughout the home,' says Cathryn. 'An antique milking stool hangs in the family room, there’s a large chest from the 1700s in the primary bedroom, an antique rocking chair in the boys’ room, and Grandma’s floor lamp in the nursery. It was such a fun process to catalog these pieces and thoughtfully incorporate them into the design.'

The palette throughout the suite, which boasts a sleeping space, snug, and bathroom, was directly inspired by one of the home’s original stained glass windows, located in the adjoining en-suite bathroom.

'There are two original stained glass windows, one in the entry staircase and the other in the primary bathroom,' says Cathryn.

'We pulled color inspiration from both, especially in the primary bedroom and snug, incorporating shades of green, pink, and burgundy,' she adds.

Of all the rooms in the house, the nursery was perhaps the most important.

'My clients were expecting their third baby just before Christmas, and as a mom myself, I know how much better it feels to have your home settled before a new arrival,' says Cathryn. 'We moved very quickly with the design and installed about half of the design, including wallpaper and painting, within 2 months of the design presentation, so the family could settle in and enjoy the holidays and their little one in a more finished home.'

'In the nursery, we paired tapestry curtains and floral wallpaper with a glider in an oversized houndstooth,' she says of the layered design. 'The top wallpaper is a very soft, tonal floral, but the bottom is actually a subtle funky stripe. You really only notice it up close. From a distance, it mimics beadboard wainscoting. I love that it feels very traditional at first glance, but has a bit of an edge when you look more closely.'

The boys’ bedroom takes a slightly more playful approach to the home’s aesthetic, though it never strays from the layered look established throughout the rest of the house.

Here, Cathryn leaned into pattern and personality more boldly. 'Pattern plays an important role,' she notes. She focused on timeless pieces and rich textures that feel elevated enough for adults while still playful enough for kids. It’s a room designed to evolve over time rather than be completely redecorated in a few years.

'In the boys’ room, the vintage cowboy toile wallpaper is grounded by a vibrant striped dresser, which helps bring everything forward in a way that feels fresh,' she explains of the scheme. 'The three bedrooms really lean into pattern, incorporate antique family heirlooms, and bring in new pieces in a way that feels deeply personal.'

Despite the richness of pattern and the sheer amount of layering throughout, the interiors retain an ease that makes them feel collected over time rather than decorated in one sweeping, slightly rushed install.

Much of that comes down to Cathryn’s ability to make highly considered decisions feel effortless. 'This really stems from my background working for luxury fashion designers and seeing how color and material are used across a collection,' she explains.

'Creating a cohesive palette throughout an entire home is incredibly important to me, especially in a space like this where one room flows directly into the next,' Cathryn adds.

What ultimately makes this Austin home so memorable is that, despite its scale and architectural grandeur, nothing about it feels overly formal or untouchable. Every room invites you in.

Chairs are positioned for conversation rather than symmetry, textiles are chosen to soften rather than simply style, and even the most elegant spaces still feel entirely compatible with muddy shoes, children, dogs, and everyday family life.

'The goal was to bring function to each space so it could be enjoyed as originally intended, while also introducing a bit more playfulness and edge through the soft finishes,' Cathryn adds.

'The home has the most beautiful energy. There is so much love that’s been poured into it, and you can just feel it.'

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Step into certain rooms of this new home, and it feels very familiar; you know what you are getting. The style is classic and calming, with neutral schemes, soft textures, and clear connections to the beautiful landscape that surrounds it. But move into another room, and it’s a completely different story, where color and pattern create spaces that are joyfully unexpected.

And that was the whole point. Designer Stephanie Wiott worked closely with the homeowners to create a house design that embraced these wonderful moments of contrast while still feeling timeless and cohesive.

‘This home was a new construction project located in Zionsville, Indiana,’ explains Stephanie. ‘From the beginning, it was an opportunity to create something truly intentional – designing every detail from the ground up to reflect both beauty and livability. I would describe it as Timeless Heritage – a balance of classic forms and details paired with fresh, elevated selections.’

From the very beginning, this home was meant to focus on family life: the perfect place for hosting sunny summer weekends and cozy holiday feasts. For Stephanie, working closely with the clients to gain insight into how they lived was key. The project was truly collaborative, with both sides equally involved in every decision.

‘The clients were an absolute joy to work with,’ says Stephanie. ‘We met weekly, which was key to the success of the project. Those standing meetings kept every detail at the forefront, allowing us to thoughtfully work through selections and ensure nothing was overlooked. It was a highly collaborative and engaged process from start to finish. They were incredibly open and trusting, which allowed us to push the design in thoughtful ways. The end result is something we’re all incredibly proud of.’

‘While our natural styles initially leaned in different directions – hers more traditional and mine more transitional – we embraced that contrast and collaborated to create something that felt both timeless and fresh. The goal was to design a home that honored classic elements while introducing a more updated perspective.’

That contrast of styles is what makes this home unique. You think you have worked it out and then, stepping into another room, the feeling is totally different. And yet, there’s a cohesiveness to the contrasting spaces; the rooms don’t feel random, jumping from one style to another. The connection is more subtle than simply repeating the same color or pattern. Stephanie explains that she actually used texture to create a natural connection throughout the house.

‘We were very intentional about the flow from one space to the next. Even as we introduced bolder elements – whether through wallpaper, color, or materiality – we ensured there was a connective thread throughout. That cohesion comes from repetition in tone, texture, and overall feeling, even when the palette shifts. The clients’ willingness to step outside the box also made it possible to create those moments of contrast while still feeling harmonious.’

‘The kitchen was a central focus,’ explains Stephanie. ‘We wanted it to feel both functional and enduring, while also pushing beyond the expected. Every decision was made with longevity in mind – creating a space that will feel just as relevant decades from now.’

This is one of the most neutral rooms in the home, where soft whites mix with pale plaster tones, and the texture Stephanie describes adds depth and interest to the space. It’s a timeless color scheme, but not a flat one; the quartz countertops and backsplash add subtle dimension alongside the wooden accents. The gold fixtures bring a touch of luxury, yet the space still feels highly livable and comfortably lived in.

While the kitchen may be calm and classic, hidden just out of sight is a bold butler’s pantry, painted in a beautiful blue-gray that offers a quiet contrast to the adjoining room. The matching gold details create a sense of connection, allowing the spaces to still feel cohesive.

The dining room is almost open-plan with the kitchen, so from the calm color scheme, you also catch sight of this unexpected moody burgundy – the perfect color for a cozy, intimate dining space. The homeowners wanted their antique collection to still work in their new home while embracing a more contemporary feel, which is where Stephanie’s talent for transitional design came into play, bringing together pieces such as the striking mahogany dining set with a sleek chandelier.

Much like the kitchen, the feel in the main living room is one of calm. The colors and the textures mirror the views beyond, and the huge windows almost pull the surrounding landscape into the room.

'The living room became an unexpected highlight,' says Stephanie. 'It began with the client's vision for Old English–inspired paneling, but what truly elevates the space is its connection to the outdoors. The expansive views of the lush landscape bring in warmth and richness that complement the room beautifully.'

Underneath the light-filled home is an expansive basement, complete with a wet bar, dining and lounging space, as well as a wine room. The lack of light naturally meant Stephanie chose a moody palette with dark woods, charcoal gray, and plenty of wood to add warmth to the open space.

'The basement was an opportunity to have fun with the design,' says Stephanie. 'The glass-enclosed wine room features a trimmed, antique mirrored ceiling that adds depth and drama, while the lighting and hardware act as jewelry within the space. The bar strikes a balance between modern and classic, designed to feel elevated and timeless.'

Much like the downstairs rooms, the bedrooms each have their own character. The main bedroom has a timeless appeal with a touch of vintage charm, but in the guest bedrooms, pale greens are used to create a serene sleep space, and chocolate mauve tones create a sophisticated feel.

One of the must-haves was a magical room for their granddaughter. 'The butterfly room turned out to be my personal favorite space,' says Stephanie. 'Inspired by the butterfly garden at Mackinac Island, it was designed as a whimsical, magical retreat for the clients’ grandchildren. Once we discovered the wallpaper, the entire vision came to life. It’s one of those spaces that truly has to be experienced – every child who walks in is completely captivated.'

The most playful room in the home is perhaps the most unexpected – the gym. Apart from the clear giveaway of the exercise equipment, the room feels more like a chic playroom or home office. Stephanie repurposed an antique armoire to use as storage and give the space a very un-gym-like feel.

'We can't forget the exercise room. The Benjamin Franklin wallpaper was so fun and definitely unexpected. You either love it or hate it. We LOVE it!' says Stephanie.

You may have noticed by now, but what makes this home feel both bold and livable is that the central spaces are the ones that play it safe with classic colors and decor. The kitchen, living rooms, and main bedroom all have that timeless heritage style that Stephanie talks about. It's the smaller adjoining rooms that get the fun treatment – the powder rooms, pantry, dining room, and guest spaces – the rooms that don't see as much action and are therefore obvious places to be bolder.

The result is a home that balances being both enduring and exciting; it's traditional where it needs to be, but far from predictable.

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Hanna Botelho Karhunen and Peter Twomey, co-founders of Studio Portobello, had ambitious plans for their Dublin townhouse. 'We’d originally envisaged knocking through the lower-ground floor and adding a kitchen and eating area; all ply and timber beams,' says Peter.

But after living in the brick-fronted Victorian terrace for a few months, they began to see things differently. There were, they realized, more creative (and cost-effective) ways in which they could make the house design work for a family of three.

It was, after all, the architecture of the house that had first drawn them here.

Arranged over two floors, it has an unusual layout: the reception rooms and kitchen are on the ground floor; the bedrooms, home office, and bathrooms on the lower ground.

Despite the bleak, ex-rental all-white decor, the 19th-century 'bones,' says Hanna, were intact. Original shutters, floorboards, and paneled doors had survived. 'It was a nice mix: a project with potential that didn’t need lots of structural work,' says Hanna.

Like their professional work, the couple’s contrasting backgrounds have shaped their interior. Hanna, a graduate of the Inchbald School of Design, is half Finnish and half Portuguese. Peter, a law graduate who worked in tech before, grew up in Cork.

While Hanna’s upbringing has given her a taste for 'Nordic calm – natural materials and organic designs - mixed with Mediterranean warmth and color,' Peter, who is in charge of sourcing for projects, attributes his travels abroad to a taste for 'brutalism, mid-century design… a more contemporary feel.'

All these influences are in play here. Decorative wallpapers and bright colors offset by plain curtains, modern art, and 20th-century furniture combine for a 'non-beige effect,' says Hanna, 'which we both like.'

For Hanna, who spent childhood summers in the Finnish countryside, it was important that their home 'felt connected to nature… that sense of being rooted in the landscape is part of my heritage,' she says.

On the ground floor, they redesigned the kitchen to 'bring the garden inside.' Instead of a protruding kitchen island or bulky overhead cabinets, under-counter cabinetry sits below a shelf lined with art and pottery. The countertop is a soft blue marble: a foil to pinkish walls. The sociable barley twist table and bentwood chairs bask in leafy views.

Next door, the double reception rooms house a dining room with garden views and the living room. They added the bookshelves that wrap around both and the woodburner. Instead of a television, they gather on the squashy sofa to watch films using a projector: 'It makes you think carefully about what you want to see,' says Peter.

Finding art is another part of their work: 'We’re always looking for larger pieces – on our travels or in galleries,' says Hanna. An abstract imaginary cityscape which dominates one wall is by the artist Ramon Enrich. Underfoot, the once-orange floorboards are painted white: a Finnish detail that reflects the light on darker days.

And there was more work to be done downstairs. Here, they turned a bathroom into a home office, where the desk was designed by the architect who owned their previous home. Next door, the main bedroom is lined with cheerful wallpaper; a frieze replaced a lost cornice.

It was Peter’s daughter – 'our most exacting client,' he says – who chose the lilac woodwork of her room, where a sleigh bed is tucked into an alcove.

Next door, a once-dark bedroom is an atmospheric bathroom. The decoration was inspired by the moody atrium of Antoni Gaudí’s Casa Batlló in Barcelona; 'We love its underwater feel, where light flickers across the surfaces,' says Hanna.

The lustrous handmade tiles replicate that movement; four people were needed to maneuver the deco-inspired bathtub into place.

Elsewhere, too, they have added to the layers of history. In the bedroom, the oak parquet flooring, laid in a geometric pattern, came from a Dublin department store. 'We had fun designing the layout, like decoding a puzzle,' says Peter.

New paneling links the two stories, guiding your eye from the front door down the stairs. Like everything else, it might have always been here.

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Apartment kitchens can come with many design challenges, but perhaps the most common is finding functional storage solutions. But with some creative thinking, storage can be cleverly designed without disrupting the flow.

This New York City apartment kitchen design does just that, using all of its available space to house practical items, so much so that it even finds room for a utility space. Designed by the interior designer Jennifer Hunter and home to a young family, the first step in the process was structural works to open up the once-closed-off space, before adding a series of clever storage solutions throughout.

While working as a functional family space, this kitchen is also filled with elevated design details, from playful terrazzo flooring to reclaimed wood ceiling beams, which add character. Here, you can explore each of the defining design elements of this space that prove apartment kitchens don't need to compromise.

Anchor an Apartment Kitchen With an Island

A kitchen island shouldn't be reserved for large country kitchens only. With a considered approach, kitchen islands can anchor smaller kitchens, helping to differentiate different zones while adding another, more casual, seating space.

'The large central island became the kitchen's anchor, both functionally and visually,' says Jennifer. 'In an apartment setting, introducing an island of this scale requires careful consideration, but because we fully opened up the footprint, it felt not only appropriate but essential.'

With the island as the focal point, the rest of the space is divided into clever zones for various functions. 'We carved out a series of thoughtfully defined zones: a dedicated coffee station, a discreet laundry area tucked behind a closet with a mesh screen, and a range wall that reads as its own moment,' the designer explains.

Beyond its functionality, the island takes the kitchen from utilitarian to lived-in and welcoming. 'The goal was to create a space that feels more akin to a country home kitchen: open, inviting, and deeply connected to daily life, rather than a utilitarian room tucked away,' says Jennifer.

Integrate a Mix of Open and Closed Storage Solutions

Kitchen storage ideas are important in any home, but especially in apartments where every inch of space counts. This kitchen also doubles as a utility room, but its thoughtful design means it sits seamlessly within the space.

A row of full-height cabinetry features a mesh screen, which offers a rustic look while boasting practical benefits, too. 'This allows for ventilation while subtly concealing the machines, striking a balance between practicality and design,' explains Jennifer. 'Treating this zone with the same level of detail as the rest of the kitchen ensured it feels cohesive rather than purely utilitarian.'

Beyond the utility space, storage is integrated into pretty much every part of this kitchen. 'Along the perimeter, we incorporated a mix of concealed and open storage to balance utility with display,' Jennifer adds. 'An appliance garage keeps everyday items like the toaster and coffee maker easily accessible but out of sight, helping maintain clean sightlines.'

'The pantry was designed to maximize vertical storage, ensuring there’s ample room for dry goods and larger items without overcrowding the main cabinetry. We also introduced moments of display to break up the millwork and add personality, allowing select pieces to feel curated rather than purely functional,' she says.

Create a Lived-In Feel With a Cozy Breakfast Nook

The breakfast nook in this kitchen adds coziness, helping it to feel more like a living space than a purely utilitarian one. 'The goal for the breakfast nook was to create a quiet moment within the larger, more open kitchen,' explains Jennifer. 'We wanted it to read as a destination rather than just an extension of the kitchen, somewhere you’d naturally gravitate toward for a slower start to the day or a more relaxed meal.'

To realize the vision for this corner, Jennifer added banquette seating. 'It not only maximizes the footprint because it tucks neatly into the architecture, but also creates a sense of enclosure that a standard table and chairs simply wouldn’t,' she explains. 'There’s an inherent comfort to a banquette; it invites you to linger, and in a space like this, it helps define the nook as its own environment. It also allowed us to integrate additional storage below, making it as practical as it is inviting.'

The decor also helps the breakfast nook to feel warm and welcoming. 'Because the kitchen leans more toward materials, this was an opportunity to introduce a bit more personality,' she says. 'The pattern adds movement and visual interest, while the artwork brings in color and a slightly more playful tone. Together, they create a layered, lived-in feel.'

Create a Timeless Look With Neutrals and Pops of Color

Neutral kitchens will always be timeless, but choosing the right shades is key. 'The kitchen palette was designed to feel grounded and layered,' explains Jennifer. 'The neutral cabinetry and walls create a calm foundation that allows the architectural details and materiality to really shine.'

Alongside the walls, which were painted with Farrow & Ball's Wimborne White and Stony Ground on the cabinets, subtle additions of more colorful hues were added, from the terrazzo flooring to the pendant light. 'Rather than anything too saturated or high-contrast, the tones are softened, which helps the kitchen feel lived-in and timeless,' she explains. 'It’s a more nuanced approach to color that complements, rather than competes with, the surrounding finishes.'

'The terrazzo floor adds another layer of visual interest, almost acting as a quiet pattern underfoot,' says Jennifer. 'Its mix of tones subtly picks up on the colors used elsewhere, helping to unify the palette without feeling busy.'

'The palette works because it’s layered but not loud,' she adds. 'Each element has a role, and nothing is competing for attention. It’s a kitchen that feels both refined and comfortable.'

Find a Balance Between Old and New

'This kitchen was very much about creating a dialogue between old and new, letting each material tell its own story while still feeling cohesive as a whole,' says Jennifer. While the sleek marble countertops and terrazzo flooring add a contemporary look, texture is added to the space with wood ceiling beams, among other elements.

'The reclaimed wood beams bring warmth and history into the space,' she adds. 'They soften the overall look and add that essential contrast to the cleaner lines of the cabinetry and stone. While they are not authentic to the space, they immediately bring a sense of history and architectural weight, grounding it in something that feels authentic and timeworn.'

'The terrazzo flooring adds a slightly more modern layer,' explains Jennifer. 'Its subtle patterning and composite nature bring in a contemporary sensibility without feeling stark or out of place.'

'Then there’s the green brick backsplash, which sits somewhere in between old and new,' she adds. 'The brick format references something traditional and textural, while the color and finish give it a fresh, updated feel. It adds depth and a bit of mood, preventing the kitchen from skewing too polished or predictable.'

Ultimately, the blend of old and new helps to make the kitchen feel timeless, suggests Jennifer: 'Spaces that lean too heavily in one direction can feel dated more quickly. By layering both, the result feels collected over time rather than designed all at once.'

Quick Tips

• Don't rule out kitchen islands in smaller kitchens, but if you're concerned about blocking the space, go for a freestanding unit, such as a butcher block.
• By prioritizing your storage solutions and designing them into your space from the start, your kitchen can maintain a calming feel where everything has its home.
• Make sure your space doesn't lean too utilitarian, but includes soft decor and relaxed seating options for a welcoming feel.
• Consider using a palette of soft neutrals on the main surfaces, letting pops of color evolve through decor over time.
• Include a mix of old and new pieces to create balance, while respecting the history of your home.

This kitchen is all about balance, from its functional design that maintains an elevated and calm look to the mix of old and new materials that feels both modern and slightly rustic. It also proves that often, the best kitchen design is a celebration of natural materials and soft neutral colors that are timeless beyond the latest trend cycles.

At Homes & Gardens, we believe a kitchen should work as beautifully as it looks. That’s the philosophy behind Dream Kitchens, our new series exploring the world’s most inspiring cook spaces. From clever layouts to the 'it' materials of 2026, we’re uncovering the design lessons tucked inside every home. Join us for an intimate look at the spaces that define modern living – and find the blueprints for your next big project.

There’s something quite rebellious about a house like this refusing to go beige. Tucked between Toronto’s Rosedale and Yorkville neighborhoods, this late-19th-century townhouse began life as a humble workers’ cottage before decades of modernization stripped much of its character away.

By the time TOM Design Collective's Tommy Smythe and Jenny Dames came to renovate the house design, many of its original details had long disappeared, modernized in the 1970s and ‘80s. 'The house deserved more detail and more color,' says Tommy – a philosophy that became the starting point for an entirely new chapter.

From lapis lazuli floor tiles and lacquered millwork to striped wallpaper, vintage finds, and statement stone, the interiors embrace what Tommy describes as a 'jewel box approach' – layered, intimate, glamorous, and entirely personal.

Working with a stylish, well-traveled homeowner who had lived in the property for more than a decade, the team undertook a down-to-the-studs renovation, extending the house at the rear and completely rethinking how it flowed day to day.

The kitchen was relocated to the center of the main floor, where, as Tommy puts it, 'the room that is always the heart of the home' could finally sit in its rightful place, while upstairs, a clever cantilevered addition expanded the primary suite without sacrificing natural light below.

But while the structural changes transformed the practicality of the home, the decoration is what gives it soul.

'The client came to me through a mutual friend who knew we were kindred spirits,' says Tommy. 'It's such a gift to embark on a renovation of this scale with a homeowner who has lived in the house for so long. She had really taken the time to be considerate of what worked well and of areas in need of rehabilitation or rethinking.'

Importantly, this was never about painstaking historical restoration. Instead, the aim was to restore a sense of richness and individuality to the home, creating rooms that feel collected rather than minimal.

'She sourced a few amazing jumping off points for us to build on – most memorably, the living room rug and the Christian Lacroix wall covering in the little front parlour,' Tommy continues. 'The entire process was collaborative, so the result is incredibly personal. This could only be her home, and I love that.'

In their first meeting with the homeowner, she described wanting the interiors to feel like a jewel box.

'The house isn’t enormous, but we felt it deserved more detail and more color. Jewel tones like sapphire blue, emerald green, amethyst, pale pink quartz, and garnet really helped to get us there,' says Tommy. 'Glamorous, but not fussy fabrics and furnishings were important so that comfort could also come with a sense of occasion and a special feeling.'

Rather than assigning every room a completely separate palette, however, Tommy explains how 'many of the rooms actually use the same handful of colors – it’s the different ratios and combinations that give each room a personality all its own.'

Like any good host, this townhouse knows how to make a good entrance. Stepping through the front door, guests are immediately greeted by shades of blue, beginning underfoot with small square lapis lazuli floor tiles – the very first purchase made for the project, and, as Tommy points out, 'they’re real'.

'Arrivals can be tricky. You want formal but friendly,' says Tommy.

Although much of the home’s original Victorian detailing had long since disappeared, the designers reintroduced custom millwork and paneling to give the compact entrance a sense of stature. 'We paneled, we painted, we tiled, and papered,' he says.

That sense of drama only deepens in the front parlour, where Christian Lacroix wallpaper became the room’s entire jumping-off point.

Rather than tempering the drama of the bold print, they leaned into it fully, pattern drenching the walls and window treatments for an immersive, cocooning effect.

'In order not to have such a small room overburdened by the strength of the paper, we put it everywhere, and had curtains made in the corresponding fabric,' he explains. 'The pattern is broken by the texture of the original brick – exposed by the renovation and painted black so as not to be too jarring a contrast with the paper. The room functions as a little starter cocktail space before heading out on the town or a moody place to read or sit and chat.'

'Next to the cocktail parlour is the bar,' Tommy explains of the layout. Tucked into a remarkably compact footprint, the space feels more like an intimate cocktail lounge than a typical home bar, thanks in large part to the designers’ theatrical approach.

'Rich magenta millwork adds drama and fun… which are pretty essential for any bar, whether at home or out on the town,' he adds.

The adjoining dining room presented a different kind of design challenge altogether. 'Placing the dining table in the centre of the room wasn’t going to be conducive to good traffic flow toward the kitchen, living room, and garden beyond, so we used a custom banquette to draw the table and chairs closer to the wall.'

'The light fixture is pure energy and is certainly one of the best vintage finds in the house, so it was given pride of place here,' he continues. 'The little antique cabinets on either side provide a soulful quality to the vibe.'

After the moodier atmosphere of the front rooms, stepping into the kitchen feels like a deep exhale.

'The kitchen lies in the centre of the house’s main level, so it needed to be a bridge of sorts between the front and back,' Tommy explains.

'A selection of pale neutrals was chosen for a ‘palette-cleansing’ effect, but a robust architectural ceiling with chunky plaster coffers ensures that this room feels very much a part of the rest of the home’s friendly formality.'

But while quieter in color, the room draws its richness from texture, proportion, and architectural detailing. Chunky plaster coffers add weight overhead, giving the space a sense of grandeur that ties it back to the home's more decorative rooms.

If there is one room that fully captures the project's layered, collected spirit, it is the living room.

Here, decades, styles, and materials overlap to create the kind of space that looks as though it has evolved naturally – and playfully – over time. The starting point, Tommy explains, was the extraordinary rug sourced by the homeowner early in the design process.

'The incredible rug, found by the client, had all of the colors used throughout the house arranged in a pattern that felt modern and also anchored in history, so this was a great starting point for the addition of two 1970’s vintage elements: a pendant light and coffee table, as well as a pair of chairs originally designed in the 1920s,' Tommy explains of the scheme.

'A pair of antique chests was the first important furniture purchase for the home,' he adds. 'Bold striped wallpaper from Farrow & Ball feels contemporary here but also lends an historic, grounding backdrop.'

Despite the variety of influences at play here, nothing competes for attention. Instead, each piece seems to highlight the character of the next.

'As far as the balance of antique, vintage, and contemporary elements goes, I honestly think it’s something that’s learned. Mastering the mix isn’t something anyone can just do without knowledge and study,' Tommy explains. 'There’s no shortcut.'

'Mixed interiors are the hardest to achieve. When successful, they’re everyone's favorite, but when they fail, there’s nothing worse. Most often, it’s a look best left in the hands of a seasoned pro,' he advises.

Upstairs, the atmosphere shifts into something softer and more serene.

The primary suite was designed as a true retreat – not simply a bedroom, but a series of connected spaces encompassing a sleeping area, walk-through dressing hall, and spa-like bathroom.

'A softer, more feminine vibe was needed here, so varied textures and a pale pink and cream scheme were employed,' Tommy explains.

In the bedroom itself, the palette might be gentler, but the space is far from saccharine. Paneled walls wrapped in blush tones bring softness and structure in equal measure, while striped drapery frames the large steel-framed window, filtering light across the room throughout the day.

'Overhead, we added a large but very shallow dome to anchor and highlight the Fortuny fixture,' he adds.

Connecting the bedroom to the bathroom is a corridor of closets with suede-wrapped doors and lacquered millwork to create a blush pink dressing room of dreams.

That sense of glamour continues into the primary bathroom, where everything is framed in softly aged brass, including a rather impressive shower enclosure.

'Stone varieties in onyx and marble combine to give a sense of luxury and layering,' Tommy describes of the bathroom design.

Along the hall, the home office demonstrates a thoughtful approach to practicality. While the homeowner frequently works from home, the room was never intended to feel corporate.

'We wanted it to feel like a proper room in a house rather than a utilitarian work environment,' says Tommy. 'Bookshelves, paneled walls, storage, and the addition of a large screen TV gave this room a sense of handsome comfort as well as dual purpose.'

'The 1970s overhead light is a nice link to the rest of the house with its eclectic mix and collection of vintage finds from many eras,' he adds.

Elsewhere upstairs, the secondary bathroom continues the townhouse’s jewel-box philosophy.

'Amethyst and emerald are a color combination that always works brilliantly,' says Tommy. 'Here, we used the combination in both natural stone as well as ceramic tile.'

Tommy recalls finding an antique mirror long after the room’s palette had already been finalized, only to discover it was crowned with a porcelain medallion in exactly the same amethyst hue. 'Imagine how thrilled we were,' he says of the unexpected find.

For a house filled with bold prints, jewel colors, vintage finds, and dramatic decorative moments, what’s perhaps most impressive is how cohesive it all feels. 'No two rooms are alike, yet each flows effortlessly into the next,' Tommy says of the project.

Much of that continuity comes from the designers’ careful use of repeated motifs and materials. Lamb’s tongue cornices appear again and again, while domed ceilings, paneling, grasscloth wallcoverings, and custom trim details subtly thread the rooms together.

'These links are especially important in smaller homes where there isn’t room for big departures,' he advises.

Another 'red thread' that gives this home its unique personality is the client's personal art collection. 'There are paintings, photographs, works on paper, sculpture, and mixed media. The art collection itself is as eclectic and varied as the furnishings and lighting, so it works brilliantly,' says Tommy.

For all its drama, there is still a warmth and ease running through the interiors that makes the home feel genuinely lived in. Every room reflects not only Tommy and his team's design approach, but also the personality, routines, and collections of the woman who has called the house home for more than a decade.

'I hope people see our client reflected in every grand gesture and big move, but also in the finer details,' he continues. That sense of individuality was always the ultimate goal. 'As a design firm, we always feel most successful when the completed home feels like home to the client, and I have it on good authority, this one does.'

'It was a joy to see her recognize herself in every inch of this house.'

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New-build apartments can often fall into one of two camps: stark and minimalist or overdesigned in an attempt to compensate for their clean architectural bones. This two-bedroom duplex in London's Chelsea Barracks by Studio Squire manages to avoid both.

Set within a contemporary building designed by Eric Parry, the house design pairs pale, light-filled interiors with an unexpected palette of joyful yellows, soft turquoise, mossy green, and warm neutrals.

'The bones of the apartment are inherently very contemporary, and so this informed our direction somewhat,' says founder Angelica Squire. Rather than fighting against the sleek shell, the studio leaned into it, layering in character, British-made furnishings, and carefully chosen antiques.

The aim, Angelica says, was to create 'a slick city bolthole that was both contemporary in feel yet cozy and comfortable too' – no easy task in a compact open-plan apartment where every inch needed to work hard.

With its floor-to-ceiling windows and crisp lines, the apartment already had a strong sense of identity before the founders of Studio Squire, Angelica and Richard, stepped in. The challenge was less about transforming the apartment and more about softening it.

'The kitchen and bathrooms were existing and so we needed our designs to work alongside those, as well as details such as the modern door and window details,' Angelica explains.

The foundation of the scheme was intentionally restrained. 'The apartment needed to feel sophisticated and grown up, given its grand setting with Chelsea Barracks, but we didn’t want it to feel old-fashioned or too traditional, which wouldn’t have been right for the spaces,' she continues.

'We focused on keeping the majority of walls to a very calm, pale shade of cream and let the color and interest come in via the furniture and pieces we added into each room,' she adds.

That layered approach is what gives the apartment its uplifting feel.

Yellow upholstery, soft turquoise accents, warm ochres, and mid-blue tones bring energy without overwhelming the relatively compact footprint. 'We opted for beautiful yellows and mid-blues in the living room, knowing those pops of color would feel welcoming and happy in the large open-plan space,' Angelica says.

Crucially, the color scheme for the whole home never tips into fussiness because the architecture remains so pared back. 'The large Tom Hammick artwork above the sofa felt like the perfect piece to complement the upholstery tones,' she adds.

For all its polish, what stops this apartment from feeling too pristine is the thoughtful mix of old and new.

'We were really conscious to obtain a good balance of newer pieces mixed with antiques and objects that felt they told more of a story,' Angelica explains.

Much of the furniture was sourced from British makers, adding another layer of richness to the scheme, while bespoke pieces – including the generous sectional sofa and striking dark red marble kitchen island – help give the space a collected, rather than simply decorated, feel.

'Ensuring there is a balance of both new and old pieces really helps to allow the rooms to feel more considered and charming, than if everything was brand new.'

The small kitchen introduces one of the home’s boldest moments: a richly veined marble island.

Set against warm timber cabinets and creamy walls, the dramatic stone adds just the right amount of contrast to the wooden kitchen. It’s a confident choice, but one that still feels entirely in keeping with the apartment’s sophisticated mood.

'The marble island took careful planning and consideration, both from a size point of view – we mapped it out countless times in situ! – but also the finer details such as the in-built ledges for cookery books,' says Angelica. Paired with ball-topped bar stools and natural materials elsewhere in the room, the result is a kitchen that feels polished but inviting.

For Angelica, getting the proportions of the rooms exactly right was essential. Although the open-plan living area appears generous, every inch needs to work hard to accommodate dining, lounging, and cooking within a relatively compact footprint.

'The living space, whilst generous in size, was not actually huge given how much we needed to fit into it,' she explains. 'We needed a table to seat six as well as a generous seating space, and then our addition of the island, and so getting this spot-on took time and careful planning.'

The dining nook is a perfect example of how Studio Squire used color to define each zone. A deep yellow banquette instantly warms the space, while soft cream Roman blinds and natural oak tones keep the overall look feeling calm and airy rather than overly vibrant.

Downstairs, the mood shifts noticeably. While the living spaces upstairs feel sociable and sunlit, the bedrooms were designed to offer a quieter, more retreat-like atmosphere – an important balance in a compact duplex apartment.

'In the bedrooms, particularly as they are on lower ground levels, we wanted those to still feel bright and calm without being too fussy,' Angelica explains. 'We used accent colors on the headboards and otherwise tried to keep the design relatively simple and easy on the eye.'

That simplicity is what makes the rooms feel so restful. Upholstered headboards in rich rust and deep inky blue introduce color in a softer, more cocooning way than paint might have, while creamy window treatments, tactile linens, and pared-back styling help maintain a sense of calm.

After the rest of the apartment’s wash of soft creams and buttery yellows, the movie room comes as a dramatic contrast in mood.

Tucked away from the light-filled main living spaces, the room has no natural light, but rather than attempting to brighten it artificially, Studio Squire chose to lean fully into its cocooning qualities instead.

'The richest room has to be the cinema space, which, given it has no windows, we fully leaned into and went with the amazing dark green moiré wall coverings and velvet custom day bed sofa,' she explains.

Small marble wall shelves are discreetly built into the walls – 'for your cocktail to rest on,' Angelica adds.

What’s most striking about this project isn’t necessarily the statement marble island, the unexpected color combinations, or even the vintage finds – it’s the atmosphere Studio Squire has managed to create within what could easily have been a very minimal, impersonal shell.

'The home sits within the Chelsea Barracks complex just off the Pimlico Road, Angelica explains. 'It’s a very special part of London with so much character and charm all around you, being close to the river and the beautiful architecture of Belgravia – this certainly had a bearing on our approach.'

Despite the contemporary façade and relatively bijoux footprint, the home feels immediately relaxed and lived-in, with none of the stiffness that often creeps into modern homes.

Rather than filling every corner or relying on lots of big gestures, Angelica and Richard allowed the rooms to breathe, choosing instead to focus on proportion, comfort, and pieces with genuine presence.

'We wanted the key rooms to feel light and bright, making the most of the floor-to-ceiling windows and double aspect living room,' she continues. 'With that in mind, we were set on our pale walls and curtains from quite early on, knowing we would add in the layers of color and pattern throughout the fitted pieces, furniture, and accessories.'

Even the bolder moments, like the deep green cinema room or the colorful headboards downstairs, feel intentional rather than attention-seeking.

There’s something refreshingly optimistic about this apartment. The buttery yellows and soft blues bring warmth without overwhelming the calmness of the space, while the mix of contemporary pieces and older finds stops the space from ever feeling too pristine or predictable.

Ultimately, Studio Squire has created a home that feels chic and grown-up, but still full of ease, personality, and warmth. It's a reminder that contemporary interiors don’t have to default to minimalism in order to feel sophisticated.

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In central London, lateral space is the holy grail – coveted, elusive, and, when it does appear, not always straightforward. This duplex apartment, set within a former convent, offered precisely that rarity: a broad, uninterrupted footprint, but none of the architectural cues that typically guide how a home should unfold.

For its owners – who divide their time between the capital and a country house in the north of England – it also marked a deliberate shift in mood: away from the familiar language of rural comfort towards something more urban and expressive.

When interior designer Peter Mikic first visited, the challenge of this house design was immediately apparent.

‘The living room was one big, open-plan space,’ he recalls. ‘It was great, but difficult to work out how to create intimacy within that single volume.’

His response was characteristically deft. Rather than impose order, he coaxed it – using subtle architectural interventions alongside a considered interplay of color and texture to transform a vast, open expanse into a sequence of spaces that feel both generous and carefully composed.

Key to this transformation was the addition of two slatted oak dividers, which now discreetly delineate the main living areas without disrupting the flow. Sight lines remain long, but each area is gently anchored, creating moments of pause within the openness.

With little architectural narrative to rely on, color and texture became the apartment’s defining language. With a background in fashion, Peter approaches color instinctively, and here it was a collaborative exercise.

The client, armed with a collection of contemporary art, guided much of the chromatic direction, while the family’s three teenagers became unlikely co-authors of the scheme.

‘In our first meeting, we talked about the colors they loved: mustard yellows, greens, and blues,’ he says. ‘Those ideas fed into everything.’

In the living room, two generously proportioned sofas in mustard mohair anchor the space, their scale deliberately exaggerated to meet the room on its own terms.

From this starting point, the scheme takes shape: a Paonazzo marble fireplace threaded with dramatic veining picks up on the graphic energy of the Jean-Michel Basquiat screen print above, while bronze table lamps and a curvaceous wooden coffee table add punctuation to the softer palette.

Underfoot, a muted gold rug, thick and tactile, sets the tone for the material richness that runs throughout.

Texture does much of the heavy lifting. Bouclé, velvet, sheepskin and mohair all passed the nonnegotiable ‘cheek test’: ‘If it’s itchy, it goes.’

Even the sitting room shelving – cleverly designed to conceal home office paraphernalia – is softened with a fabric backing, while the staircase handrail has been wrapped in navy leather for an unexpected, quietly luxurious flourish.

Rugs, too, play a crucial role, grounding each zone without overwhelming it. Rather than introducing overt patterns, Peter opted for richly textured monochrome designs in which subtle variations in pile height create quiet relief across the surface.

In the dining room, a pink rug anchors a composition of yellow blinds, blush-toned seating, and a vibrant green and blue gouache. A mid-century sideboard lends a sense of history, while the bouclé dining chairs nod to the spirit of Jean Royère: playful, but precisely judged.

In the kitchen, a peninsula in veined marble helps delineate the space while creating an informal seating area.

‘We wanted it to feel a bit like a bistro,’ says Peter, who combined glazed wall cabinets with cabinetry stained green so that the grain remains visible.

The primary bedroom is layered in soft, shifting blues – a calm counterpoint to the energy elsewhere in the apartment – offset by a striking brass four-poster bed and sculptural mustard-hued sofa.

The children’s rooms on the upper level, meanwhile, are more spirited: terrazzo floors, playful tiles, and a lighter, less formal touch reflect their occupants’ personalities without veering into the predictable.

Throughout, Peter balances antiques, vintage finds and contemporary pieces – his own and those of other makers.

‘I don’t want to be one of those people who designs everything myself,’ he says. ‘There’s so much talent out there. If something is well made and works in the scheme, it elevates the whole thing.’

One of the most striking examples is the sitting room cabinet by artist Matthew Raw, clad in handmade tiles in a petrol-blue glaze.

‘It’s the sort of piece that in 50 years’ time will still be looking great,’ notes Peter – the kind that quietly becomes a future heirloom.

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In Washington Irving’s Rip Van Winkle, he evocatively describes the Catskill Mountains as 'swelling up to a noble height, and lording it over the surrounding country.' Their beauty has long been a magnet – and especially so for the owners of this timber-clad retreat in the heart of the Catskills.

The property’s enchanting interior sings with color and pattern, thanks to the talents of British-American interior designer Lauren Carlucci.

Now based in New York, Lauren grew up in the UK, where she went to school with Nell Diamond, founder of Hill House Home.

She was always a cheerleader when I was going through the transitions to moving into interior design, and she called me to ask me to do up the home for her, so it was really exciting to work with a friend in a very different way,' she notes.

Nell already had a vision of the house design she craved.

'The interior needed to feel deeply personal, and the references spanned Austrian and Swiss chalets. English country homes storylined throughout, as well as very relaxed American western mountain homes,' Lauren says.

Lauren also planned deft touches that lace in local design lore with Americana and folk pieces throughout, and an English sensibility absorbed during her upbringing also influenced her decisions.

'It has such a rippling influence in how I’m choosing things – perhaps a reference from my grandparents’ home, or the fact that my mom has Robert Kime curtains in her sitting room. All these storylines influence the way I choose fabrics or colors, or the shapes of the joinery and millwork.'

The project was somewhat of a balancing act, with Nell being more of a maximalist and loving pattern and bolder colors, while her husband Teddy gravitated toward more minimalist contemporary lines.

'Juggling that juxtaposition actually made for such a successful project because we were able to layer things like more Bauhaus-shaped lighting against these really beautiful antique rugs that were already owned by Nell, and on top of that, we layered velvets or the roll arms or the bobbin shape or the little flange on the cushions,' says Lauren.

'The resulting tension also prevents the interior from feeling overly traditional or contemporary. It all feels very cohesive, but balanced and still joyful.'

The interplay of silhouettes from different eras and myriad influences is beautifully showcased in the living room, where shapely American ski-house-style shearling armchairs rub shoulders with the more traditional lines of the English roll-arm sofa, upholstered in an electric-blue velvet.

'The color of the velvet just sings,' says Lauren.

Bobbin tables by Alfred Newall are teamed with a playful stool, whose dapper fabric aligns with the Americana thread, along with the gingham wallpaper.

A Hill House Home plaid wallpaper hugs the powder room walls.

'It’s such a beautiful tartan,' explains Lauren. 'I changed some of the colors to match the plum color in the primary bedroom and increased the saturation of the green to have a dialogue with the mudroom outside it. Everything was very intentional.'

Earthy greens prevail in the guest bunk room, too, where the color palette was inspired by the surroundings – hence the deer prints gracing the walls.

Lauren color-matched the Hill House Home wallpaper with vintage Catskill fishing posters and punctuated the space with deep green furniture.

'The Catskills are very much a hunting, fishing, and hiking outdoorsy area,' she says. Vintage Appalachian quilts add timeless character.

Every object chosen for the project was carefully considered, and Lauren’s experience working at auction houses Phillips and Christie’s has given her invaluable expertise in decorative objects.

Some of the furniture was sourced from Croatia, side tables were bought from an antiques shop in Edinburgh, blankets from the Cotswolds, and art and decorative items from estate sales in upstate New York.

'It helped the interior feel layered and textured through all these design channels,' says Lauren.

'I wanted to integrate Americana and Shaker forms because I think a sense of place is very important and, given my background, it’s important for me to celebrate British designers, too.'

Definitely an example of a special relationship between the US and UK.

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‘As you’d expect, this house has beautiful proportions,’ says interior designer Victoria Gray, who, with design partner Taline Findlater, had the rather enviable task of filling the three-story Georgian house in Northamptonshire with light, color, and pattern, alongside the owners’ collection of antiques and contemporary art.

The duo from Olivine Design, known for considered, timeless interiors with just a hint of play, were ‘lucky enough’ to be involved at the beginning of this home’s next chapter, working with ‘an amazing firm of architects – Nick Cox Architects – as well as a great construction team’, Victoria says.

Built between 1727 and 1730, the house needed a complete renovation, which involved extending and reconfiguring some spaces. ‘Our clients wanted a light-filled house that respected its heritage, while making it a modern home for a family with four young children to grow up in,’ says Taline.

The work started in 2023 and took almost two years to complete, with new bathrooms, an extension to the kitchen, and the addition of a mudroom and scullery, along with new finishes where the original was not being fully restored.

‘Nick and his team specialize in restoring listed houses, and it’s always exciting to be brought in at such an early stage as it allows us to closely consider the spaces, how they will be used, and by whom,’ Taline adds. The project definitely proved to be a rewarding experience.

Walking through the front door, you step into a paneled hallway with reception rooms on either side – the living room and home office – and the main staircase through an arch. Off the living room is the dining room, with the kitchen, scullery, and mudroom on the other side of the ground floor.

‘We really wanted to enhance the flow between the reception rooms,’ says Victoria. For this, they used a palette of colors that work through these spaces, with olive, cinnamon, straw and brick making repeated appearances.

With large and plentiful windows on the ground and first floor (where the primary bedroom, bathroom, dressing room, and two further bedrooms and bathrooms are), softer iterations of these colors are found, playing with the abundance of natural light.

As you journey to the second floor (home to a laundry room, four bedrooms, and two bathrooms), with its lower ceilings, the palette becomes more intense.

Such color confidence wasn’t without its challenges, though.

‘In the reception rooms, the scale and number of windows were tricky,’ Victoria says. ‘Too much color and pattern and we would have been in danger of overwhelming the space, so we played with pattern on upholstery and accessories, using plain choices with lots of texture on the windows and walls. For example, the living room has a beautiful textured grasscloth wallpaper with linen curtains and a woven seagrass rug,’ she explains.

The house’s original paneling also gave the opportunity for rich color while providing textural interest.

‘Fortunately, our clients enjoy color and were keen for us to mix their contemporary artwork with new and antique pieces of furniture,’ says Taline.

Perhaps the best example of this happy coexistence of old and new, color with pattern, is found in the dining room, where a large, contemporary artwork inspired the scheme of indulgent, rich red.

The piece, abstract in style, sits next to a traditional hand-blocked floral print fabric at the windows – new and old epitomized.

Or maybe it’s the color-pop red of the painted dining chairs in the kitchen nestled under a tabletop made from a beautiful piece of wood from a Welsh forest, or the vivid fresh green coat given to the simple, traditional millwork in the drinks pantry.

It is this mix of traditional and contemporary that will see this property stand as a family home for generations to come.

The client says the scullery, mudroom and kitchen are her favorite spaces, that they’ve ‘transformed’ the house.

Practicalities aside, Victoria and Taline have given this listed house a new legacy: ‘With the lovely, layered rooms, its owners can also add their own design mark over time,’ Victoria says.

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From sash windows to ornate molding, Victorian properties often boast a wealth of original features that tell of craftsmanship from a bygone era. And while the owner of this terraced house in north London was appreciative of such details, she was unapologetic in not making reinstating purely decorative touches such as picture rails and fireplaces part of her agenda when renovating.

‘She loved the bones of the place, but didn’t want it to feel too traditional,’ says Nicola Crawford of Finch Interior Design, who was tasked by the client, a lawyer, to make the house design reflective of her personality.

‘Eclectic’ and ‘bold’ were the adjectives that Crawford kept coming back to. That explains the limewash on the hallway’s walls to bring a touch of modernity to the period house, and the floor-to-ceiling tiling on the chimney breast in the living room in lieu of a mantelpiece.

This refusal to follow expectations is what makes the house so uplifting. It also ensures that it is optimized for 21st-century living: in the designer’s considered reconfiguration of the ground floor, the kitchen is connected to the hallway thanks to an internal window placed by a newly created dining area.

The middle reception room – a space that often becomes merely transitional upon creation of a side-return extension – has been cleverly fashioned into a cozy reading nook with open shelving to display sculptures and vessels.

And then there’s the abundance of vibrant wall art, which is hung in clusters or off-center.

‘I’m obsessed with art – I think it makes up so much of a room,’ says Nicola, who relished taking on a curatorial role.

Her favorite piece is of three jaunty waiters by British artist Jack Penny, which she sourced at an exhibition by The Dot Project (and which has found its natural home around the dining banquette). The offerings by M.A.H Gallery and Rye-based McCully & Crane also resonated with Nicola and her client.

Striking a balance between the intensity of the framed canvases and the decor was key.

‘It was about ensuring that the interiors were impactful enough to complement the art without overpowering it,’ explains Nicola.

She landed on Joa’s White, a strong, taupe-based neutral by Farrow & Ball for the downstairs walls, ‘in order for the art to breathe’.

Contrasted with a green ceiling in the living room (the client’s favorite color), the effect is more like stepping into the realm of a worldly collector than a gallery.

Nicola then layered the space with a textural mix of fabrics ranging from linen to bouclé. Henry Holland’s ceramic nerikomi floor lamp, which provides form, pattern, and materiality, is central to the living room’s design.

When it comes to kitchens, Nicola feels passionately that any ‘should look and feel like a beautiful room that just happens to be a kitchen,’ she says.

In this instance, eschewing wall cabinets and conceiving a kitchen island cast in 3D tiles lends a sophistication that one would expect to find in a buzzy restaurant.

‘Because it’s lower down and not at eye level, it works,’ she says of the structure.

The open shelving suspended above adds to the feeling of sitting up at a cocktail bar, but was in fact a solution to minimize the visual impact of the boxed-in steel beams.

‘I knew there wasn’t a call for any more lighting there, so doing this helped zone the kitchen area,’ she explains.

The main bathroom was refreshed without changing any of the plumbing fixtures.

Nicola repainted the body of the slipper tub and swapped out all the tiles, choosing an encaustic cement tile for the floor.

The new zellige tiles that line the walls are elegantly edged with a marble pencil trim that Nicola hunted down on eBay.

Having worked on this style of house before, Nicola used a tried-and-tested layout in the main bedroom.

Moving the bed perpendicular to the windows and erecting a wall behind it created a full run of wall for closets, as well as a section opposite for a vanity.

‘It means when you walk into the room, you encounter the softest part – the bed – while the hardest part – the closets – is hidden,’ says Nicola.

She designed a headboard and had it wrapped in a moss-colored velvet by Dedar. The result is a plush, hotel-like space that the Victorians would surely admire.

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For the owners of this Surrey Hills home, their English residence was never meant to mirror their main home in the Middle East. Where one embraced a more neutral aesthetic, the other was imagined as unmistakably British.

Tasked with bringing that vision to life, interior design studio Yellow London created a home that balances tradition with a fresher, more contemporary edge.

What unfolds is a house design rich in personality but relaxed enough for family life, entertaining, and long weekends spent indoors (thanks to the English weather). 'We wanted to create a home that felt distinctly British but was filled with texture, depth, and color,' says founder Liv. 'Every room connects to the next, yet each space still has its own personality; comfortable, layered, and beautifully balanced.'

Set within the rolling Surrey Hills, in the South of England, the 1930s-1950s property already had the bones of a classic family home, but founders Cath Beckett and Liv Taylor were careful not to lean too heavily into country cliches.

'The clients’ main residence in the Middle East played a large role in shaping the design, as they wanted this property to feel distinctly British in contrast,' explains Cath. 'The aim was to balance that traditional British style with a modern aesthetic that felt true to the clients.'

'We did this using color, texture, and low-level lighting to add warmth and character,' she continues.

'They specifically wanted to move away from the neutral schemes of their Middle Eastern home, so we didn’t need to push when it came to being bolder – they were clear that they wanted to use color throughout, particularly deeper, earthier tones.'

The house already had an easy sense of ease to it, but Cath and Liv's design choices bring a new depth and softness.

Earthy greens, rusts, dusky pinks, and deep blues appear repeatedly throughout the home, sometimes boldly, sometimes more subtly, helping each room feel connected without becoming overly coordinated.

'The aesthetic is modern yet layered, with an emphasis on color and flow,' says Cath. 'It feels distinctly British but not overly traditional, and each room has its own identity while remaining connected.'

It is this cohesion that gives the house its particularly calm atmosphere – there are shifts in mood from space to space, but never jarring ones.

Although many home renovations begin with a full rip-out, the designers instead chose to work with what was already there in the kitchen, preserving the original cabinetry and updating the space cosmetically rather than structurally.

'To avoid wastage, the clients and I chose to do updates to the kitchen instead of re-fitting the entire room,' says Cath. 'The bones of the space, like the cabinets, were already in great condition, and so we painted these varying shades of green and replaced the countertops with white marble with a matching backsplash.'

'Using multiple shades of green in the kitchen was a risk we’re glad we took,' Cath continues.

'Committing to several tones within one color family can feel muddled if the tones aren’t carefully balanced, but by layering darker greens on the island cabinets and shelving with a paler shade on the perimeter cabinetry, we created a subtle contrast that added dimension to the kitchen,' she explains.

Open to the kitchen yet noticeably softer in mood, the sitting room was designed to feel intimate and welcoming.

'The kitchen and sitting room were designed as one open-plan scheme, using earthy green, rust, and navy tones,' Cath adds. 'Flow between the rooms was important, so to connect these spaces we used the same color scheme throughout the kitchen, sitting room, and study,' she adds.

'We upholstered a set of antique armchairs from Birdie Fortescue with Le Manach fabric from Pierre Frey in the sitting room,' Cath continues.

'The combination of vintage pieces with modern fabrics fits seamlessly into the design ethos of this project, and they are super comfy!'

If the sitting room is soft and subtle, the living room brings a bolder moment. Rather than designing the room as a formal ‘best room’ reserved for guests, Cath and Liv imagined it as the social heart of the home.

Emerald green silk-like wallcoverings form the backdrop, balanced by softer blush pinks, warm caramels, burgundy accents, and natural wood tones that keep it feeling cosseting. Overscaled artwork injects a sense of playfulness, while soft textures and lighting help maintain the mood seen throughout the rest of the house.

'We really focused on texture and low-level lighting to keep the space feeling inviting,' Cath explains. 'The clients were also very clear about the level of color they wanted, so we made sure to incorporate this with continuity from one room to the next.'

'Comfort was particularly important in the main family spaces. We chose plush rugs and carpets for the floors in spaces like the living room, where the family likes to relax and play board games on the floor.'

While much of the home embraces playful color and contrast, the primary bedroom takes a noticeably softer approach.

Neutral textured walls and pale flooring create a calm backdrop, allowing the richer accents – saffron velvet cushions, a deep blue foot-of-the-bed bench, and the rust-toned bed skirt – to feel intentional rather than overpowering.

As elsewhere in the project, even within such a neutral scheme, the layering of texture prevents the room from ever feeling flat or minimal.

A woven upholstered headboard introduces pattern in an almost painterly way, while velvet, linen, and wood all work together to give the room depth. While in the connecting dressing room, a sculptural burl wood vanity introduces warmth and movement against the pared-back palette.

There are many guest bedrooms in this home, but one of the most charming spaces is this one on the upper floor that takes the project’s approach to color and gives it a lighter, more playful twist.

Wrapped in blush, the room immediately feels cocooning, yet the palette never tips overly sweet thanks to the touch of green and deeper forest accents layered throughout.

The adjoining bathroom might be compact, but it has been approached with the same confidence and attention to detail as the larger entertaining rooms. Here, the palette is a little moodier, with inky blue tiles in the shower enclosure and creating a striking contrast against the softer cream walls and green vanity below.

'We focused the palette around earthy, deeper tones like greens, rusts, pinks, and blues; these colors are repeated throughout the house in different shades to create continuity,' adds Cath.

Rather than leaning into overtly themed schemes, Cath and Liv approached the children's spaces with longevity in mind, creating rooms that feel youthful without ever becoming kitsch.

The result is a thoughtful, flexible design that can evolve naturally alongside the family over time. In this kid's bedroom, muted blue-green joinery lines the wall and combines open shelving, a desk area, and generous wardrobe storage. 'The children’s rooms were designed to grow with them, each with bespoke joinery and layered textiles,' says Cath.

One of the most impactful design moments in the project is the extensive use of bespoke joinery throughout the home.

While each room carries its own distinct mood and palette, the custom cabinetry creates a thread that ties the entire scheme together – from banquette seating and study spaces to bedroom storage and bathroom vanities.

'The use of bespoke joinery details throughout the home also highlights the consistency we were aiming for,' Cath echoes.

Ultimately, what makes this home so compelling is not simply its fun color palette or layered interiors, but the atmosphere Yellow London has managed to create within it.

Although rooted in distinctly British charm, the house never feels precious, overly traditional, or tied to cliche. Instead, it strikes a careful balance between elegance and ease – somewhere designed as much for everyday as it is for entertaining.

'The main consideration was ensuring the house felt welcoming despite only being used part of the year,' adds Cath. 'We hope it feels warm, layered, and welcoming. The intention was to create a home that feels comfortable and balanced while still having a strong design sense.'

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In a region known for relaxing palettes, this vineyard cottage takes a different tack – and a far more fun one at that.

Designed by Lauren Nelson for a young family who spend their summers here, this is a 'project that speaks to the power of color'. In this home, guests don’t just pick a bedroom; they instead claim 'the blue room' or 'the pink room'. It’s a small touch, but it says everything about the spirit of staying here.

At around 3,000 square feet, this three-bedroom Sonoma house design has all the storybook appeal of an English cottage – a shingled, multi-gabled exterior softened by a meadow-like front garden that feels more countryside than California. But it's out the back where the connection to wine country really unfolds.

And perhaps the most refreshing part? This wasn’t a full gut home renovation. The layout already worked, so the transformation came through paint, fabric, and thoughtful detailing.

'We mainly focused on finishes, fixtures, and millwork. However, the exterior deck was expanded quite a bit, and the back of the house was opened up significantly for better access to the deck and pool area,' Lauren explains.

Even the kitchen was refreshed rather than replaced, proving how far a thoughtful edit in the right hands can go.

From there, color became the connective tissue of the home, but rather than chasing a perfectly cohesive scheme, this home celebrates rooms with identity.

'Because this is a country home where the family and their guests spend their days on vacation, we wanted to lean into color and pattern in a playful way,' says Lauren. 'I love the idea of a guest claiming the pink room, or the blue room – a house where each room has its own personality and gives a certain energy.'

'We played up the cottage charm with a heavy hand of vintage furniture, painted millwork, floral patterns, and color stories to define each space,' she explains.

The result is far from chaotic – it’s layered, with vintage pieces, botanical prints, and natural textures tying everything back to the rolling hills just outside. The contrast creates interest, but cohesion comes from repetition.

Green, in particular, moves through the house in varying tones.

'Because the house is perched in such a beautiful area and so connected to the surrounding hills and vineyards, green became a dominant theme throughout,' Lauren explains.

'A dark but vibrant green in the kitchen, a lighter sage green in the powder, and a minty green in the TV room. Earthy pinks, moody blues, and warm wood tones were also used to balance the green and create a dialogue of color.'

At the heart of the home is a generous open-plan great room designed less for show and more for real life.

'The kitchen, dining, and living room flow seamlessly in this open floor plan, creating an inviting space perfect for casual entertaining and the constant stream of guests,' Lauren describes.

Nothing feels overly styled or precious; deep, sink-in sofas create a relaxed living zone designed to be used, with materials that happily allow guests and pets to flow from pool to indoors without worry.

The dining area anchors the open space, with a substantial wooden table surrounded by pine chairs that bring warmth and a sense of history.

'Vintage Henning Kjaernulf dining chairs, upholstered in durable outdoor fabric, surround the dining table, while extra-deep sofas invite cozy movie nights,' Lauren adds of the multi-functional space.

Crucially, the room doesn’t stop at the walls. 'Expansive doors along the length of the great room fully open to the back deck, blurring the lines between indoors and out.'

It’s this outdoor connection that gives the space its intrigue. Instead of being a single uniform scheme, it's divided into a series of zones that feel layered, intimate, and inviting yet totally distinct from one another.

The kitchen is perhaps the clearest example of Lauren's approach to thoughtful changes, without the need for a full renovation.

'The layout was functional, so we preserved the existing cabinets and refreshed them with a coat of paint (moving away from the previous all-white finish),' Lauren explains.

'We also added new hardware, a new tile backsplash, updated decorative lighting, and gave the island a fresh look with new legs – each change bringing a new personality to the space,' she adds.

Together with warm wood floors and brass hardware, the palette lands somewhere between charming English cottage and relaxed California farmhouse.

The powder room may be one of the smallest spaces in the house, but it delivers some of its biggest personality.

Before the remodel, she described it as 'a white box, lacking any architectural interest' – functional, certainly, but forgettable. Rather than stripping it back entirely, Lauren focused on a handful of new additions that would completely change the mood of the room.

'The vanity was cute and worth saving. With just 3 simple additions – beadboard wainscotting, patterned wallpaper, and a new faucet – it felt like a completely new space.'

The primary bedroom takes a noticeably restful turn from the rest of the house.

'The design brief for this primary bedroom was dark and moody, to create a cozy yet dramatic retreat,' Lauren explains of the cottage charm with a modern twist aesthetic. On paper, it's a rather bold choice for a vacation home, but one that pays off beautifully, thanks to all the natural light in the space.

A large opening leads directly onto the deck, with sightlines stretching toward the pool and surrounding hills beyond. That connection to the outdoors stops the darker tones from ever feeling enclosed, alongside floral drapes that frame the doorway and plush, layered rugs underfoot to bring warmth and comfort.

Of all the bedrooms, the so-called 'pink room' perhaps best captures the home’s playful approach to color.

Rather than leaning saccharine, the muted lilac-toned walls feel earthy and cocooning, creating a soft contrast to the greens and blues used elsewhere in the house.

As Lauren explains, the drapes were the starting point for this room, a floral Carolina Irving fabric whose faded berry tones are echoed in the walls and bedding tones.

It's that thoughtful layering that gives the room its charm. Blush linens, patterned textiles, and vintage furniture all sit comfortably together, while even practical pieces were reimagined rather than replaced – 'an old IKEA sleeper sofa was made anew with an indoor/outdoor Peter Dunham fabric,' she adds.

If the dusty pink bedroom feels soft and romantic, the blue guest bedroom takes a more enveloping approach. Here, the walls are drenched in a mid-toned blue that gives the space depth.

'No stranger to color or pattern, we blanketed the room with a rich blue hue on the walls, and layered in pattern with Les Indiennes textiles and striped wallpaper,' says Lauren.

Despite the stronger tones, the room never feels overwhelming thanks to the careful balance of texture, with layers of pattern, woven wicker, and warm woods that keep the space feeling relaxed rather than overly formal.

Even the smaller corners of the house carry the same sense of personality seen throughout the main living spaces. In the kids’ bedroom, vintage furniture and collected artwork set a nostalgic tone, while soft blue-gray walls create a calm backdrop for patterned textiles and warm wood accents.

That same balance continues into the shared guest bathroom, which was completely reimagined with 'all new fixtures and finishes, a custom vanity and a wainscot of hand-painted patterned tile.'

The palette is softer here, moving into muted mauves and warm neutrals that give the room an almost spa-like feel, while unlacquered brass hardware and a woven rug add warmth and patina.

While the interiors are rich with color and personality, the real luxury of this Sonoma home may be its connection to the landscape beyond.

As part of the project, the deck was significantly expanded and the back of the house opened up to completely change how the home is experienced day to day.

'Following the renovation, the rear of the house now embraces a California Casual aesthetic while retaining the English Cottage influence, seamlessly integrating indoor and outdoor living,' Lauren explains. 'Both styles reflect a shared commitment to creating harmony with the surrounding landscape.'

Now, nearly every main living space spills naturally toward the outdoors.

Wide doorways frame views of the pool, gardens, and views beyond, while the deck itself functions as an extension of the house rather than a separate entertaining area.

Different dining and lounge zones are each positioned to take in the view, each with a relaxed sense of flow that Californian living does best.

Dining tables stretch toward the landscape, lounge areas are positioned to take in the view, and the transition between inside and outside feels intentionally seamless — exactly the kind of relaxed flow California living does best.

The most memorable moments here aren't some impressive full gut jobs or grand gestures, but the quieter ones.

Rather than competing with the scenery, this house echoes it – through its continuous thread of verdant greens, natural materials, and gently layered patterns and textures. The result is a home that feels as though it could only exist here, among the vineyards and hills of wine country.

'I think this project speaks to the power of color, and giving old pieces a new life with fabric and paint,' Lauren notes.

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With just 988 square feet to play with, most designers would reach instinctively for moderation – pale palettes, pared-back finishes, and a less-is-more mindset.

But in this Toronto semi, interior designer Lindsay Thornton, founder of Cornerstone Design & Build, took a decidedly different approach. 'We did the opposite of restraint,' she says. Instead, the home, which was reimagined for a family of four and their golden retriever Walter, layers 18 colors and patterns across its compact footprint.

Look a little closer, and behind the layered finishes is a rigorously planned house design, complete with pocket doors, a fort bed, dog-friendly window seat, and smart zoning that carves the house into purposeful, liveable spaces.

Set on a leafy street in one of Toronto’s original neighborhoods, this semi-detached home has stood for over a century – its red brick façade and modest proportions typical of the area’s streetscape. While the house was fully gutted, Lindsay, alongside lead designer Sam Darvay, was keen to retain a sense of that history wherever possible.

'While we wanted to update the interior and exterior of the home, we wanted to ensure that it still fit within the more traditional Craftsman style of the neighborhood,' Lindsay explains. 'On the exterior, this meant keeping the red brick, to tie into the semi it was attached to, and yet modernizing the home by updating the windows and siding to coordinate.'

Marrying up all the history with a color-forward vision, Lindsay describes how the home honors its heritage, while 'adding in layers of the client's personality and charm throughout.'

'It has intentional rooms, delineated with beautiful arches, artisan lighting, and custom textiles and molding,' she adds. 'It boasts an eclectic mix of well-loved items, with a little bit of whimsy added into the kids' rooms.'

The brief from the homeowners was as practical as it was personal. They needed a second bathroom, significantly more storage, and a layout that moved away from fully open-plan living.

'Erica, one of the clients, was quite hands-on in selecting the various colors, wallpapers, and millwork details. She had a great vision, and we worked with her to tie it all together,' she explains. 'They were also very into buying antiques or reupholstering their existing furniture. The only new furniture pieces we purchased were the barstools! Everything else we re-upholstered, bought second-hand, or made custom,' adds Lindsay.

Before a single color was chosen, the success of this home was mapped out on paper. 'Our team spent two to three months on the floor plan in order to get it perfect,' says Lindsay, noting that nearly every inch of the 988 sq ft footprint was scrutinized, tested, and reworked.

Instead of one continuous open space, Lindsay and Sam introduced a series of newly defined zones, using arches and cleverly placed pocket doors to 'tie off' rooms without sacrificing precious square footage.

'How the dog, Walter, lived in the home was also considered as far back as the permit stage,' she adds. 'We had to move his window seat in order to do the mudroom addition, so we kept the living room bay window and made that his new window seat. On the drawings, it was labeled “Walter’s bench,” and it was not compromised throughout many of the floor plan iterations.'

As Lindsay explains, designing the entire home at once allowed everything to be 'pulled together like an orchestra,' ensuring cohesion rather than chaos.

'Since the client no longer wanted a full open concept home, we knew we could play with color and create different personalities throughout the various zones,' Sam explains. 'Playing within rich historical colors helped to keep the space cohesive even when the colors changed.'

'There is nothing overtly bright within all of the color selections,' Sam continues, explaining how the original staircase was a jumping-off point for the color scheme for the whole home.

'You’re greeted with an airy yet classic foyer that, lo and behold, functions as a clutter-free mudroom due to thoughtful custom cabinets,' Lindsay explains of the entryway.

From here, a wide archway leads you into the living room, where the design takes a cozy turn. The space is fully color-drenched in Farrow & Ball’s Selvedge, a rich, enveloping blue that wraps walls, trim, and ceiling in one continuous tone.

'The old iron stove fireplace is a relic and a vintage (working!) piece that the clients wanted to keep,' she continues. 'Seeing as this is a central focal point of the living room, it heavily influenced the blue-gray color we selected to drench the room.'

'The rich tones and cozy atmosphere beg you to stay awhile and read by the original ironwork fireplace,' she adds. 'The custom window seat, however, is not for you…it was custom-built for the family dog, Walter.'

'As you open up the double pocket doors, you are brought into the beautiful sage green kitchen, and your eye gravitates to the beautiful custom pass-through window above the large apron sink,' Lindsay describes.

'Pocket doors were a lifesaver in this home! We used them in the primary ensuite, one at each end of the walk-through pantry, and a double set between the kitchen and the living room. They allowed us to carve out intentional rooms, conceal or open up the space when needed, and avoid unnecessary door swings, which would have made some of the layouts impossible,' she explains.

Here, cabinetry is painted in a soft green, creating a calm, grounded backdrop, while at the center sits a custom wooden island designed to read more like a piece of furniture than fitted cabinetry.

'My grandma had the same set of vintage kitchen plates we've used here as I, which I told the client, and she laughed and said: "Everyone says that when they see them”. They are a fun nod to a bygone era of china plates being used at every meal and a novel way to create art in the kitchen.'

'The clients love to cook and also love the outdoors. They wanted a kitchen that could integrate with their backyard and facilitate little hands reaching up and through the window for another snack or popsicle,' she adds.

'As you pivot to go join said guests on the deck, you pass through a twin archway that delineates the eat-in breakfast nook,' Lindsay adds. 'Tucked into the corner with a thoughtful custom banquette and broom storage, the surrounding windows and sheer cafe curtains, made by the client, give off such an airy feel, they make you want to linger just a little longer inside.'

'The custom handmade pendant and warm textiles add a soft, old-world feel that complements the family pedestal table and dining chairs that have been passed on throughout the years.'

'The refurbished staircase beckons you upstairs, where you are greeted by the primary bedroom,' she continues. 'The subtle, yet detailed cream wallpaper, paired with the custom black headboard and oversized rattan flushmount light, provides a sense of calm, without once risking being taken for “boring”.'

Storage, as throughout the home, is both a necessity and a design feature in its own right. One entire wall is dedicated to custom joinery, painted in a soft neutral.

'The run of custom millwork hides the couple's extensive wardrobe with the brass garment rail,' she adds. 'We loved the dressing garment both for its warmth and old-world charm, but also practically to aid the busy couple in getting organized the night before.'

While the bedroom leans more neutral than elsewhere in the house, it still sits comfortably within the wider scheme. The warm woods, soft creams, and aged brass tones are also echoed in the adjoining ensuite bathroom.

'The ensuite is compact and full of warm, classic details, from the exposed brass shower plumbing to the custom marble counter tops,' Sam describes. Pale vertical tiles subtly elongate the space, while a frameless glass enclosure keeps sightlines open, allowing light to travel through the room.

Storage, once again, has been thoughtfully considered. 'The floating shelves also add much-needed storage without overwhelming the space with a heavy piece of furniture.'

Further along the hallway, the second bathroom offers a completely different vibe. While the footprint is modest, the detailing ensures it feels anything but pared back.

'While you’re still dreaming of the serenity of the ensuite washroom, you walk down the hallway to the added second bathroom, which the kids can’t wait to show you,' Sam explains.

'This room, while lacking a window, does not lack personality, vibrancy, or a story to tell. The sage green beadboard and stunning classic dusty rose wallpaper pair together to create a durable, yet refined kids' bath. The small brass accents, collected over the years by the homeowner, add a depth of personality to the space,' she adds.

Next door, the girls’ bedroom offers one of the home’s most charming moments.

'The girls' room is next on your list and not one to miss. The custom teal closet that encapsulates the bed and provides the sweetest reading nook and treasure trove storage area for a little girl,' Sam explains. 'The wallpaper backing her bed introduces some playful and fun colors, which are tied into the classic yellow roman shades.'

'We turned the primary suite into a kids' bedroom and a bathroom, while moving the primary to the back of the home so they could have their own ensuite and backyard view,' Lindsay explains of the layout changes upstairs.

'Her brother’s room sits next door, and while it is the smallest room in the house, it probably has the most fun,' Sam continues. 'Here, his custom bed acts as his personal fort, and the size of the room is embraced vs ignored by the clever use of wallpaper and shelving to create a nook within the room that is compact and adorable.'

'He was moving from a crib to a big boy's bed, which is a big deal as a kid. So we created this “nook” bed to make it feel special to him. To do this, we added the ladder and selected a wallpaper to create a space within the room that felt cozy.'

'The bookshelves and handmade light also enabled him to turn it on and off himself, just like the tree fort of any kid's dreams,' she adds. 'Practically, we used the depth of the bed for clothing storage and added the cute little bear knobs the client found to personalize it for a little boy.'

Beyond the abundance of color and clever planning, it’s the quieter details that give this home its sense of style. Throughout, Lindsay and Sam were intentional about preserving and introducing elements that feel rooted in the past.

'We borrowed a lot from old-world Britain,' she says. 'A lot of brass and ceramic light fixtures were carried through the design, which adds a historical feel and helps tie the rooms together. Chances are, if it felt like it could have been around 100 years ago, it went well with everything else in this home.'

'We looked for classic, well-loved patterns that have stood the test of time,' they explain. 'For example, the kitchen island was designed to look like a furniture piece, the diamond lay marble foyer instantly sets the classic design of the home, and the rich wood tones, detailed molding, and unlacquered brass throughout, speak to an older era that is still timeless today.'

'They go together so cohesively because we were given the opportunity to design all of the rooms and millwork, so we could ensure all of the tones and patterns worked together.'

'Our main focus for what the client would feel,' says Lindsay.

'We wanted them to feel like their home was tailor-made for them, every inch. For it to be their safe haven, both for the parents to be able to relax and connect, while their kids can play and move about the home, and not be living on top of one another all the time.'

'This home could not have turned out so cohesively if it were done in stages,' she explains. 'The beauty of this renovation was that it was a complete overhaul of the whole home and therefore, we could tweak every last pillow, curtain, and wall color to work with the other elements.'

Nothing here feels overly styled or recently installed. Instead, each layer contributes to a sense that the house has evolved over time. Every design decision, from the placement of storage to the choice of colors, has been made in consideration of how the family, with its young kids and dog named Walter, actually lives.

The result is a home that feels collected, rich with character, and all the more inviting for it.

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'We wanted to ensure that this beautiful house felt like home,' says Bahar Nejad, co-founder and director of Studio 9 Design, about this impressive Grade II–listed Victorian property in the South Downs, England.

The clients required more space, so the studio was instructed to help gain planning permission for an orangery-style rear extension, plus an annex at the side of the house.

'As a property, it was grand and it had all the right features as there were beautiful windows and high ceilings, but it was lacking comfortable flow for modern living,' says Alice Adamczewski, co-founder and director of the studio. 'It didn’t have a clear narrative or aesthetic. It needed grounding.'

Over time, the property had undergone various extensions that were a clear jump in style and made the house design feel smaller and darker as one journeyed through – so maximizing light was a prerequisite.

Two capacious living rooms were completely disconnected from the garden, so the rear extension was designed to connect these spaces and provide views of the South Downs.

Ensuring every room had a function, so that each pocket of space was utilized, was another issue the designers addressed. The house had the luxury of four sitting rooms, so it was decided to convert one into a movie room, while another became a game room.

The grandness of the house proved a challenge, but a palette rooted in muted hues and showcasing occasional deeper earthy tones, with an emphasis on layers of texture, was envisioned as a way of creating tranquility.

'Small decisions such as not picking out the architrave, cornicing and skirting in a different color, and washing the walls and ceiling in only one color accentuate that calm,' says Alice.

The design narrative allowed Studio 9 Design to adhere to its signature style, which Alice describes as quite organic.

'We always respond to the clients’ brief – and every space demands something completely different – but the way that we’ve worked here is very much true to ourselves, given the fact that the materials are all natural, that it is responding to the light, the surroundings, and the history of the property, and we’ve considered the energy and the flow of each space. The result is a timeless modern scheme,' she concludes.

'It was a challenge to bring character into the interior and also encourage the clients to be brave with color. Some of the deeper tones were difficult for our clients to accept initially, as the samples came across as dark, and they wanted the space to feel light. But, in the end, they could see why we had to bring in these darker colors for depth and warmth.'

Limewash textural paint infuses a nuanced backdrop in the sitting room.

'It wouldn’t have been seen in the era of the property, but we managed to create something that felt like there was a lot of movement, layering, and texture in a way that we would never have expected,' notes Alice.

Curated finishes and layered textures enhance the carefully considered feel. 'We really played with those textures,' says Bahar. 'This is something we do throughout our projects.'

Natural materials and fabrics were championed throughout the house. Limestone swathes the kitchen floor, keeping the look light, while oversized herringbone timber flooring to suit the scale of the house was chosen for the main living spaces.

'When everything is so muted, the spaces needed a layer of pattern but we’re not doing it in a very obvious way,' says Alice.

Softness is injected with rugs crafted from pure wool. Alluring furniture was either made bespoke or carefully sourced, with vintage and antique pieces given a new lease of life by being upholstered in contemporary natural fabrics.

Furniture was chosen for its pared-back silhouettes, enhancing the ambience.

In the kitchen, for instance, meticulous attention was paid to the cabinetry design so that it was a clean and modernized interpretation of Shaker.

This is undoubtedly a house given a new – and serene – lease of life.

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After many happy vacations spent in the three cottages on this stunning lakeside plot, the owners decided they wanted to create a 'central hub'. A space where all the family could easily come together to cook, eat, play, and relax.

The family brought on Olivia and Jenna Botrie, the dynamic sister design duo behind Dart Studio, and worked collaboratively to design a new build that was to become a home for family gatherings – a place for everyone to come together in relaxed, welcoming, open plan spaces. This vision inspired every design decision made from the layouts, right down to the color schemes.

'This was a new build in Penetanguishene, set on a beautiful lakefront property,' says Olivia. 'The setting is incredibly quiet and natural, with protected land across the water, so the view will remain untouched over time.'

'That sense of permanence and calm really shaped the design approach. It called for a home that felt rooted and enduring – something relaxed, warm, and deeply connected to the landscape, rather than overly polished or formal.'

Nothing was to feel too perfect – every room was to be designed to be used and used well by the whole family. This is a huge home, 16,000 square feet, 5-bedroom, 7-bathroom, but each space feels intimate and easy. Here, Olivia talk us through this collaborative project.

'The clients wanted a true gathering place – a home that could comfortably host extended family and friends for long weekends by the lake,' explains Olivia. 'Their priority wasn’t creating something showy, but rather something generous, warm, and highly functional, where people could spread out but still feel connected.'

'We were involved very early, working collaboratively through planning, layout, and overall vision. It was a close, iterative process – aligning on how the home would be used day-to-day and during larger gatherings. That early involvement allowed us to carry a consistent design language through architecture, interiors, and final styling.'

This idea of a 'hub' was what guided a lot of the design decisions, the home needed to feel open, flowing from room to room, so if someone was relaxing in the living room, they could still feel part of the goings on in the kitchen. There would be room for everyone, no matter what the activity.

'The home was designed to bring people together naturally,' says Olivia. 'The main living spaces – kitchen, dining, and living room – are all connected and oriented toward the lake, allowing for easy flow and constant visual connection. The kitchen in particular acts as the anchor, with a large island and generous circulation space that encourages gathering without feeling crowded.'

'There are three additional cottages on the property, each designed as an independent, single-family space. The intention with this home was to create a central hub – more of a lodge – where everyone could come together. It acts as the heart of the property, supporting shared meals, gatherings, and time spent together, while still allowing each family to retreat to their own space when needed.'

Even the house's color scheme was to ensure the rooms felt connected, warm, and welcoming. Olivia and Jenna call the palette 'color non-color' – the tones are washed and muted, but never flat.

'We approached the palette as a series of layered neutrals, drawn from natural materials like wood, stone, linen, and metal, and then quietly punctuated with subtle color,' Olivia explains. 'Muted, moody tones – plum, ochre, and teal – many inspired by the Farrow & Ball palette - were woven through each of the spaces. While these are technically colors, their washed-out, slightly muddy quality allows them to read more like timeless neutrals rather than accents.'

'The goal was to create a palette that feels cohesive and continuous throughout the entire home. Nothing feels isolated or overly defined – instead, everything blends and builds on itself. You could take a pillow from one room and move it into another, and it would still feel entirely at home. That consistency was intentional; it allows the house to feel calm, layered, and connected rather than overly styled or segmented.'

Of course, the kitchen was to be the hub of this hub. A huge space with an island and dining nook for casual dinners, a pantry, and an open-plan living room. And yet despite its size, the space still feels cozy.

'Designed as the heart of the home, the kitchen is anchored by warm wood cabinetry, a leathered stone countertop, and a generous island that naturally draws people in. The hood, which is centered on the peak of the roof, becomes a defining feature within the space – not overly decorative, but quietly strong – helping to ground the room and give it a clear focal point. Overall, it balances function with a quiet, timeless aesthetic – designed to feel considered, but never overworked,' Olivia says.

The kitchen is filled with personality, with prints and collections lining the walls and countertops. Vintage-style runners are used to soften the space and create a break in the wood tones. The marble countertops create a touch of luxury, but it's lived-in luxury, as per the brief, this was to be far from a show home; this needed to be a kitchen that worked for a big family.

'Anchored by a large stone fireplace and framed by expansive windows, the living room opens directly to the lake and feels both intimate and expansive at once,' says Olivia.

'The fireplace acts as a grounding element within the space, creating a sense of warmth and focus while still allowing the views to take center stage. Tucked just behind the stone column, there’s a porch swing positioned to capture one of the best views of the lake.'

'It’s a quieter, more private moment within the home – slightly hidden, but deeply connected to the landscape – and has become one of the most loved spots in the house.'

As well as the more informal dining spaces in the kitchen, there's also a large dining room, big enough for the whole family to eat together. Although more formal than the kitchen, this isn't a formal room; it's not designed to be saved for special occasions.

'Positioned to capture views of the lake and comfortably accommodate large gatherings, the dining area is designed with a focus on proportion and ease rather than formality. It’s a space that feels just as natural for everyday use as it does for hosting,' says Olivia.

'A key feature is its ability to expand when needed – the console behind the sofa folds out to extend the dining table, matching its exact width and allowing the space to comfortably seat up to 20. This flexibility was important to the clients, supporting the way they host and ensuring the room can adapt effortlessly from intimate dinners to larger gatherings.'

'Designed as part of the “motel wing,” the bedrooms were conceived to comfortably accommodate a large number of guests while maintaining a sense of calm and cohesion,' Olivia explains.

'Each room follows the same layout and design language, and while the architecture and millwork remain consistent, each bedroom is subtly differentiated through color, creating a quiet sense of individuality within a highly unified whole. The result is a series of spaces that feel intentional and consistent, yet still personal – designed for comfort, ease, and repeat use over time.'

'The principal suite was designed as its own building, connected to the main house by a glass hallway that creates a quiet moment of transition and separation. This allows the suite to feel more private and retreat-like, set apart from the energy of the main living spaces.'

'While it maintains continuity through the use of warm wood and natural materials, we introduced tongue and groove to subtly differentiate it from the rest of the home and give it a more tailored, intimate character. The view is the most important feature – the layout and detailing were kept intentionally restrained to allow the landscape to take center stage.'

This was a big project for Dart Studio and was four years in the making, and as with any large-scale project, it did come with challenges. For this new build, it was actually the size that proved the trickiest part of the process – the home needed to be big to accommodate all the people the homeowners wanted to regularly host, but it also needed to feel warm and intimate.

'One of the main challenges was balancing the scale of the home with a sense of warmth,' says Olivia. 'At 16,000 square feet, it was important that the spaces didn’t feel oversized or impersonal. We achieved that through material choices, proportions, and layering – bringing in detail and texture to humanize the scale.'

'My favorite part of the project is the way the home feels when it’s in use. It was designed to be lived in – full of people, movement, and energy – and seeing it come to life in that way is always the most rewarding part,' Olivia explains.

'Whether in the summer with doors open to the lake, or in the winter gathered around the fire, the house holds a crowd beautifully. It allows for both large, lively gatherings and quieter, more private moments to happen at the same time. Nothing feels forced or over-designed – it just works. That sense of ease and connection is exactly what we were aiming for from the beginning.'

'What made this project special was the clarity of intention from the beginning. It was never about creating a perfect, static space – it was about designing a home that could evolve, be used, and feel better over time. That mindset shaped every decision we made.'

In 2020, amid the uncertainty of the pandemic, a young family turned their attention to an overlooked space above their garage in Litchfield County, Connecticut – looking to reimagine it as a guest cottage ready for whatever the months ahead might bring.

Brooklyn-based Studio Dorion came on board and transformed the raw space into something far more characterful, designed for retreating and reuniting. And at the heart of the house design is a single, perfectly picked shade of blue.

Designed to accommodate guests, family hangouts, and everything in between, the joyful cottage proves that even the most modest spaces can adapt – and emerge all the richer for it.

When founders Michelle Ficker and Peter Dolkas first entered the cottage, it was little more than an open room above the garage.

'When we first saw the space, it was a raw, open room,' recalls Michelle. The brief was clear, if deceptively simple: to transform it into a welcoming guest suite that could just as easily double as a relaxed hangout for the family’s children.

The project also came with a rare advantage. Having worked with the clients on their main house the year prior, Michelle and Peter already understood their likes and dislikes – and, this time, were given total creative freedom.

'We had one formal design meeting, and then it was off to the races!' says Michelle. 'They pretty much gave us carte blanche on the project and were very trusting. After we presented the design to them, the husband didn’t even enter the guest house until it was fully completed – about 6 months later.'

From the outset, the priorities were about practicality as much as aesthetics. The space needed to sleep as many people as possible, while still feeling cohesive and considered – and there was one firm rule: no pink.

Of course, it’s the oh-so blue color palette that gives the cottage its identity – and it all begins with a single shade of blue.

Rather than starting with paint as the jumping off point, the team anchored the scheme around a wallpaper, drawing out one particular tone from its floral motif and building the rest of the palette around it.

The effect is charming yet layered, allowing pattern and texture to build without overwhelming the compact footprint.

'The center of the flower on the Adelphi wallpaper is that blue, which is close to Farrow & Ball's Dix Blue, so we pulled it from there,' Michelle explains. From there, the color was carried with intent across the space, linking each element of the back to that original hue.

Getting the tone exactly right was key. Rather than relying on tiny swatches, the team tested the color on large painted boards.

'We did change the floor color, says Michelle. 'Originally, it was going to be a bright, acidic green, but when we saw the sample, we liked the idea of a bold blue floor better. It’s really helpful to see large paint-outs on boards in the space before committing to colors.'

It’s this consistency in the color story that allows the space to feel layered rather than busy.

With most of the cottage centered within a single open-plan room, the challenge wasn’t just how it looked, but how it worked day to day. 'When thinking about how the clients would be using the space, we knew there needed to be a lot of comfortable lounge seating for the kids to have a place to hang out, but also have private quarters for adult guests for extended stays,' Michelle explains.

'Most of the space is in one open concept room, so it was about building out the cabinetry to have multiple functions. For example, the daybed can be used for lounging, sleeping, and includes storage below,' she adds.

The kitchen follows a similar logic. Rather than overfitting the space, it’s been thoughtfully pared back to the essentials – a small fridge, sink, and portable hot plate – providing all the necessities for guests without overkill, as they would likely be dining in the main house.

If there’s one space that captures the spirit of the project, it’s the main living area – as Michelle puts it, 'where all the action happens'.

The atmosphere here is built through layers rather than bold statements. Generous seating creates an easy, informal feel, while textiles soften and warm the space.

That same love of layered pattern carries through into the sleeping areas, where practicality meets a more playful, almost nostalgic spirit thanks to a collection of Welsh blankets found on Etsy. Built-in bunk beds make smart use of the bijoux footprint, turning what could have been a purely functional sleepover space into something far more stylish.

If the bunk room leans playful, this bedroom offers a gentler touch. Still carrying the same red thread of Dix Blue throughout, the palette in here is lighter and more restful. 'The splatter-painted floors are carried throughout the space, and the colors we used are pulled into the millwork, trim, and wallpapers,' Michelle explains.

A red-and-white patchwork quilt brings a graphic pop to the bed, echoed in the striped bed skirt and curtains, while the ditsy wallpaper acts as a delicate backdrop.

In the bathroom, the palette is further pulled back, allowing the painted floor to take the lead.

Set against crisp white walls and a small window, a traditional clawfoot tub becomes the focal point – nodding to the cottage’s New England influences without feeling overly kitsch.

The effect is clean but far from stark, softened by small, vintage details like a time-worn stool and an oil painting for a touch of charm.

Not every transformation in the cottage came from adding something new – in some cases, it was about knowing what to take away. In the kitchen, a series of art pieces the clients already owned found new life through a simple edit.

'The art in the kitchen was something they already owned, but never really liked because they were in some really gaudy frames,' says Michelle. 'As soon as we took them out of the frame, they felt fresher.'

Similarly, in the main bedroom, the linens are kept white and crisp to allow for a moment of respite among the layered patterns.

Beyond the headline color, it’s the layering that gives the cottage its depth and easy charm. Underfoot, blue floors run throughout, acting like a unifying thread that nods to Melissa and Peter's initial inspiration.

Michelle points to John Derian’s Provincetown home as a touchstone – a reference that’s felt in the relaxed mix of pattern, color, and collected pieces. It’s a look that speaks to traditional New England decorating, but loosens it, favoring character over curation and charm over polish.

Set against block-printed wallpapers and painted millwork, this once rough and raw space has been given an inviting makeover designed to welcome everyone through its doors.

More than anything, the project is a lesson in restraint. While on paper it may look layered and full of charm, it relies on a single hero hue and a willingness to edit. Around it, texture, textiles, and thoughtful details bring warmth and personality, proving that even the smallest footprint can hold real depth.

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Set on the rugged shores of Lake Superior, Minnesota, Yond Cottage is more than a pretty lakeside retreat – it’s a home shaped, quite literally, by its surroundings.

Designed by Julia Miller of Yond Interiors as both her personal escape and a short-term rental, the project begins with the landscape itself, drawing on the tones, textures, and rhythms of the shoreline to inform the house design.

And it's that sense of connection to the lake that gives the cottage its soul. As Julia puts it, 'we wanted to create a place that was a refuge and an experience that you don’t get every day.' The result is a home that balances luxury with ease – somewhere that invites you to settle in and switch off.

The design begins – and ends – with the lake. Positioned so close to the edge of Lake Superior that the shifting light and movement of the water are part of the scheme, the setting dictated not just the aesthetic direction, but the very way the home functions.

'Being that the house is so close to the lake and the property is so spectacular, we had to honor the landscape in all of our design choices,' Julia explains. 'We took palette inspiration from the surrounding landscape and formed the practical parts of the cottage around the year-round activities.'

'The main goal of the project was to create a home that honored the shore and would stand the test of time,' she continues. 'We find so much inspiration from Mother Nature and the surroundings of all our projects. Blending the outside and inside experiences is paramount.'

Designing a home that functions as both a private escape and a short-term rental is no small balancing act. But at Yond Cottage, the two feel seamlessly aligned.

From the outset, Julia approached the project with longevity in mind. 'Even though it's a short-term rental, we still prioritized luxury materials and finishes,' she explains.

The intention was never to create something just for guests, but rather a home that could hold its own. That thinking is evident in the material choices.

Rather than opting for the kind of finishes that are easily replaceable or overtly practical, Julia leaned into natural, hard-wearing materials like stone, plaster, and solid wood that not only stand up to regular use but improve with age.

The entryway is designed as a hard-working space.

'As you enter the cottage, you're greeted by tumbled limestone floors and cabinetry with cottage-like details,' Julia explains. 'We used limestone as it's incredibly durable and a natural material that is found on the shores. The cabinetry is configured to easily store outdoor items.'

Visually, the mudroom storage and hallway are treated as one continuous moment. Paneling and wallpaper wrap the space, while the paint color – carried through from the exterior – creates a subtle but harmonious palette.

'A set of doors closes off the private bathroom and bedroom spaces from the main living, kitchen, and dining,' Julia explains of the layout.

If the entry introduces the palette, the kitchen is where it begins to open outward toward the lake.

'The kitchen is positioned with views of the fire pit and Lake Superior, and the quartzite on the countertops reflects the waves and nature of the lake,' she describes. Cabinetry in muted, earth tones sits alongside aged brass hardware and warm timber, while the terracotta floor tiles bring in a gentle rustic warmth.

In the dining room, that balance between refinement and informality is carried through in the furnishings

Vintage chairs sourced from Round Top bring a sense of patina and history, gathered around a custom pigmented ash table that anchors the open-plan space.

Here, as elsewhere in the cottage, the view does much of the work, but it’s the thoughtful layering of materials that ensures the space feels as good to sit in as it does to look at.

At the heart of the cottage, the living room draws everything together – material, mood, and moment.

Anchored by a substantial stone fireplace and wood-burning stove, the room is designed around the simple rituals of lake life: 'It has all the things you love to do at the cottage – start a fire and watch the waves.'

As with the rest of the home, the palette remains soft and grounded. 'All colors and textures were influenced by a collection of rocks taken from the shore out front,' says Julia. But in here, texture does a lot of heavy lifting.

Seating is arranged to encourage conversation as much as relaxation, with low, sculptural pieces that feel cozy but considered.

Down the hall in the bedrooms, the connection to the landscape becomes softer, more intimate.

In the first bedroom, a limewashed finish in the softest shade of pink creates a cocooning effect – a 'color taken from the rocks on the shores right outside,' says Julia.

It’s a nuanced tone, shifting with the light throughout the day, and lending the room a gentle moodiness. Paired with simple linens and a floral bedframe, the space allows the texture of the walls to take center stage.

Though compact in scale, both rooms are designed with comfort and practicality in mind, each centered around a queen bed to accommodate guests with ease while still maintaining that sense of serenity.

'Creating warmth and depth is inherent to all of our work,' says Julia. 'As we think about design, we are always thinking about the layers of a space, ensuring that the balance of form and function is always there.'

The second bedroom takes a slightly more decorative approach, wrapped in a cottage-style wallpaper that introduces pattern without overwhelming the space.

Tucked just off the hallway, the bathroom is a lesson in making a smaller footprint work harder – without sacrificing a sense of indulgence.

'Given the space constraints, we opted for a 'wet room' style bathroom combining the shower and tub area,' she explains. 'Having a luxurious soaking tub was paramount, and integrating it into the shower made the most sense.'

It’s practical, certainly, but never clinical.

Throughout the cottage, the mix of vintage and contemporary pieces is handled with a light but deliberate touch. Rather than layering in antiques purely just for character, Julia’s approach is more pragmatic.

'This is where function comes to play,' she explains. 'Vintage items are patinated and often more durable and well-made.'

'We prioritized vintage pieces in places of significance like the stone coffee table, dining chairs, and case piece in the second bedroom,' she adds. As well as durability, these pieces also help to give the space a sense of lived-in ease that welcomes guests, both returning and new.

For all its quiet calm, Yond Cottage is the result of careful problem-solving behind the scenes. The property’s location meant they had to work within a compact footprint that required every inch to be thoughtfully considered.

'Given the setbacks on the property, we were extremely constrained by the size and configuration of the spaces,' Julia explains. 'The long hallway was a design challenge, but we maximized that with the bathroom and mudroom,' she adds of the solution.

The result is a retreat that feels both efficient and effortless, proof that working within a small space often leads to the most thoughtful outcomes.

Ultimately, the lasting impression is a sense of ease, the blurred lines between indoors and out. As Julia hoped, it’s a place that leaves you feeling 'well cared for and renewed' – not just because of how it looks, but because of how it's been designed to make you feel.

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The owners of this extensive nine-bedroom Georgian village house in Hampshire, England, have a mantra: ‘It’s a crime to be boring’. So when it came to renovating the interior, elements of surprise were inevitable.

Interior designer Charlotte Smiley, who has worked for Martin Brudnizki and Salvesen Graham and is the mastermind behind the statement interior of the ancient Old Bell Hotel in Malmesbury, Wiltshire, has gained a reputation for distinctive schemes and was enlisted to breathe new life into the house design. She rose to the challenge with an intoxicating interior that celebrates chic color and playful pattern.

‘I knew the clients would be happy to push the boundaries and do things that were a bit wacky,’ explains Charlotte.

Because the house isn’t listed, the clients were able to make structural changes to suit their lifestyle. The front door, for instance, was moved from one elevation to another, which felt more natural.

This then entailed building another staircase near the new entrance to allow easy access to the basement with its recently completed cinema room, gym, laundry and bedrooms.

New glazed doors were installed to enable the clients to step out onto the terrace from the drawing room, while a storage barn was transformed into a space that functions for both work, rest and play with an office and a wow-factor party barn for entertaining.

The starting point for many of the rooms was exuberant wallpapers, with designs by companies such as Lewis & Wood and Mindthegap showcased throughout. The wallpaper designs were then enhanced with the layering of patterned fabrics in complementary hues.

‘We felt that, due to its large scale, the house could take lots of different bold colors and patterns, but I was conscious that we needed to ensure everything flowed from room to room and the schemes weren’t too jarring next to each other,’ says Charlotte.

‘It was a case of going back once we had decided on each room scheme and making sure that they all sat alongside everything else.’

The beating heart of the home is undoubtedly the open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area, which is slightly more muted than the rest of the interior.

Here, the warm plaster-pink walls form a calm and soothing backdrop to the spirited hues and energetic patterns. Originally two separate rooms, the walls were knocked through to incorporate the dining room, as the clients didn’t want a space that was seldom used.

It now bridges the kitchen and the living room, with the end result being one generous room with a sense of space.

The floor-to-ceiling-height curtains in a floral Soane Britain fabric inspired the scheme, with its prominent aubergine and green tones teased out in the colors of the kitchen cabinetry and island. Arched joinery detailing softens the scheme and is echoed with the splashback tiles and the curves of the rug in the dining space.

The living area is a delightful blend of old and new, with an antique mirror and a classic marble fire surround a nod to the age of the house.

‘The clients love the fact that it is a period house, but they also like the more contemporary look, so I was trying to balance it being a reflection of their style and taste as well as being sympathetic to the building,’ says Charlotte.

The designer upped the ante in the study, where she incorporated an idea she had harbored for a long time. The walls are papered with the beautiful pages of a John Derian picture book featuring favorite images from his vintage collection, with powder blue beading framing each page.

A contemporary pedestal table provides juxtaposition. ‘We were trying to create a mix and a balance so that it’s slightly unpredictable,’ notes Charlotte.

Another highlight is the powder room, where Charlotte honored the house’s age with a playful wallpaper featuring a carriage design.

‘It felt like a fun contemporary nod to how it would’ve been back in the day,’ she says. A small-scale red and white patterned wallpaper on the ceiling, meanwhile, adds another layer of interest and offsets the dark tones of the scalloped marble vanity with its basin skirt.

This house is certainly a masterclass in how to do anything but boring.

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'The power of finding beauty in the humblest things makes home happy and life lovely,’ declared Louisa May Alcott, and that dictum could certainly apply to the owner of this Victorian terraced house design in London, with its interior that nods to the Japanese art of wabi-sabi.

Interior designer Anna Haines was tasked with reimagining the three-story property, undertaking a considered renovation that focused on honoring the home’s historic character, while at the same time injecting modern functionality.

Original moldings and features were carefully restored with natural and reclaimed materials woven in for authenticity and sustainability, and unique finds were judiciously introduced, resulting in an interior with its own distinct personality that celebrates its imperfections.

‘The client really embraced the quirks of the house – he didn’t mind the wonky floors,’ explains Anna. ‘He was all for retaining those and preserving the inherent character.’

The layout was reconfigured with an eye to creating a design that felt sympathetic to the building. The living room on the first floor, for instance, remained in its original position, but glazed paneled doors were installed to inject a sense of gravitas.

The room was also opened up so that it leads into the home office, where partitioned pocket glazed doors allow light to circulate and provide privacy when the owner works from home. Paneling was added in the dining room and some of the first-floor rooms to enhance the period feel and bring texture.

On the second floor, meanwhile, the space was reconfigured with a bedroom removed to allow for a generous space that encompasses an inviting main bedroom, a solid walnut walk-in wardrobe, and a spa-like en-suite bathroom.

Weaving in thoughtful pieces was key to the design. ‘We wanted the interior not to feel new. All the furniture was either made or antique,’ explains Anna.

‘We were really reluctant to bring in new items, adhering to our ethos of making the home feel very lived in.’

From the off, the scene is set for individuality, with the joyful yellow and chocolate brown entryway.

‘We wanted to create something that felt warm and exciting as soon as you walked in,’ explains Anna. ‘We opted for 40% of the full paint color as we didn’t want it to be too deep. It’s a lovely buttery yellow and, as the space receives light from the first landing, it really glows. We teamed it with a lovely chocolate trim on the baseboards, architrave, and the staircase.’

Possibly the most eclectic space in the house, and undoubtedly Anna’s favorite room, is the guest powder room on the half landing.

The walls are wrapped in a charming artisan rice paper that Anna spotted at a design fair and knew the client would love. ‘It’s a nightmare to wallpaper with because they’re not particularly big sheets – each one is printed by hand by the batik method, and one of the joys is that no two sheets are the same,’ she says.

‘The client wanted the imperfections to be celebrated – you can see the joins, and that’s part of how it’s supposed to look.’

Paneling was installed to half height, as well as a statement gray marble basin, which is beautiful as well as practical. ‘We’ve evoked a little jewel box in this tiny space.’

The jewel-box aesthetic is continued in the living room, with its arresting tiled hearth wall.

‘The client wanted the space to feel quite dramatic, with a wood-burning stove at its heart, so we created a hearth wall with gorgeous burgundy zellige tiles.’

The wall paint has been kept pared back so the look isn’t too overwhelming, and Anna upholstered an antique barrel-back wing chair in blue vintage quilt fabrics, which contrasts with the tiles and lifts the space.

The design narrative of the house embraces classical style with a contemporary twist and Anna has infused it with layers of color and texture.

‘There’s a very nice flow, but also it feels quite different,’ she says.

‘It really answers what the client wanted, which is to embrace every quirk while respecting the period and character, and it’s quite individual and unique.’

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The house had an old soul, which I loved,’ says Joan Enger, founder of J. Patryce & Co, of her clients’ rambling property in New Jersey, built in 2004 in a classic colonial style. ‘It had a great layout and some very pretty architectural details,’ Joan adds, and this foundation allowed her to reimagine it into an effortlessly chic family home.

The clients, originally from Australia, had worked in a variety of countries. ‘I remember them telling us that in each of the locations they resided, they had very different homes, from historic properties to modern luxury apartments, so they weren’t really married to one particular style,’ explains Joan.

‘The interior of this house design was originally very frilly and the finishes and palettes didn’t fit the clients’ aesthetic, but they felt a connection to the space and the light, so they knew that they could eventually update it.’

Cue Joan to work her magic. Originally envisaged as simply an update of the kitchen, boot room, powder rooms, office, and main suite, the project snowballed.

‘We literally touched every single part of the house,’ notes Joan.

Relatively simple updates breathed new life into the jaded interior. Dated, chunky staircase balusters gave way to custom-blackened steel uprights, with the handrails refinished and stained, resulting in an elegant statement staircase.

Fussy mantels were replaced with simpler designs that were more architecturally interesting and provided streamlined focal points in the rooms.

The original knotty orange pine floors were stripped and refinished into what Joan describes as ‘the most perfect shade of pale honey’.

‘It made all the difference since they run throughout the whole house, resulting in a very understated Belgian feel, which worked well with our aesthetic,’ she says.

Reinvention is undoubtedly a key weapon in Joan’s arsenal. ‘We kept many of the original details in the home and made subtle improvements and enhancements. We introduced an abundant amount of custom joinery – that’s something we’re renowned for.

Connecting the spaces, as well as looking at the existing footprint and examining the elements in detail, was the first step, then deciding what should stay and not just ripping everything out.’

The studio is also known for its considered, timeless, and classic designs. ‘We want our spaces to feel layered, warm, and current, without feeling trendy,’ says Joan. ‘The bones of the house lent themselves to our style.’ The functionality of each space was a priority.

The clients love to entertain, so although their desire was for a chic and beautiful home, they also wanted it to feel comfortable and family-friendly.

To that end, a guest suite area upstairs comprising a kitchenette, bedroom, bathroom, and family room was created for family and friends who are visiting from afar.

Cornerstones of the palette are deft touches of the clients’ favorite color blue, while warm neutrals and rich earthy moments, such as mossy greens and golden ochres, that beautifully complement the blues were also leaned into. Meanwhile, in the basement, where there is no natural light, plums and navy blues prevail.

‘A house has many chapters, but it must read as one cohesive story,’ says Joan. ‘Everything has to connect, with some sense of continuity.’

Natural fabrics were teased through the rooms to infuse abundant texture. ‘Mixing different fabrics is important so you’re not just using one singular texture throughout,’ notes Joan. ‘Wovens blended with linens and velvets – fabrics that feel textural and different, but all work together – is key. It’s very much about a curated mix of materials.’

Pattern was kept subtle and understated, apart from in the son’s bedroom, where exuberant geometrics flirt with dapper stripes, evoking a sense of playfulness.

Joan’s signature style melds custom joinery, vintage pieces, artwork, and bespoke furniture designed by the studio. ‘The clients allowed us a lot of creative freedom in this project and it’s important to introduce these different layers and elements as we believe they add soul to the home,’ she says.

This carefully considered home certainly has that.

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Some homes make your heart beat faster thanks to experimental finishes and trend-driven designs. Others reveal their beauty more gradually, offering a sense of familiarity that feels both cozy and reassuring.

This house design, part of a country estate in England, Shropshire, belongs in the latter category. A grand entrance, striking architectural lines, a sweeping staircase, and back hallways leading to hidden nooks all evoke a sense of the past. Yet, under the direction of interior designer Guy Goodfellow, every element has been thoughtfully updated for modern living.

‘For me, a successful country house needs to feel authentic and unpretentious rather than overwhelming,’ says Guy, who worked on this project for four years. ‘That means embracing the blended nature of classic English decorating, where “pristine” sits comfortably alongside “slightly worn,” and furniture is always a bit mismatched.’

When Guy began working on the building, designed in 1814 by architect John Hiram Haycock, the interiors didn’t match its impressive setting. His client, who lives here with her adult son and often hosts guests, wanted to honor the English country house style she had long admired.

‘She has roots in Germany and Denmark, but she considers herself an Anglophile,’ he explains. ‘The idea was to enhance that classic appeal – essentially bringing the house back to what it once was: a place for friends and guests to gather – without any sense of stuffiness or, for that matter, unreliable bathroom plumbing.’

Known for his attention to detail and his maximalist style, Guy is skilled at making changes so subtle they’re almost impossible to pinpoint. ‘I have an obsession with old houses,’ he admits, ‘but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t update them. In this case, we moved the kitchen to a sunny addition and created space for the kind of bathrooms I love – ones that feel more like furnished rooms than purely functional spaces.’

That approach carries throughout the home, where antique finds sit alongside original period details, and lush floral prints mingle with wall murals in rich ochres, chocolates, and tobacco tones. If everything looks as though it has always been there, that’s exactly the goal – though in reality, many elements were added recently.

The dining room walls are covered with a digitally reproduced version of a tapestry series from Dumfries House called Triumph of the Gods, with technology allowing the borders to be adjusted to fit each wall perfectly. The richly textured finish immediately softens the room’s grand scale.

In the entryway, Guy refinished white columns in a deep oxide red to mimic porphyry, while doors throughout the house feature a faux bois painted finish. The library bookcases were taken apart and rebuilt on a larger scale, and original pelmet boards were reworked, regilded, and reinstalled to support fuller curtains. Even the stainless–steel island in the kitchen includes a hidden heating system to keep plates warm.

‘The best part was the excitement of finding just the right piece,’ Guy recalls. ‘We spent many happy mornings with our client at different antiques fairs. One day, we came across an oak curtain rod with gilded brackets and finials that fit the dining room window perfectly without any modifications – that was a wonderful moment.’

It may be for this reason that the renovation unfolded gradually over several years, giving the impression that the home’s design evolved naturally over time. For Guy, that’s the essence of a successful country house.

‘You want to come home from a damp walk with the dog to a roaring fire and a hint of wood smoke,’ he says. ‘It’s about gathering your closest friends and family in lively rooms that encourage conversation and fun.’ If that’s the formula for happy country living, this home seems to have mastered it.

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Picture the craftsmen’s emphatic Gallic shrugs when Ramdane Touhami first presented them with the plans for the drawing room of his family’s new house design in Paris’ 9th Arrondissement.

The maverick French-Moroccan designer and entrepreneur, who runs his own creative agency, tasked them with paneling the walls with ebony burl; but the paneling needed to appear to peel away in the corners to reveal traditional moldings – suggesting another world behind this world.

‘It was pretty complex to produce,’ acknowledges Ramdane of a process that involved soaking the wood for two months in order to achieve the precise curl he had in mind.

There is nothing mundane about the home Ramdane and his wife, Victoire de Taillac-Touhami – together the couple revived Cire Trudon, the world’s oldest candle manufacturer, and relaunched Jean-Vincent Bully, a 19th-century Parisian parfumerie as Officine Universelle Buly – share with their three children, aged between 17 and 22.

From the kitchen, tiled head-to-toe in Etruscan-style terracotta, to the dining room, where giant illuminated spiders crawl across the ceiling, every space offers a glimpse into the mind of an irrepressible avant-garde creative.

‘I wanted a home where you have the impression of traveling from one room to the next, with a surprise behind each door,’ Ramdane explains.

The family had been living in an apartment on the Left Bank when they learned that this house in the Pigalle district was for sale.

‘In typical Ramdane style, he had made an offer within two days,’ recounts Victoire, who is Buly’s brand and image director.

The house is one of a pair facing each other across a courtyard and it is steeped in history: Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec is believed to have rented the top floor when the lower floors were a brothel; the writers Stefan Zweig and Alphonse Allais both spent stints here; and during the art deco period it belonged to an artisanal rug maker who worked with the prestigious designer Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann.

Since the late 1970s, the building had been owned by the illustrious screenwriter, novelist, and actor Jean-Claude Carrière, who died a year before the couple bought it. ‘It was filled with his art collections and books,’ Victoire recalls.

Apart from removing a mezzanine level on the uppermost floor, the pair didn’t touch the layout, and Victoire was happy to grant her husband free rein with the interiors.

‘This was a chance for us to experience living in Ramdane’s imagination,’ she says, adding, ‘He worked fast, visiting the site morning, noon, and night for nine months. He wanted to make every single decision.’

Teams of craftsmen were enlisted, including lacquer artisans who created the glossy furniture and cupboard doors in the dining room, which resembles the glamorous Art Deco interior of an ocean liner.

For the living room’s low-slung seating – crafted from what appear to be giant felt-covered pipes – Ramdane tracked down talented specialists in the east of France. ‘Their first response to his designs was “non”, which in French is usually the starting point of the conversation. We never take it personally,’ laughs Victoire.

Her favorite space is the kitchen: ‘It was difficult for me to understand the design before I saw it but it is stunning; the terracotta gives a special warmth,’ she notes.

On the lower-ground level is a resistance swimming pool, which Ramdane created for Victoire, a keen swimmer. ‘Never in my mind did I imagine that I would have a pool in my basement,’ she marvels.

If pieces weren’t custom-made, they were sourced by Ramdane at auction or from flea markets, and this includes the chic Italian furniture in the couple’s bedroom.

‘All of us have these tiny, very elegant Italian beds – we live in an aesthetic dictatorship,’ quips Victoire, who is quick to point out the benefits of this autocracy: ‘We are surrounded by extraordinary things. For example, when you open the cupboards in the dining room, you see this amazing green lacquer. I’m mesmerized by its beauty every time.’

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