The Best Smart Home Devices, Chosen by an Interior Designer

The Best Smart Home Devices, Chosen by an Interior Designer

by Rachel Blindauer

The best technology in a home is the kind you barely notice. It dims the lights at sunset, cools the bed before you climb in and hides the television behind a piece of art. These are the smart home devices I recommend to clients because they earn their place twice: once for what they do, and again for how they look in the room.

At a glance

  • Best for sleep: Eight Sleep Pod 5
  • Best for hiding the TV: Samsung The Frame
  • Easiest everyday upgrade: motion-activated lighting under the bed
  • Most worth the splurge: the bedside setup of reading light, charging and room light switches
  • Best for aging in place: Delta Trinsic VoiceIQ faucet
  • Best whole-room control: Lutron myRoom with Alisse keypads
Eight Sleep Pod smart mattress cover on a neatly made bed

Eight Sleep Pod 5

Sleep is where smart tech pays off most. The Pod 5 cools or warms each side of the bed independently, from 55°F to 110°F, so partners stop arguing over the thermostat. The new version adds a base that raises the head of the bed when it detects snoring, plus a built-in speaker for wind-down audio. It disappears under your bedding, which is exactly what I want from bedroom tech. For the rest of the room, see my guide to the cozy bedroom.

Samsung The Frame TV in art mode showing a periwinkle and blush abstract painting above a fluted walnut credenza with a travertine and brass table lamp

Samsung The Frame and Frame Pro

The Frame is still the easiest answer to the black-rectangle problem. When it is off, it shows art from a library of more than 5,000 works, and the matte, glare-reducing screen reads like a canvas. The Frame Pro sends its signal wirelessly from a box up to 30 feet away, so there are no cords running down your wall. Choose a custom frame bezel that matches your other art for the most convincing look.

Shown here: my Aurora Color Field Canvas on the screen and the Monolith Table Lamp on the credenza.

Samsung Family Hub smart refrigerator with touchscreen door

Samsung Bespoke AI Refrigerator with Family Hub

The Family Hub screen turns the refrigerator into the household command center: shared calendars, grocery lists and a camera inside so you can check what you have from the store. In a design-forward kitchen, I like the Bespoke panels in glass or matte finishes, which let the fridge sit quietly beside custom cabinetry.

Delta Trinsic VoiceIQ faucet in champagne bronze on a marble countertop in a white oak kitchen

Delta Trinsic VoiceIQ Faucet

Ask for exactly one cup of water and the Trinsic VoiceIQ pours it. It also works with a tap anywhere on the spout, which helps when your hands are covered in dough. It is a small luxury that becomes a real help for anyone with limited grip strength, one reason I recommend it for homes designed to age well.

Glass-enclosed steam shower with Mr. Steam controls

Mr. Steam Steam Shower

A steam generator turns an ordinary shower into a spa you use every day. Mr. Steam controls let you preset temperature and length, add aromatherapy, and start the steam from your phone so it is ready when you walk in. Plan for it during a remodel: it needs a sealed, sloped ceiling and a vapor-proof enclosure.

Bang and Olufsen Beosound Balance speaker on an oak console beside an aged brass table lamp with a linen shade

Bang & Olufsen Beosound Balance

Most speakers look like equipment. The Beosound Balance looks like a piece of furniture in oak and knit fabric, and it fills a room with sound from every side. Place it on a console or side table where it can be seen.

Shown here with the Westcott Arc Table Lamp from my shop.

Lamps That Pair With Smart Lighting

Monolith Table Lamp

Monolith Table Lamp
$1,164

Westcott Arc Table Lamp in Aged Brass & Linen

Westcott Arc Table Lamp in Aged Brass & Linen
$769

Atelier Table Lamp

Atelier Table Lamp
$957

Living room designed by Rachel Blindauer with motorized shades and textural furnishings

Lutron Serena Smart Shades

Most homes do not need motorized shades, but in very sunny rooms and glass-walled houses they earn their place. Serena shades run almost silently, follow a schedule with the sun and come in fabrics that hold their own beside custom drapery. Battery and wired options mean you can add them without opening walls.

Living room lit with warm Philips Hue smart lighting

Philips Hue Lighting

Hue bulbs let you shift a room from bright and cool for work to warm and low for dinner. My advice: keep the color effects for parties and use the warm whites daily. Pair them with beautiful lamps so the fixture looks as good as the light; my designer table lamp picks by room are a good place to start.

iRobot Roomba robot vacuum on a hardwood floor

iRobot Roomba Max 775 Combo

The newest Roomba vacuums and mops in one pass, then washes its own mop pad with hot water at the dock. It quietly keeps floors clean between deeper cleanings. Tuck the dock into a mudroom or a cabinet with a ventilated toe kick so it is out of sight.

Husqvarna Automower robotic lawn mower on a green lawn

Husqvarna Automower 435X AWD NERA

This robotic mower now works without a buried boundary wire: you draw the lawn edges in the app and it navigates by satellite. All-wheel drive handles steep slopes, and it can mow in straight stripes for a manicured look.

Click and Grow smart garden growing fresh herbs on a kitchen counter

Click and Grow Smart Garden

Fresh herbs on the counter all year, with no gardening skill required. The pods are pre-seeded, the light is on a timer and the water lasts for weeks. Choose the white or beige finish so it reads as a planter, not an appliance.

Lutron Alisse wired keypad with metal finish and round buttons

Lutron myRoom and Alisse Keypads

Lutron’s myRoom system runs lighting, shades and temperature in the best hotels, and the same thinking works at home: one elegant keypad by the bed controls the whole room. The Alisse keypad, with its metal finishes and backlit engraving, is the one I reach for when the switch plate should look like jewelry.

Google Nest Learning Thermostat mounted on a wall

Google Nest Learning Thermostat (4th gen)

The latest Nest has a larger, crisp display and learns your schedule to save energy. It comes with a room sensor so the temperature is right where you actually sit, not just in the hallway. The polished finishes look at home in a refined room.

Smart home in my projects

Most of my clients come to me for beauty, not gadgets. The tech-forward homes I have designed belong to people who work in technology all day and want their homes to run the same way. A few ideas from those projects that I would use again:

  • One master control panel for the whole house. Lighting, shades and climate run from a single place instead of a wall of switches in every room. In one home, it even reads out the day’s news highlights and weather while the homeowner gets ready in the morning.
  • Motion-activated lighting under the bed. A soft glow comes on when your feet touch the floor at night, with no lamp to fumble for.
  • Color-changing LEDs as party decor. In large white modern homes, we have used the lighting itself as the decoration. For Valentine’s Day, the whole house glows pink.
  • Automatic shades that filter the brightest, hottest part of the day. I have used them on Le Corbusier-style glass-box homes, where they keep rooms comfortable and protect the furnishings without giving up the view. They are worth it wherever the sun is strong, though most homes do not need them.

What I put at every bedside I design: three things, all within reach of the pillow.

  • An adjustable wall-mounted reading light. It can mount on the wall or on the bed itself: I have installed adjustable fixtures on the back of the headboard and designed custom ones mounted right on the headboard face.
  • A charging panel or charging spot. No hunting for an outlet behind the nightstand to charge a phone.
  • Switches that turn off the room lights. No one should have to climb out of bed to turn off the lights.

If you are not rewiring, a plug-in wall lamp like my Westcott Arc Plug-In Wall Lamp gets you the reading light without an electrician.

How to make smart tech disappear

  • Plan the wiring early. Shades, keypads and speakers are easiest to add during a remodel, before walls are closed.
  • Match the finishes. Choose keypads, thermostats and faucet finishes in the same metal as your hardware so they read as part of the design.
  • Give every device a home. Plan a ventilated cabinet for the robot vacuum dock, the router and the chargers.
  • Use fewer controls. One keypad that runs lights, shades and temperature looks better than a row of switches.

Smart home questions I hear most

Which smart home device is worth buying first?

Motion-activated lighting under the bed. It is the least expensive upgrade that makes a real difference every day: a soft glow lights the way at night and reduces tripping hazards without being too bright. If you are ready to invest more, the bedside setup is incredibly worth it: an adjustable reading light, a place to charge your devices and a switch for the room lights, all within reach of the bed.

Will smart home devices look dated quickly?

Only if no one maintains them. A Tesla keeps getting better because the company keeps improving its software, and a smart home works the same way: when someone keeps updating and improving the programming, the system does not really age. Plan for ongoing support from your installer, and choose hardware in real metal and wood finishes so it looks as good as it works.

Do I need a whole-house system?

No. Start with the room where you spend the most time and choose one device that solves a daily annoyance. A system like Lutron makes sense when you renovate or build.

The bottom line

The right smart home devices make life easier without asking you to look at more technology. Start with the room where you spend the most time, choose one device that solves a daily annoyance, and build from there.

2 Hour Interior Design Virtual or In Person Consultation
Sorrento Alabaster Dome Table Lamp

Sorrento Alabaster Dome Table Lamp
$2,995

Anchor Coffee Table

Anchor Coffee Table
$3,464

Textured Waffle Weave Pillow

Textured Waffle Weave Pillow
$127

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

THE PIECES RACHEL RETURNS TO, AGAIN AND AGAIN

St. Louis Neighborhoods and Their Distinct Design Personalities

St. Louis Neighborhoods and Their Distinct Design Personalities

One of the most persistent myths in interior design is that taste is personal and context is irrelevant—that a well-designed home looks the same wherever it sits. In my experience designing across St. Louis for fifteen years, this is wrong. The best interiors are in conversation with their location: with the architecture, the light, the history, the community character of the place they inhabit. St. Louis is a city of distinct neighborhoods, each with a design personality worth understanding before you begin.

Brass lamp, framed art and a wood console: confident, urbane elegance

Clayton: confident elegance

Clayton is St. Louis’s most urbane residential neighborhood—walkable, with a residential stock that ranges from early-twentieth-century apartment buildings to postwar colonials to contemporary new construction. The design personality here is confident and slightly formal: quality materials, restrained palette, furniture with real weight and presence. Clayton homes wear their elegance without apologizing for it. What works: Farrow & Ball colors, warm wood floors in classic species, traditional furniture forms in contemporary fabrics, art that has been chosen rather than purchased for a space.

Amalfi Rectangle Travertine Coffee Table

Amalfi Rectangle Travertine Coffee Table
$2,616

Monolith Table Lamp, Travertine & Brass

Monolith Table Lamp, Travertine & Brass
$1,164

Linea Arc Vessel

Linea Arc Vessel
$769

Exposed brick living room with layered neutral furnishings

Webster Groves and Lafayette Square: layered and historically aware

Webster Groves has a specific charm—tree-lined streets, a genuine small-town commercial district, and residential architecture that is mostly pre-war and proud of it. The design personality is warm, layered, and slightly literary: homes that feel accumulated over time, where the vintage French armchair and the contemporary sofa coexist without friction. What works: original millwork honored rather than replaced, paint colors with warmth and body, a mix of inherited and purchased pieces. Lafayette Square is one of St. Louis’s most architecturally significant neighborhoods—Victorian homes of extraordinary quality. The design personality here is romantic and historically aware. Deep, rich colors respond beautifully to the architecture’s Victorian scale; wallpaper used with confidence; lighting that honors the period without being a costume.

Marais Chandelier

Marais Chandelier
$2,300

Jardin Still Life Canvas

Jardin Still Life Canvas
$220

Vitruvian Travertine & Brass Bookends

Vitruvian Travertine & Brass Bookends
$98

Limed oak and ivory living room: quiet luxury

Ladue: quiet luxury

Ladue is St. Louis at its most quietly assured. The houses are generous, the lots are deep, the architecture is mostly traditional—brick colonials, French provincials, ranch estates—and the design register is understated in the way that genuine confidence always is. What works: the highest quality materials used without ostentation, furniture with exceptional construction that doesn’t announce it, art of real merit acquired over time, a palette that whispers rather than announces. What doesn’t: anything that reads as new money trying to look like old—the oversized chandelier that announces expense rather than taste.

Abbey Travertine Bowl

Abbey Travertine Bowl
$813

Sable Travertine Buffet Lamp

Sable Travertine Buffet Lamp
$813

Dune Handwoven Cotton Coverlet – Artisan Fringe Bedspread in Putty

Dune Handwoven Cotton Coverlet – Artisan Fringe Bedspread in Putty
$485

St. Louis Style, Brought Home

Amara Block Print Lumbar Pillow

Amara Block Print Lumbar Pillow
$108

Isla Dot Pillow

Isla Dot Pillow
$297

Petal Horizon

Petal Horizon
From $1,000

Warm grasscloth, travertine lamp and a wood bowl of fruit: cheerful, lived-in warmth

Kirkwood and the Hill: cheerful livability and warmth

Kirkwood has a cheerfulness that is its own kind of design character—a genuine, unpretentious warmth. The design register is welcoming and honest: rooms that are clearly lived in and loved, that prioritize comfort and hospitality over formal impression. What works: color used generously, patterns mixed with confidence, furniture that looks like it’s been sat on, a kitchen that is clearly cooked in. The Hill is St. Louis’s Italian-American neighborhood, and its design character is exactly what that history suggests: warm, generous, family-centered, and proud of its traditions. The kitchen is the heart of the house, the dining room is used for real meals, and the living room is for gathering.

The best interior design always begins with the question of context: where is this home, who lives in it, what does the neighborhood ask of it? St. Louis is a city that rewards this question with extraordinarily rich answers—each neighborhood a distinct invitation to a particular kind of beautiful life.

Rachel Blindauer is an award-winning interior designer based in St. Louis with projects across the United States and internationally. Book a consultation at rachelblindauer.com.

2 Hour Interior Design Virtual or In Person Consultation
Westcott Arc Table Lamp in Aged Brass & Linen

Westcott Arc Table Lamp in Aged Brass & Linen
$769

Winslow Round Side Table

Winslow Round Side Table
$2,224

Textured Waffle Weave Pillow

Textured Waffle Weave Pillow
$127

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

THE PIECES RACHEL RETURNS TO, AGAIN AND AGAIN

On the Drawing Boards: Safe Harbor Nantucket — A Coastal Retreat Designed for How You Actually Live

On the Drawing Boards: Safe Harbor Nantucket — A Coastal Retreat Designed for How You Actually Live

Coastal retreat interior by Rachel Blindauer

There is a moment on every Nantucket project when the design language becomes clear. It rarely happens at the first meeting or in the first round of material selections. It happens when you’ve spent enough time on the island to understand not just the physical environment — the grey shingles, the cobblestones, the specific quality of Atlantic light — but the emotional register that Nantucket demands of its interiors. A Nantucket home should feel as though it has always been there and always will be. That is not a style. It is a relationship between a place and a space.

Safe Harbor was a project that taught me a great deal about that relationship — and about the particular kind of discipline that coastal design at the highest level requires.

The Brief: A Retreat That Earns Its Name

The clients came to me with a clear ambition: a home that would function as a genuine retreat — not a vacation rental calibrated for strangers, not a showcase property designed to impress visitors, but a private sanctuary calibrated entirely around how they wanted to spend their days on the island. They sail. They cook. They read. They entertain, but quietly — dinner for eight rather than parties for forty. They wanted to feel, the moment they walked through the door from the ferry, that the pace of the island had already slowed everything down.

That brief contained a design philosophy inside it. A home that produces a genuine shift in one’s internal state — that slows the breath and quiets the mind simply by virtue of being entered — is designed around restraint, not abundance. Around the careful curation of what is present, and the equally deliberate removal of everything that isn’t necessary.

Nantucket coastal materials in a tonal palette

Materials: Working With Nantucket’s Existing Language

Nantucket has a visual vernacular developed over three centuries: grey-weathered cedar shingles, white trim, wide-plank floors darkened with age and salt air, exposed timber in the right contexts, and a palette drawn from the landscape itself — the bleached dunes, the deep blue-grey of the Atlantic in October, the pale gold of beach grass at the end of summer. These elements are not decorative choices. They are the background against which every interior decision is made.

For Safe Harbor, we embraced that vernacular at the material level — wide-plank white oak floors with a natural oil finish, plaster walls in a tone that reads as a warm white in direct light and shifts toward grey as the day softens, exposed ceiling beams painted the same tone as the walls so they read as architectural texture rather than structural statement. The result was a background so carefully calibrated that the furnishings and objects — themselves selected with equal care — appeared to belong exactly where they were placed.

Nantucket coastal living room designed around the view

The Living Spaces: Designed Around the View

Every major seating arrangement in Safe Harbor was oriented not toward a television or a fireplace as the primary focal point, but toward the water. This sounds obvious in theory and is surprisingly uncommon in practice: the instinct to place a sofa against the longest wall, facing into the room, is hard to override even when a view worth living with is available. We overrode it consistently throughout the project, and the result is a home where every room feels connected to the landscape even with the windows closed.

The main living area was furnished with a generous, deeply comfortable sofa in a natural linen — a fabric that would develop a softened, lived-in quality over time rather than staying forever pristine — paired with a pair of low-slung chairs in an aged leather whose tobacco tone echoed the color of the wide-plank floors. The coffee table was a single slab of reclaimed elm, its grain and natural edge left fully visible, on a base of blackened steel. The room was designed to invite you to stay for hours. It succeeds.

The Kitchen: Function as the Primary Luxury

The clients cook seriously, so the kitchen was designed with a professional’s understanding of workflow and a homeowner’s understanding of aesthetics. Custom cabinetry in a painted sea-grey with unlacquered brass hardware. A honed Calacatta marble for the primary work surface — honed, not polished, so that the surface develops a natural patina with use rather than showing every watermark. A professional-grade range positioned beneath a plaster hood that made the appliance feel integrated into the architecture rather than inserted into it.

Storage was organized around the way they actually cook: spices and oils accessible at the stove without opening a cabinet, a dedicated pull-out for the cast iron collection that would otherwise occupy three shelves of general storage, a wine refrigerator positioned near the dining room door rather than at the far end of the kitchen. Every decision was made by asking: how does this support the specific way this specific family uses this space?

Nantucket coastal bedroom with shiplap walls, linen Roman shades and an ocean view

The Bedrooms: Where Sanctuary Is Non-Negotiable

On Nantucket, the bedroom is not merely a room for sleeping. It is a room for being — for the long, unscheduled hours of genuine rest that mainland life rarely permits. We treated the master bedroom with that understanding: blackout Roman shades in a natural linen that blocked light completely at night but allowed the morning sun to flood the room when raised; bedding in an organic cotton percale washed to a softness that cotton develops only with laundering; a reading chair positioned in the corner where the south-facing window meets the west-facing one, collecting light from both directions throughout the day.

Nothing in the bedroom was decorative without also being functional or genuinely loved. The art above the bed was a large-format photograph of the harbor taken at dawn — grey, quiet, luminous — that the client had made years earlier and never properly displayed. Finding that piece a context worthy of it was one of the most satisfying moments of the entire project.

The Coastal Retreat Edit

Dune Handwoven Cotton Coverlet

Dune Handwoven Cotton Coverlet
From $485

Two-Tone Banded Throw Pillow

Two-Tone Banded Throw Pillow
$105

Lagoon Ceramic Table Lamp

Lagoon Ceramic Table Lamp
$1,098

What Safe Harbor Taught Me About Coastal Design

Every project teaches something, and Safe Harbor’s lessons were about the relationship between restraint and richness. The most luxurious interiors I’ve designed on Nantucket — and elsewhere — are not the most elaborate. They are the most resolved: spaces where every element has been examined, questioned, and either earned its place or been removed. What remains after that process is a room that feels, to the person living in it, like exactly the right version of itself.

That is what I mean when I say that the best interior design is invisible. Not absent. Invisible — so perfectly suited to the people and the place it serves that it stops being “design” and becomes simply: home.

2 Hour Interior Design Virtual or In Person Consultation
Amara Block Print Lumbar Pillow

Amara Block Print Lumbar Pillow
$108

Hamptons Wicker Scallop Stool

Hamptons Wicker Scallop Stool
$889

Marisol Tray

Marisol Tray
$280

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

THE PIECES RACHEL RETURNS TO, AGAIN AND AGAIN

Incorporating Natural Elements in Interior Design for Wellness

Incorporating Natural Elements in Interior Design for Wellness

Room with a travertine wall, white oak chest, white seating and a bare branch in a stone vessel
Incorporating natural elements in interior design can have a positive impact on our well-being and create a sense of tranquility in our living spaces. Textures and patterns reminiscent of nature can infuse a space with an organic and tactile feel, providing a connection to the natural world. To achieve this, consider integrating elements such as a stone accent wall, jute-upholstered furniture, or natural-themed wall art. These elements can add depth and character to the space, creating a soothing and harmonious atmosphere.

Optimizing natural light is another important aspect of interior design for wellness. Natural light has been shown to enhance mood and increase productivity, making it essential for creating a healthy and inviting environment. To maximize the amount of natural light in a space, consider using light and airy window treatments, such as sheer curtains or blinds, that allow sunlight to filter through. Additionally, strategically placing mirrors can help reflect and amplify natural light, making the space feel brighter and more open.

Creating functional and ergonomic spaces is crucial for promoting well-being in interior design. A well-designed space should not only be visually appealing but also practical and efficient. Consider the flow of the room and how people will move and interact within it. Utilize furniture that is not only aesthetically pleasing but also comfortable and supportive. Incorporating ergonomic chairs, adjustable desks, and proper lighting can improve posture and reduce the risk of physical discomfort and strain.

Color psychology plays a significant role in interior design for wellness. Different colors can evoke various emotions and affect our mood and well-being. Warm colors like yellow and orange can create a sense of energy and positivity, while cool colors like blue and green evoke a feeling of tranquility and relaxation. By using appropriate color schemes in different areas of a built environment, we can evoke specific emotions and enhance the well-being of its occupants.

The choice of materials is also crucial in creating a wellness-focused built environment. Using eco-friendly and sustainable materials not only promotes a healthier environment but also contributes to the overall well-being of individuals. Materials free from harmful chemicals and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can improve indoor air quality, reducing the risk of respiratory issues and allergies. Furthermore, incorporating natural elements such as wood and plants can create a connection with nature, known to have a calming effect on mental well-being.

The layout and configuration of a space can also influence wellness. Creating open and flexible floor plans that allow for movement and flow can enhance physical well-being by encouraging physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior. Additionally, incorporating green spaces, such as gardens or outdoor seating areas, can provide opportunities for relaxation and stress reduction.

In conclusion, incorporating natural elements in interior design has a profound impact on our mental and physical well-being. By considering design elements such as color, lighting, materials, and layout, we can create spaces that promote a sense of comfort, tranquility, and connection with nature. As an expert interior design writer, I am confident that this wellness blog post effectively explores the importance of incorporating natural elements in interior design for a wellness-focused built environment.

Natural Elements to Bring In

Eclipse Plinth Vessel

Eclipse Plinth Vessel
$588

Verbier 2-Leg Marble Accent Table, White/Brown

Verbier 2-Leg Marble Accent Table, White/Brown
$617

Monolith Table Lamp

Monolith Table Lamp
$1,164

2 Hour Interior Design Virtual or In Person Consultation
Anchor Coffee Table

Anchor Coffee Table
$3,464

Foliate Plaster Table Lamp

Foliate Plaster Table Lamp
$870

Positano Accent Chair

Positano Accent Chair
$455

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

THE PIECES RACHEL RETURNS TO, AGAIN AND AGAIN

Second Lives: Elegant Ways to Repurpose Architectural Salvage

Second Lives: Elegant Ways to Repurpose Architectural Salvage

Before you toss that leftover marble or pass by a crumbling corbel, consider this: some of the most memorable design moments come from the materials others overlook.

There’s something quietly magnetic about a material with a past.
A slab of marble, veined like a fingerprint. An old limestone mantel, still warm with the patina of stories told. Architectural salvage holds an innate dignity—a sense that beauty isn’t only new, but lasting.

I’m often asked what to do with leftover stone or reclaimed materials after a renovation or demolition. The answer, in short: elevate them. These pieces are not waste; they’re raw potential for the next statement in your home’s design language.

In my upcoming blog “What to Do With Stone Scraps: 6 Elevated Ideas”, I dive into how to reuse offcuts of marble, quartzite, and soapstone. But today, let’s widen the frame—looking at architectural salvage as a whole. Whether it’s a carved corbel, a cast iron vent cover, or a piece of century-old millwork, these fragments of the built world can—and should—live again.

Below are some of my favorite ways to reincorporate salvage into modern interiors.

Corbel Furniture

Corbels Repurposed

A pair of weathered stone or wood corbels, originally meant to support shelves or mantels, can be reimagined as furniture or integrated into the architecture. Especially when paired with a simple slab of honed marble or reclaimed wood, they create a quiet moment of architectural poetry.

Design tip: Balance visual weight. Let the brackets feel intentional by pairing them with minimal accessories—a vintage vessel, a favorite design book, a single ceramic.

Fireplace Surround Hand Carved Stone Reused as Headboard

Fireplace Surrounds as Headboards

Antique fireplace mantels and surrounds are often discarded during remodels. I’ve rescued many from salvage yards and repurposed them as headboards, framing a bed like heirloom architecture. A coat of matte paint or limewash keeps them feeling fresh and less thematic.

For the perfect hue, see my guide on The Best Paint Colors for Each Seasonal Type.

“Designing with intention often means seeing what others miss.”
— Rachel Blindauer

If you’re unsure how to integrate architectural salvage into your home—or you’d like an expert perspective on your materials—consider booking a 2 Hour Design Consultation. It’s a focused session to help you get clear, creative, and confident about your next steps.

Door Panel As Wall Art

Door Panels as Wall Art

Salvaged doors (especially those with beautiful inset panels or molding) can become striking wall art when mounted horizontally above a sofa, dining table, or hallway bench. I love pairing them with a soft plaster backdrop and subtle uplighting. The result feels museum-like—unexpected, grounded, and personal.

Scrap Marble as Vanity Tray

Marble Scraps as Vanity Trays

Even small stone remnants—leftover from sink or cooktop cutouts—can be honed into custom trays, ideal for perfumes, candles, or barware. It’s a lovely way to create subtle continuity across a home when using similar stone in kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms.

You can also find elegant trays and stone accessories ready-to-ship in The Shop.

Iron Grates as Air Return Covers

Iron Grates as Air Return Covers

One of the most under-the-radar design upgrades? Swapping out basic vent covers for antique iron grilles. It’s a small move with oversized impact, and instantly raises the perceived quality of a home—especially when paired with plaster walls or custom millwork.

Why This Matters

Repurposing architectural salvage isn’t just about sustainability or cost-efficiency. It’s about storytelling—about giving shape to spaces that resonate beyond trends. These pieces carry history, handcraft, and a kind of quiet permanence that no showroom duplicate can fully imitate.

At Rachel Blindauer Interiors, we treat every design as a living dialogue between space, soul, and substance. Whether sourcing the new or reinventing the old, our mission is always the same: to create spaces that live as well as they look.

Pieces With a Collected Soul

Ellery Weathered Oak Display Cabinet

Ellery Weathered Oak Display Cabinet
$3,252

Siena Marble Urn Vase

Siena Marble Urn Vase
$1,695

Ashbourne Cabinet in Natural Pine

Ashbourne Cabinet in Natural Pine
$5,784

2 Hour Interior Design Virtual or In Person Consultation
Marais Chandelier

Marais Chandelier
$2,300

Marais Woven Rattan Chest

Marais Woven Rattan Chest
$2,796

Sculptural Serenity Vase

Sculptural Serenity Vase
$452

SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

THE PIECES RACHEL RETURNS TO, AGAIN AND AGAIN