Rachel Blindauer
Second Lives: Elegant Ways to Repurpose Architectural Salvage

Second Lives: Elegant Ways to Repurpose Architectural Salvage

by | Sep 16, 2026 | Interior Design

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

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Siena Marble Urn Vase

Siena Marble Urn Vase
$1,695

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Ashbourne Cabinet in Natural Pine

Ashbourne Cabinet in Natural Pine
$5,784

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Marais Chandelier
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Marais Woven Rattan Chest

Marais Woven Rattan Chest
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Elevated Living Starts At Our Shop
How to Decorate a St. Louis Historic Home Without Losing Its Soul

How to Decorate a St. Louis Historic Home Without Losing Its Soul

by | Sep 15, 2026 | Interior Design, Residential

St. Louis has architecture that other American cities would be envious of—the Craftsman bungalows of Webster Groves, the Queen Anne and Italianate homes of Lafayette Square, the grand brick colonials of Ladue and Clayton, the mid-century moderns tucked into the hills of Frontenac. Designing interiors for historic homes is one of the most satisfying challenges in this work. It’s also one of the most commonly botched. The two failure modes are mirror opposites: treating the house as a museum, frozen in its original period; or treating it as a blank canvas and destroying everything that makes it worth owning.

Restored St. Louis Victorian townhouse parlor with original crown molding, marble fireplace and brick rowhouses outside the windows

First: identify what’s original and what’s been added

Most St. Louis historic homes have been through multiple owners and multiple renovations. The first job is always triage: what is original and irreplaceable, what is a period addition that has become part of the home’s character, and what is later modification with no relationship to the home’s authentic identity?

Original elements to protect at nearly all cost: original millwork (baseboard, crown, door and window casings), original hardwood floors, original built-ins, original hardware, any original plasterwork or decorative ceilings. These are what make a historic home irreplaceable.

The millwork question

In pre-war St. Louis homes, the millwork is often the most valuable thing in the room. Wide baseboards, built-up crown molding, paneled doors with original hardware, deep window surrounds with interior sills wide enough to sit on—these create the proportional language of the interior. Everything else in the room should respond to them.

For painted millwork in historic homes, I almost always recommend a warm white—Farrow & Ball Pointing, Benjamin Moore White Dove, or Sherwin-Williams Alabaster—against a wall color with enough body to make the trim read as architectural. The millwork should frame the room. The color on the walls should fill it.

Bringing contemporary furniture into historic rooms

The principle I work from: contemporary furniture reads beautifully in historic rooms when the contemporary pieces are honest about their own time and the historic elements are allowed to anchor the space. A clean-lined linen sofa in a room with original crown molding creates productive tension—both elements are clearly of their moment, and they respect each other. A reproduction Victorian settee in the same room just creates confusion about whose house it is.

Antique and vintage pieces work beautifully for the same reason—they’re honest about their origin. A 1930s French armchair in a 1910 Craftsman reads as layered and collected. A brand-new reproduction of the same chair reads as costume.

For the Historic Home

Harrington Brass Lantern

Harrington Brass Lantern
$7,470

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Chesham Marble Top Accent Table, Hazel/Walnut

Chesham Marble Top Accent Table, Hazel/Walnut
$601

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Gilded Reflection Mirror

Gilded Reflection Mirror
From $1,600

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Color in historic homes

Period-correct paint colors are often more saturated and complex than contemporary taste expects. The Victorians used deep, rich colors—forest greens, burgundies, golds, complex blues—and they were right to do so. A contemporary cool gray in a Victorian parlor flattens everything and makes the ornate millwork look stranded. You don’t have to paint your 1890 home in period-correct colors, but the principle that historic homes benefit from more color, more saturation, and more complexity than modern interiors generally holds.

The best St. Louis historic homes I’ve designed feel like they’ve always been exactly the way they are. That comes from listening to what the architecture is telling you, and then responding to it rather than overriding it.

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
Lucerne Oval Mirror

Lucerne Oval Mirror
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Monteverde Marble Side Table
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Harlow Swivel Chair in Cozy Linen
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A Designer’s Guide to the Cozy Bedroom (That Isn’t Beige)

A Designer’s Guide to the Cozy Bedroom (That Isn’t Beige)

by | Sep 15, 2026 | Interior Design, Residential

The word “cozy” has been so thoroughly weaponized by the home decor industry that it has nearly lost its meaning. Cozy, in the language of fall marketing, means: add a chunky knit blanket, burn a candle, place three decorative pillows you will move every night before bed.

That is not what cozy means. Cozy is a technical quality of a room—a specific combination of scale, texture, light temperature, and material warmth that makes a space feel protective and restorative. It can be achieved in virtually any aesthetic, and it has nothing inherently to do with beige.

Scale is the first variable

The human nervous system responds to scale. Rooms where the ceiling feels closer, where furniture fills the space proportionately, where the human body feels properly nested rather than exposed, read as private and restorative. In a bedroom, your bed should be generous relative to the room. A king bed in a small room often creates more coziness than a queen—counterintuitive, but real. The bed becomes the room’s anchor, and the body feels correctly housed by it.

If you have high ceilings, bring them down visually: a statement ceiling light hung low, a canopy bed or curtains hung from ceiling to floor, artwork that draws the eye across rather than up. You’re not making the ceiling lower—you’re redirecting attention to the human scale of the space.

Cozy bedroom with a canopy bed, low-hung pendant over a reading chair and warm paneled walls

The Cozy Bedroom Edit

Dune Handwoven Cotton Coverlet

Dune Handwoven Cotton Coverlet
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Hand-Loomed Cotton Throw

Hand-Loomed Cotton Throw
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Sorrento Alabaster Dome Table Lamp

Sorrento Alabaster Dome Table Lamp
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Texture is the second variable—and the most underused

A room with a single texture feels flat and uninviting no matter what color it is. A room with multiple textures—even in a very limited palette—reads as rich, layered, and warm. For a bedroom, I aim for at least five distinct textures: the smoothness of a painted wall, the weight and drape of linen or cotton bedding, the pile of a rug underfoot, the grain of a wood nightstand, and something soft—a throw, an upholstered headboard, a fabric lampshade—that the eye can rest on.

You don’t need expensive materials. A rough-weave cotton duvet cover, a jute rug, a wooden bed frame, linen curtains, and a ceramic table lamp create the full texture spectrum at modest cost. The key is variety of surface—smooth to rough, soft to hard, matte to slightly shiny.

Bed layered with linen, a handwoven coverlet, a mohair throw and velvet and boucle pillows in olive and rust

Light temperature is everything

This is the single most impactful and most neglected variable in bedroom design. The color temperature of your light sources determines whether your room feels warm or clinical regardless of what’s on the walls. Most people have bulbs that are far too cool (4000K or above)—the light equivalent of a fluorescent office ceiling.

For a bedroom, every bulb should be 2700K or warmer—the color temperature of incandescent light, the warm amber light that humans have been falling asleep by for most of history. Switch every bulb in your bedroom to 2700K this week and watch the room change immediately. Beyond color temperature: overhead light is the enemy of cozy. Layer your bedroom lighting with bedside lamps at eye level, a low ambient source, and a focused reading light. The room should be lit from multiple low sources, not one high one.

Color that actually creates cozy

Beige is not cozy. Beige is neutral—it gets out of the way without adding much. Genuinely cozy bedroom colors are warm putty or plaster tones (Benjamin Moore’s Pale Oak, Farrow & Ball’s Elephant’s Breath), soft desaturated greens like sage or dusty olive that lower cortisol and feel organic, or deep enveloping tones—navy, forest green, deep plum—which, when paired with warm-temperature lighting, create a cave-like intimacy that is the most genuinely cozy effect in interior design. These colors feel radical until you’re inside them, at which point they feel inevitable.

The truly cozy bedroom is a considered space where every decision about scale, texture, light, and color has been made in service of how the body and mind feel inside it. Get those things right, and you won’t need the seasonal throw pillow.

Rachel Blindauer is an award-winning interior designer based in St. Louis. She offers 2-hour design consultations virtually and in person. Book at rachelblindauer.com.

Moss green color-drenched bedroom with a rust velvet headboard and warm brass sconces

Color Harmony — The Designer’s Guide, Free

Find Your Season.
Dress In It. Live In It.

Learn to read your own coloring, then carry your palette from your closet to your rooms — 16 pages of Rachel’s method. Not rules. Resonance.

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2 Hour Interior Design Virtual or In Person Consultation
Textured Waffle Weave Pillow

Textured Waffle Weave Pillow
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Marais Chandelier
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Winslow Round Side Table

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Best Indoor Window Treatments

Best Indoor Window Treatments

by | Sep 10, 2026 | Interior Design

Windows play a vital role in interior design, as they allow natural light to filter into a space while providing a connection to the outside world. To maximize the impact of windows, choosing the right indoor window treatments is essential. Below we will explore some of the best options available that can elevate the aesthetics and functionality of any room.

Ivory linen drapery panels on a brass rod framing tall living room windows

Curtains and Drapes

Curtains and drapes are classic window treatments that offer versatility and style. They come in a wide range of fabrics, patterns, and colors, allowing you to easily match them with your existing interior design. For a more formal and elegant look, consider using floor-length drapes with intricate patterns. Semi-sheer curtains, on the other hand, create a light and airy ambiance in a room while still providing privacy.

A designer finishing detail: hold drapery back with an oversized hand-knotted tassel instead of a standard tieback. It is the kind of craftsmanship that makes ready-made panels look custom.

Warm white wooden blinds filtering light in an elegant study

Blinds

Blinds are a popular choice for window treatments due to their functionality and ability to control light. There are various types of blinds available, including vertical, horizontal, and roller blinds. Vertical blinds are ideal for large windows or sliding glass doors, as they can be easily adjusted to allow different levels of light and privacy. Horizontal blinds, such as Venetian blinds, offer a classic and timeless look, while roller blinds are sleek and modern.

Tailored linen Roman shades in a serene bedroom

Shades

Window shades are a practical and elegant option for indoor window treatments. They come in different styles, such as Roman shades, honeycomb shades, and roller shades. Roman shades add a touch of sophistication and can be customized with various fabrics and patterns. Honeycomb shades provide excellent insulation, making them energy-efficient and suitable for both hot and cold climates. Roller shades offer simplicity and can be paired with curtains or drapes for added style.

Warm white plantation shutters in an elegant dining room

Shutters

Interior shutters are a timeless and durable window treatment option. They come in various materials, including wood, vinyl, and composite materials. Wood shutters add warmth and natural beauty to a room and can be stained or painted to match your decor. Vinyl and composite shutters are more moisture-resistant, making them suitable for humid environments such as kitchens and bathrooms. Shutters provide excellent light control, privacy, and insulation.

Sheer white linen curtains diffusing sunlight in a living room

Sheer Curtains

Sheer curtains are lightweight and translucent, allowing diffused light to enter a room while maintaining privacy. They create an ethereal and romantic atmosphere and work well in spaces where natural light is abundant. Sheer curtains are available in a variety of colors and patterns, allowing you to customize them to your desired aesthetic.

Finishing Touches Around the Window

Cascade Oversized Hand-Knotted Tassel

Cascade Oversized Hand-Knotted Tassel
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Marlowe Boucle Bench, Ivory/Natural

Marlowe Boucle Bench, Ivory/Natural
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Odette Marble Candelabra Floor Lamp

Odette Marble Candelabra Floor Lamp
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Choosing the best indoor window treatments is essential for enhancing the aesthetics and functionality of your space. Whether you opt for curtains and drapes, blinds, shades, or shutters, each option offers its own unique features and benefits. Consider your personal preferences, the style of your room, and the desired level of light control and privacy when making your decision. With the right window treatments, you can create a luxurious and inviting atmosphere in any room of your home.

2 Hour Interior Design Virtual or In Person Consultation
Foliate Plaster Table Lamp

Foliate Plaster Table Lamp
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Elevated Living Starts At Our Shop
Luxury Table Lamps: Designer Picks by Room, Style & Scale

Luxury Table Lamps: Designer Picks by Room, Style & Scale

by | Sep 9, 2026 | Interior Design, Products

WHY THE RIGHT TABLE LAMP CHANGES EVERYTHING

I get asked this question more than almost any other: What lamp should I buy? It sounds simple. It is not. A table lamp is not just a light source—it is a sculptural object, a mood-setter, and often the single piece that elevates a room from decorated to designed. After fifteen years of specifying lighting for luxury homes across the country, I can tell you that the right lamp does more work than most people realize.

The wrong lamp—too small, too generic, too bright—disappears into a room or, worse, cheapens it. The right one? It anchors a vignette. It gives a corner warmth and presence. It makes you want to stay.

Here are the luxury table lamps I return to again and again, organized by where they belong and why they work.

BEST LUXURY TABLE LAMPS FOR LIVING ROOMS AND GREAT ROOMS

Living rooms demand lamps with presence. This is where your lighting needs to hold its own alongside statement furniture and artwork. Scale matters enormously here—anything under 28 inches tends to get swallowed by the surrounding decor.

The Atelier Table Lamp is my go-to for formal living spaces. Carved from Arabescato marble with a linen shade and dark bronze dimmer, it stands 36 inches tall and commands attention without competing. The soft gray veining in the marble means it plays beautifully with both warm and cool palettes.

For rooms that lean more organic and textural, the Marais Table Lamp is worth every dollar. It brings a quiet, collected sophistication that works in transitional, modern, and even bohemian spaces.

Atelier Table Lamp

Atelier Table Lamp
$957

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Marais Table Lamp

Marais Table Lamp
$2,125

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Sorrento Alabaster Dome Table Lamp

Sorrento Alabaster Dome Table Lamp
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BEST TABLE LAMPS FOR CONSOLES AND SIDEBOARDS

Console lamps need verticality. When a lamp sits on a narrow surface in an entry or hallway, it needs to draw the eye upward and create a moment—especially when paired with art or a mirror above.

The Monolith Table Lamp in Travertine and Brass is the definition of quiet luxury. The travertine base has that warm, honeyed quality that photographs like a dream, and the brass detailing catches ambient light beautifully. I have specified this lamp in at least a dozen projects.

For a more sculptural option, the Laurel Quartz Buffet Lamp brings a collected, gallery-like quality to any console.

Monolith Table Lamp

Monolith Table Lamp
$1,164

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Laurel Quartz Buffet Lamp

Laurel Quartz Buffet Lamp
$1,026

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Cascata Marble Buffet Lamp

Cascata Marble Buffet Lamp
$1,200

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BEST LUXURY TABLE LAMPS FOR BEDSIDE

Bedside lamps are intimate. They are the last thing you see before sleep and the first thing you reach for in the morning. They must be beautiful, yes, but also functional—a dimmer is non-negotiable.

The Marisol Table Lamp is an exceptional value for bedside use—organic form, soft presence, and a scale that does not overwhelm a nightstand. For those who read in bed, the Aurelia Table Lamp provides directed light without flooding the room, and its clean lines complement both modern and traditional bedrooms. If you prefer a softer, more diffused glow, the Gstaad Alabaster Table Lamp filters light through natural alabaster for a warm, candle-like effect at night.

Marisol Table Lamp

Marisol Table Lamp
$225

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Aurelia Table Lamp

Aurelia Table Lamp
$185

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Gstaad Alabaster Table Lamp

Gstaad Alabaster Table Lamp
$346

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BEST TABLE LAMPS UNDER $300

Good design does not require unlimited budgets. These lamps prove that a considered, designer-selected piece can elevate a room without a four-figure price tag.

Both bedside picks above, the Marisol and the Aurelia, come in under $300. Two more I recommend constantly for guest bedrooms, home offices and reading nooks are the Sagaponack Marble Table Lamp and the Cortina Marble Table Lamp. Both bring real marble into a room for far less than stone lamps usually cost.

Sagaponack Marble Table Lamp

Sagaponack Marble Table Lamp
$238

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Cortina Marble Table Lamp

Cortina Marble Table Lamp
$252

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HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT TABLE LAMP: A DESIGNER’S CHECKLIST

After years of sourcing and specifying lamps for clients, here is what I always consider:

  • Scale: The lamp should be roughly 1.5 times the height of the surface it sits on. A 30-inch console wants a lamp around 32–36 inches tall.
  • Shade proportion: The shade should be about two-thirds the total height of the lamp and roughly the same width as the base at its widest point.
  • Material harmony: Match your lamp materials to what is already in the room. Brass with brass. Stone with stone. Do not introduce a material that has no echo elsewhere.
  • Light quality: Always use dimmable, warm-white bulbs (2700K). Anything cooler reads institutional.
  • The dimmer test: If a lamp does not have an integrated dimmer, it needs to work with a plug-in dimmer. Non-negotiable for any room where ambiance matters.

More Lamps I Love

Positano Terrazzo Table Lamp

Positano Terrazzo Table Lamp
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Foliate Plaster Table Lamp

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Westcott Arc Table Lamp in Aged Brass & Linen

Westcott Arc Table Lamp in Aged Brass & Linen
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EXPLORE THE FULL LIGHTING COLLECTION

Every lamp in the Rachel Blindauer lighting collection has been personally selected for its craftsmanship, scale, and ability to transform a space. These are not trend pieces—they are investments in how your home feels every single day.

Shop the full lighting collection here.

The Design Consultation with Rachel Blindauer — two hours on your project
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SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

THE PIECES RACHEL RETURNS TO, AGAIN AND AGAIN

Elevated Living Starts At Our Shop
10 New Build Design Mistakes That Cost Homeowners $20K+

10 New Build Design Mistakes That Cost Homeowners $20K+

by | Sep 1, 2026 | Interior Design

Embarking on a new build is an exciting journey, offering a blank canvas to create a home that reflects your personality and style. However, it can also be overwhelming with so many design options available. To help you navigate this process, we have compiled ten essential tips that will guide you in making the most out of your new build interior design.

Interior design style board with linen, boucle, marble, white oak and brass hardware samples over a floor plan

1. Define Your Style Early

Before making any design decisions, take time to explore various styles and decide on a theme that reflects your personal taste. This will provide a cohesive foundation to build upon throughout your home. Explore Rachel Blindauer’s insights for inspiration from a top design firm.

Consider creating a mood board with images, colors, textures, and patterns that appeal to you. Use digital tools or scrapbooks to arrange your ideas visually. This step is crucial because it allows you to see how different elements interact before committing to them.

Double-height new build living room with floor-to-ceiling windows and a cream sectional

2. Maximize Natural Light

Strategically placing windows and choosing light colors can enhance the natural light in your home, creating an open and inviting atmosphere. Consider floor-to-ceiling windows or skylights for areas like living rooms and kitchens to maximize sunlight.

Another great way to enhance natural light is by using reflective surfaces. Glossy floors, mirrors, and metallic fixtures can reflect light and make the space feel larger and more open. Choose furniture with lighter tones to complement this effect.

The direction your windows face plays a significant role as well. North-facing windows give consistent light but less glare, while south-facing ones tend to bring in more warmth. East-facing windows are great for morning light, and west-facing ones capture sunsets beautifully.

Open-plan new build with kitchen, dining table and living area defined by rugs and pendant lighting

3. Consider Open-Plan Living

Open-plan spaces are popular in modern homes for their versatility and spacious feel. Consider this layout to foster connectivity and ensure seamless transitions between areas. It allows family members to be engaged, even when in different sections of the house, creating a unified environment.

When planning an open space, consider using furniture to delineate areas without disrupting flow. For instance, a sofa can separate the living room from the dining area, providing visual distinction without walls. Rugs can also define different zones, adding texture and warmth to the floors.

White oak mudroom with bench, woven baskets, hooks and a charging niche

4. Prioritize Functionality

While aesthetics are important, your home should also accommodate your daily routines. Plan spaces that are functional and practical for the entire household. For instance, consider workflow in kitchen design, ensuring that appliances are conveniently placed for cooking efficiency.

Consider the needs of each family member. A hobbyist, for example, might require a dedicated studio space, while families with children might prioritize play areas. It’s all about creating spaces that work for your lifestyle.

Floor-to-ceiling white oak built-in storage with flush cabinets and styled open shelves

5. Utilize Smart Storage Solutions

Incorporate built-in storage to maintain an uncluttered look. Custom cabinetry and clever storage options can help maximize space while enhancing the design. Think about cabinetry that extends to the ceiling or multi-functional furniture that doubles as storage.

Consider innovative storage solutions like floating shelves, under-stair storage, or wall-mounted organizers. These not only save space but also add an aesthetic element to your decor.

Honed marble countertop, rift-cut white oak cabinets and unlacquered brass faucet in a new build kitchen

6. Select Timeless Materials

Invest in high-quality materials that offer durability and timeless appeal. This will ensure your interior remains stylish and robust over time. Natural materials such as stone or wood not only age well but also add a touch of sophistication.

Consider eco-friendly materials that are both sustainable and durable. Trends come and go, but materials like bamboo or reclaimed wood remain evergreen due to their classic and environmentally conscious nature.

New build primary bedroom with motorized linen shades, brass keypad and integrated cove lighting

7. Embrace Technology

Integrate smart home features that enhance convenience and efficiency, such as automated lighting, climate control, and security systems. A home equipped with technology isn’t just about convenience; it’s about future-proofing your investment.

Explore systems that allow for remote control, providing ease and security even when you’re away from home. Smart thermostats and voice-controlled assistants make daily life more seamless and luxurious.

Layered neutral living room with greige sofa, travertine coffee table and taupe velvet chair

8. Choose a Neutral Color Palette

Neutral colors provide a versatile backdrop that can be easily updated with trendy decor items. They also promote a calm and serene environment. Explore the concept of calm interior design to create a peaceful space.

Shades like beige, gray, and soft white create a supple background that makes vibrant artwork or dramatic furnishings stand out. This flexibility allows you to frequently refresh your decor style with minimal effort.

Boucle armchair, chunky wool throw and travertine side table against a limewash plaster wall

9. Incorporate Texture for Depth

Add interest to your interiors by layering different textures. This can be achieved through textiles, flooring, and wall treatments. Consider soft rugs, tactile wallpapers, and plush furniture to create rich, inviting spaces.

Textures can also come from unexpected sources, like greenery or water features, which add both a visual and tactile experience to your space. Incorporating elements like these can transform a room from flat to fabulous.

White oak paneled door with brass lever, custom millwork casing and paneled wainscot

10. Focus on Quality Finishes

Quality finishes can elevate the overall aesthetic of your home. Pay attention to details, such as fixtures, hardware, and finishing touches. High-end finishes on kitchen hardware or bathroom fittings can provide a luxe look without major renovations.

Additionally, focus on finishes that align with your home’s climate. For example, living in a coastal area might require finishes that withstand humidity and salt exposure.

Before you finalize plans, also read the details most often forgotten in a new build: outlet placement, closet laundry, trimless doors and more.

Get the New Build Right

Radnor Marble Cabinet Knob

Radnor Marble Cabinet Knob
From $54

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Crescent Brass Cabinet Pull

Crescent Brass Cabinet Pull
From $45

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Avignon Crystal & Brass Chandelier

Avignon Crystal & Brass Chandelier
$6,477

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2 Hour Interior Design Virtual or In Person Consultation
Hartwell Walnut Étagère

Hartwell Walnut Étagère
$4,062

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Sorrento Alabaster Dome Table Lamp

Sorrento Alabaster Dome Table Lamp
$2,995

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Ashland Hand-Woven Wool & Jute Rug

Ashland Hand-Woven Wool & Jute Rug
From $645

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SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

THE PIECES RACHEL RETURNS TO, AGAIN AND AGAIN

Elevated Living Starts At Our Shop