Step inside Mary Portas’s new home to discover how she’s championed female talent

The Designer Show House, a biennial event sponsored by the Village Improvement Association in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, showcases diverse interior and exterior design inspirations across its 6,000 square feet of space and nearly an acre of outdoor areas. This event serves as a platform for regional designers to present their expertise and offers visitors a wealth of ideas for their own homes. One featured space is a sunken living room, designed by Kate FitzGerald-Wilks of Timeless Design in Landenberg, Pennsylvania. This room embodies a West Indies aesthetic, characterized by bold lines, soft sandy hues, and rich textures. Key elements include vintage stick bamboo chairs painted black, adorned with Kuba cloth and Ralph Lauren zebra-stripe pillows on a slipcovered camel-backed sofa. A mid-century hutch is repurposed as a cocktail bar, complemented by sculptural metal and glass console tables flanking the fireplace. Wood mirrors with faux tortoise shell lean against textured wallpaper, while modern sculptures and art blend with antique books and global treasures. FitzGerald-Wilks also designed the dining room, aiming for a dramatic effect with a backdrop of 200 wine bottles and a striking Dolcetti chandelier crafted from shells and crystals, evoking sea glass. An 8-foot-long reclaimed wine rack sits atop a buffet. The room's color palette consists of soft creams and tans, punctuated by emerald green accents in the chandelier and wine bottles. Windows are framed with woven ikat print panels. An airy sunroom, conceived by Alfred Wolf Home (a new venture from Design Center of Rehoboth or DCOR), was designed to create a light-filled, contemporary transition between the house and garden. This involved removing existing French doors and window grills, painting the room in various shades of white and French gray-green, and incorporating textural elements of white canvas, iron, and marble. The family room, also by DCOR, maintained the warmth of its original paneling and fireplace stone, setting the foundation for a soft khaki and cream palette. The room is furnished with herringbone, tweed, and leather fabrics, offset by tortoise shell wood finishes and local tidal scene artwork. Mary Stewart of M. Stewart Interiors in Bear designed the upstairs hobby room, named "Just Us," intended as a shared family space for various pastimes like painting, photography, reading, chess, and Lego building. The room features updated cherished family heirlooms and is painted simply white to highlight paintings by Nadia Zychal. Nile Johnson of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, designed the second-floor paneled library, drawing inspiration from Rehoboth's laid-back yet cosmopolitan atmosphere. This space offers an updated interpretation of a classic library, decorated in layers of sandy tans. Cyndi and Ron Oronzio and Cathie Sheetz of Dreamweaver Interiors of Rehoboth Beach decorated a bedroom and bath, inspired by vibrantly patterned fabrics. They utilized Robert Allen fabrics as wallpaper for an accent wall, building the room's design around this print. The team selected fabrics for their depth, crisp patterns, contrasting textures, and detailed embroidery, incorporating a bright coral pink accent color and rhinestone embellishments for a feminine touch. Brenda Carder of blcINTERIORS of Rehoboth Beach designed a small guest bedroom, combining natural cotton and linen fabrics with metal and reclaimed wood. Crown moldings add formality. To compensate for limited sunlight, the room was kept light and bright, with a deep navy blue accent wall and touches of bright yellow for warmth. The second floor features art by Libby Zando of Zando Designs and Art Affects in Milton, alongside works by award-winning regional artists. Boardwalk Builders of Rehoboth transformed a hallway into a gallery space by adding wainscot paneling, creating an updated cottage aesthetic that visually broadened the hallway. Mark A. Polo of The Urban Dweller in Boonton, New Jersey, designed the master suite, aiming for comfort with soft textural colors ranging from taupe to blue. The furniture is upholstered to enhance the room's softness, featuring taupe draperies of embroidered sheer linen and silk edged in leather and freshwater pearls. Blonde floors are softened by a long-fiber rug. Outdoors, Erin Walls and Justin Bartels of Bella Terra Landscaping in Lincoln repurposed existing flagstone patios and walkways, adding new stones to create a Celtic-inspired design. The layout divides the space into a grand area for social gatherings and secluded nooks for quiet retreats. Creative Concepts Furniture of Lewes and Ocean View furnished the patios as outdoor rooms with bright coastal colors, including a sectional, loveseat, dining area for six, and lounge chairs, inviting visitors to envision themselves in the setting. #DesignerShowHouse #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #RehobothBeach #DelawareDesign #LuxuryInteriors #OutdoorLiving #DesignInspiration

The article details the redesign of an 18th-century farmhouse in Lumberton, transforming it to accommodate modern living while honoring its historical roots. The project was undertaken by Michelle Gage of Philadelphia-based Michelle Gage Interiors, who notes the home's significant age, dating back to the Revolutionary era. This particular residence presented a unique challenge due to its extensive history and the accumulated alterations made by previous inhabitants over centuries. The homeowner's openness to Gage's suggestions was a crucial factor in the redesign's success, allowing for a creative yet respectful approach. Gage identified an inherent 'English vibe' in the home and aimed to align the interior design with both this aesthetic and the client's 'quirky and eccentric' personality. The English influence is evident throughout the house, starting from the entry where antique boot racks hold wellies. The primary bedroom showcases a vibrant display of color and pattern, featuring layered florals on the walls, headboard, and bedding. The chosen wallpaper designs evoke a British country house style, characterized by rich patterns that contribute depth and character to the space. The redesign also incorporated unique elements like a moody, jungle-themed wall covering in the breakfast nook. This wallpaper, featuring hidden animal motifs, thoughtfully frames the home's original built-in cabinetry, adding an element of surprise and whimsy. In contrast, the laundry room adopts a more serene ambiance with a subdued sage-green and white botanical wall covering, designed to create a fresh and crisp atmosphere reminiscent of newly laundered linens. The project successfully merged historical integrity with contemporary comfort and personal style, creating a home that respects its past while providing a vibrant and unique living environment for its current owner. The collaboration between the designer and homeowner resulted in a space that is both historically conscious and reflective of modern eclectic tastes, demonstrating how an antique structure can be adapted for current lifestyles without sacrificing its inherent charm. #LumbertonFarmhouse #HistoricalHome #HomeRedesign #EclecticDecor #InteriorDesign #MichelleGageInteriors #EnglishVibe #RevolutionaryEraHome

Acclaimed interior designer Charlotte Moss is scheduled to host a book signing event for her new book, "Garden Inspirations," at the Neiman Marcus flagship store in downtown Dallas from 6 to 8 pm. The event is celebrated with newly decorated windows at Neiman Marcus, which are inspired by the book's themes. Moss's book, "Garden Inspirations," showcases various ways gardens can provide both indoor and outdoor inspiration, featuring photographs of her personal garden in East Hampton, New York. She has dedicated 25 years to cultivating this garden with a landscape artist. Moss describes her personal style as elegant yet inviting, personal, and informed. Her vision for "Garden Inspirations" is to make good design accessible to a broad audience, including "dig in the dirt gardeners," "armchair gardeners," and individuals who enjoy visiting beautiful gardens during their travels. She emphasizes that gardening is not exclusively for those with extensive acreage, but rather a pursuit that can be enjoyed by many. One of the significant benefits Moss highlights about having a home garden is the sense of serenity it provides by wrapping a house in greenery and flowers. She stresses the importance of considering the view from inside the home, advocating for a garden design that can be appreciated from both indoor and outdoor perspectives. When discussing cities renowned for their gardens, Moss mentions Charleston, Virginia, and California in the United States. However, she particularly emphasizes France and Italy, noting their ancient yet meticulously maintained gardens as rich sources of inspiration and learning. She admires how these European gardens offer valuable lessons for contemporary design. Moss expresses her delight at seeing her book's concepts brought to life in Neiman Marcus's window displays. She particularly appreciates how the designers interpreted her work, especially their inclusion of Lady Bird Johnson, whom Moss considers a crucial figure given her Texas connection and her significant role in the Highway Beautification Act. The integration of fashion elements and the reinforcement of a blue and white color scheme in the displays also impressed her. Reflecting on her fondness for Dallas, Moss highlights the city's vibrant and joyful people, noting their excellent sense of humor. She describes Dallas as a "fun" city. As an interior decorator, she also enjoys shopping in Dallas, particularly in the Design District. She specifically mentions The Mews and East and Orient as favorite stores, recalling that two distinctive pieces in her townhouse—wooden columns painted with urns and metal agave—were acquired from Betty at East and Orient. #CharlotteMoss #InteriorDesign #GardenInspirations #BookSigning #NeimanMarcus #DallasEvents #HomeGarden #LadyBirdJohnson #TravelInspiration

Susana Cisneros, co-owner of Plume Home Decor, along with her mother Magita, established their business over a decade ago out of a recognized need in the Miami market for a curated home accessories boutique. Their initial motivation stemmed from the challenges they faced in sourcing decorative items like pillows, lamps, wallpaper, and various home accessories for a client project. This experience led them to the idea of creating Plume, aiming to serve as a valuable resource for both interior designers and individual customers seeking inspiration and unique home decor. Plume Home Decor is described as more than just a boutique; it functions as a design studio and a source of inspiration for its clientele. Located in Coral Gables, the store, which opened over seven years ago, is known for its carefully selected merchandise. The owners dedicate significant time to researching and sourcing high-quality fabrics, wallpapers, lighting, and pillows. They keep abreast of current design trends while also distinguishing themselves by offering unique, often one-of-a-kind pieces discovered during their international travels. This approach ensures a sophisticated and detail-oriented product selection that resonates with their customers. Beyond retail, Plume Home Decor extends its services to private clients through interior design consultations. Acknowledging that many clients may only require assistance with specific areas of their homes or need help accessorizing existing spaces, Plume undertakes these smaller-scale projects. Their philosophy emphasizes that beautiful design does not necessarily require a large budget. The business has adapted its merchandise over the years to suit the local market preferences without compromising on quality standards. The business successfully navigated the challenges brought on by the pandemic, including temporary closures and uncertainty. Despite these hurdles, Plume emerged stronger, particularly addressing supply chain disruptions by sourcing products locally. The pandemic also prompted them to realize a long-held dream: launching their own pillow collection. They designed and manufactured two collections and expanded their e-commerce platform, enhancing accessibility for their customers. The consistent focus on product quality and customer service is highlighted as a cornerstone of their success. Susana Cisneros, a Miami native, also offers recommendations for experiencing Miami's culture, cuisine, and natural environment. Her suggested itinerary for a week-long visit includes exploring Coconut Grove with lunch at Bellini, visiting the Barnacle, taking an airboat ride in the Everglades National Park, spending a day at the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, enjoying a beach day in Key Biscayne with bike rentals at Bill Baggs and a visit to the lighthouse, and finally, experiencing Little Havana, including a walk on Calle Ocho, a cafecito, and Cuban food at Versailles. Susana dedicates recognition to women entrepreneurs and mother-daughter business owners, emphasizing the pride she takes in working alongside her mother. She also acknowledges the crucial support from their husbands, whom she refers to as their biggest cheerleaders. Plume Home Decor maintains an online presence through its website, www.plumehomedecor.com, and is active on Instagram and Facebook under the handle 'plumehomedecor'. The article concludes by inviting readers to nominate other deserving individuals within the community for recognition. #HomeDecor #InteriorDesign #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #MiamiLifestyle #MotherDaughterTeam #CuratedProducts