Eight home interiors that make a feature of exposed services

This article features an interview with Betsy Moyer, an interior designer and co-founder of Retreat, where she shares her career journey and five actionable tips to enhance joy in living spaces. Moyer, a serial entrepreneur with a background in creative design and digital content strategy, co-founded The Estate of Things and The Blissfield Acres before launching Retreat in 2020. Retreat specializes in elevated, experiential design for short-term rental properties in the Joshua Tree area, offering services from real estate consultation to interior design. Her professional journey also includes roles as director of digital content strategy for NPR affiliate KCRW and The Design People, and she holds a Bachelor's of Art in History and is pursuing a master's in interior architecture and design. Moyer's passion for home, renovation, and real estate began early in life, leading her to co-launch her interior design and real estate blog, The Estate of Things, in 2008 with Sarah Farrell. This partnership chronicled their efforts in buying, renting, building, renovating, designing, and staging properties, and even included a brick-and-mortar shop. Her collaboration with Kate Shaw, founder of Riley Properties, an Airbnb Investment and Property Management company, naturally evolved into Retreat. Moyer recounts the rapid success of Retreat, noting that they quickly received more inquiries than they could handle after a weekend website launch, indicating a strong market demand for their specialized design services in Joshua Tree. A key lesson Moyer learned early in her career was the importance of balancing client satisfaction with personal well-being, moving from overcommitment to strategic project selection. She emphasizes focusing on enjoyable projects and creating a positive work environment for her team. Currently, Retreat is engaged in an interesting consulting project for new Airbnb construction and an exciting landmark project involving Kate Shaw's latest property, which will serve as a showcase for Retreat's capabilities. Moyer shares a deeply personal life lesson derived from a Rupi Kaur poem, reflecting on the transformative period of experiencing her daughter's birth, her mother's death from cancer, and her own cancer diagnosis and treatment. This period reshaped her perspective and intensified her drive. She credits Sarah Farrell for significantly influencing her design style and her husband for supporting her pursuit of a master's degree in interior design. The five recommendations Betsy Moyer provides for sparking more joy in a living space are: organizing the kitchen with beautiful storage, investing in high-quality bedding and mattresses, thoughtfully considering lighting, ensuring every item has an assigned place, and developing a cohesive space plan, 'vibes guide,' and color scheme. She believes these elements contribute significantly to creating a healthy and joyful home environment. Moyer concludes by proposing a movement centered on wellness in home design, advocating for spaces that support mental and physical health. She also expresses a desire to meet or work with Elon Musk, admiring his innovative spirit and skills, and jokingly suggests he hire her for his vacation home in Joshua Tree, CA. #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #Entrepreneurship #Lifestyle #WellnessInDesign #AirbnbDesign #RetreatHome #SmallBusiness #JoyfulLiving

This article highlights the personal favorite rooms of five prominent interior designers, offering a glimpse into their own homes and the design philosophies that shape their private spaces. It explores how these professionals, who regularly craft beautiful environments for clients, approach decorating and living in their own residences. Each designer shares insights into why a particular room holds special significance for them, revealing a blend of aesthetic choices, functional considerations, and personal connections. Uns Hobbs, a London-based designer, identifies her kitchen as the heart of her home. She aimed to integrate a new extension seamlessly with her traditional British Victorian house, incorporating classic architectural elements like molding, paneling, and French doors. The kitchen is described as a space for entertaining, suggesting a focus on warmth, hospitality, and a design that encourages social gatherings. Her design choices reflect a desire for a cohesive and historically sympathetic extension that still functions as a modern family hub. Dabito, a New Orleans designer and author, finds sanctuary in his bedroom. He describes it as a multifaceted space for sleeping, streaming shows, and spending time with his cat. The article notes his use of a calming wall color, Quietude SW 6212, which contributes to a peaceful atmosphere. Dabito also incorporates natural materials for warmth and showcases his signature style by mixing new items, such as a table lamp from his Mitzi line, with vintage pieces like a bedside table and an antique Chinese rug. This approach underscores a personal and eclectic design vision that values comfort and individual expression. Keren and Thomas Richter, the duo behind White Arrow, a New York City design studio, chose their 1850s farmhouse kitchen as their favorite room. They opted for an inky teal from Fine Paints of Europe for the cabinetry, which contrasts with white ceramics, making them appear as silhouette art, and highlights their vintage Aga stove. The Richters emphasize the cozy feel created by the rich blue cabinetry and wide-plank antique pine floors. The integration of outdoor views further enhances the kitchen's appeal, connecting the interior space with the surrounding landscape and imbuing it with a strong sense of place. Marie Cloud, a designer from Charlotte, North Carolina, showcases her home office as a space that balances work and creativity. Rejecting the notion that an office must be purely functional, she designed hers to be energizing and inspiring. The room features a bold wallpaper from her collaboration with Spoonflower, which she feels reflects her personality, alongside an evolving inspiration board and designated areas for contemplation. Her design philosophy for this space emphasizes personal connection and dynamic inspiration, making it a desirable place to work. Finally, Isabel Ladd, a designer based in Lexington, Kentucky, identifies her family room as her favorite, viewing it as a testament to her design evolution. The room transformed from a formal dining room into a lived-in family space through the layering of prints, including wallpaper from another Spoonflower collaboration, textiles, and art, along with furniture changes. Ladd emphasizes the cozy and welcoming atmosphere, describing it as a space where her family feels enveloped and loved. The relocation of meals to a smaller, more casual adjacent room further reflects her commitment to designing spaces that truly suit her family's lifestyle and needs. These examples collectively illustrate how personal preferences, historical context, and functional requirements are harmoniously integrated by designers in their own homes. The article suggests that while professional designers create beauty for others, their personal spaces are deeply reflective of their individual journeys and values. The designers prioritize emotional comfort, personal expression, and functionality in their own homes, demonstrating that a favorite room is often one that supports daily life and personal well-being. This collection of rooms provides diverse inspirations for homeowners looking to personalize their spaces. It demonstrates how various elements, from color palettes and material choices to the integration of vintage items and custom designs, contribute to creating a distinctive and cherished environment. #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #KitchenDesign #BedroomDesign #HomeOffice #FamilyRoom #DesignerHomes #DecoratingTips

The entryway or hallway of a home is a frequently traversed but often underutilized space, playing a crucial role in shaping a visitor's initial perception. Design experts emphasize that a well-executed entryway not only creates a positive first impression but also establishes design cohesion throughout the home and can visually expand smaller spaces. Dan Brungardt, a designer and owner of Home at Last, suggests extending the design concept from the driveway to the front walk and consistently carrying it through the interior. He highlights the importance of blurring the lines between indoor and outdoor areas, noting that repeating colors and design themes from the entryway to the back patio or deck can make a smaller house appear larger by presenting these spaces as extensions rather than enclosed areas. Color is identified as a powerful tool for attracting attention and revitalizing a space. While grays are currently fashionable, Brungardt recommends bold colors like reds and kelly or grass greens for front doors, drawing inspiration from his travels in Dublin, Ireland. He also advises using a high-sheen finish to enhance light reflection and create a softer lighting effect. Vickie Lynch, a designer and owner of Soho Interiors, agrees that front door color should reflect personal style, also favoring greens, blues, and salmon hues. For those hesitant to paint their front door, adding colorful accessories offers an alternative. Repurposing a thrift-store chair with a bold paint color for the porch or entryway can add visual interest and provide a spot for a planter, offering a flexible design solution. Incorporating planters, pots, or urns that complement the home's architectural style and color palette is also recommended. Careful plant selection, considering color, texture, and scale, is essential, with Brungardt suggesting one large pot over several small ones to avoid a cluttered look. Indoor/outdoor area rugs, available in various mildew- and fade-resistant colors, and brightly colored welcome mats for smaller spaces are other ways to introduce color. Beyond color, functional and aesthetic upgrades include replacing door glass with artistic options like leaded or stained glass, updating worn door handles or light fixtures, and coordinating hardware. Outdoor furniture should be high-quality, durable, and functional, with Lynch advising against cushions due to wear and soiling, instead preferring easily wipeable hard surfaces. Her guiding principle for entryways is "Less is more," advocating for good function and efficient use of space without overcrowding. Indoors, the design scheme should continue with coordinating area rugs and artwork. Mirrors or reflective pieces can be strategically placed to enlarge small entryways. Functional items such as a console table for keys and other essentials, or a coat rack and umbrella stand, add both utility and interest. The overall aim is to create a warm, welcoming, yet minimalist, elegant, and functional space. The article concludes by reiterating that the first impression of a home starts from the driveway, emphasizing the importance of well-manicured lawns and landscaping that seamlessly transition into the interior design. This holistic approach not only enhances living space but also significantly contributes to resale value. #HomeEntryways #HomeDecoration #InteriorDesign #ExteriorDesign #ColorPalette #FirstImpression #HomeImprovement #SpaceUtilization #HomeStyling

The perception of wealth in home design has shifted significantly from grand, often impractical, displays to a preference for comfort, functionality, and sustainability. Historically, status symbols in homes included two-story foyers with oversized chandeliers, formal living rooms that were rarely used, and primary bathrooms featuring large soaking tubs over practical showers. Also popular were massive built-in entertainment walls designed for a single television size, chef's kitchens overladen with specialized equipment, wall-to-wall carpeting, heavy drapery, and formal dining rooms reserved for infrequent use. Kitchens often included built-in desks with phone jacks, and backyards were manicured trophies rather than functional habitats. These features, once indicative of success and luxury, are now often seen as high-maintenance, wasteful, and lacking in contemporary appeal. For instance, large foyers are costly to heat and cool, and oversized chandeliers require extensive cleaning. Formal living rooms are viewed as inefficient use of space, and large tubs are considered less practical than well-designed walk-in showers. Built-in entertainment centers quickly become obsolete with evolving TV technology, and overly elaborate kitchens prioritize appearance over actual cooking efficiency. Wall-to-wall carpeting is now seen as a maintenance trap due to allergens and spills, while heavy drapes block natural light and require dry cleaning. Formal dining rooms are considered underutilized, kitchen desks are superseded by mobile technology, and meticulously manicured lawns are viewed as resource-intensive rather than ecologically conscious. The modern interpretation of home luxury emphasizes quiet comfort, functionality, and smart design choices. This includes human-height ceilings with layered lighting in entryways, and secondary living spaces that serve specific, practical purposes like libraries or game rooms. Bathrooms are now valued for spacious walk-in showers with good ventilation and water pressure. Media setups favor simple, flexible consoles and wall-mounted TVs. Kitchens focus on workflow, light, and air quality, with durable counters, deep drawers, and efficient task lighting. Flooring trends lean towards hard surfaces with movable area rugs for easier maintenance and cleanliness. Window treatments prioritize light-filtering shades or simple panels that allow natural light to dominate. Dining areas are designed for flexibility and daily use, often with expandable tables, and kitchen desks are repurposed into pantries or charging stations. Backyards are evolving into functional habitats with native plants, shade, simple seating, and elements like kitchen gardens or fire pits that invite use and promote stewardship. The new signals of wealth are found in systems that work efficiently, materials that age well, and spaces that serve daily life, reflecting a shift towards thoughtful and livable luxury rather than ostentatious display. Updating a home without chasing trends involves prioritizing function, simplifying finishes, right-sizing focal points, and adhering to a maintenance calendar to ensure long-term comfort and utility. Even existing outdated features can be redeemed through strategic modifications to enhance their practicality and align with modern sensibilities. #HomeDesign #InteriorDesignTrends #LuxuryHomes #HomeRenovation #ModernLiving #FunctionalDesign #SustainableHomes #WealthSignals #HomeFeatures