Inside a Refinery29 Creative Director’s Studio 54-Inspired Apartment Building and Her Closet

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

This article highlights an interior design project by Gainesville-based designer Maggie Griffin, who transformed a sunroom into a functional and comforting space for her grandfather, Harris Hardin. The redesign was conceived as a Christmas gift, focusing on creating an environment conducive to Hardin's interests in painting, drawing, and reading. The primary goal was to provide a serene and inspiring area within his master bedroom suite. The project centered around an attached sunroom, which Griffin repurposed into a small art studio and reading nook. The previous bright colors and outdated fabrics were replaced with a neutral palette to establish a soothing backdrop. This foundational change was crucial in setting the desired tranquil atmosphere for creative and contemplative activities. Practicality was a key consideration in the design. A small table was incorporated to hold art supplies, ensuring the space remained organized and inviting for artistic endeavors. To manage natural light, Griffin installed woven sisal blinds alongside double-width draperies. The floral fabric chosen for the draperies featured a subtle combination of oatmeal, brown, and a touch of salmon, contributing to the overall gentle color scheme. Adding a touch of sentimental value, a convertible drafting table/desk, originally discovered by Griffin's late grandmother, Barbara, was integrated into the space. This piece now serves as an easel for Hardin's painting and drawing. The existing flooring, composed of terra cotta and ceramic tiles, was practical for potential paint spills. To enhance comfort and warmth, Griffin introduced an inexpensive, oatmeal-toned rug. This choice allowed for easy replacement in case of spills, maintaining the room's inviting feel without high maintenance concerns. Further enhancing comfort and aesthetics, Hardin’s existing club chair and ottoman were reupholstered in an antelope-inspired fabric. Griffin noted that animal prints often function as neutrals, seamlessly blending into the redesigned space. This subtle pattern added texture and visual interest while adhering to the overall neutral theme. The transformation successfully created a multi-functional space that supports Hardin's hobbies, offering both practical utility and a comforting ambiance. #Gainsville #InteriorDesign #MaggieGriffin #RoomRedo #CreativeSpace #SunroomDesign #NeutralPalette #HomeDecoration

This blog post showcases a 4,520 sq ft (419 sqm) semi-detached house in Singapore, designed by Atelier Here, which accommodates nine family members across three generations. The interior design adopts a contemporary aesthetic characterized by linear and angular elements, creating a modern and cohesive living space. A notable architectural feature is a hollow block wall, 10cm thick and perforated, which extends along the common areas of the house. This wall serves both as a distinctive design element and a functional privacy screen, effectively limiting external views into the home while deflecting harsh sunlight. Its design allows for ample natural lighting to filter through and promotes natural cross-ventilation, contributing to an airy and ethereal ambiance within the double-volume living area. The layout of the house emphasizes spatial continuity and an open concept. The second floor features a family room that overlooks the ground floor living area, fostering a sense of connection between different communal spaces. The living area itself is designed to be light and airy, enhancing the overall contemporary feel. Adjacent to the living room, an open-concept dining room integrates seamlessly with a dry kitchen, further promoting an expansive and interactive environment. A staircase in the background leads to the family room and the private bedrooms on the upper floors. The family room, a central gathering space for the large family, is strategically screened from neighbors by the hollow block wall, ensuring privacy. This area is highlighted by a timber lattice wall panel that acts as a simple yet striking focal point, extending up to the third floor. On the upper level, a bridge connects the rear part of the house, which houses the elevator and some bedrooms, to the master bedroom located at the front. The master bedroom is positioned to offer elevated views of the surrounding greenery, providing a serene retreat. The exterior of the semi-detached house is defined by the same hollow block wall, visually integrating the interior and exterior design and emphasizing its dual role in aesthetics and functionality. #HomeTour #InteriorDesign #Renovation #SemiDetached #AtelierHere #ContemporaryDesign #PrivacyScreen #HollowBlockWall #MultiGenerationalLiving

The article details the renovation of a 327-square-foot (30-square-meter) micro-apartment in Shatin, Hong Kong, by local design firm littleMORE. This project addresses the challenge of expensive real estate in Hong Kong, where homeowners often opt to renovate older apartments rather than purchase new ones. The clients, a young couple, aimed to transform their existing two-bedroom layout into a more flexible space suitable for working from home, entertaining guests, and incorporating extensive concealed storage. The design strategy focused on maximizing space and light through strategic interior partition adjustments and the integration of glass walls. The renovation utilized a simple yet effective approach, aiming to provide the apartment with a unique identity through a harmonious blend of materials and colors. The rearranged walls and partitions, combined with a carefully chosen color scheme, were instrumental in enlivening the compact spaces. Glass walls were introduced to allow more natural light to penetrate various areas, such as the bedroom and living room, thereby maintaining visual connectivity between spaces without physically isolating them. The living room was streamlined to feature a convertible sofa and a wall-mounted television, eliminating bulky furniture to save floor space. The wall behind the television also conceals a range of storage cabinets, from top to bottom. This multi-functional living area doubles as a dining room, with a wooden table equipped with hidden extensions for entertaining. The muted color palette of the apartment highlights the warmth of the wood, while vibrant fabrics and pillows add cheerful accents, creating a calm environment free from visual clutter. In the bedroom, the bed is elevated on a platform, incorporating embedded storage drawers in the steps leading up to it. A short shelving unit separates the sleeping area from the workspace, and an additional shelving unit is located in an alcove facing the bed. The apartment's entry area also features a full-height wardrobe, indicating a consistent focus on maximizing storage throughout the home. The workspace includes an ergonomic electric sit-stand desk positioned by a window, complemented by a keyboard tray. Adjacent to the desk, full-height wardrobes offer ample storage for clothes, along with open shelving and a clothes rack for frequently used items. The kitchen, though compact, adheres to the ergonomic principles of the "work triangle," ensuring that the stove, food preparation counter, and refrigerator are all easily accessible. Cabinets extend to the ceiling to maximize storage, and a long metal rail helps to keep utensils organized and countertops clear. Generous LED lighting ensures the space is well-illuminated for cooking tasks. A combination washer-dryer is integrated under the counter, a common feature in Hong Kong apartments. The bathroom underwent a renovation that included a streamlined glass door and a space-efficient towel rack and ledge for toiletries within the shower area. The sink vanity features a pull-out drawer designed to hold larger containers, allowing for easy access to items. Overall, the renovation demonstrates how thoughtful design interventions, including a restrained material and color palette, glass partitions, and integrated storage solutions, can make a small apartment feel significantly larger and more functional. #MicroApartment #SpaceSavingDesign #HongKongRealEstate #InteriorRenovation #CompactLiving #HiddenStorage #GlassWalls #MultifunctionalFurniture #SmartDesign

This article details how designer Natasha Nyanin, with the help of interior designer Nina Blair, transformed a diminutive 350-square-foot rental studio on the Upper West Side into a functional and stylish living space. The transformation began when Nyanin chose the apartment for its northern light and separate, windowed kitchen, over a similar but less appealing unit. The renovation focused on cosmetic changes to the kitchen and bathroom, and a complete repainting of the main living area. The living room/bedroom was painted in 'Seize the Gray' by Clare, a neutral shade selected to complement a soft pastel palette. Key furniture pieces in this area include white slipper chairs from Interior Define and a pink sofa from Joybird. A delicate two-level brass and Rosso Verona side table was custom-made for Nyanin by jewelry designer Bia Daidone. Initially, Nyanin considered a wabi-sabi aesthetic, but her love for cooking and entertaining led her to prioritize a practical floor plan and furniture arrangement for guests. A large rectangular table, crafted from plywood covered in epoxy resin by Stone Coat Countertops and fitted with legs from Prettypegs, was incorporated. This dining setup was completed with sapphire velvet upholstered chairs and a mid-century velvet bench, adding a touch of luxury. Alabaster vases, discovered at the Marrakech hotel Jnane Tamsna, were sourced from Maison Flaneur. An Eames plywood folding screen was strategically used to create a visual separation between the living area and the closet space. The area also features a dual-level acrylic side table from Ferm Living and an agate chessboard found during a trip through the Atlas Mountains. A custom carpet, designed by Nyanin and Bradford Louryk and hand-tufted in India, anchors the living space. The kitchen underwent a bold renovation, including the installation of black-and-white vinyl floor tiles from Amazon. The original minimal counter space was expanded by adding a marble-like epoxy finish from Stone Coat Countertops over base cabinets from Cabinets to Go. Elongated, polished solid-brass custom cabinet pulls by De La Vega Designs were added, and open shelving with brass brackets from Signature Hardware provided a more contemporary look. Ceiling light fixtures from Lee Broom completed the kitchen design. In the bedroom area, the CB2 bed was positioned in the corner facing the windows to enhance the sense of space and doubles as a daybed. An Ashanti stool from Accra sits at the foot of the bed, complemented by pillowcases made from traditional handwoven Bonwire kente from Kumasi, Ghana. Samsung’s 'the Frame TV' displays abstract art by Marcel Ceuppens when turned off, and a black aluminum Giac desk chair, inspired by Giacometti sculptures, was made by De La Vega Designs. The bathroom was also updated with small but impactful changes. The walls were repainted with Clare’s 'Blackest', and the existing subway tiles were re-grouted in a dark gray. Nero Marquina herringbone floor tiles were installed, along with enamel-and-brass faucets from Rohl on a Kohler sink. A custom-sized teak floor mat from Teak Works 4 U was placed inside the shower for an exotic touch, and a framed watercolor by Emeline May adorns the wall. Despite the studio’s small size compared to her childhood home in Ghana, Nyanin successfully hosts dinner parties, offering a rare home-cooked meal experience in New York City, demonstrating that thoughtful design can make a compact space highly functional and welcoming. #SpaceOfTheWeek #DesignHunting #HomeDesign #StudioApartment #SmallSpaceLiving #InteriorDesign #NewYorkCity #UpperWestSide