The homeowners are originally from the San Francisco Bay Area. “They purchased this home years ago as their vacation home, but their daughter moved in temporarily, and that interim period stretched to over five years,” Erika tells us. “Once she moved out, they were able to begin a complete renovation on the exterior, interior and landscaping.”

The client’s overall goal was to have a San Diego-inspired beach cottage, but without the typical coastal clichés. “They aimed to spend two to three months here each year and wanted to ensure it was a great entertaining space to host their friends and family,” the designer shares. “The kitchen was their biggest focus because it is the space where they spend the most time. Luckily for us, their only must-haves were no bright white cabinets, and the space needed to be comfortable but was open to unique design and specialty choices.”

The South Harlow team reviewed the architect’s preliminary plans and refined several details along the way, including window sizing and styles, a reworked guest bathroom layout, and a number of exterior selections—from copper gutters to paint colors. “We also played a major part in landscaping decisions,” Erika says. “Ultimately, directing the landscaping in a more European countryside style that fit with the interior style, as well as selecting the style and design of front pavers.”

The biggest challenge was maximizing the space available for the family’s storage needs. “The client required a significant amount of storage relative to the home’s size, while also needing several spaces to serve multiple functions,” Erika recalls. “In the office, we squeezed in three functions: office/desk space, additional guest sleeping quarters, along with a secondary lounge space. We worked to maximize every part of the room to achieve the client’s goals. Similarly, in the scullery, the client requested a handful of appliances to fit in such a tight space. We creatively incorporated double ovens, a 36″ sink, a dishwasher, a trash/recycle pull-out, an ice maker, beverage drawers, and a full-height wine fridge without making them fully visible.”

Style-wise, the goal was to honor the coastal location through palette and texture while firmly steering the design in an “English Country” direction. “It is a Southern California coastal cottage with an English twist,” the designer explains, crediting soft layers, collected materials, and relaxed finishes for giving the home a sense of warmth and history. The result is timless—a house that captures the ease of coastal living without sacrificing character, charm, or personality.

See more in the slideshow.

They turned to Julie Smith of Jula Cole Design, a boutique interior design studio based in Encinitas. “At first these repeat clients asked for advice on paint and flooring only,” she recalls. “A few days later, most of the home was ripped apart.” The scope quickly expanded as it became clear the house’s oddly shaped rooms and disjointed layout needed a more thoughtful, comprehensive transformation.

The entry sets the tone with an arched wooden double door steeped in character and history. “It is the kind that you know is rooted in history,” Julie notes. Rather than replace it, the team carefully preserved the original doors and used them as an anchor for the newly redesigned spaces. Soaring ceilings, exposed beams, and existing stonework further reinforce the home’s historic roots; the stone was over-grouted and limewashed to brighten the space while maintaining its aged texture. “The electrical was a bit of an odd placement in the entry so we designed a custom light fixture in order to work with the existing J-box locations,” Julie explains.

Elsewhere, the former office felt heavy and overly masculine, wrapped in dark wood paneling and dated millwork. Since the room would become a workspace for the woman of the home, Julie softened the atmosphere considerably. “This was to be an office for the woman of the home, so we painted the original wood cabinets, stripped some of the paneled wainscot details, and replaced them with some white wainscot trim which we painted in a few shades darker than the wall in a high gloss,” the designer notes. “This lightened up the space significantly. With the addition of some curved furniture to further feminize the space and a new cleaner fireplace surround, it was ready.”

The kitchen underwent one of the home’s most dramatic reinventions. Taken down to the studs and fully reconfigured, the new layout prioritizes flow, function, and entertaining. While the homeowners requested a white kitchen, Julie layered in darker accents—a custom metal hood by Metalust Designs, bronze fluted-glass bar panels, and rich walnut tones—to keep the space from feeling flat or sterile. A walnut dining island grounds the room, while a custom banquette breakfast nook creates an inviting place for gathering.

In the adjacent living spaces, comfort and sophistication go hand in hand. A dual-sided sofa subtly connects the living room to the kitchen, encouraging conversation and movement between the spaces. Meanwhile, the dining room delivers a dramatic focal point. “We commissioned a custom mural by our favorite artist, Cassandra Schramm, to bring a moodier feel,” Julie shares. “We also added a light fixture by designer Christiana Bertolucci, found on 1st Dibs.”

The home’s awkward original floor plan posed its greatest challenge in the bathrooms. Two strangely shaped powder rooms—once designated as “his” and “hers”—were consolidated into one more functional shared space. But the true showstopper is the reimagined primary bathroom and closet suite. “We kept one of the walk-in closets in the space and gave it to the man of the home and then opened the main bathroom adding square footage from the bedroom and bathroom next door to make a rockstar bathroom and closet,” she shares. “This is one of the most impressive spaces in the home. This required a new custom I-beam, but the original shaped windows stayed the same.” The once-cramped, awkward layout is now one of the property’s defining features.

The primary bedroom offers a serene retreat layered with tailored, contemporary details: a custom bed, a Thayer Coggin sofa, a Hammer & Spear coffee table, and sweeping blue drapery that frames the ocean view beyond. “This once dark dated room was instantly modernized,” Julie says. “It’s very clean and sophisticated without being fussy and ready to accept that insane ocean view.”

Now, one of the oldest houses in the city retains its historic charm while embracing modern updates, showcasing Julie’s thoughtful approach to honoring a home’s legacy while creating a fresh, livable interior.

The homeowner is Antonia Richmond (@antoniablue). “When Antonia first reached out, she was entering a new life chapter and was ready to invest in a kitchen she had been dreaming about for years,” Chloe recalls. With a background in editorial content creation and a passion for cooking Antonia had a strong vision for what she wanted. “In one of our early conversations she described her aesthetic as ‘classic English,’” the designer tells us. “She explained that she wanted a kitchen that would feel warm, personal, useful, and lived in.” 

Antonia also knew she wanted to incorporate thoughtful details and noted that increasing storage and making the most of the small footprint were key priorities. “We needed to ensure that the space would work for cooking and hosting,” Chloe adds. Naturally, a full remodel was in order. 

The space was painted in colors from Farrow & Ball: Preference Red on the island nad Slipper Satin on the walls. A bespoke range hood is paired with a hand-painted Delft tile backplash, created by UK artist Aviva Halter. “The tiles feature herbs used in cooking, along with a portrait of Antonia’s beloved dog, Micah,” Chloe shares. “We introduced a beautifully custom-designed island and a DeVOL pot rack, while tongue-and-groove paneling wraps the space, adding warmth and texture.” 

Additional pantry and spice storage were incorporated alongside a built-in panel-ready refrigerator that blends seamlessly with the cabinetry. Soapstone countertops and a brass bridge faucet (also from DeVOL) further enhance the kitchen’s classic, thoughtful design.

In the dining room, AW Hoss and Son made a custom sofa, upholstered in a Morris and Co. fabric. The table and chairs are from Shoppe Amber Interiors, and a slim banquette upholstered in a Rose Tarlow fabric offers extra seating. The pendant is DeVOL and the sconces are Nickey Kehoe. 

The remodel wrapped up in about 5 months, and Antonia was thrilled with the form and function throughout. Take a closer look in the slideshow. 

The property is expansive, with a series of low, elongated buildings that stretch across the landscape rather than rise vertically. It met the clients’ preference for single-level living and works beautifully with the natural landscape outside. 

Indoors, the team at design-favorite Studio McGee brought a thoughtful mix of materials that blend the family’s California lifestyle with their East Coast roots. The design language came with ease, as they’d also worked with the family before. 

“What I love most is how connected it is to the landscape,” says principal Shea McGee. “The home is positioned to take in the surrounding mountain views in every direction, and the architecture team did something really thoughtful by building over an extension of a natural spring on the property. It’s those kinds of details that make the home feel considered and intentional—really tied to the land in a meaningful way.”

The house is organized into distinct wings that support multigenerational use, for children and visiting family members alike, without a feeling of isolation. “In this season of her life, the home is always full,” Shea says. “There’s a steady flow of friends and extended family coming through. It really serves as the backdrop for these special, memory-filled years.”

Take a tour in the slideshow. 

Before the pandemic, the couple lived in a tiny apartment in San Francisco. They then spent time in Texas to be closer to family, soon got engaged, and realized they needed to find a city that would support both of their careers while offering the lifestyle they were hoping for. “Between the two of them, they had lived in five states and twelve different apartments since graduating college, and they were ready to find a place where they could settle down, start a family, and create a home of their own,” Becca notes.

Seattle quickly rose to the top of their list, thanks to the cooler climate and easy access to nature and outdoor activities. “Our client spotted a listing that had been sitting on the market for nearly thirty days, which was unusual during such a fast-moving market,” she recalls. “Assuming something must be wrong, they asked their realtor to investigate. After a FaceTime walkthrough revealed that the house was simply overpriced when first listed, they quickly made an offer at asking price without ever seeing it in person. The sellers immediately accepted.”

While the house had great bones, it was very much in its original builder-grade condition and clearly needed thoughtful updates—presenting a great opportunity to transform it into something meaningful and truly their own. “After living with the home for several years and welcoming two children, they were ready to reimagine the kitchen and adjoining sitting room as one unified space,” Becca recalls. “They reached out to us to transform what had once been an awkward, storage-limited area into a warm and functional kitchen designed for everyday family life. They were drawn to BB Meyer Design for our lived-in, layered aesthetic and our approach to creating spaces that feel both elevated and supportive of life’s meaningful moments. Being California-based also felt like a natural connection for them, offering a nod to their Bay Area roots.”

Their goal was to create a kitchen that felt beautiful, cozy, and inviting while also being highly functional for daily life with two young boys. Storage and usable cabinetry were top priorities. “They came to us with a clear vision for how they wanted the space to feel, and we helped translate that into a cohesive design that balanced warmth, durability, and thoughtful functionality for their family,” Becca shares.

They reworked the layout to better support how the family actually lives. “The original kitchen had an awkward peninsula and limited flow, so we removed it and introduced a central island to ground the space and create a natural gathering point,” the designer notes. “We also reconfigured circulation throughout the room, including closing an adjacent office door to allow for better appliance placement and a more functional cooking zone.”

Beyond the core kitchen, they also designed a custom pantry wall to maximize storage while maintaining a streamlined look and added a bar area in the dining room to support entertaining and everyday use.

To combat Seattle’s often cloudy climate, they leaned on a balanced palette with light, neutral tones that feel warm and grounded. The cabinets, built by Competition Cabinets, are painted Sherwin-Williams Natural Linen. For the countertops and backsplash, Becca selected Cambria’s Dovestone Quartz and carried the material up and around the window to create a subtle frame. “The quartz beautifully mimics the movement of natural stone while requiring very little maintenance, making it a practical choice for a busy family kitchen,” she says. “It was also a more cost-effective option for the clients since they don’t necessarily see this as their forever home.”

Throughout the design process, they kept returning to the idea of creating a kitchen that feels truly lived in—“not precious or untouchable, but elevated in a way that invites daily use,” Becca reflects. “Understanding the family’s routines and rituals was essential: how they drink their coffee, how mornings unfold, where keys are dropped at the end of the day. These details shaped the design just as much as materials or layout decisions. I think you deeply feel that energy in this kitchen, that it was designed to embrace real life—and a growing family.”

Her new book, This Must Be the Place, offers an inside look at her imaginative alchemy—allowing design lovers and readers a glimpse into the process. Chloe is formally trained in architecture, so her designs are technical and by the book—yet filled with mischief and wit. Each home has its own defined “vibe,” but most importantly serves as the backdrop to her clients’ lives. Form, function, and just the right amount of fun. She tells us more: 

When did you first discover your love of interior design?
From the moment my mom let me pick out my own carpet—I went with a raspberry cut-pile wall-to-wall—and it transformed my room completely. I believe I was about eight years old.

You’re not tied down to a singular style, instead using unique directives to describe a space. What comes first: the visuals, or the emotion you hope a room to evoke?
The emotion, the atmosphere. I want it to feel cohesive. We do a lot of residential, so there’s not a huge bandwidth – most people want to live somewhere calm and happy – but it’s been fun to design commercial spaces because there we get directives like, “make people feel rich and spendy,” and I’m like, “ka-ching, I got you.”

Tell us a bit about the book’s format. What can readers expect?
The standard one-project-per-chapter format is what I went with, and I tried to tie each chapter to a thread of my thesis about what makes atmospheric design.

Were there any pleasant surprises during the writing process? Any “a-ha” moments you are most excited to share with readers?
A big one for me was when I started writing about the Montana project. I grew up in Montana and had pretty “meh” feelings about winter, and I started thinking about why I loved this big new house so much—even in winter. I realized that the architecture mitigated the weather in a way that was so powerful. Traditionally, the Mountain West was built with thick walls and small windows, and it can feel a bit claustrophobic in the darker months. But architecture is so powerful—it changed how I felt about an entire season. That was a nice thing to realize.

Why do you think home design is important or meaningful?
Feeling at home on this earth is such a profound gift, and it’s one worth pursuing. It’s worth figuring out what makes you happy, and it’s worth investing in making your life reflect that happiness.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career thus far?
Writing a book is huge. It’s building a home for all the homes I’ve built! I didn’t expect it to feel so meaningful, but it does.

The book is filled with advice and lessons learned. Is there one piece of advice you share that you wish you’d had when you were first starting out?
It’s okay to fire people who aren’t a fit. I spent years being afraid of engaging in any type of HR, and now that the firm is functional and mid-sized, I love knowing that I’m able to handle staffing issues.

What do you have planned next?
I’m decorating a house in Maine that belonged to my grandmother – it will be the project of a lifetime!

The location was right, but the interiors needed some updating. “In the past, their homes were a bit blander, filled with whites, blacks, and beiges,” Chloe explains. “The client valued our European approach to design: layering old with new and creating a space with soul. We immediately clicked and began collaborating.”

The client requested color and personality in the house, seeking the expertise of Boxwood Avenue Interiors, which includes Senior Designer Gabrielle DiDonato, to bring it all together. “The client has amazing taste and supports local women’s art programs, so the collaboration felt very kismet,” the designer reflects. “The home needed to have comfortable areas to get work done, color while still feeling elevated, and a sense of serenity and calmness without being just white.”

While Boxwood Avenue’s scope was originally meant to focus on a few key spaces, it evolved to encompass the entire house and casita. The builder had an in-house designer who had done some initial concepts, but in the end, the space is decidedly fresh. “We ended up being involved in every room in the house, whether it was every finish in a room or just the artwork and hand towels in the bathrooms,” Chloe shares. 

The project took about 9 months from start to install. “Our client’s husband teared up a bit when he saw the home, exclaiming that they hadn’t had a place that felt like home before,” the designer smiles. “They loved how calm but visually interesting the furnishings and accessories were and loved how we incorporated color while still keeping it very chic and elevated. It was a moment of pure joy for them and for us as designers, reminding us ‘why’ we do what we do.”

The architecture for the house was pre-designed before the client purchased it, so the interior architecture was originally fairly simple in nature. “It was important that we added layers of detail not just in the furnishings, but architecturally in the cabinetry, wall finishes, ceiling treatments, and stone details to make the home feel more unique and tailored to our client’s taste,” Jennifer explains. “Then we designed a full custom furnishings package, selecting all of the fabrics, area rugs, window treatments and wallpapers, layering in both new and vintage lighting.” 

It was a three-year project, including design and permitting, and the clients were thrilled with the new construction—and also that the house feels very warm, layered, and inviting. “I think it can be challenging to add soul and patina to new construction projects, especially in Texas where room sizes can be quite large and feel a bit overwhelming,” the designer explains. “We were very cognizant of adding warmth by incorporating wood finishes and live metals—and sprinkling in vintage lighting and furniture pieces in each room to add charm and patina.”

Now, every family member has their own favorite spaces, which the designer feels like they checked all the boxes.

Take a tour in the slideshow. 

“The clients, a young couple, approached us to renovate a basement kitchen and create space for a powder room,” adds Kevin Kaminski, Architect at the firm. “They also wanted to gain better functionality out of an oddly proportioned dining room. In addition to the functional aspects of the brief, they wanted the space to feel tasteful, simple, and welcoming.”

The home had been renovated in the early 2000s and was well constructed but was due for an update both aesthetically and functionally. “After hearing their ideas and seeing the space, we quickly determined that strategic architectural changes would create a more usable floor plan,” Kevin shares. “We began by relocating the basement stairs and raising the dining room floor. Doing so created enough ceiling height for a powder room and laundry room adjacent to the kitchen, in what had been a former crawl space. The kitchen remained in its original location, but the layout was reworked to accommodate a banquette and dining area. An office replaced the dining room, now with direct access to the rear yard. These plan updates greatly increased the square footage and allowed us to add greater functionality to the home.”

Style-wise, the client had a penchant for British design. “We leaned into the aesthetic to create a classic, comfortable space,” Alexis notes. “English countryside-inspired cabinetry, a Shaws sink, Corston hardware, and rustic stone floor for example.”

Like any renovation of a historic home, the project had its fair share of challenges. “As we neared the end of the design phase, our clients informed us they were expecting their first child,” Kevin recalls. “That left us with approximately seven months to finish the design, then build the project, and we didn’t yet have a contractor! We tried our best to persuade them to postpone construction until after the baby arrived, but they wanted to proceed. We quickly engaged a contractor who was up for the challenge.” They almost made it work, but the baby arrived before the project was complete.

“Another challenge was getting appliances down into the basement kitchen,” Alexis adds. “Since we were replicating a narrow existing curved stair, it was a tight squeeze for appliance installation. We had to order refrigerator and freezer columns rather than a single unit to fit down the stairs.”

It was a quick process—just under a year—and the client elected to live in the home during the renovation, which is not for the faint of heart. In the end, the best compliment came from a family member in the UK, who said the space felt like home.

Take a tour in the slideshow. 

When did you first discover your love of interior design?
Not until much later in life. Many interior designers share that story of redecorating their childhood bedrooms over and over again as their origin story—that initial spark. That wasn’t me. It was during law school, where I needed a distraction from the pressures of school, that I retreated into the world of shelter blogs and design magazines. That was the beginning.

How would you describe your style? Do you stay within a particular look or explore interiors on a project-by-project basis?
Our range is broader than many designers’. I truly believe our job is twofold: to reflect the architecture of the home and to reflect the clients who live in it. So, our projects differ stylistically depending on those two factors. That said, there are common threads that run through most of our work—a love of color, a sense of whimsy and layering, and an elevated aesthetic balanced with approachability.

Tell us a bit about the book’s format. What can readers expect?
Each chapter is devoted to a single project and the people who live there. My favorite part is the introduction to each chapter, where we asked clients a series of personal questions. What surprised me is how many of my clients share my love of Negronis. So, if you have a penchant for Negronis and need a designer, you know where to find me. 

Were there any pleasant surprises during the writing process? Any “a-ha” moments you’re most excited to share with readers?
People had told me I had a strong “voice” on social media, and honestly, I didn’t quite believe them. But through the process of writing and revising the book’s text again and again, it became undeniable—I do have a distinctly Clara voice. Discovering and owning that was one of the most unexpected epiphanies of writing this book.

What is one thing you think every room needs?
A solid, quality rug. It provides both the literal and figurative foundation of a room.

Why do you think home design is important or meaningful?
Over the last decade or so, people have increasingly found comfort, safety, and identity in their homes. That’s a shift I deeply embrace — and it’s a reminder of how much the spaces we inhabit truly matter.

What has been the most rewarding part of your career thus far?
The returning clients. I’ve grown alongside so many of them through different chapters of their lives and families. It’s something I never anticipated, but it has turned out to be the most meaningful part of what I do.

Is there one piece of advice you share in the book that you wish you’d had when you were starting out?
Don’t be shy about self-promotion. Talk about your work, share your projects, own your achievements. I was hesitant to do that in my early years, but the truth is—you are your own best advocate.

What do you have planned next?
I’ve been incredibly fortunate to have some truly special projects in the pipeline — I can’t wait to share them. My ongoing goal remains the same: to elevate my practice and keep learning as much as I possibly can about design.

Clara’s book, Storied Homes: Designs from Banner Day Interiors, will be published by Gibbs-Smith on May 12. You can preorder your copy here.