When we began renovating the first floor of our 1899 home, I knew I didn’t want it to feel overly polished or precious. I wanted it to feel layered, lived-in, soulful, and deeply reflective of the way our family actually lives. More than anything, I wanted our home to tell a story.
Working with Barbara Lustbader of Studio Embers completely transformed the way we approached the renovation. Barbara has this incredible ability to create spaces that feel refined without ever feeling rigid. Every room she designs carries emotion and warmth — and somehow feels both elevated and entirely approachable at the same time.
Together, we reimagined the entire first floor, creating spaces that feel connected through texture, craftsmanship, and light. We installed new herringbone white oak flooring throughout the home, added custom wall paneling, and painted much of the space in Benjamin Moore White Down — a soft, warm white that changes beautifully throughout the day and became the perfect backdrop for the layered interiors we envisioned.
The kitchen became the heart of the renovation.
We designed a completely custom kitchen with Gotham Cabinetry, and working with Kris truly was a dream. Every detail was considered with care — from the proportions of the cabinetry to the hidden storage and warm wood interiors. The kitchen balances old-world character with modern functionality in a way that feels timeless to me. We paired the cabinetry with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances and dramatic Calacatta Monet marble that brings movement and softness into the room. One of my favorite details is the built-in dining nook, which makes the kitchen feel intimate and gathered rather than purely utilitarian.
Our contractor, Brendan Dunleavy, executed every detail with an incredible level of craftsmanship. Renovations are never simple, especially in an older home, but Brendan approached every challenge thoughtfully and with so much attention to detail. The finished result feels seamless — as though these spaces had always belonged to the home.
Throughout the project, materiality was everything to us.
Nearly all of the fabrics throughout the home are from Zak+Fox, including the bathroom wallpaper. Their textiles have this richness and depth that feel simultaneously global and grounded, which perfectly aligned with the feeling we wanted throughout the house.
The dining room holds one of the most meaningful elements in the entire renovation: a hand-painted mural wallpaper by Charlotte Terrell. The mural instantly reminded me of the landscape surrounding my childhood home, and there’s something deeply emotional about sitting in that room now. It feels nostalgic and transporting at the same time — almost like stepping into a memory. Barbara understood immediately that the home needed moments like this: spaces that weren’t just beautiful, but personal.
What makes the house feel most complete to me, though, are the objects layered throughout it.
Almost everything in our home is handmade, vintage, or collected over years of travel. Many of the pieces come directly from hōm— objects created by artisans and makers whose work I’ve fallen in love with over time. Bowls collected abroad, vintage lighting, handmade ceramics, marble vessels, textiles, art, and collected objects all coexist together in a way that feels organic rather than designed.
I’ve always believed a home should evolve slowly. The most beautiful interiors are never built overnight. They are gathered piece by piece, memory by memory, until the rooms begin to reflect the people living inside them.
That philosophy guided every decision we made during this renovation.
Barbara often spoke about creating a home that felt intentional but not staged — layered yet calm, elevated yet deeply livable. I think that’s exactly what we achieved together. Every room has softness, texture, and warmth, but also practicality for our family and the way we gather, host, and move through daily life.
This renovation wasn’t about creating a perfect house.
It was about creating a home that feels deeply connected to our story — one filled with craftsmanship, collected beauty, and objects that carry meaning.
And ultimately, that’s what makes a house feel alive.