Margo Gardner Interior Design

03/24/2026

At long last, photos of my newly renovated bathroom! Swipe to see all the pics.

Last fall I posted the 3D sketches I did for this bathroom, and if you scroll back to that post, you’ll see that the final product differs from the original plans in one very big way - wallpaper!!! This was a last minute pivot that now brings me joy every single day. Here’s the story...

This second floor bathroom is my kids’ bathroom, but since we don’t have a first floor powder room, it’s really the most used bathroom in our house. Prior to renovating, the combination of a small, narrow space and terrible ventilation in here (no exhaust fan) meant lots of problems with steam build-up, water streaks running down walls, and perpetually peeling paint. While I love wallpaper and always wanted to have it in this bathroom, I was really nervous that even with the addition of an exhaust fan, wallpaper would not play well with daily showers.

So pretty early on in the design process I decided that instead of wallpaper, I would use lots of art to make the space feel special. But once the bathroom was finished, even though I found so much great art (which is now hanging in other rooms throughout my house), the art gallery vibe I had planned for the bathroom just wasn’t feeling right.

As I was coming to this realization over a period of a couple months, I also noticed that the new exhaust fan was doing an excellent job clearing the steam after showers. And that’s when it hit me - clearly the universe wants me to have wallpaper in this bathroom. So that’s what I did! Now I have this gorgeous Woodland Toile wallpaper, which makes this cute little bathroom feel like an enchanted forest. It’s truly magical.

Thanks so much to The Powder Room Guys () who did such a wonderful job on this renovation. Paul, the owner, and his crew are incredibly professional, organized, and efficient, and were just a real pleasure to work with. And thanks also to for doing such a beautiful job on the wallpaper installation, as always.

It’s so nice to have a bathroom that’s now equal parts beauty and function. That’s what good design is all about!

03/23/2026

This may be the most dramatic transformation I’ve ever posted and I am absolutely, positively in love with the way it turned out!!! Swipe the end to see where we started. If this room were in my house I might never leave it. It’s the kind of room that just completely envelops you, like the biggest, coziest hug.

This client was such a dream to work with. We quickly zeroed in on a moody design direction that we both loved, and she really trusted me to run with it from there. She was also willing to take some real design risks - like the completely color drenched walls, trim, and ceiling - and it sure did pay off.

This house is a new build, though you would never know it once you step into this room. The goal was to infuse this space (and eventually the rest of the house) with a lot more charm and character than the builders gave it. And what gives a home instant charm and character? Millwork!! The built-in bookcases and mouldings were key elements in the transformation of this space. And in defiance of the every-space-must-be-open-concept new-build ethos, we closed off this space, adding a wall with pocket doors where the gigantic opening originally stood between this room and the dining room. We also closed in the opening to the entryway and added french doors. And what once felt like a cavernous hallway now feels like an extremely cozy little snug.

We also included a dedicated WFH space for my client. She needed a desk, but she only works from home one day a week and spends the rest of week in the office, so she didn’t want this space to be only, or even primarily, an office. She also wanted it to be a place where she and her family and friends could hang out and relax together. And the fact that her monitor and other work stuff can be hidden behind those retractable bi-fold cabinet doors makes it super easy to take this space from work to cozy hangout in just a few seconds. She told me that her family hangs out in here all the time now. Mission accomplished!

I just could not be happier with how this space turned out. And fortunately, we’re not finished with this house. I’m working on the dining room right now, so stay tuned for another huge transformation!

10/08/2025

In a few weeks, I hope to have a new bathroom that looks like this! The existing bathroom, which you can see in the 3rd photo, was demo’d yesterday (final pic in the carousel). This house is old and full of 100 years of questionable renovation choices and techniques. After our contractor reviewed the plumbing post-demo, he declared it the nightmare bathroom of the year. 😂 Not a trophy I was hoping to win, but it seems like it’s probably all going to work out. I hope. 🤞🤞🤞

As you can see from the photo of the old bathroom, there wasn’t anything terrible about it. At least on the surface. It was actually pretty cute! Functionally though, it wasn’t great.

This is my kids’ bathroom. The combo of kids and a corner tub meant double the opportunities for water on the floor, and we had at least a half dozen leaks down into the first floor in as many years. The floor around the tub was squishy and I knew the subfloor was in sad shape. Neither the tub nor the sink ever really drained properly, which I now know was because the pipes were installed incorrectly. The pedestal sink, while adorable, didn’t provide any storage. And I never loved that the first thing you saw when walking by the bathroom was the toilet. The real kicker? After demo, we realized that our toilet could have fallen through the floor into the living room at any moment. In a prior reno, someone just removed a huge section of the floor joist, leaving the weight of the toilet, and any human using it, supported only by pipes! 😳

Anyway, assuming all goes according to plan, in the new bathroom, the rub will rotate 90 degrees and the toilet will go between the tub and the sink. And the first thing you’ll see when you walk past the new bathroom will not be a toilet, but pretty tile, a new window (etched for privacy), and lovely new shower fixtures. Because the house is old, and I like old things, I’m sticking with a somewhat vintage look, but it will be so much prettier when it’s finished. And a lot more colorful! Gray is not really my jam. I made it work, but I can’t wait for this little bathroom to feel more like me!

10/01/2025

It’s been a while! But that’s because things have been super busy behind the scenes. And I have a really exciting new project to share with you today!

Here’s the design for this new project in 3D (a service that’s included in all full service design projects). If you swipe through the carousel, the last two photos are of the room as it was when we started several weeks ago.

This house is a new build, and like most new builds, it was constructed without a lot of the details that give older homes character. But you know what? A new build doesn’t have to FEEL like a new build. Character can be added, and that’s exactly what we’re doing here. Millwork makes all the difference in the world.

My client’s house had this very long room that was barely divided in half by an enormous uncased opening. It felt cavernous and a bit cold. This simply would not do! Especially not for a client who is herself such a warm and welcoming person. She’s an absolute delight and so fun to work with.

By shrinking that opening to the dining room and adding pocket doors to close it off, we’re creating the gorgeous moody sitting room that you see in these 3D images. My client also wanted this room to function as a home office, but didn’t want it to feel like an office. She wanted this to be a place where she could hang out with friends without having to stare down piles of unfinished work. Because nothing kills a party like a to-do list. The solution? That amazing built-in unit with a desk. And not just any desk. A desk with a cabinet that can be closed up. Work? What work? Out of sight, out of mind!

The built-in has been constructed and the painting is almost done. We went for the full color drench - walls, trim, doors, and the ceiling all in a beautiful rich denim blue green. So proud of my client for taking that risk! It’s definitely going to pay off. And I CANNOT WAIT to see everything else fall into place.

And after this room wraps up, the dining room is on deck next, so stay tuned!

07/22/2025

Remember that pretty light blue and white kitchen from my last post? Well this is the equally lovely family room! It opens right into the kitchen and complements it beautifully. Swipe through the pics to see how radically we transformed this space, complete with a snug little corner for doing the occasional bit of work at home.

If this room looks a bit familiar, that’s because my client had seen photos of my living room and wanted to do something similar here. Just like with the kitchen, she wanted to lighten and brighten the space, but she was up for some bolder colors in here. She really loved my bright blue sofa, along with the pops of deep saturated pinks and greens in my pillows.

Of course, I didn’t just plop my living room in here. The look is similar, but I selected entirely different pieces for this family room. Every family and home has different needs, so I never ever just duplicate a space for any of my clients. Everything is 100% tailored to the unique needs and preferences of each client. No two clients are the same, so no two designs are either.

One of my favorite things in this room is the striped swivel chair. This is actually the same chair you see in the “Before” photo, but we had it reupholstered by the wonderful team at . They do amazing work every single time, and this was no exception. This chair belonged to my client’s mother, so it had sentimental value. It’s also a solid, well-made piece. There was absolutely no need to replace it. It just needed some freshening up. We had the tufts removed and the old upholstery replaced with this classic striped fabric. Good as new and it’s built to last at least another generation or two!

I love the way this room turned out, and I’m looking forward to working on more projects with this amazing client!

07/11/2025

It’s Friday! And in my book, there’s no better way to kick off the weekend than a “Before” and “After.” This one is pretty incredible. Swipe to the end to see where we started.

I have absolutely loved getting to know these clients. They are some of the sweetest, kindest people I’ve ever met. Their home is so full of love and warmth, and it was absolutely my pleasure to help them transform it into a place that’s almost as lovely as they are!

Their kitchen was totally functional and the layout worked well, but they wanted to lighten, brighten, and otherwise update it. I was all in! Now if you’ve ever renovated a kitchen, you know that cabinetry is generally the biggest expense. Because the kitchen was only one part of this design project, we decided to keep the cabinets and paint them. This left a much more generous budget for the other projects in the house.

But as you can see, with paint and new hardware, we totally transformed these cabinets! We also replaced the lighting, countertops, and backsplash. The backsplash tile is one of my favorite elements. It’s a combination of marble and pale blue glass, which works so beautifully with the blue on the island ( Stardew 9138).

I love a gut renovated kitchen as much as any designer, but sometimes it’s just as satisfying to repurpose and refresh what’s already there. This kitchen feels so light and airy now that it’s hard to believe where we started.

And stay tuned, because next up is this client’s completely transformed family room. It’s another stunner if I do say so myself!

06/25/2025

Show of hands, please. Who likes calling customer service and spending countless minutes of your one precious life waiting on hold while listening to smooth jazz and trying desperately to reach an actual human? Anyone? Nope, didn’t think so.

But guess what, my full service clients never have to do that, because I take care of all of that for you. Not only will I deliver a beautiful, thoughtful, and functional space; I’ll also make sure that your toughest job is to watch with utter delight as your newly designed space comes to life! Project management is my job, not yours.

So what are you waiting for?! Reach out and let’s get that project started!

Now booking projects for summer and fall.

06/03/2025

Swipe through the carousel to learn more. The bottom line: I’m with my full service clients every step of the way. From the very first consultation to the moment the last perfectly fluffed pillow is placed on your amazing new sofa (or chair, or bed, or any other place pillows go!).

After I explain all this to prospective clients, sometimes they’ll say something like, “I don’t think I need that much help; I just need you to give me ideas and point me in the right direction.”

And sometimes, they might be right. In those cases, I offer a 2-hour consultation that leaves clients with a solid big-picture idea and a number of specific suggestions. If you can take those suggestions, confidently navigate any decisions that arise as the space takes shape, and make time to manage the project yourself, then a consultation might be just right.

But be honest with yourself. Because you know what most people don’t have a lot of? TIME. And a dream worthy space - a space that is thoughtfully designed from top to bottom - takes A LOT of time. Not to mention expertise. I hear things like this from clients all the time: “I bought this sofa, but then I got busy and haven’t done anything else with this room - for the last THREE YEARS.”

Or even worse, “All we have is a sofa, which we bought three years ago, and I don’t even like it!” Maybe they liked it in the store but it doesn’t work in their space. Or maybe decision fatigue set in; they couldn’t decide between all the options and just picked something lackluster to be done with it.

This is why full-service design, despite being an investment, can sometimes save money. After buying an expensive piece of furniture that you don’t like, have you ever spent even more money on other pieces to try to make the first piece work, only to end up with a whole room full of stuff that you don’t like? I hear this from clients all the time!

So let’s skip that cycle of spending and regret and do it right! My full service design package includes all kinds of tools to make sure that you’re going to love everything about your new space before we make a single purchase. Sound good? Then get in touch! Let’s make those design dreams a reality!

05/20/2025

Super happy with how this new client project is coming along! Love this soft and moody vibe. Swipe to see the 3D sketches I did for this space. These are tools of the trade that make working with a designer very worth it! This is a long skinny sunroom, so having the ability to sketch it out to scale was super helpful in terms of making the most of the layout. Deciding how to furnish spaces like this can be very tricky. But now we’ve arrived at what might be the hardest part of the design process. The design is finished, orders have been placed, and now, we wait. 😆 But the wait will be more than worth it in the end!

05/19/2025

Choosing a favorite project is a little like choosing a favorite child. I love them all. But this room is special. I’ve been working with this client for a few years. I understand her style and she trusts my vision. A magical combination. And because of that, she fully embraced one of the boldest designs I’ve ever put together for a client. We’re both tickled pink by the outcome!

Swipe to see where we started. This client’s son flew the nest and took his furniture with him, leaving behind a rug that was less than a year old. When I walked in, my client handed me 3 inspo images (end of the carousel) and told me that the only requirement was that we keep the rug.

A plan began percolating immediately. In inspo image #1, I knew that a black and white diamond patterned floor would have worked just as well, and that our bold black and white rug could play a similar role in a guest room full of moody greens and muted pinks. Knowing that my client loves a bit of traditional drama and glam (see inspo pic #2), I also pulled in animal prints, fringe, and burl wood. In the end, we dubbed this style “muted vintage/traditional/glam circus.” 😂Whatever it is, I love it.

One of the things I love most about this room is its fearlessness. I give my client so much credit here. Not once did she ask whether a color or pattern would be “too much” (too much for who?), or what other people might think (who cares!).

Fear is a big part of why so many people keep living in lackluster homes and buying lackluster pieces. And I get it. Revamping your home is a big investment and you want to make sure you don’t end up hating it. That’s why people play it safe and fall short of the inspiring home they really want.

But that’s where I come in. I want to help you create a home that makes you jump for joy! I have lots of tricks and tools to make sure that you’re going to love the end result before a single order is placed. No need for fear - only excitement and the satisfaction that comes from looking around your home and feeling positively giddy about everything you see.

Sound good? Reach out today so that we can get your dream project started!

05/17/2025

05/15/2025

Take a look at this adorable bedroom I just wrapped up for a very sweet and funny 5-year-old boy. Swipe to see where we started, because it’s quite a transformation!

It’s been a while since I worked on a kid’s room and I just love this one. And as is often the case, the wallpaper is the star of the show. Isn’t it great? These clients plan on staying in their beautiful Hoboken home for the foreseeable future, so they wanted a wallpaper that would grow with their son. The goal was to find something that was interesting without being overpowering, bright and sunny without being loud, and fun without being juvenile. I think we nailed it with this yellow Railway Stripe wallpaper!

We didn’t start 100% from scratch here. The clients already had a cute little rug, some nice bedding, and a very versatile daybed. But as you can see, the storage situation needed an upgrade. This little client had long outgrown his small dresser/changing table combo, and we needed to consolidate the smaller storage pieces into a more coherent system. This beautiful dresser and storage unit did the trick!

And since this kiddo no longer needed a toy kitchen in his bedroom, we were able to add that very cool desk from that he can grow into and use for years to come. I love the shade of olive green on this desk. Hot tip: You’re not limited to primary colors or pastels in kids’ rooms! Mixing in some muted, muddy colors can really take the saccharine edge off of a lot of kids’ decor. Same story on that cute little mushroom table lamp from . It’s red, but not fire engine red. More of an oxblood. The perfect pop of the perfect red for this space.

It’s been a joy working on this space for this cute little guy and his mom, who I always have fun chatting with. I’m glad we still have a couple of other things on our to-do list throughout the rest of her home so we don’t have to wrap up just yet. 😊