05/27/2026
A little refresh for a starter home in Louisiana for my dearest friend’s son. The bones of the house were already right — it just needed some thoughtful updates, a little refinement, and a more modern point of view.
Since we’ve worked together on previous projects, this one came together very easily without me ever needing to visit in person. We handled everything virtually through phone calls, FaceTimes, inspiration photos, and lots of back-and-forth conversations. A great reminder that good communication and a clear vision can make remote design feel incredibly seamless.
We kept the renovation simple and budget-conscious by focusing mostly on paint, lighting, decor and styling. The kitchen received the most love, and got a fresh new look with deep smoky blue cabinetry, updated countertops, new appliances, and warm brass lighting that instantly elevated the entire space without changing the original layout.
The exterior received fresh modern grey paint and new, clean “raw” wooden pillars. Throughout the homes’ interiors, we layered in deeper shades of blue and green with soft smoky undertones to create strong accent walls that grounded each room while still feeling relaxed and sophisticated. Black-and-white photography added a classic, clean feel throughout the home.
One of my favorite parts of this project was mixing inherited pieces — including the dining room hutch and several vintage rugs — with clean, modern, budget-friendly furnishings from West Elm. The combination gave the home warmth and depth while still feeling fresh and current - perfect for a young man’s starter home.
For the living room, I recommended a beautiful piece by Deanna Fainelli, A Dog’s Perspective - a fun way to start his art collection journey.
Sometimes great design is less about completely reinventing a space and more about editing thoughtfully, honoring what already works, and layering in just enough contrast, texture, and color to make it feel elevated and collected.