There’s something innately cinematic about Heather Peterson’s latest project. She redesigned the 1927 Lowry Hill gem for a couple who had been searching for the perfect property for years. When they found the 6,500-square-foot Mediterranean-influenced residence, they were struck by its character and sense of place — an atmosphere shaped over decades, including the 1960s, when the Kennedys paid a visit.
Photography by Taylor Hall O’Brien | Styling by Liz Gardner
When it came to the design, they weren’t chasing a particular look so much as a feeling, one that would complement the home’s intrinsic details while evoking their favorite Italian hotel, J.K. Place Roma.
“Every time you walked off the street and into the lobby, there was this immediate sense of relief,” the homeowner says of the hotel. “It felt special, but also like home.”
While Peterson is used to clients conveying their aesthetic in different ways, this was the first time she was given such a specific environment to reference. “Obviously a hotel serves a different purpose and audience than a home, but we understood it as a sense of luxury and tailoring,” says Peterson, who pulled from J.K. Place Roma’s dynamic spaces defined by color-blocked jewel tones, shifts in scale and slightly masculine, exotic touches. Rather than replication, she aimed for tactile drama, layering mohair, leather, goatskin and suede with aubergine, slate, teal and plum.
“There’s some self-discovery in this process,” says the homeowner. “It had been nearly 20 years since we’d decorated a house.” Their previous home — “an outpost of a Room & Board outlet; nice, but it could’ve been anyone’s” — made this project a welcome departure.
Their new home had undergone a series of renovations over the years and was most recently owned by flippers, who introduced a subpar kitchen and primary suite, along with what the designer describes as “bad, glam Restoration Hardware–style lighting everywhere.” Fortunately, key architectural details remained intact, including the iron stair rail, curved archways and all the original molding.
In the living room, a bulky fireplace was removed during the flip and replaced with a modern interpretation of what may have originally existed. But the central design challenge was one of purpose. “When we design for families, the issue is often that there aren’t quite enough rooms and we have to eke out every possible function,” says Peterson. “Here, we had the opposite. It’s just the two of them, so what do we do with these big rooms, and why would you want to go there?”
A grand, graceful foyer sets the tone for guests. “Elegant but not fancy,” as Peterson describes it. The dramatic stairwell is grounded by a custom hand-knotted runner from Tapis Decor, while the dining room — visible from the entryway — is framed by Charivari chairs and sconces from In Common With.
The dining room became a place to embrace both formality and richness. “One thing they were clear about is that they don’t use the room often, but when they do, they host a crowd,” she says. A custom 12-seat dining table by Keith Fritz, sourced through AJ Maison, anchors the space, surrounded by vintage chairs upholstered in Schumacher mohair. “Finding a set of 12 chairs in a special shape and good condition feels like a holy grail,” she notes. Beneath it all, a dramatic, multicolored rug ties it all together.
In the nearby powder room, pattern plays a more explicit role. A wall covering from Poppy Print Studio is paired with an Allied Maker sconce and a vintage sink sourced on Etsy. “We like to establish a whole-home palette,” says Peterson. “This one is narrower than we often do, so the challenge was making sure it didn’t feel overly matchy.”
In the expansive living room, the solution balanced symmetry with unexpected conversation pieces like a circular settee and custom armchairs. “It feels like you’re on vacation,” Peterson says. In contrast, the paneled library leans into intimacy and texture. “The ceiling is suede, the rug is fur and the coffee table is goatskin,” she says. “All of those textures have a nice tactile feel.”
A 3.5-foot light fixture punctuates the serene second-floor landing and is visible from outside — a subtle pop of continuity between interior and exterior. A medallion placed within an archway adds a quiet nod to Italian influence. In the primary bedroom, a burnished aluminum chest by Stephanie Odegard was one of the first pieces Peterson presented, setting the tone for the space. The four-poster bed, selected to echo the home’s architectural lines, fulfills a long-held wish of one of the homeowners: a canopy-like structure that feels both grounded and refined.
Today, the couple is fully settled in. “The dogs have found their sun spots and perches,” says the homeowner. And as for the design, it offers a sense of retreat with composed, livable spaces enveloped by refined color, much like the hotel that inspired it.
Project Partners
Interior designer: Heather Peterson Design
Builder: Terra Firma
