Architectural Cases

Fashion and accessories designer Clare Vivier and her husband, Thierry, embarked on a remarkable journey to realize their long-held dream of owning a home in France. In 2020, they acquired a stunning 19th-century manor in Saint-Calais, a town southwest of Paris, which had been abandoned for half a century. This acquisition marked the beginning of a transformative renovation, breathing new life into a historic property through a unique blend of French provincial charm and Californian modern aesthetics.

The Viviers, both known for their creative endeavors—Clare with her successful brand, Clare V., and Thierry as an accomplished television journalist and DIY enthusiast—decided to undertake the extensive renovation themselves. They enlisted the expertise of their friend, Kate Berry, a seasoned creative consultant and the US editor of Cabana, to guide the design process. Thierry managed the construction as the foreman, while Clare and Kate led the interior design, aiming to create a space that felt more formally French and classically elegant than their Los Angeles residence.

The manor required significant restoration, including a new roof and updated electrical systems. Once the structural integrity was secured, the focus shifted to the interiors. Clare and Kate carefully selected a color palette that complemented the distinct French light, opting for subtle, muted tones characteristic of Farrow & Ball paints. These serene backgrounds were then invigorated with splashes of vibrant color through furniture pieces, such as a custom-made clover-green corduroy sofa and a vintage dining table painted in a striking high-gloss orange, inspired by Charlotte Perriand's designs.

Their design philosophy extended to sourcing unique pieces, with many traditional French armchairs and beds discovered in Provençal flea markets and subsequently reupholstered in cheerful fabrics from Pierre Frey and Clare's own Wallshoppe collection. For items not found locally, Kate meticulously sourced them from the US, from custom kitchen cabinet knobs crafted by her brother-in-law in San Francisco to delicate linen curtains and Roman shades. These carefully selected elements were personally transported by Clare and Kate from the US to France, ensuring every detail contributed to their vision.

The hands-on approach extended to the landscaping, with Clare and Kate personally selecting plants from local nurseries, planting them, and painting custom Versailles boxes. This collaborative effort transformed the property into a deeply personal and joyful project. The success of this endeavor has inspired the Viviers to acquire two adjacent properties: a small guesthouse for friends and a larger, dilapidated structure they envision converting into a corporate retreat for Clare V., complete with a new swimming pool. Thierry, once again, is at the helm of these new ventures, embracing the ongoing expansion of their French dream.

This journey of transformation, blending personal history with artistic vision, resulted in a home that elegantly marries rustic French classicism with the fresh, vibrant spirit of Californian modernism. The Viviers' French estate is a testament to thoughtful design, collaborative effort, and the pursuit of a dream, creating a harmonious and evolving sanctuary.

Discover how design experts transform small bedrooms into perceived expansive sanctuaries. This guide distills their wisdom into actionable tips, focusing on thoughtful furniture arrangements, strategic color use, and innovative spatial illusions. From the seamless blending of surfaces to the artful deployment of mirrors and patterns, these techniques aim to maximize visual space and foster a sense of calm and openness, making even the coziest room feel grander.

Revealing the Secrets to Spacious Small Bedrooms: Design Expert Strategies

For those living in compact homes, particularly in bustling cities like San Francisco, Toronto, or even the quaint island of Nantucket, Massachusetts, the challenge of a small bedroom is a familiar one. However, leading interior designers are sharing their innovative approaches to visually expand these intimate spaces, turning perceived limitations into design opportunities. Their methods, refined through years of practice, focus on creating an illusion of greater volume and light, making small bedrooms feel remarkably larger and more serene.

Jennifer Jones, principal designer at Niche Interiors in San Francisco, emphasizes the foundational principle of a carefully curated furniture layout. She advises selecting minimal, appropriately scaled pieces that avoid overcrowding the room, instantly enhancing the sense of space. Complementing this, designers unanimously advocate for a lighter, monochromatic color scheme. Natasha Willauer, known for her work on Greydon House in Nantucket, suggests applying a single color across walls and ceilings, especially in rooms with unique architectural features like sloped ceilings. This continuity minimizes visual disruptions, softening edges and making the room appear more expansive. The integration of serene blues, reminiscent of sky and sea, further contributes to an open, balanced aesthetic, with Jones recommending similar tones for rugs and bedding to achieve a harmonious flow.

Toronto-based designer Dvira Ovadia champions intentional restraint through built-in furnishings. By integrating storage and furniture seamlessly into the room's architecture, she eliminates bulky, standalone pieces, resulting in a calmer, more resolved, and inherently open environment. This approach is exemplified in a bedroom she designed, where earth tones and a continuous wallpaper extending to the ceiling blur boundaries, creating a singular, immersive visual experience.

Lillian Byers from Platt Interiors in Brevard, North Carolina, taps into the psychological effect of color, harnessing the limitless feeling evoked by blue skies. She utilizes meandering grasscloth wall coverings paired with a ceiling color drawn from the walls, making the room 'glow'. The graphic nature of the wallpaper is balanced by solid, lighter-toned fabrics for furnishings. In New York, Julien Legeard of Legeard Studio treats mirrors not merely as decorative items but as "spatial tools." By integrating reflective surfaces into millwork, he amplifies light and depth, dissolving boundaries and effectively doubling the perceived size of the room.

Contrary to the minimalist trend, Houston, Texas designer Meg Lonergan embraces maximalism for small spaces. She argues that layered patterns, textures, and colors, when artfully combined, create a visually captivating environment that distracts from the room's actual dimensions. Pairing contrasting patterns in bedding, like gingham with block-printed florals, is a simple yet effective strategy.

Stephanie Kraus, owner of Stephanie Kraus Designs in Wayne, Pennsylvania, masters the art of optical illusion. Custom cabinetry flanking windows, designed to mimic extended architectural shutters, subtly broadens the room's perceived width. Vertical lines in millwork and pendant lighting draw the eye upward, while a window seat reinforces openness by inviting natural light. She also advocates using a canopy bed as an architectural anchor to create "layered geometry," defining space without consuming it, especially when paired with a restrained, tonal palette.

In Santa Monica, California, Christine Markatos Lowe of Christine Markatos Design further refines the use of light colors and textures. She layers soft, monochromatic hues and textures, such as a tufted headboard, to add depth and variation, guiding the eye across the entire room. A statement light fixture draws the gaze upward, elongating the space and enhancing height. Lastly, Fatima Silva, founder of FDG Design Group in San Francisco, recommends full-height curtains to emphasize verticality and create the illusion of higher ceilings. She also advises selecting low-profile furniture and large rugs to anchor the room, preventing visual fragmentation. Minimalist artwork and white bedding complete the balanced aesthetic, ensuring serenity in even the smallest quarters.

This comprehensive guide underscores that a small bedroom is not a design constraint but a canvas for creativity. By thoughtfully implementing these expert strategies—from strategic layouts and color palettes to the intelligent use of reflective surfaces, patterns, and textural layers—homeowners can transform their compact sleeping areas into visually expansive, harmonious, and truly inspiring personal retreats. The key lies in perception and precision, proving that great design can make any space feel limitless.