PLUSH HOME by Nina Petronzio

Traditional furniture is making a comeback — and it makes sense.

After years of ultra-minimal interiors, people are craving spaces that feel warmer, layered, and more personal. Traditional design brings back craftsmanship, texture, and details that make a home feel lived in rather than staged.

Think skirted furniture (in many forms), tailored upholstery, wallpaper returning to the walls, and trims on pillows and drapes that give rooms a fuller, richer presence. These details add softness and character that modern minimalism often strips away.

That doesn’t mean you have to go fully traditional. Transitional design works beautifully — mixing clean lines with classic elements so the space still feels current. Even a few traditional touches can transform a room: a skirted chair, patterned wallpaper, or decorative trim that adds depth and dimension.

Design trends come and go — but comfort, warmth, and craftsmanship never really go out of style.

Make sure you put love into your home. Don’t just live in it.
Design and function matter — but the energy matters more.
You shouldn’t feel relieved to leave for a hotel.
You should feel good coming home.
And it doesn’t mean spending money…
It means putting intention into your personal sacred spaces.

Hallways don’t have to be just a thoroughfare.

They’re one of the most overlooked design opportunities in a home.

Layer in family photos, a gallery wall, wallpaper, or a bold paint moment. Add sconces, a runner, or even a small chandelier if the ceiling height allows. Suddenly the space becomes something you experience—not just pass through.

Use the hallway as a place for the eye to pause and rest—not just a path from one room to another.

Turn the pass-through into a moment.

Starting a project with a contractor or designer requires a lot of trust. At some point in every project, there will be bad news. Something behind a wall isn’t what we expected. A material gets delayed. A measurement changes. Renovation and construction projects are almost never a perfectly smooth ride.

The real test isn’t whether problems happen — because they always do.

The real test is how the person running your project handles them.

Do they communicate clearly?
Do they take responsibility?
Do they bring solutions instead of excuses?
Do they stay calm and keep the project moving forward?

That’s when you learn who you’re really working with.

Great projects aren’t built by people who never run into problems — they’re built by people who know how to solve them and guide the project through the bumps along the way. And when everything finally comes together, that’s what makes the end result worth it. 🔨

Fun, easy ways to refresh your space for spring without doing a full renovation.

Sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference. Try swapping out heavy winter bedding for lighter fabrics and colors — even just changing a few pillows can make the whole room feel new.

Another trick we love is painting the inside of cabinets or shelves, or adding a little wallpaper inside. It’s a small detail but it adds a lot of personality.

And if you want to do something a little bolder, paint the inside of your front door. It’s such a fun pop of color every time you walk in.

Little updates like these can completely change the feel of a space without tearing anything apart.

In many of the restaurants and hospitality projects we work on, we restore and reupholster existing furniture rather than replacing it. Often the bones are great—it just needs refinishing, fresh paint, or new upholstery to bring it back to life.

We encourage clients to think the same way at home. That heirloom chair with the springs sticking out or your grandmother’s old dresser may look past its prime, but pieces like that often have incredible craftsmanship and character.

Sometimes the most special pieces in a home are the ones that already have a story—we just help give them a second life.

Fabrics go through cycles.

Velvet had a big wave in the late 80s and 90s — jewel tones, formal living rooms, and lots of crushed finishes. Eventually it started to feel a bit overdone.

Then came the bouclé revival of the late 2010s and early 2020s. Beautiful texture, but once it became widely mainstream, it began to feel a little dated.

One fabric I’ve always liked using is mohair velvet.

It has that same tactile richness but with much more depth. It’s incredibly durable, holds its shape well on upholstery, and the subtle sheen catches light in a way that instantly elevates a piece.

Some materials come and go. Others just keep working.

Add personality into your project with details. Always.
Flanges on pillows. Layered metals. Trim details. Contrast stitching.
The difference between a space that looks nice and one that feels designed is usually in the details.

When I do my projects, I almost never make everything match.
I layer asymmetrical elements to create depth and that slightly surreal, editorial feel — like the space just happened perfectly.

Some of my go-to moves:
• Two different nightstands — maybe one vintage wood, one slim metal pedestal
• Oversized lamp on one side, sculptural sconce (or nothing) on the other
• A stack of books + object balanced with a single clean tray
• Bench at foot of bed offset with one large basket or stool
• One bold statement chair instead of a matching pair
• Mixing materials — stone, linen, lacquer, brass — never all the same

Perfect symmetry can feel staged.
Layered asymmetry feels collected, effortless… and designed.

If your current budget doesn’t allow you to complete your project the way you’d like, don’t rush out and buy filler pieces just to finish it. Take your time and invest in the key items that will last for years — the ones you truly love and won’t want to replace. For the rest, budget for pieces you’re comfortable treating as more temporary or expendable. Build the space gradually, making thoughtful, passionate purchases as you go.

A living room rule I always consider:
Every seat should have a place to set a drink down.

Not just one coffee table guests have to reach for — but drink tables, accent tables, sculptural stands, or even built-in ledges integrated into the layout.

Functional, comfortable, and a great chance to introduce standout design pieces.

Good rooms aren’t just about how they look.
They’re about how people live in them.

DM if you’re planning a space — Los Angeles or remote.