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1stdibs may have made its show house a virtual event this year—but that doesn’t mean the rooms it features are any less stunning. Those behind the antiques marketplace tapped 10 designers to each completely reimagine an iconic space from around the world. If you’ve ever wondered what happens when you let the pros run wild with their imaginations (sans budget), these rooms are it.
From giving 79 A.D.–era Italian ruins a kaleidoscopic revamp to restyling a Dorothy Draper classic, here are some of our favorite projects from the event—plus the styling tips we’re taking away.
Use Yellow as a Throughline
In her take on Jean Cocteau’s famous mural-clad Villa Santo Sospir, Sara Bengur kept the whimsical wall “tattoos” and focused her attention on a different element: the color. She used a citron hue as the unifying theme, a homage to the image of Apollo (the sun god) painted over the fireplace. From the drapes to the rug to even the ceiling, the happy shade brightens up every corner of the living room.
Install Stained Glass in Unexpected Places
Admittedly it doesn’t get more unexpected than Technicolor glass adorning the walls of the Pompeii Forum Baths—but you can take this idea from Nicole Fuller’s design and apply it to every surface of your home, from the ceiling to the walls. “Color has been known to have certain therapeutic values,” explains Fuller. “I chose stained glass so you feel as if you are being wrapped in a virtual rainbow.”
Embrace Clashing Designs
“I love the idea of mixing a custom, graffiti-inspired print with elegant pieces,” says Courtney McLeod of her reinterpretation of the Greenbrier’s grand staircase. In this eye-catching space, bold hand-painted textiles coexist with delicate Jules Leleu furniture—a perfect combination of two aesthetics. Make a similar splash at home in a smaller area like a hallway. Who says a stairwell can’t be a statement?
Introducing Domino’s new podcast, Design Time, where we explore spaces with meaning. Each week, join editor-in-chief Jessica Romm Perez along with talented creatives and designers from our community to explore how to create a home that tells your story. Listen now and subscribe for new episodes every Thursday.