Room Revival, Rooted in Story: A Designer’s Journey & A Dining Room Transformed

Part 1: The Resonance Origin - A Lifelong Design in Progress

While I may not have started my professional life as an interior designer, in many ways, I’ve been one all along. As a kid growing up in the Midwest, I was constantly rearranging furniture, collecting magazine clippings, and obsessing over bedding, wall color, and my ever-evolving bookshelf display. Tiger Beat meet Martha Stewart Living on my bedroom walls, and my childhood bunk beds hosted a symphony of plush animals curated with the precision of a gallery.

As I got older, my taste matured but my instinct remained. I craved calm, clean, organized spaces. I valued intention. Even in my first home at age 26, I was faux-marbling laminate counters and parchment-washing my walls because I knew how I wanted it to feel — even if I didn’t yet have the budget to execute it professionally.

Years later, through relocations, renovations, and raising a family, I realized something deeper was happening. I wasn’t just decorating; I was crafting environments that grounded me. During our full-scale renovation in Sonoma — bathrooms, kitchen, barn, pool house, and more — I found my flow. I curated every detail. I didn’t have a design degree yet, but I had developed an aesthetic, a process, and most importantly, a point of view.

After a cross-country move to Massachusetts and some impromptu staging projects, the spark finally caught fire. I enrolled in design education, immersed myself in industry knowledge, and Resonance Interiors was born. The more I explored, the clearer it became: what I’d always been searching for was resonance — that intangible harmony between space and self.

Today, Resonance Interiors is built on that foundation. We create spaces that feel calm, curated, and deeply personal. Not every project needs demolition or a fresh build to be transformative. Sometimes, all it takes is a thoughtful refresh. Case in point? This stunning dining room, reimagined.

Before

Before

Part 2: Dining Room, Reimagined — The Power of a Thoughtful Refresh

Our client’s home in Lexington, MA, built in 2016 by a custom builder, didn’t necessarily need anything. The bones were solid. The space was "fine." But it wasn’t singing.

Enter our Room Refresh.

The client had two non-negotiables: a gorgeous reclaimed teak table topped with custom glass, and a large custom mirror. The rest? Up for discussion.

Here’s how we elevated the space:

• Lighting: We swapped the undersized brass chandelier for an elongated, sculptural fixture in a warm cream tone that echoed the softness of the new drapery. Matching rubbed bronze sconces now flank the mirror, adding both symmetry and glow.

• Seating: Out went the high-back slipcovered chairs; in came modern, low-back dining chairs in a refined latte hue — approachable, but elevated.

• Soft Goods: We sourced a custom New Zealand wool rug to nest perfectly within the room’s perimeter inlay, avoiding an air return while adding softness and sound absorption.

• Window Treatments: Floor-length, pleated panels now frame the bay window in the same creamy palette as the lighting, pulling the space together with quiet drama.

• Furniture Enhancements: We introduced a French oak console to function as a sideboard and crowned it with a granite remnant cut specifically for this piece — tying into the room's warm neutral story.

• Wallcovering: The showstopper. A luxurious silk-linen blend wallpaper by Nobilis, shimmering with subtle metallic thread in a woodgrain motif. Monochromatic, tactile, and endlessly dynamic depending on the light. It was the first piece selected and inspired everything else.

  
  

The result? A space that feels grounded yet elevated, formal yet inviting. A room that finally matches the sophistication of the rest of the home, and one that makes the client want to host, linger, and gather.

The Bigger Picture

This project perfectly encapsulates what our Room Revival: Summer Edition is all about. Not everything needs to start from scratch. In fact, some of the most impactful transformations come from seeing a space differently — honoring what works, editing what doesn’t, and layering in new elements that align with your lifestyle.

If your dining room (or any other space) is feeling "fine" but not finally, we’d love to help you bring it to life.

Room Revival: Summer Edition is now booking through July 7th. For every new project booked, we’re applying your consultation fee as a credit and offering 20% off all furnishings purchased through us.

Let’s make your space sing.

EXPLORE THE OFFER