PLUSH HOME by Nina Petronzio

Love the look of a flat wall but worried about keeping it clean?

Go with eggshell.

Flat paint gives walls that beautiful, soft, almost velvety finish I love, but it can be difficult to clean—especially in high-traffic spaces.

Eggshell gives you a similar low-sheen, sophisticated look with a little more durability. It’s easier to wipe down and more forgiving when real life happens.

I use it when I want the elegance of a flat finish without quite as much maintenance.

Designer tip: The lower the sheen, the softer and more luxurious the wall tends to look. The higher the sheen, the easier it is to clean.

Sometimes the best design choice is the one that looks beautiful and lets you actually live in the room.

I make the tough edits so you don’t have to.

One thing I tell my clients all the time: it doesn’t matter how expensive or beautiful something is. If there’s too much of it, a room can still feel cluttered.

Part of my job as a designer is deciding what stays, what goes, and what needs a little more room to breathe.

Great design isn’t about having more. It’s about having the right pieces, in the right places, in the right amount.

Sometimes the biggest transformation comes from what we take away.

Dopamine decorating is all about surrounding yourself with things that make you happy—color, pattern, art, texture, objects, and a whole lot of personality.

Think of it as a ton of decorative ideas all happening in one spot. A little visual overload. A little dopamine high.

Would I suggest it throughout an entire home? Probably not. But in a small area—or even one room if you’re really into it—it can be a fun way to throw out the rules and just decorate with what makes you happy.

One of my favorite styling tricks for my clients to get that luxurious, plush look (pun intended 😉) is to size up your pillow and duvet inserts.

That little bit of extra fill gives you fuller corners, better shape, and a soft, beautifully overstuffed finish.

Clients often ask me: sectional, sofas, or chairs? The answer really depends on the atmosphere you want to create and how you use the room.

A sectional creates a cozier, more casual, lounge-worthy feel — perfect for family time, movie nights and putting your feet up.

Sofas and chairs create a more formal, conversational setting, with a little more structure and flexibility.

Or split the difference: a sofa paired with chairs gives you comfort, versatility and a more curated look.

There’s no one right answer. Design for how you actually live.

If you’re using wallpaper, stop automatically painting the ceiling white.

A white ceiling only works when you’re intentionally pulling white from the paper. Otherwise, your eye goes straight to the ceiling—and the room can feel disconnected.

Instead, pull a complementary color from the wallpaper. For example, if there’s a soft sage green in the pattern, use a lighter, muted version of that green on the ceiling.

It keeps the eye moving and makes the entire room feel more cohesive and intentional.

The ceiling is part of the design too.

If you’re at Fairmont Hotels & Resorts Santa Monica, say hello to our baby — she just moved in today. ✨🥂

Custom bar & cabinet by us. 🤎

One of the first things I ask my clients is:
How do you want to feel in your space?

If your workday is chaotic and nonstop, maybe you want your home to feel peaceful, calm and serene.

Or maybe you want a space that feels invigorating, inspiring and creatively energizing.

And the answer doesn’t have to be the same for every room.

Your bedroom might be a retreat. Your kitchen might energize you. Your office might inspire you.

Because great design isn’t just about how a space looks.
It’s about how you feel when you’re in it.

If you’re going all white in a bathroom or kitchen, don’t let “clean” turn into boring.

An all-white palette needs character. Bring it in through the details — interesting fixtures, textured or patterned backsplash, hardware and pulls, lighting, area rugs, window treatments, accessories, and natural materials.

White can be the backdrop. The details are what give the space personality.

Clients ask me all the time:
Can you put an area rug over carpet?

Yes — absolutely. And it can give a room a beautiful, layered, European feel.

The trick is what’s underneath.

If your wall-to-wall carpet is low pile, layer away. It gives you another opportunity to bring in color, pattern and texture.

But if your carpet is thick or plush, skip it. The area rug can buckle, shift and look like it’s floating on top.

Low pile? Yes.
High pile? No.