Tile, Tub, and a Trophy: Every designer has that one bathroom that just hits differently. Mine features pale blue cabinets, a stone vanity, and marble mosaic floors. I obsessed over every last detail — even the grout color. The result feels calm, classic, and, as it turns out, award-winning. My professional photos of this Milton primary bathroom capture every polished surface and layered texture.

This first installment of Eat Sleep Shop London begins with the places that define the city’s character: historic pubs with layered patina, classic dining institutions rooted in tradition, and luxury hotel restaurants designed as immersive spaces. Each location reveals how London uses interior design to shape experience, emotion, and memory. Sleep and Shop will follow in their own chapters—but first, we eat.

I felt lucky to be invited on a design field trip with Christopher Farr Cloth. I know their fabrics well and use them often in my projects, but I truly didn’t know what to expect. I had never explored London through the lens of a designer, knew no one else on the trip, and—truthfully—committed before even seeing the itinerary. But you can’t go wrong with a legendary London-based design house, and it paid off.

Some houses announce themselves before you ever cross the front door. Cliveden is one of them. From its formal terraces to the sweep of the front drive, every line hints at power and taste. Perched above the Thames in Buckinghamshire, the estate was rebuilt in 1851 by Sir Charles Barry, whose command of proportion also defines London’s Houses of Parliament. Four decades later, William Waldorf Astor would make it his own—layering Italianate architecture with English romanticism, sculpted gardens, and storied interiors.

Meghan Markle spent the night here before marrying a prince, which feels entirely appropriate. Cliveden House has long attracted the type who favor silk robes, staff entrances, and an audience. Built high above the Thames, it’s grand, deliberate, and unapologetically architectural—a masterclass in historic English estate design. Every arch, terrace, and column reminds you that beauty here was planned, not improvised.

Not every project needs dust, debris, and months of chaos. An easy kitchen makeover can transform a home with smart choices and a fresh eye. Skip the sledgehammer—focus on finishes, fixtures, and details that make the difference. We renovate kitchens and baths all the time, and experience has shown us that a few minor updates can be the perfect solution.

Walk through The Elms in Newport and you’ll find rooms that feel surprisingly familiar. Beyond the marble halls and gilded ceilings are kitchens, baths, and bedrooms that remind us that good design—historic or modern—always begins with proportion, craftsmanship, and comfort. These are the spaces that connect Gilded Age grandeur to everyday living.

Walk through the bronze-and-glass front doors and you don’t just enter a house—you step onto a Gilded Age set. (Literally. HBO’s The Gilded Age films here, so it’s easy to imagine Bertha Russell sweeping past.) The Elms was built as a maison de plaisance—a house devoted to pleasure—where every room connects to the garden beyond. Limestone walls, rare marbles, and European art define its precision and extravagance.

The Elms Newport Mansion, a French chateau inspired Gilded Age estate in Rhode Island, features historic home design, formal gardens, and HBO filming ties. This type of historic home design is what happens when you have too much money in 1901 and a taste for France. Architect Horace Trumbauer modeled the house after Château d’Asnières, then wrapped it in Indiana limestone so it would basically last forever.

An industry term that architects and designers know well—but may feel new to homeowners—Design Development deserves a clear explanation. After you complete existing conditions and finish schematic design, the next step is finalizing a plan, selecting a builder, and setting a budget. We enter design development, literally developing the design. We break it down 3 ways: by room, by product, and by budget.

Existing conditions and schematic design provide the foundation for every successful interior design and renovation project. The design journey begins long before fabric swatches, color palettes, or furniture plans take shape. While the earliest steps may not be glamorous, they are essential: documenting what already exists and envisioning what could be.

A stroll through Bristol, Rhode Island, reveals the kind of architectural inspiration that makes this a must-visit for any New England historic home designer. A quiet waterfront town just north of Newport—about an hour from Boston if you’re lucky with traffic. I take projects throughout New England, and this one landed me in a place I hadn’t explored before.