Real Simple Home 2023 | Mood Board

Sharing our plans for the Real Simple Home 2023!

Sharing the Good News

It’s time to officially share the good news on the blog – we’ve been chosen as part of a team with 5 other designers to bring the Real Simple Home 2023 to life! Pinch us, we still can’t believe it’s true. We’re in incredible company alongside Megan Hopp, David Quarles, and Bobby Berk, among others! See the full line-up right here and take note of our big, cheesy grins.

A Waterfront Penthouse In Brooklyn

This year’s Real Simple Home is a stunning waterfront penthouse in Brooklyn, seen above. Each designer is given a room to pull together from head to toe. We’ve been assigned the kitchen and dining room, which as you can see, the kitchen is already stunning. Marble, oak cabinetry and polished chrome (these are a few of our fav-o-rite things!) abound, so in addition to styling the kitchen to feel like home, it’s been our job over the last several months to create a coordinating dining room. You can see the latter beyond the island, a tidy nook that’s begging for dinner parties and leisurely brunches:

The full reveal of each space will be featured in the October issue of Real Simple, and even as I type this post, Scott and I are still so humbled to have been asked to take part. We leave for Brooklyn in less than a week to complete the install, and you know I’ll take you along for the ride!

The Mood Board

But first, I’ve been given the green light to share our mood board! All designers submit a plan to the Real Simple team, and from there, they’re reviewed for approval. We’ve had to make a few tweaks here and there, but once we’ve been given the go-ahead, the team at RS work with brand partners to bring our vision to life. We initially went for high contrast – think: dark walls and light, bright furniture – but a few obstacles had us rethinking our decision. Where we landed is much more vibrant and fun, and I can’t wait to lean into this! This was our final approved board:

Before the install, the Real Simple team coordinate deliveries and preps the spaces for paint, and then it’s all hands on deck from there. We’ll be on-site in Brooklyn for 2 days, so stay on the lookout in Stories to join in on all the fun!

Penthouse Link-Up

Below, we’ve linked up some of the key pieces in the space. I don’t typically choose green, but I couldn’t help wanting to balance out the urban landscape outside those (stunning!) floor-to-ceiling windows. (Which, by the way, a moment of silence for that incredible city view, right?) We want that sunny nook to feel cozy, and because it receives so much natural light, we felt safe painting the walls Valspar’s Aged Pine, a deep forest green. The rust-colored banquette feels playful, and we balance that with a traditional rug, black oval table and neutral accessories.

1. kitchen wood cabinetry | 2. marble countertops | 3. valspar aged pine | 4. espresso machine, $1,100 | 5. oil cruet, $55 | 6. footed bowl, $90 | 7. wall lamp, $880 | 8. wall art, $190 | 9. mantel mirror, $750 | 10. faux bird of paradise, $800 | 11. rust sofa, $1,700 | 12. pillow cover, $30 | 13. pillow, $60 | 14. wood serving bowl, $60 | 15. dining chair, $300 | 16. faux queen anne’s lace, $40 | 17. metal vase, $130 | 18. oval dining table, $2,300 | 19. rug, $800

We’re looking forward to sharing this with you in real time! In the meantime, do you have any questions about the process? It’s been a fun ride to this point, and the Real Simple team has been nothing short of incredible to work with. You can bookmark this page to learn of any updates from Real Simple as they unfold!