Rafael Araújo

In my fifteen years of navigating the nuances of residential aesthetics, I have encountered one specific challenge more often than any other: the “gloomy” north-facing room. I remember a project early in my career—a stunning Victorian brownstone with soaring ceilings and intricate crown molding. The homeowners were devastated because their favorite “perfect gray” paint, which … Read more

I still remember the first project where I truly “failed” at mixing patterns in home decor without overwhelming the room. I was three years into my career, working on a bright, airy brownstone in Brooklyn. I had found this stunning oversized botanical wallpaper and paired it with a vibrant geometric rug and striped pillows. On … Read more

In my fifteen years of walking through entryways and styling living rooms, I’ve learned a secret that the high-end showrooms won’t tell you: luxury isn’t a price tag; it’s a feeling. I remember a specific project early in my career for a young couple in a modest city apartment. They had a very tight budget … Read more

“I once spent six months searching for the perfect hand-knotted wool rug for a client’s sunroom. It was ivory, plush, and the definition of spatial flow. Three weeks after installation, a spilled glass of pomegranate juice turned that $4,000 investment into a tragic design lesson. In my 15 years as an interior designer, I’ve learned … Read more

I still remember the first studio apartment I designed in Manhattan back in 2011. It was barely 400 square feet, featured one window facing a brick wall, and felt more like a shoebox than a home. My client, a vibrant young cellist, wanted it to feel like an airy sanctuary. Most designers would have told … Read more

I still remember the first “real” apartment I moved into after a decade of design school and junior decorating roles. It had soaring 12-foot ceilings and walls that felt like an endless, intimidating white void. I had a collection of mismatched sketches, a few vintage postcards, and a stunning botanical print I’d found in a … Read more

As the golden hues of autumn fade into the crisp, blue-grey light of winter, our homes undergo a psychological shift. We move from the outward-facing energy of summer to an inward-facing “nesting” phase. In my 15 years as an interior designer, I have found that the living room sofa is the most important “canvas” during … Read more

I still remember the first “grand” project I took on early in my career—a stunning Victorian restoration with 12-foot ceilings. The homeowner had purchased beautiful, ready-made silk panels. When we hung them, my heart sank. They hovered a lonely six inches above the floor, looking less like luxury drapery and more like high-water pants on … Read more

I still remember my first “adult” apartment in the city. It was a charming, pre-war walk-up with original crown molding and character for days, but it had one major design flaw: it was essentially a cave. Between the north-facing windows and the neighboring brick wall just three feet away, natural light was a luxury I … Read more

In my 15 years as an interior designer, I’ve walked into countless bedrooms that felt “almost” there. The furniture was high-quality, the lighting was soft, and the paint was the perfect shade of taupe. Yet, the room felt flat. It lacked that “hug” you want when you walk into a private sanctuary. I remember a … Read more