Designing a Second Home for Family Memories

Spaces That Bring Generations Together

When I think about second homes, I think about family. The laughter that rises from a kitchen. The quiet of early mornings before anyone else is awake. The way a house starts to feel like a living scrapbook of the people who fill it. These spaces are about connection, not perfection.

Designing them is deeply personal to me. It is about creating a home that allows you to slow down, to gather, and to make memories that will last long after the season ends. Because a well designed home should remind you what truly matters. Time together. Comfort that feels effortless. Beauty that invites you to stay.

It Begins With How You Gather

Before we think about colors or furnishings, I want to understand how your family comes together. Do you host long weekends where everyone piles in with extra chairs and second helpings? Do grandparents visit for weeks at a time? Do mornings start with coffee and sunlight, or with the sound of children running toward the day?

Every family has its own rhythm. Those small details shape everything. A dining table large enough for conversation that lingers. Storage that hides board games instead of clutter. A bunk room where cousins whisper after dark. A coffee station that keeps mornings easy.

Designing a second home is not about recreating your primary residence. It is about building a place that feels like an exhale, a space that reflects the version of you that exists when life slows down.

Spaces That Bring You Together And Let You Breathe

Family time is essential, but so is having space to retreat. A thoughtful second home balances both. I love designing shared living areas that invite connection such as wide sofas, open kitchens, and firepits that gather everyone under the stars. I also value quiet corners that allow for solitude.

Dual suites give parents and grandparents their own sense of home. Reading nooks become small sanctuaries. Bathrooms are designed for ease and flow, so no one feels crowded or rushed. Even the way storage is arranged, with towels, toys, sunscreen, and snacks, affects how comfortably a home lives day to day.

The best family retreats feel intuitive. They allow each person to find their rhythm while still being part of something shared.

Beauty That Welcomes Living

A second home should feel as inviting as it looks. I believe in beauty that encourages living, not caution. That begins with materials that wear gracefully and tell a story over time. Natural wood that deepens in tone. Wools and linens that soften with age. Stone that feels cool under bare feet.

True luxury is not about perfection. It is about ease. When a home is built with care and intention, you stop worrying about every detail and start enjoying every moment. The fingerprints on the glass, the sand at the door, the memories forming in real time. That is what makes a space feel alive.

A Home That Holds Memory

A meaningful home carries the imprint of the people who love it. The heirloom bowl on the counter. The textile from a favorite trip. The photographs framed where the light hits just right. These layers tell a story that only your family can tell.

When I design, I want a home to remember. To reflect your history while creating new rituals. A breakfast nook where stories are shared. A hallway that displays your travels. A room that feels like a warm embrace. Design has the power to preserve these quiet narratives and turn them into legacy.

Designing for Legacy

A thoughtfully designed second home becomes part of your family’s story. It is where children grow up knowing the smell of sunscreen and bonfires, where grandparents teach recipes that live on, where laughter echoes through years.

Designing a home like this is not about trends. It is about creating something that endures emotionally, spiritually, and physically. It is about designing with heart and intelligence so your family can live fully in the spaces you share.

Because in the end, what we are really designing is not just a house. It is a home that welcomes connection, holds memory, and becomes part of who you are.

—Regan