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Looking beyond the checklist to the materials, lighting, and details that define how a home feels
A look into my design for the Naples Tables Event in 2025
Last February, I had the opportunity to design a table for Naples Tables, a fundraising event benefiting The League Club in Naples, Florida.
Why Material Knowledge Is a Designer’s Superpower
There’s a quiet layer to every space we design that doesn’t always get talked about. It’s not the floor plan, the lighting, or even the furnishings, though all of those matter. It’s the materials themselves.
As the year winds down, I have been taking moments to look back at everything 2025 held. So much of our work happens off to the side of the spotlight. The planning and troubleshooting. The sketches and re sketches. The long strings of decisions that eventually become a home. It feels good to pause and acknowledge the projects and people who shaped this year and made it meaningful.
When Something in a Room Just Feels… Off
Every now and then I walk into a home and can immediately tell the space is almost there. Almost working, almost singing, but not quite.
The crisp, chilly mornings are here and this seasonal transition is the perfect moment to slow down, prepare for the months ahead, and give thoughtful attention to the details that keep your interiors exceptional.
Comfort means something different to everyone, but for me it always comes back to functionality, materiality, and how a space actually lives. A great sofa isn’t just stylish, it’s a place to land. A well-planned living room isn’t just beautiful, it works. When design supports the way you use your home every day, you feel the difference.
It happens every year. Once the seasons shift and we start spending more time inside, we actually see our homes again — the cushions that need fluffing, the paint scuffs that somehow multiply overnight, the lighting that suddenly feels too harsh now that the sun sets at six.
The good news? You don’t need a full renovation to get things feeling good again. A few small tweaks can completely change the energy of a space.
Here are a few I always recommend this time of year!
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.
A beautiful space isn’t only shaped by big decisions like layout, furniture selections, or architecture. It’s often the smallest details that make the biggest impact. Design choices such as the texture of a well-chosen material, window treatments that are tailored to both the space and the light, or millwork designed to fit with accuracy and intent, are the kinds of details that quietly define a well-designed home.
When a space is truly yours, you know it the moment you walk through the front door. It works with your daily life by supporting how you live, move, gather, and recharge.
In every home, the kitchen does more than cook. It hosts late-night chats, chaotic mornings, family recipes, and quiet cups of coffee. When we design these spaces, we’re thinking about all of it—the function, the flow, and the feeling.
There’s a difference between a well-designed space and a soulful one. You can feel it the moment you walk in. It’s not about trends or perfection. It’s about presence. It’s about knowing the pieces around you were shaped by real hands, with real intention. That they carry stories, not just style. And that somewhere in the layers of the room, your own story lives too.
Our Surbanban Chic was just featured in Home & Design Magazine! This project began with a conversation about balance. The clients had recently moved from the city to the suburbs and were ready for a space that reflected this new chapter. They wanted something that felt sophisticated and a little glamorous, but still grounded enough for four kids, two dogs, and all the beautiful chaos of family life.
The Key to a Space That Feels Yours
It’s not just a getaway. It’s yours.
A second home should still feel like your home, not a model unit, and definitely not a rental. It should reflect who you are, how you recharge, and what makes time away feel truly restorative.
It’s not just a team—it’s a conversation. So much goes into creating a home that feels right. Not just impressive or beautiful—but personal. A home that reflects the way you move through your day. The way you gather. Where you pause. What matters most.
We’ve had the opportunity to contribute to some thoughtful design conversations lately—offering a few ideas, sharing what we’ve learned from experience, and celebrating the spaces that continue to shape our work.
There’s a difference between decorating a house and designing a home. One fills a space. The other adds meaning and fosters connection.
Veranda asked Regan along other pro level interior designers what types of design details or home features they would always invest in when designing their own homes. She sited custom built-ins and millwork as a must!
This new venture is a natural extension of the work I do through Regan Billingsley Interiors: designing homes that reflect the people who live in them. But RB Curated goes even deeper.
The right color doesn’t just freshen up a space—it sets the tone for how you feel when you walk through the door. I recently had the chance to share my thoughts in a few great articles, from calming palettes to bold statements, dark drama to timeless exteriors.
Have you ever stepped through your own front door and felt like something wasn’t quite right? Maybe you’ve tried to make it all work—your existing furniture, a Pinterest board of inspiration, a few updates here and there—but still, the space doesn’t quite feel like you.
A Mid-Century Guesthouse Gets a Second Chance
There’s something special about Old Naples. The coastal charm, quiet streets, and a sense of history are just part of what makes it one of my favorite places to be. So, when I had the opportunity to take on this guesthouse project, I couldn’t wait to get started.
Architectural Digest included Regan Billingsley Interiors as part of a grouping of top interior designers, architects and landscape design firms in the DC area. RBI is part of the AD PRO Directory list.