By Paul Miller
Interior Designer
Read Time: 3 Minutes
Friends who follow astrology tell me that 2026 is a year for fresh cycles and bold action.
Rebirth. Pioneering. Clarity.
Back in October, with autumn curling up like a cat against the chill, I began to plan the latest iteration of my design studio. The result is the yield of artisans from throughout Appalachia and points beyond, people who form a diverse workforce, showing up to make things with pride despite a host of nagging concerns. Everyone has a place in the tapestry of our communities. Not every thread shows at a glance, but each of them matters. Human dignity matters. These thoughts are with me as I present to you our 2026 studio design.
This vignette models our trim ash console table and ottoman with tray, crafted in North Carolina and Ohio respectively, but also shows how existing pieces fit within a new context. Our green velvet sofa and swivel chair with walnut accents take on a fresh persona when paired with an impressionist wallpaper mural and a gulp of swallows. This area reflects an analogous color scheme, its palette reserved to shades of blue and green, adjacent hues on the color spectrum. Warm wood finishes and quirky accents keep the space playful and welcoming.
This year I carved out a second work space, where a vintage, Tiffany-inspired pendant establishes a cheerful and homey mood. Crisp graphics and saturated colors reflect my desire for this nook to energize creativity and collaboration.
The front salon is styled for warm, modern elegance. Grounding the design are a chip-carved floor lamp from Thailand and a collector’s cabinet filled with earthen pottery and nature-inspired accents. The leafy fabric of our new Virginia-crafted drapery design melds shades of blue with tones that compliment the fresh wall color, Benjamin Moore’s Morgan Hill Gold.
The new studio design exhibits a variety of creations from our makers, including this restrained cocktail table with wheeled ottomans crafted in North Carolina. Commissioned in bronze metal, whitened natural maple and brown sugar leather, the finishes enrich the space and showcase the table’s clean, airy lines. The palette in the front salon is a dreamy mix of gold, ivory and blue to create a sense of calm for myself every day and for guests when they first step into the studio.
With its clean silhouette and dressy hardware, the West Virginia-built emerald green chest in our entry contrasts smartly with our rustic brick accent wall. The wool rug is alive with movement and color, while an abstract art piece painted in New York offers a more restful interpretation of like tones. This vignette offsets the softness of the front salon, showcasing my love of rich color. A new collection of boxes is peppered throughout the studio, inspired by my feeling that the simplest tools for organization make the home more relaxing.
I hope that 2026 is a year of transformation, clarity and new beginnings for all of us, with kindness and respect in our hearts and actions as we work in our homes and communities to build brighter days ahead for everyone.
Photos: Matthew Lofton Photography
