5 min read“The Golden Rules of Decorating” from House Beautiful’s October 1989 Issue:
David Hicks once told House Beautiful that after creating “a very disciplined background,” he liked things “messed up a little” to add back in warmth. In this Santa Fe, New Mexico, artist retreat, French & French Interiors interprets that idea through atmosphere rather than ornamentation, combining art, texture, and luminous color into rooms that feel deeply rooted in place.
A lifetime of collecting rarely becomes the blueprint for a home. But in this Santa Fe hideaway, husband-and-wife team Heather and Matt French of French & French Interiors let the homeowner’s menagerie of creative works set the design scheme in motion, relying on paintings, sculptures, and objets d’art to shape everything from custom shelving to the palette.
“Whenever a client comes in with an existing collection, we start by photographing and measuring everything,” says Heather French. “We make sure we have a spot for every single thing that’s important to them.” Nowhere is that consideration more evident than in the living room, where built-ins were designed to accommodate the homeowner’s beloved pieces from the start.
While the interiors were shaped by art, much of the home’s original framework remained intact as a nod to its architectural roots. Rather than erase its “very Santa Fe” quirks, the Frenches treated the brick floors, timber beams, and unexpected architectural openings as the foundation for everything that followed, allowing their warmth to carry throughout the home.
With several bedrooms in the main house, as well as two guest casitas, the property was designed to welcome a steady stream of friends and family. Each escape reinforces the home’s immersive aesthetic while offering visitors an experience that feels transportive. “You want it to feel special and luxurious; there needs to be a sense of place,” says French.
That delicate balance manifests in the kitchen, where worn cabinetry and patinated finishes give way to a space that’s equal parts workshop and work of art. Designed for a homeowner who loves to cook, the island prioritizes storage and prep space over extra seating. Intricately carved wood panels—sketched by Heather for both the island and refrigerator surround—lend a handcrafted quality that echoes the block-print-style grasscloth on the walls of the kitchen and adjoining breakfast nook.
Shades of green unify the home’s public spaces before transitioning to an aubergine-drenched family room that breaks entirely from the palette. The saturated hue transformed what could have been a simple pass-through into one of the home’s most inviting spaces. The duo says it has since become the room the owners naturally gravitate to after dinner, setting the stage for cocktails, conversation, and an unhurried close to the day.
FAST FACTS
Designer: Heather and Matt French, French & French Interiors
Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
The Space: A main house, plus two guest casitas.
FAMILY ROOM
A rich color palette lends a storied sense of history.
Wrapped in a Thibaut wallcovering, this multipurpose space pairs swivel chairs in S. Harris mohair with a custom ottoman, whose globally inspired motif punctuates the tonal palette. A desk, tucked into the corner, allows the room to transition effortlessly from day to evening.
LIVING ROOM
Custom cabinetry was designed to cater to the homeowner’s art collection.
“She really needed a lot of display space,” says French of the homeowner. Painted in Sloe Blue by Farrow & Ball, the built-ins serve both as architecture and a gallery, giving meaningful objects a permanent place to land. Shallow shelves keep the collection front and center.
KITCHEN
Hidden skylights flood the space with brightness.
Heather and Matt French approached this space as a study in craftsmanship. An Elizabeth Eakins wallpaper, custom carved millwork, and Calacatta Viola marble create a room where utility never comes at the expense of artistry.
BREAKFAST NOOK
The design duo carried the kitchen wallpaper into this space for continuity.
Set right off the kitchen, the breakfast nook offers an intimate spot for morning coffee or a working lunch. A deep shelf, recessed into the wall, showcases collectibles and serveware.
DINING ROOM
A coved ceiling echoes the architecture in the kitchen.
For the Frenches, layering pattern is an exercise in restraint. Here, Christopher Farr wallpaper, chairs slipcovered in Morris & Co. fabric, and Jasper draperies hold different visual scales, allowing the room to feel nuanced but never busy.
ENTRY
A creamy rug adds necessary softness underfoot.
The experience begins at the front door, where a monumental painting from the homeowner’s personal collection commands the foyer, immediately signaling that this is a home designed around art, not simply decorated with it.
PRIMARY BEDROOM
Texture and pattern abound in this maximalist retreat.
In the primary suite, pattern takes center stage, with prints from Schumacher, Soane, and Fabricut popping up on the upholstery and drapery. Over the bed, an antique suzani acts as art.
PRIMARY BATH
Counter-to-ceiling stone is a functional, chic backsplash.
A graphic Tabarka Studio mosaic floor tile establishes the room’s visual cadence, while tailored Schumacher draperies and a classic Chelsea House chandelier lend softness to the sculptural simplicity of the tub.
GUEST ROOM
A corner fireplace nods to classic Santa Fe architecture.
A Casamidy silver-leaf headboard anchors this boudoir, while Soane drapery and antique seating, reupholstered in Brook Perdigon Textiles fabric, enrich the room with plush texture, allowing the fireplace to remain the focal point.
CASITA
Color drenching brings a moodier atmosphere.
Inspired by the whimsical woodland wallpaper in the adjoining bath, this guest space embraces a moody palette. Black plaster walls are tempered by hand-hewn timber beams, a botanical print headboard, and textiles from Thibaut and Zak + Fox throughout.
KIDS’ ROOM
A classic Americana palette plays into childhood charm.
“She really wanted this striking color contrast,” says French, who mixes apple-red scalloped House + Town beds with Schoolhouse coverlets, striped Coley Home benches, and an Etsy checkered rug for a fresh take on Americana.
About the Designers
Founded in 2015 by husband-and-wife duo Heather and Matt French, French & French Interiors is a nationally recognized design studio specializing in high-end residential and boutique commercial projects. Known for a bold, folk-inspired sensibility and a confident, layered point of view, the studio has built a body of work that is as expressive as it is sophisticated.
Heather and Matt approach every project with deep curiosity — about how people live, what they love, and what a home could feel like if it truly reflected them. It's a collaborative process, and an intimate one. Design begins with a conversation and unfolds into something richly personal: spaces that are joyful, layered, and alive with meaning.
