Soulful Interior Design by Brigette Romanek: Feel at Home

The living room's soulful space is anchored by a modular sofa by Ferriani Sbolgi with a Tansu cabinet from Blackman Cruz and an Aphrodyte white mirror by Elsa Foulon.

A Blackman Cruz armchair adds warmth to a corner of the bedroom.

“IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO TRANSLATE WHAT’S IMPORTANT TO THE CLIENT INTO THEIR SPACE.” –BRIGETTE ROMANEK

“The first question I always ask my clients is: How do they want to feel?” For Brigette Romanek, that deceptively simple question is the emotional and philosophical foundation of every project she undertakes. Long before fabrics are sampled or furniture is sourced, Romanek begins with feeling—an interior compass that guides her deeply humanistic, soulful approach to design. It is a methodology that has earned her the trust of some of the world’s most discerning clients, including Beyoncé and Jay-Z, Gwyneth Paltrow, Demi Moore and Rachel Zoe, yet it is one rooted not in celebrity, but in empathy.

“I say it all the time, and it really is the most important aspect for me,” Romanek explains. “We go from there to: How do you want the room to service you? What do you want to do in this space? What feels good?” For Romanek, design is not about imposing an aesthetic—it is about listening closely enough to translate the intangible aspects of a client’s life into a physical environment that supports them emotionally and functionally.

Romanek presides over the breakfast nook anchored by a richly patterned rug from the Nazmiyal Collection, paired with a dining table and chairs by Dan Johnson/ JF Chen, with a floor lamp by Isabel Moncada.

That translation requires nuance. “It’s really important to be able to translate what’s important to the client into their space, be it memories, rituals or emotional life,” she says. Through extensive conversations, Romanek begins to decode those invisible cues. “My process always begins with understanding who my clients are—how they live, what they value and what makes them feel at home. From there, the design evolves organically, guided by that foundation,” she explains. “I hear about colors; I hear about scents; I hear about textures; and I pull out the things that are really important, and I base a lot of the design from there.” What emerges is never literal, but deeply resonant—rooms that feel collected, intuitive and unmistakably personal.

The dining room is defined by statement pendants by Studio Giancarlo Valle x Natalie Weinberger layered against Gucci Glade print wallpaper and Farrow & Ball paint in Tallow No. 203, with ceramic stools by Faye Toogood.

Romanek’s instinctive approach is balanced by discipline and structure, a duality she sees as essential rather than opposing forces. “Instinct and design—I really think the two go together,” she says. Armed with an understanding of how a client wants a space to feel, function and perform, she allows intuition to guide moments of discovery. “Sometimes you find a piece, and you just know it’s going to be right,” she says. “Those are usually the soulful pieces that really take the design home and make it personal.” While mathematics and spatial planning underpin every room, it is often those instinctive finds that lend warmth and soul.

The foyer offers a striking welcome, anchored by an aluminum side chair by Florence Louisy for Æquo, sleek Lariat sconces from Apparatus, accents by Alexa Lixfeld and handcrafted stools by Aldo Ãlvarez Tostado

That ethos is evident in a recent residential project for a young couple working in finance and business development. While their professional lives are fast-paced, they wanted their home to feel grounding—a place that reflected who they are beyond work. “The home is warm, inviting and inspiring,” Romanek says. “It feels layered and lived-in—rooted in comfort but focused on thoughtful details that invite you to slow down and stay awhile.” The palette—soft, muted tans; peaches; greens; and blues—was inspired by both the home’s natural light and the dynamic between the homeowners themselves.

“From the moment we stepped into the house, we were captivated by the preserved Georgian and Hollywood Regency details that had endured,” say homeowners Alan and Sandra Doumet. “The home was on a beautifully lush and sunny site with privacy and serenity. We knew any design decisions would need to honor that craftsmanship and space while still reflecting our own youthful spirit. Brigette not only had the talent to translate that vision, but also the intuition to guide us toward choices that would truly bring the home to life and allow it to evolve beautifully for years to come.”

The bedroom is a serene, thoughtfully layered retreat, featuring a daybed by Laura Gonzalez alongside an armchair by Pierre Augustin Rose and a second armchair by Blackman Cruz.

“My process always begins with understanding who my clients are— how they live, what they value and what makes them feel at home. From there, the design evolves organically, guided by that foundation.” –BRIGETTE ROMANEK

Interestingly, Romanek had toured the house months earlier with a close friend who was considering its purchase. When she later arrived to meet the new owners, she immediately recognized it. “When I walked in, I couldn’t help but laugh,” she recalls. The home’s beautiful bones and sense of history made it clear that the design should honor what already existed while infusing a younger, fresher energy. Rather than fight the more intimate proportions typical of its era, Romanek leaned into them, layering rich materials, textures and color.

An armchair by Blackman Cruz makes a sculptural statement in the bedroom

Throughout the house, that layered sensibility comes to life through a thoughtful mix of vintage and modern pieces. Walls are finished in Farrow & Ball and Ressource Paints, while Gucci wallpaper adds moments of graphic depth. In the living room, a Ferriani Sbolgi modular sofa anchors the space alongside Christophe Delcourt armchairs, a Blackman Cruz Tansu cabinet and a Panorammma side table. Lighting and objects—like a woven wicker fiber floor lamp by Lørdag & Søndag and an Aphrodyte white mirror by Elsa Foulon—introduce tactility and quiet character. Elsewhere, a Laura Gonzalez daybed, seating by Pierre Augustin Rose, and custom moments sourced through Dan Johnson and JF Chen reinforce the sense of eclecticism and longevity the clients desired.

Window treatments throughout the home are by The Shade Store

What Romanek hopes people feel when they enter her spaces is immediate and visceral. “I hope they feel an exhale,” she says, “a sense of belonging and peace, almost like a beautiful, warm hug.” She views the home as “a love letter to yourself”—never precious, always supportive. Even as projects come to a close, there is a sense of intimacy and reflection. “Finishing a project is always beautiful but sad,” she says. “Each project becomes a learning experience and contributes to my growth, not just as a designer, but as a person.”

In Romanek’s hands, design becomes an act of care— deeply personal, quietly powerful and enduring not because it follows trends, but because it reflects the lives lived within its walls.

“Finishing a project is always beautiful but sad. Each project becomes a learning experience and contributes to my growth, not just as a designer, but as a person,” says Romanek.