This New York Designer Reimagined Her Childhood Home

Interior designers don't often get the chance to redesign their childhood homes, but Charlotte-based Libby Smith got lucky. Nearly 30 years after her parents bought their family home in Rye, New York, Smith completely overhauled it. The goal? Plenty of personality and just enough color. "My family's been here for almost 30 years now, so it's deeply personal to us," the designer admits. "This has been the backdrop to every big milestone, including birthdays, graduation, anniversaries, and engagements, but I think the older I've gotten, I've come to realize that milestones are important, but so are the everyday moments that we share as a family."

During the pandemic, Smith and her mother spent two years reimagining the interiors, creating warm, layered spaces that represent the perfect sweet spot between traditional and contemporary. Although the project certainly endured a much-welcome facelift with which the whole family is thrilled, Smith was faced with an unexpected challenge: "It's much easier decorating for a client than it is for your childhood home. I have an emotional or sentimental attachment to almost everything in the house," she admits. Luckily, her emotions did not get the better of her when performing her long-awaited update to the interiors, and the result is a hit. From the cozy red den and sun-filled garden room to the colorful bedrooms and lush backyard, every room reflects the family's history.

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