Archive Dive: 10 Iconic Designers and Their ’90s Homes in House Beautiful

Long before the Next Wave awards spotlighted rising stars in interior design, House Beautiful’s pages were already filled with inspiring glimpses inside the homes of some of the industry’s most legendary talents. Many of these designers, based primarily in New York City with weekend retreats in nearby Connecticut or Long Island, showcased bold and personal interiors that reflected their unique styles during the early stages of their careers. From thrifted antiques and daring fabrics to early prototypes of their own designs, these homes capture a moment when creative instincts were blossoming into enduring signatures. Let’s take a look back at ten remarkable ’90s-era residences that reveal how these designers lived stylishly and authentically.

Peter Pennoyer & Katie Ridder, New York City, 1991

Peter Pennoyer and Katie Ridder’s Upper West Side apartment presents a masterclass in balancing subtlety with boldness. The couple’s knack for pairing neutral tones with pops of vivid color and mixing strong patterns with gentler motifs is immediately evident. Their home was a carefully curated collection of antiques layered with personal treasures and original designs, creating a space full of warmth and character.

Writer Janet Siroto once highlighted how the pair’s shared passion for hunting down hidden gems in thrift shops resulted in furnishings that felt both timeless and fresh. From the primary bedroom’s collected heirlooms to the guest room’s charming accents, their apartment stood as a testament to thoughtful, enlivened classicism.

The Messina Duvet Cover Set

Washed cotton duvet set with linen-like texture, breathable and soft.

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Thomas Jayne, New York City, 1992

Thomas Jayne’s Greenwich Village apartment, featured in the early ’90s, exudes a quiet reverence for history and craftsmanship. The walls are adorned with religious prints by old masters such as Dürer and Rembrandt, reflecting Jayne’s Episcopalian heritage and his eye for meaningful art. Beneath his feet, the original 1929 cork flooring was restored to a warm, leather-like sheen, adding a subtle textural richness to the space.

Jayne’s interiors blend heirloom furniture, like a secretary that belonged to his great-grandparents, with contemporary touches such as striped walls by Chuck Hettinger and club chairs by Kevin McNamara. This harmony of old and new demonstrates Jayne’s early ability to layer personality into refined settings.

Manuel Canovas, Paris, 1992

Textile designer Manuel Canovas’s Paris apartment is a sun-soaked celebration of pattern and color. Situated near the Champ de Mars gardens with views of the Eiffel Tower, the two-story residence bursts with Canovas’s signature oversized motifs. Rejecting convention, he embraced grand, dramatic prints in soft reds, blues, and yellows that brought a fresh, generous energy to his home.

One of the standout elements is the bedroom’s walls and curtains clad in Pali, a cotton pattern inspired by a California trip and designed by Canovas himself. His unapologetic use of large-scale designs underscores a philosophy of embracing personal taste over trends, making his home a joyful, lived-in work of art.

Hardin Velvet Lumbar Pillow Cover

Chocolate brown velvet lumbar pillow cover, soft texture, hidden zipper.

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Albert Hadley, Connecticut and New York City, 1992 & 1996

Albert Hadley’s dual residences perfectly capture his timeless approach to design, blending comfort with distinguished elegance. His Connecticut retreat, a 19th-century Italianate Victorian enveloped in clematis vines, was a treasure trove of family heirlooms, English Regency chairs, and luminous mercury glass. Pink striped walls in the primary bedroom created a soft, inviting backdrop for tinsel pictures and other cherished objects, imbuing the home with a refined yet cozy atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Hadley’s Upper East Side apartment in New York City, featured a few years later, exemplified tailored classicism with a twist. Renovations and meticulous adjustments, like aligning doorways, enhanced the flow and balance of the three-room space. The interiors boasted rough-textured, hand-troweled walls painted in dignified neutrals, accented by Hadley’s love of “four-alarm red.” This apartment served as a stylish, flexible sanctuary with a studio, library, and guest room all in one.

Bunny Williams, Connecticut, 1994

Bunny Williams’s country home in rural Connecticut embodies the essence of eternal summer and the charm of a well-loved antique collection. The sprawling house, surrounded by a kitchen garden bursting with vegetables, wisteria, and morning glories, was a haven for weekend guests who often lingered longer than planned. Its interiors were painted in Williams’s signature “in-between colors,” such as papery peachy-pink in the living room and glazed blue-green in the library, creating a soft, inviting palette.

Every corner of the home showcased her passion for antiquing, with a curated mix of old treasures and classic fabrics like Clarence House curtains framing views of formal gardens and rose-covered trellises. This home remains an enduring symbol of Williams’s graceful layering of color, texture, and history.

Mini Drum Lamp

3D printed lamp with structured surface, classic silhouette design.

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Thomas O’Brien and Victoria Hagan, New York City and Long Island, 1998-1999

Thomas O’Brien’s high-rise apartment in Manhattan reflects his belief in restraint and thoughtful restoration. The living room’s soaring 18-foot ceilings evoke the feeling of a chapel, softened by creamy white walls that shift from gray in daylight to a warm glow at night. O’Brien’s own Noble table tucked into a corner exemplifies his blend of practicality and elegance, with furniture that adapts seamlessly for intimate gatherings or larger affairs. The beige-and-khaki striped awning on the terrace was a deliberate choice to complement the building’s brick façade, highlighting his attention to subtle, cohesive details.

Meanwhile, Victoria Hagan’s Hamptons home, completed in 1997 and styled after classic shingled farmhouses, offers a serene counterpoint to city living. The house’s palette of eight shades of white creates a luminous backdrop for a thoughtfully curated mix of antiques and contemporary pieces. Hagan’s instinct-driven approach leaves room for personality to shine through, as seen in details like Clarence House grape-leaf patterned shams that connect the crisp white surfaces to the warmth of wood furnishings. This weekend retreat perfectly balances polished sophistication with relaxed comfort.

John Rosselli, New Jersey, 1999

John Rosselli’s three-room retreat in a converted poultry barn reveals his passion for scale and collection. As co-owner of the famed garden shop Treillage with Bunny Williams, Rosselli traveled extensively to source antiques, many of which enrich the interiors of the farm buildings he inherited. Moving guests to a brick house nearby allowed him to make the most of the barn’s expansive ceilings, ideal for displaying his large-scale furniture and prized blue-and-white porcelain collection.

The dining room, often called the “chicken-house,” features a long Kentucky sideboard adorned with Rosselli’s porcelain treasures, juxtaposing rustic architecture with refined, global influences. This transformation reflects his eye for creating spaces that feel both personal and grand, a hallmark of his signature style.