- Location
- Baltimore, MD
- project type
- Residential
- square footage
- 8,500 sq. ft.
- timeline
- 6 Months
- moodboard
- A neutral palette that draws the outdoors in
- the challenge
- Create a sense of coziness in a big, open space
The best interior designers know when to submit to nature. Inside a magnificent family home in the Baltimore area, Laura Hodges let a jaw-dropping picture window do (most of) the talking. “Nature played a part in the design scheme,” said Hodges, who chose a neutral palette with cream-toned rugs to play off the dynamic changing colors out of the window as the seasons shift from green to orange to snowy white. The family’s love of entertaining also shaped the design, which revolves around an enviable kitchen that flows into a spacious dining and lounging space, leaving no one out of the conversation.
Inside Laura Hodges’ Project
Loloi – This is an especially large and open home. How did you face that challenge?
Laura – We had to make sure that we had lots of intimate spaces. So from what we call the “Great Room” to the dining room to the kitchen, everything is built for entertaining on a large scale, and then on a smaller scale, you can go into this beautifully deep blue, moody den.
Loloi – And what’s interesting is that both spaces have the Legacy Collection. Why were you drawn to that rug?
Laura – It’s got this beautiful vintage feel, a natural patina and personality already built in. In the Great Room, the Legacy Collection’s vintage feel is perfect because it takes the edge off everything feeling brand new. They’re completely different colorways: the Great Room rug is light and airy, and the den is much more deep and moody. They work so well to make the home feel cohesive.
Loloi – Why did you go with that light palette in the Great Room?
Laura – I wanted to go with a neutral palette for this living space because these big open windows across the back wall of the house draw your eye outside. I didn’t want anything to take away from that. So between low-slung furniture and this beautiful neutral palette, nature plays a part in the design scheme.
Loloi – It even plays a part in the kitchen. How did that space come together?
Laura – This house was built for entertaining. Our clients loved to cook and so the design of the kitchen started with a big French Lacanche oven in a gorgeous British racing green—which is obviously perfect for the nature-feel of the home.
Loloi – How do rugs function in those entertaining spaces?
Laura – In the kitchen, there’s a runner, the Marco Collection. It has a slightly higher pile, so when you’re standing on it for a long time, it’s comfortable. For the dining room, I chose the Helena Collection. It’s hand-knotted and just falls so beautifully to the ground, and its texture beckons you to want to touch it and feel it.
Loloi – How did sustainability enter into the design process?
Laura – We always aim to be as sustainable as possible with our design selections. So in this project, we worked with some of our trusted manufacturers who are members of the Sustainable Furnishings Council. Then we always try to source as much vintage as possible. And we have beautifully handmade rugs, which are GoodWeave certified, 100% wool, and ethically made.
Loloi – When did you discover your love of interior design?
Laura – When I was a kid, my grandfather made me a doll house, and my grandmother made little window treatments for it, and we had wallpaper. I just realized that I didn’t even have people in my doll house because I was more concerned with its design and decoration. So I would spend weekends just figuring out furniture arrangements [laughs].
Loloi – What are the signs of a well-designed home?
Laura – A well-designed home is more than just the aesthetic beauty of it. It’s really about functionality, and the thoughtful details that our clients can discover over time. It’s also about making sure that people who come into the home feel welcome.
For more inspiration – @laurahodgesstudio – Follow Laura on Instagram
laurahodgesstudio.com – See Laura’s portfolio
About the Designer
Laura Hodges is the founder and principal of Laura Hodges Studio, a sustainably-minded firm with LEED and GREEN accreditation based in the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area, and DOMAIN, a home retail shop. Her work has been featured in Southern Living and House Beautiful, among many others.
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