Interior designers and other experts in the home industry work on an impressive number of spaces throughout their careers. But even if some of the makeovers and redesigns start to blend together after a few years, there are some rooms that are just truly unforgettable.
So, to give designers a chance to revisit their favorite projects—and to bring you plenty of inspiration for your own home—we’re sharing the one room these pros will remember forever. For some, there’s a sentimental connection, for others, there was an obstacle they never thought they’d overcome. But no matter what, these rooms are worth remembering.
Some rooms are memorable because of bold, unapologetic design, and others because there was a challenge to overcome. This stunning dining room, designed by David Quarles IV, meets both criteria.
"What was meant to be a simple home project turned out to be a form of art therapy during a period when I needed it the most," Quarles tells MyDomaine.
When redesigning this room for a feature in a local design magazine, Quarles faced many obstacles. First, the wallpaper he chose for the accent wall was out of stock. He only got two rolls of his original order, which wouldn't cover the wall. Instead, he bought paint at Home Depot and got to work painting it by hand with only four days left before the big shoot.
What was meant to be a simple home project turned out to be a form of art therapy during a period when I needed it the most.
But when his father was unexpectedly rushed to the hospital, Quarles dropped everything to be by his side.
"After a couple of days of close monitoring, everything was fine again," Quarles explains. "Because I’m naturally a worrier (something I’m working on), I wanted to stay by my dad’s side at the hospital. It could have very well been my incessant questions for the medical staff that influenced the unanimous decision that I should maybe go home to rest and finish my project."
So that's what he did with just two days left before the photoshoot.
"As a synesthete, I allow music to inspire my color selection and pattern creation when painting, so I made the perfect painting playlist and went to creating the wallpaper," Quarles explains. "During that time, I was able to dismiss all worries and anxiety I previously had surrounding my dad being in the hospital. With every brushstroke, I was able to reassure myself that he and everything else was going to be fine. The feature wall in my dining room is more than a testament to my love of creating. It serves as a reminder that despite what goes on in life, things will always work out in the end."
The feature wall in my dining room is more than a testament to my love of creating. It serves as a reminder that despite what goes on in life, things will always work out in the end.
Though the project had some speed bumps, the design of the space was clear from the start.
"I view dining rooms as the soul of a home - it’s where we gather, deepen friendships and strengthen the love for the ones we love," Quarles says. "Given that color, culture, art, and a love of nature are very much at the core of my being, at its current state, my dining room not only represents my style, but also represents who I am as a person."
Though he's most proud of the hand-painted wall, his favorite pieces in the space are the art and plants.
"The art here is representative of my Creole and Afro-Caribbean heritage, as well as my love of dance and music," Quarles says. "As for the plants, my dining room is where 21 of my plant kids call home. From birds of paradise to pothos, a fast-growing monstera, and a miniature fiddle leaf fig, these plants soak up the hours of sun that pour into the dining room."
Quarles describes this room as "joyous, invigorating, and reassuring," and we'd have to agree.
"This room has made me more comfortable with really exploring color and being more fearless when it comes to infusing spaces with elements that simply make us feel good," Quarles explains. "For both personal and client projects, I like to make the mood evoked in a space a top priority in the design process."
When I think back on designing my dining room, I think about the intention of joy behind every detail that went into bringing this space to life, and how I can’t wait to safely have others over again.
The mood of this room is definitely joyful.
"When I think back on designing my dining room, I think about the intention of joy behind every detail that went into bringing this space to life, and how I can’t wait to safely have others over again to fulfill the purpose of having a joyful place to share good stories and even better food," Quarles says.