The Spring Projects Designers Plan to Tackle in 2022

Designers spend a great deal of their time creating beautiful homes for others. So when they plot and plan their own home makeovers, we’re all ears—especially as they’re the ones who often set the trends. Ahead, top designers share the spring projects they’re most excited about.

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Preparing the Pool

"I’ve always wanted a galvanized stock tank where I can cool off after a long, hot day. This spring, I’m installing an eight-foot tank in my backyard which will sit on a patch of beautiful sand next to our greenhouse. The vibe I’m going for is a blend of Mediterranean and French inspired landscapes.”—Gina Gutierrez, Founder and Principal Designer of Gina Rachelle Design, Sebastopol, California

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Rethinking the Garage

The Spring Projects Designers Plan to Tackle in 2022 — Victor Bordera

“I live in a charming, older town with lots of detached structures that are used as garages. While oozing of rickety character, old detached garages simply lack the basic conveniences of an attached garage. This spring, I’m excited to demolish mine and build a more convenient attached garage. I’ll be picking up yard space so I already started making plans with my landscape architect—mapping out the varieties of flowers I’ll be incorporating. It’s fun to be on the client side!”—Julie Kantrowitz, Owner, JK Interior Living, Ridgewood, New Jersey

03 of 28

Making the Basement More Fun

A renovated basement — gray space interior design

“I’ll be updating my lower level to have more of a ‘pub’ like feel for entertaining. The overall vibe will be modern vintage with a touch of industrial. I’m adding a built-in bench that will feature a boucle cushion and leather strapped wall mounts. (I have leather straps to hold wine bottles on the wall as well.) I also plan on a creating a few accent walls—one, that features a burlap wallpaper with rivets, another, a reeded wood wall, and a third gallery wall that will have a mix of modern and vintage art plus various personal photos. My goal is to make the space feel like a hip, cozy downtown lounge. As for entertaining, I’ll be bringing in a shuffleboard table and creating two lounge-like seating areas.”— Amy Leferink, Owner and Principal Designer, Interior Impressions in Woodbury, Minnesota

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Working on an Accent Wall

“This spring, I’m going to add a natural oak slat feature wall on the second floor of my house. It’s the first wall people see as they ascend the entry stairs so doing so will create a major impact especially against all of the other white walls.”— Desiree Burns, Owner, Desiree Burns Interiors, Boston, Massachusetts

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Painting the Kitchen Floor

“The area I'm most excited about tackling this spring is my kitchen floor. I live in a 1920's bungalow that has ugly linoleum kitchen flooring so my goal is to install plywood and then paint on a checkered pattern—similar to something I saw in a palace in Sweden. I’m really loving browns shades right now, so I plan on experimenting with brown and white colors.”—Liza Reyes, Creative Director and Principal Designer, Liza Reyes Design, Los Angeles, California

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Organizing the Office

“I’m tackling my office this spring. I have samples and swatches all over my desk and on my floor, along with an office closet that’s overflowing. So, I’m taking my own advice—making a Pinterest board, conceptually designing the space and bringing in a professional organizer to help me implement everything. I’ll finally create a system so I’m not scrambling every time I need to find something!”— Shaolin Low, Owner of Studio Shaolin, Studio Shaolin, Honolulu, Hawaii

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Adding Curb Appeal

“My exterior siding and painting project starts this spring! My plan is to do 8” James Hardie horizontal lap siding and then add lime-washed brick at a 36” height to create dimension and texture. The body of the house and trim will be a subtle, off-white—my exterior windows are black, so it will be a beautiful contrast and the front entry doors will be painted a greenish/blue color. I wanted to bring in a natural element so I’ll be installing a wood garage door in a very light and natural tone. Exterior lights will be a mod/traditional style in matte black to match the door hardware and tie into the windows. Once complete, I can’t wait to plant a climbing rose over the garage to finish everything off. Just writing everything down is getting me excited!”— Ashley Grech, Co-Owner Thirteen Oak Interior Design Studio in San Francisco, California

08 of 28

Creating a Cabana

Design: Mindy Gayer; Photo: Vanessa Lentine

“My husband's father is a retired architect so I had him draw up some really cool plans for an outdoor pool cabana, inspired by something I saw on a trip to Palm Springs. I’m keeping with a modern minimal vibe which includes a faux marble coffee table—perfect for outdoor spaces—and two woven rope hanging chairs for my girls to swing in. My husband gave me free reign on the furnishings as long as he gets in his fun neon wall sign! I can't wait to watch this space come together before the summer!”— Megan Molten, Owner of Megan Molten, Charleston, South Carolina

09 of 28

Upgrading the Curtains

Design: Pure Salt Interiors; Photo: Jessica Alexander

“I live in a rental with standard roller shades. This spring, I’m finally getting around to adding window treatments to my second bedroom. They’ll be replaced with ripple fold blackout curtains made of a crocodile textured ivory fabric and installed from tracks on the ceiling. I chose drapery because it can always be moved to another room, unlike something that’s customized to the size of the window, like a roman shade.”— Larisa Barton, Owner, Soeur Interiors, New York City

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Sprucing Up the Lighting

“I plan on tackling what I'm calling ‘project lighting level up’, where I switch things out to give the lights in my home a modern refresh. I plan to replace some sad flush mounts and reinvigorate my bathrooms with handcrafted black pendants. I love using matte black because it’s both classic and forward and shines against any background.”—Hillary Stamm, Owner of HMS Interiors, Manhattan Beach, California

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Beautifying the Deck

“We used our outdoor space a lot last summer, so I'm really looking forward to making it a cozy spot for entertaining again this season. I’m planning on revitalizing my deck by adding a motorized awning, lots of planters with pretty flowers and herbs, a raised bed vegetable garden, Adirondack chairs and a coffee table. I also plan on painting the deck railings.”—Ariel Okin, Founder & Principal, Ariel Okin Interiors, New York City

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Making Over the Living Room

A living room with built-ins — LeClair Decor

“My family recently relocated to my home state of Kentucky from California and purchased an older home built in 1922. My goal is to give ode to my living room’s classic architecture while making it a unique and fun space for entertaining in the 21^st century. I’ll be focusing first on the living room where I’ll paint the trim, built-ins and the fireplace mantle a rich blue that pairs perfectly with a cream and blue floral wallpaper I’ve chosen. I’ll add a punch of color with a lavender velvet sofa and a commissioned abstract piece of art above the fireplace.”—Jessica Kain Barton – Principal, J Kathryn Interiors, Principal, J Kathryn Interiors, Louisville, Kentucky

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Curating a Gallery Wall

A sitting room with a gallery wall — House 9 Interiors

“I’m going to curate my living room gallery wall with beautiful art, layering in color, pattern and form. I was inspired on a recent trip to the Pace Gallery in New York—a burst of colors and dynamic shapes were focal points in their chic office headquarters. Taking time to rethink my gallery wall will provide an easy refresh and allow me to curate my ever-growing art collection. In addition, I’ll mix in decorative art form accessories on the cocktail table in front of the wall, like quirky wire sculptures.”— Zunilda Madera, Design Director, foley& cox, New York, New York

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Wallpapering the Guest Room

A bedroom with wallpaper on one wall — Design: Mindy Gayer Design Co.; Photographer: Vanessa Lentine

“I cannot get enough of wallpaper these days! It’s is such a great way to add texture, color or pattern to any room plus there are so many fun options in the design world—from luxurious textures to gorgeous murals and everything in-between. This spring, I’m wallpapering my guest room in a dotted grasscloth wallpaper and my powder bathroom in a multi-color graphic print that looks like tiny colorful bricks set against a white background.”— Brooke Wilbratte, Owner and Principal Designer, Tribe Design Group, Austin, Texas

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Making Over the Primary Bedroom

“This spring I’m going to focus on my bedroom as I’ve had the same furniture for over 20 years! While everything has held up well, it’s time for a change. So out with the charming iron bed and rich wood-stained night tables and in with an upholstered bed paired with nightstands painted in a gorgeous dark, glossy blackberry color. I can’t wait!”— Maria Viola-Kuttruff, Principal, Viola Interior Design, Ardmore, Pennsylvania

16 of 28

Upping the Outdoor Living Space

“I live in a city and have a long and narrow urban backyard and this spring, I’m planning a revamp of my outdoor living space. Last year, I grew grapevines and beanstalks around a beautiful trellis—it’s positioned at the entrance to my yard and I love that I have to walk underneath the trellis to get to the outdoor area. This year, I want to play up the garden oasis feel by installing natural stone flooring and incorporating a calming fountain water feature. To create a defined seating area, I’ll add an outdoor sectional, chairs, a few drink tables and a propane fireplace. I love finding ways to take advantage of unused areas, especially when there’s limited space.”— Alexandra Davin, Co-Founder at Clairrow, Interior Decorator at Davin Interiors, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

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Spicing Up the Stairwell

Design: Emily Henderson Design; Photo: Sara Ligorria-Tramp

"I'll be tackling my interior stairwell, adding wainscoting details in a large rectangle pattern with minimal molding to reveal a clean and crisp new look. All the surfaces will be painted a crisp white and I’ll add new black railings and a pendant to showcase artwork on the landing wall."— Paige Gray, Partner and Lead Interior Designer, Parker & Harlow Interiors, Powell River, British Columbia

18 of 28

Clearing Out the Clutter

“I’m in the beginning stages of building my ‘dream home’ so my mission for this spring is to tackle clutter. Once my new home is complete, I only want to bring along items that have purpose or bring joy to my life. If it doesn’t fall into either of those two categories, it’s getting donated. My strategy is to tackle small amounts every week, which means I may go through two or three drawers one day and then stop. Or take down a box in the garage and just go through that one box. I will make it my intention to take small steps three to five times a week so it won’t feel like an overwhelming task that I just keep putting off.”— Kim Armstrong, Principal Designer + Owner, Kim Armstrong Interior Design, Rockwall, Texas

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Creating a Backyard Oasis

“This spring, I’ll be working on my backyard so I will have a retreat to go to at the end of the day. Last summer, I added a deck and French doors leading outside from my dining room and it has made a huge difference in the way I live and entertain. I wanted to continue enhancing my outdoor space by adding lighting to the deck and grounds, augmenting the outdoor seating areas and putting up a fence for our new puppy.”— Rasheeda Gray, Founder & Principal Designer, Gray Space Interiors, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Refreshing the Bathroom

“I plan to renovate my primary bathroom by adding a soaking tub and new tiling. I’m looking forward to creating a spa-like atmosphere so I can begin focusing more on self-care.”— Kaitlyn Murphy, Designer, Marguerite Rodgers Interior Design, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Refreshing the Guest House

“I plan on tackling my guest house this spring so that friends and family feel like they're on vacation at a beautiful boutique resort in Greece. I’m focusing on the kitchen, putting in new appliances and accessorizing with terracotta colored glasses on a floating wooden shelf, fresh bundles of dried foliage and pottery pieces. Then I’m going to demo the bathroom with the exception of a gorgeous circle cross floor tile, which creates a slightly modern Moroccan pattern. My new custom vanity will be open, perfect for displaying artisan products, toiletries, and linen towels and bath sheets in woven baskets—all the beautiful elements that will ensure my guests will experience moments of exceptional beauty.”— Ginger Curtis, Owner & Principal Designer, Urbanology Designs, Dallas, Texas

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Prepping a New Garden

“Living on a working farm, nothing says spring more to me than tending to my gardens. This season, I’ll clear out the old before prepping, plowing and planting anything new. I’ll seed a six-acre sunflower field, then plant vegetables, herbs, annuals and perennial flower gardens. I love that I will reap the benefits of my gardens throughout the year.”— Caroline Brackett, Owner and Principal Designer, Caroline Brackett Studio of Design, Greenville, South Carolina

23 of 28

Repurposing an Old Barn

“I’m rebuilding a historic barn on my property and transforming it into a garage, pool house, and guest room. I’m starting from scratch, yet I’ll honor the barn’s past by using its 200-year-old posts and beams. The interior walls will be covered in weathered reclaimed barn wood as well.”— Lina Galvao, Co-Owner and Interior Design Principal, Curated Nest Interiors, Fairfield County, Connecticut

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Designing a New Kitchen Hood

“I’m going to tackle my kitchen hood this spring. Last year, I moved into a new build that had a basic stainless steel hood above the cooktop—zero style! I’ve been loving all the tambour wood details I’ve been seeing on furniture these days, so I’m designing a custom hood with tambour. I’m still toying with plaster versus wood in regard to the hood’s body. I love the softness plaster provides but I’ve never worked with it before so I’ll probably obsess and watch DIY plaster videos before making my decision!”—Shoshanna Shapiro, Owner + Principal Designer, Sho and Co, Gaithersbury, Maryland

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Upgrading the Kitchen

A white kitchen with open shelving — Design: Blue Copper Design; Photography: Movement Photo Project

“I plan on doing some things to my kitchen that will make a big visual impact, including adding 1” x 6” v-groove paneling and floating shelves to the walls (to hold my collection of crystal glasses), a Carrera Bianco backsplash behind my range to match my countertops (I’m still debating what shape the tile will be) along with new banquette seating at my kitchen table.”— Evelyn Pierce Smith, Owner and Founder, Evelyn Pierce Design Studio, Washington, DC

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Reimagining the Bedroom

Design: Gray Space Interior Design; Photo: Brian Wetzel Photo

“I recently stayed at a beautiful villa in the Dominican Republic that was rich in color and bold in expression. This spring, I plan on giving my bedroom a similar look, creating a moody and romantic space. I’m thinking merlot for the walls, a vintage black leather upholstered bed, and black and white framed photography. Plus, layers and layers of comfy, textured white bedding to recreate that hotel experience.”— Marie Cloud, Owner & Principal Designer, Indigo Pruitt Design Studio, Charlotte, North Carolina

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Deep Cleaning the House

“I plan to deep clean this spring! It’s not a fun task, but I believe it’s absolutely necessary as dust, dirt, and grime can build up over time. I’ll go room to room cleaning from the top to bottom, dusting ceiling fans to swiffering the floor. Last on my list is organizing my closet and my children’s' closets to rid of unwanted or outdated items. I’ll be implementing more storage bins, baskets, and drawer organizers for optimum efficiency.”— Lindye Galloway, Founder + Creative Officer, Lindye Galloway Studio + Shop, Orange County, California

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Creating an Herb and Cutting Garden

A herb and cutting garden — vickie grafton photography / Stocksy

“I’m going to immerse myself in my garden—I’ve already invested in decorative fencing and raised vegetable beds, but this year I’d like to phase in flowers, creating a constantly blooming and fragrant cutting garden. A dedicated herb garden is also on my list, as it inspires me to cook flavorful summer cuisines. Plus, herbs and cut flowers make great summer hostess gifts!”—Kate Marker, Principal and Owner, Kate Marker Interiors, Barrington, Illinois