Kingston Design Connection Habitat House

Project: New Build Bedroom
Location: Kingston, New York
How do you make a brand-new room feel like it has always been there? And can you create a thoughtful, beautiful interior without relying on everything being new? Those were the questions behind our bedroom for the Kingston Design Connection Habitat House.

The project was created in partnership with Habitat for Humanity to demonstrate what could be achieved with secondhand furnishings sourced from the Habitat ReStore, while also giving us an opportunity to work with local makers and businesses. We loved the idea that good design could not only give new life to things that already existed, but also support the local creative economy.

The house itself was a new build, and while we weren’t able to paint the walls, our challenge became finding other ways to give the room a sense of history and permanence. We wanted to create a bedroom that felt calm, like a sanctuary at the end of the day. But also one that felt as though it had evolved over time rather than being designed all at once.

Patterned textiles became an important part of that. We layered them with antiques, vintage and secondhand furnishings, and locally sourced pieces to bring warmth, character, and a sense of provenance into an otherwise completely new space. Rather than seeing the limitations of the project as something to work around, they became part of the design itself, proving that a room doesn’t need a large budget, or everything new, to feel considered and personal.

In the end, we created a bedroom that feels cozy, comfortable, and lived in: a room we hope will become a favorite place for its new homeowners.

All photos © Phil Mansfield Photography

Florals from Anthusiant Florals