When every room in a home is drenched in a kaleidoscope of color and pattern, the big question for a designer is how to connect all the pieces so the metaphorical “house puzzle” feels cohesive and intentional. Maria Tenaglia, who founded her eponymous design studio in 1998, has perfected the art of using bold hues and riveting textures in her projects, giving the spaces she touches a technicolor soul. The designer brought this emotional depth and ROYGBIV sensibility to a new build in California, transforming her client’s one-acre property into a vibrant, energetic home.
Even before work began, Tenaglia and her client were on the same wavelength, both agreeing that bold color and zesty patterns were a must. The challenge for the two-bed, two-bath home then became how to execute this unfettered creative vision in interconnected rooms. “The living, dining, kitchen, and mudroom all flow seamlessly into one another,” Tenaglia says. “With a client who wholeheartedly embraces color and pattern, the task became giving each space its own distinct identity while maintaining cohesion across the whole. We carefully designed an interplay of layered patterns, colors, and varied lighting styles, distinct yet harmonious, bold yet balanced.”
To ensure the color narrative flowed throughout the coastal-inspired home, Tenaglia found moments of repetition, often echoing the same shade throughout various rooms and leaning into complementary palettes. A commanding blue (Newport Blue by C2) popped up on the mudroom cubbies, then appeared on the plank ceiling of the dining room, and again splashed across the kitchen cabinetry. Wallpaper in various cerulean shades, from the entryway to the bathroom, further carried this storytelling while also complementing verdant green and blush tones. Furniture pieces were grounded in oak, while brass hardware and lighting details subtly echo the same finishes found throughout the rooms. Ultimately, with patience, trust, and Tenaglia at the helm, the gut-reno turned into a memorable chromatic wonderland.
FAST FACTS
Designer: Maria Tenaglia
Location: Lafayette, CA
The Space: A 2-bedroom, 2-bath, and 1-half home across 2,730 square feet
ENTRYWAY AND MUDROOMThe front of the home puts a maximalist foot forward.
One of the most memorable splurges in the house can be appreciated the moment guests walk through the door. The entryway, bathed in rich prints and colors, features an oak-wood-shingled console by Voukenas Petrides & Lukas Wegwerth, sourced from FUMI Gallery and purchased before construction even began. “Throughout the furnishing process, we kept returning to that piece. It became a touchstone for the house, embodying the casual yet art-driven ethos that ultimately guided the entire project,” Tenaglia says.
The mudroom transforms into another key design moment thanks to geometric wallpaper, a bold blue bench, and eye-catching wall hooks. The Newport Blue by C2 paint on the built-in cubbies is echoed throughout the rest of the home, from the kitchen cabinets to the dining room ceiling, for a cohesive, coastal feel.
LIVING ROOMSliding doors on the cabinet hide the TV for a clean, modern look.
The custom television cabinet was inspired by the Amalfi Coast, featuring a crisp blue-and-white color palette that evokes seaside summer escape. When the doors are closed, they reveal Sicilian face ceramics by Filadelfio Todaro and Stefania Boemi, which create what Tenaglia calls “a theatrical, White Lotus–esque moment.”
To break up the blues and whites, Tenaglia added a cord coffee table by French designer Christian Astuguevieille in a custom red-violet finish, Pierre Frey botanical drapery, and striped throw pillows. “Global sourcing is central to my process, and my long-standing affinity for round mirrors led me to a piece by Mia Jung at Charles Burnand Gallery in London,” Tenaglia says of the standout piece, which now hangs over the fireplace. “It offers a softly reflective, almost sculptural presence, deliberately distinct from a purely functional mirror,” she says.
KITCHENThe “heart of the home” exemplifies craftsmanship while belying complexity.
Ceiling and trim paint: Mayonnaise, Benjamin Moore. Cabinet paint: C2. Pendants: Rose Uniacke. Wallpaper: Phillip Jefferies. Backsplash: Clé. Counter and island stone: IRG Stone. Sink fixtures: Perrin and Rowe. Cabinet hardware: Waterworks. John Merkl
“The kitchen was designed entirely around the backsplash of Delft blue and white Ruan Hoffman tile by Clé, with all dimensions based on the overall width and height of the tile grid,” Tenaglia notes. “Even the plaster hood was precisely scaled to align with the grout joints of the layout, as well as the adjacent tiled niches.”
Nearby, a crystal blue quartzite waterfall island serves as another dramatic element, one that Tenaglia’s clients became instantly enamoured with. “Though visually rich, the kitchen feels inviting, a place where artistry and livability are in constant conversation,” she adds.
DINING ROOMA custom organic Coup d’Etat dining table base dazzles like jewelry.
Ceiling paint: Newport Blue, C2. Door and trim paint: Mayonnaise, Benjamin Moore. Wallpaper: Schumacher. Chandelier: Alexander Loge. Table base: Coup Studio. Table top: Luis Norori. Chairs: Matt O’Reilly Furniture, in Perennials fabric. Art: Sarah Winkler. John Merkl
To allow the bold colors and prints to communicate with one another throughout the different rooms, Tenaglia repeated several signature motifs. “The dining table ties together the brass accents found in the light fixtures, kitchen hardware, and drapery hardware throughout adjacent spaces,” she says, noting that the blue and white palette is echoed once again in the French-inspired upholstered dining chairs and a Parisian white plaster light fixture by Alexander Logé. “The overall effect is casual yet quietly confident and refined,” says Tenaglia.
SITTING ROOM & OFFICEThis joyful writing area is primed to let creative juices flow.
Wallpaper: Pierre Frey. Drapery: custom, in Fermoie fabric. Yellow ceramic vases, wood bowls: Picta. Chair fabric: Holland & Sherry. Hardware: Modern Matter. John Merkl
Attached to the guest room is a sitting room that also doubles as a sunlit WFH spot. The pattern play and blue pops continue here, with a camo-patterned fabric transforming a desk chair into a one-of-a-kind seat. “Together, the guest bedroom and sitting room feel fresh and intimate—European in spirit, yet relaxed and effortless, offering guests a space designed as much for lingering mornings as quiet evenings,” the designer notes.
POWDER ROOMPlayful jungle-inspired monkey wallpaper adds a tropical flair.
Tenaglia says she goes to extremes when designing powder rooms, and her liberty with this one is truly striking. “Color and pattern peak in the powder room, where layered bird, flower, leaf, and monkey motifs create an ethereal, nature-inspired moment,” she says. “A custom Aurora Borealis stone vanity anchors the space, while the adjacent water closet remains visually connected through a pixelated wallcovering by Schumacher that echoes the palette of the main space.”
GUEST BEDROOMA cheerful and calming space for uninterrupted sleep.
A bedroom can feel serene while still maintaining its daring character. Tenaglia softened this space with a few jewel-toned color additions, like the throw pillows, bedside pendants, and corner chair. “A soft, high–low textured rug by Ashley Stark grounds the room, while golden-toned geometric grasscloth by Holly Hunt adds warmth and depth to the walls,” Tenaglia adds.
BATHROOMGeometric hand-painted tiles offer a graphic, energetic backdrop to relaxation.
A coastal-inspired bathroom doesn’t necessarily need to be filled with seashell decor and rattan textures to convey that breezy vibe. Instead, blue wallcoverings and cool-to-the-touch materials, like subtly veined quartzite and classic Calacatta marble flooring, help to channel the vibes of a luxury tropical resort right into California. “This bathroom feels immersive, confident, and unapologetically bold, yet still finely balanced,” Tenaglia says.
Hearst Owned
About the Designer
Maria Tenaglia founded her eponymous San Francisco-based firm in 1998. She has a background in designing for hospitality, retail, and residential spaces, creating projects that feel tailored, layered, and bold. She’s known for her builder’s eye and has a knack for weaving together colors and prints in a way that feels thoughtful and refined, giving every client a space filled with personality.
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