By Anna Gray, writer for Homepolish

On a quest to create a beautifully designed yet eco-conscious home, Maddy—a busy TV producer—needed someone she could trust to transform her Chelsea one-bedroom into a more livable space. With Homepolish designer Michele’s expert guidance, they completed a massive gut-renovation and rebuilt her home from the ground up.

“We talked a lot about her family and traditions on the farm,” Michele explains. “It was important to her that we create a warm, inviting space that exudes old-world charm.” This helped them refine her style and design aesthetic, a rustic-meets-global vibe paired with a warm, earthy color palette. The perfect backdrop for highlighting souvenirs from travels abroad, or family heirlooms, like a midcentury dining room table inherited from her grandfather.

Every wall was stripped and refinished with recycled sheetrock, then repainted using Benjamin Moore’s VOC-free Natura line. Michele added bamboo floors (installed without a hint of glue), grasscloth shades from The Shade Store and outdoor sconces flanking the TV. The final finishing touch? A barnwood door Michele had custom-made to enclose the office alcove, which she had painted a vibrant shade of red. The door easily slides back for a loft-like feel, and doubles as a roomy guest room in a pinch. The final look is simultaneously cozy, nostalgic and sophisticated.

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See more photos of this eco-retreat at Homepolish.