I’ve always loved a classic room with a little personality, and Houston-based designer Paloma Contreras has such a beautiful eye for that balance. Her interiors bring together traditional pieces, gorgeous color, and just enough glamour to make everyday living feel special. I’m delighted to share more of her world in this Designer Spotlight.
Read on for our conversation about her design approach, the places that inspire her, and the photograph from my collection she’d love to bring home to a project.
GM: Tell us a little about yourself!
I’m an interior designer based in Houston. We have a satellite office in Chicago and work on projects across the country. My work brings together a love of traditional design and a fresh perspective on how we live today. I also founded Paloma & Co., a shop offering a curated mix of art, antiques, and home décor, and have designed collections of lighting for Visual Comfort, decorative trims for Schumacher, and rugs for L&M Custom Carpets. I have written two books--Dream Design Live and The New Classic Home. Above all, I love creating beautiful, comfortable homes that reflect the people who live in them. I live in Houston with my husband, our daughter Margot, and our dog Milo.
GM: How would you describe your interior design style?
My style is a fresh interpretation of traditional design. I’m drawn to classic silhouettes, beautiful proportions, and a mix of antiques and contemporary pieces, with thoughtful uses of color and pattern. I love the tension between something old and something new. Ultimately, I want a room to feel sophisticated, comfortable, and personal.
GM: From your color selections to your furniture, can you walk us through your design process? Where do you begin?
I always begin with the architecture of the home and a deep understanding of how our clients live. Once we’ve established the layout and function of each space, I love finding a hero fabric or a particular color that becomes the jumping-off point for the design. That sets the palette and mood, and we build from there, layering textiles, furniture, lighting, and art. Throughout the process, we pay close attention to the balance of color, pattern, texture, and scale, creating rooms that feel distinct yet flow beautifully together.
GM: What’s one of the greatest interior design lessons you’ve learned throughout your career?
A beautiful room has to work for the people who live in it. You can select extraordinary pieces, but if the scale is wrong or the room doesn’t support the way a family lives, it won’t feel right. Form and function are equally important in my world. When those things come together, a home feels effortless.
GM: Where do you turn for inspiration?
Travel is one of my greatest sources of inspiration. Being somewhere new encourages me to notice things differently, whether it’s the architecture, a beautiful garden, or an unexpected combination of colors. I also love revisiting design books and studying rooms by designers whose work has stood the test of time. Sometimes a single detail—a fabric, an antique, or a painting—is enough to spark an entire room.
GM: Is there a photo of mine from any of my series that you would love to style in one of your projects? If so, which one and where?
I would choose Kensington Palace Gardens from your Au Parc series. I’ve always loved English gardens, and after visiting the English Countryside for a Chinoiserie tour earlier this year, I’ve been dying to go back. I could see this photograph above a sofa in a sitting room, with a mix of antiques and modern pieces. I’d pull from the greens in the photograph to inspire the fabrics and palette.
What I love most about Paloma’s work is the way she makes traditional design feel fresh, livable, and deeply personal. Her thoughtful use of color, pattern, and beautiful pieces creates rooms that are both timeless and full of character.
I hope Paloma’s approach inspires you to find beauty in the details and create a home that truly reflects the way you live. Explore more of her work and discover a piece from my collection to bring a little inspiration into your own space.
XO,
Gray