Bria Hammel’s case, lots of layers. Of designing for the clients, a young family, Minnesota-based Bria shares, “They wanted their home to feel cozy but also be durable for their two young children and active dog. They moved into a beautiful new construction home that had great bones but they just wanted it to feel like them and their personality.”

Cue the right layers of detail: chic window treatments, custom millwork and delightfully printed wallcoverings.

Bria Hammel’s case, lots of layers. Of designing for the clients, a young family, Minnesota-based Bria shares, “They wanted their home to feel cozy but also be durable for their two young children and active dog. They moved into a beautiful new construction home that had great bones but they just wanted it to feel like them and their personality.”

Cue the right layers of detail: chic window treatments, custom millwork and delightfully printed wallcoverings.

A subtle color palette determined much of the design, but the end result proved anything but sterile. “In fact, it was important to the client to have a calm, neutral color palette. But, when we do that, we really try to lean into texture and layering materials so the design doesn’t fall flat,” explains Bria, who used Hunter Douglas throughout the home. “The woven wood shades were the perfect marriage of these two things. Plus, they are extremely practical, which is even better!”

Bria had to weigh certain considerations — such as which rooms are used for which family activities — when it came time to manage the home’s bountiful light. “We are always thinking about how the light is going to affect a space but, even more so, how the room is going to be used. Do we need to add extra liners or layers of window treatments to control the light? Do the window treatments need to be more functional versus beautiful?”

The children’s activities determined blackout requirements, for one. “We knew we needed a blackout liner on the shades in our client's kids' rooms but it wasn't as necessary for the main living room, since they aren't really watching television in the space during the day,” shares Bria.

While harmonizing within the home’s neutral color scheme, a patterned powder room also lent maximum impact with its printed wallpaper. “We always consider the scale and style of a pattern. For this space, we had a floral wallpaper, and because it's a bit busier, we went more simple and understated for the window treatments so that they didn't fight each other for the spotlight but rather complement one another,” says Bria of mastering the balance in the small-but-mighty room.

As for her favorite room in the new home, she says, “Ooh, it's so tough to pick! But if I had to choose [it would be] our client’s daughter's room. The room was a blank slate, so we were able to add plenty of detail into it: millwork, wallpaper, custom window treatments, lighting. All of these elements made the room really shine.”

Bria’s firm, Bria Hammel Interiors, splits work about 50-50 between existing homes and new builds, leading Bria to incorporate elements of the former while designing the latter. “I push our clients to focus on millwork details. What stands out from new to old homes is that, as time has gone on, people have pulled back from trim and moldings and all that detail. Craftsmanship is what separates old from new. I’d rather a client do a smaller home, but with more detail,” she says, noting that she encourages clients to devote more of their budgets toward craftsmanship.

For achieving a similar impact with décor, she advises investing in window treatments. “Window treatments are one of the biggest details — do a room full of furniture without window treatments and it won't feel finished or cozy. When a client invests the money in window treatments? That’s when the room really comes together.”

Living Spaces

Provenance Playa Grande in Tamarindo

Bedroom

Provenance Santorini in Calliope with a Room-Darkening Liner

All Rooms

UltraGlide® Cord control option

more options