Millbrook, NY
Hudson Valley
Custom built-in millwork conceived by Claudia Giselle Design runs the full length of the room, providing storage for books, collectibles, and memorabilia while feeling as though it was always meant to be there. Every shelf, every cabinet, every proportion — designed for this room and no other.
The furniture arrangement divides the room into distinct zones — a reading alcove, a conversation area anchored by the fireplace, a workspace — without sacrificing the open, airy quality that makes the space so compelling. Existing vintage furnishings were reupholstered to honor their character, and new transitional pieces were selected to bridge periods and move the room gently forward. This is interior design in Hudson Valley at its most considered.
Some houses arrive with a story already written into their walls. This 1920 converted barn in Millbrook, NY is one of them — cathedral whitewashed pine ceilings, a wood-burning fireplace, polished concrete floors, and more than a century of quiet character embedded in every surface. Claudia Giselle Design was brought in not to reimagine the space, but to honor what was already there while making it entirely livable for the way this Hudson Valley family actually lives.
In a 1920 converted barn steps from the Village of Millbrook, the entry does something remarkable — it stops you. A hand-painted geometric floor in soft shades of grey sets the tone immediately, while cornflower blue walls and the striped roman shade finishing the window without obscuring the views, the antique mirror, and the antique bench upholstered in linen and leather — all work in concert to create a room where every detail is considered.
The hand-painted geometric floor is the kind of detail that stops a room from being merely beautiful and makes it unforgettable. Understated in palette, extraordinary in execution — a signature of sophisticated Hudson Valley interior design.
Custom built-in millwork conceived by Claudia Giselle Design turns the entry into a room that works as beautifully as it looks. Hooks, a cushioned bench, and woven storage below handle the demands of Hudson Valley country living without sacrificing an ounce of style.
The layout of this Millbrook, NY kitchen never changed. The result feels completely new. That is the quiet power of a well-executed interior design renovation — knowing exactly which decisions matter. Claudia Giselle Design refreshed every surface with precision: cabinetry repainted in pastel blue, butcher block countertops stained to a richer deeper hue, walls and dining table brought into a cohesive color story that feels lively and timeless in equal measure. New ruffled valances frame the windows without competing with the extraordinary natural light that defines this Hudson Valley kitchen. The vintage dining table was faux painted. Th new blue woven dining chairs honor the cottage character of this 1920 barn while giving the eat-in space a fresh and considered energy.
This Millbrook, NY bedroom had a major upgrade. A new vaulted wood ceiling was constructed to mirror the architecture of the living room on the opposite wing — bringing the 1920 barn's character into the most personal room in the house. A stately four-post bed dressed in French blue silk, a red velvet accent pillow, and custom drapery in a traditional blue and cream floral that frames the garden views with quiet drama. Claudia Giselle Design worked in close collaboration with a client of exceptional taste, building a room that felt complete from the first layer.
A custom canopy conceived by Claudia Giselle Design was added — dramatic red floral against the whitewashed vaulted pine ceiling, custom brass hardware catching the light, custom tasseled details that speak to another era entirely. The room didn't change. It deepened. That is what great design does.
Every room has a moment that reveals its owner. Here it is — a lavish red chaise positioned in its own pocket of light, surrounded by art, pattern on pattern, and the kind of confident color that only someone who truly knows their own style can dare to carry. This is Hudson Valley interior design as personal expression.