In the world of interiors, few designers channel pure happiness as effortlessly and unapologetically as Ghislaine Viñas. Known for her playful yet purposeful use of color and bold design narratives, Viñas brings her signature energy to a 6,000-square-foot home in Pound Ridge, New York her third collaboration with a loyal client who previously enlisted her talents for a Manhattan loft and a Palm Beach condo.
Originally built in the 1980s, the sprawling, three-level residence sat on a picturesque 5.5-acre wooded plot, but its interiors told a different story. Dated and dim, with dark-wood floors dominating nearly every room, the house lacked warmth, let alone the vibrant character Viñas is known for. “It did not exude joy,” the designer recalls with characteristic candor.
To breathe new life into the home, Viñas envisioned a full-scale transformation one that honored the clients’ love of mid-century design while making space for her expressive, contemporary aesthetic. The goal: to strike a joyful balance between bold and livable.
The redesign began with a crisp architectural envelope whitewashed walls and wide-plank, Scandinavian-style pale oak floors that allowed colorful moments to take center stage. Saturated hues of blue, green, and orange punctuate the home, reflecting the family’s palette preferences while creating visual rhythm throughout the space.
“My methodology is always collaborative,” Viñas notes. “It’s about extracting what I can from myself and blending it with what the client dreams of.”
That philosophy is evident in every room from the energized gathering spaces to the quieter private quarters all unified by a spirit of optimism and individuality.
The result is a home that feels anything but generic. It’s a joyful retreat a vibrant reflection of both designer and client, and a testament to the transformative power of thoughtful, fearless design.
Thoughtful Tweaks and Artistic Flourishes: Ghislaine Viñas’s Layered Vision Comes to Life
Although the original layout of the Pound Ridge home remained largely untouched, designer Ghislaine Viñas made intentional refinements that transformed the residence without unnecessary waste. “There was no need for structural changes,” she notes. “I prefer to work with what’s there just with a different lens.” Out went the traditional moldings and baseboards; in their place came bold vertical elements graphic wall paneling and hand-painted stripes that delivered both texture and rhythm.
To further elevate the architectural character, Viñas brought in long-time friend and collaborator Alan Barlis, principal of BarlisWedlick Architects, alongside associate Jessie Goldvarg. “Our interventions focused on the thresholds both literal and conceptual,” Barlis explains. Their scope included extensive exterior work: reimagined landscaping and hardscaping, nearly 2,500 square feet of new decks and patios, and newly articulated indoor-outdoor connections that extend the living experience beyond the walls. Perhaps the most notable addition is a former garage, now re-envisioned as a 550-square-foot guest barn, clad in Scandinavian-inspired finishes and flooded with light.
Inside, Viñas sidestepped predictable mid-century modern tropes by blending rare vintage finds with bespoke furnishings of her own design. In the living room, a custom white-oak coffee table featuring playful inset color blocks sits harmoniously among icons like Joseph D’Urso chairs, a Warren Platner ottoman, and a sculptural lamp by Dutch design collective Atelier Van Lieshout. Viñas, who is Dutch herself and spent her formative years in South Africa, brings global layers to every detail.
Above the main stair, a striking 11-foot chandelier by Piet Hein Eek, fashioned from mismatched glass shades, becomes an architectural moment unto itself. The newly refined staircase now features a fluid, sculptural railing that adds elegance to its function. On the landing, a Saarinen settee shares space with a bold art credenza by Richard Woods, adding visual tension and unexpected wit.
In the primary bedroom, scale is managed masterfully through a double headboard—one layer upholstered, the other wood-paneled creating a tactile, dimensional focal point that both anchors and softens the space.
Through layered craftsmanship and fearless vision, Viñas and her collaborators have given this once-ordinary home a wholly new narrative one where joy, artistry, and intention shape every corner.
