Pembrook Interiors

06/17/2026

At Pembrook Interiors, we believe that the key to creating a timeless space lies in the art of layering. 🌿🖼️✨

Layering involves combining different elements, textures, and patterns to create a space that feels rich, inviting, and collected over time. In this stunning vignette, we showcase:

--A mix of botanical and wildlife art, adding a touch of nature and whimsy 🌺
--Varied textures, from the smooth ceramic vases to the woven rattan chair 🪑
--Pops of color and pattern in the floral arrangements and upholstery 🌸
--Curated accessories, like the vintage-inspired lamp and gold vase, that add character and depth ✨

Our team knows how to strike the perfect balance between classic and contemporary, creating spaces that feel both familiar and fresh. We carefully select pieces that speak to your unique style and create a layered look that feels collected over time.

Ready to transform your space with the power of layering? Contact us today to schedule your design consultation!

05/28/2026

Creating a cozy and inviting seating area is all about layering textures, mixing patterns, and finding the perfect balance of comfort and style.

In this recent project, we transformed a large family room into a multi-functional space that feels both elegant and livable. The key was to create distinct zones for relaxing, entertaining, and enjoying family time.

We started with a neutral base and added warmth through rich textures like wool, velvet, and leather. Integrating the client's existing shelving in a new way provides both storage and display space for favorite pieces and even the grandchildren's toys. And the mix of patterned pillows adds just the right amount of visual interest without overwhelming the room.

The result is a seating area that feels collected, not contrived – a space that truly reflects our client's style and the way they want to live.

What's your favorite element in this cozy seating arrangement? Let me know in the comments!

05/13/2026

Before and after: Family/Dining room transformation in McLean, VA by Pembrook Interiors.

At Pembrook Interiors, we believe that small details make a big difference. For this project, we transformed our client's dining room with:

**Custom plantation shutters for enhanced privacy and light control, allowing far greater versatility than the previous shades
**Large scale patterned drapery to add visual interest and height to the expansive room with 8' ceilings
**Intentional drapery hardware to draw the eye upward to the freshly painted light blue ceiling (Sherwin-Williams Dew Drop SW9641)
**Simplified architecture achieved by removing the tray ceiling to create consistency with the home's overall style
**Layered window treatments, carefully curated art, and updated lighting for a completely refreshed and cohesive look

While maintaining the client's existing dining table and windows, we created a space with better light and a better life. Thoughtful, detail-oriented design has the power to make any room feel inviting. This transformation is a testament to the impact that can be achieved without changing everything, when the right details are considered carefully.

Not pictured: new broadloom, custom seat cushions, and a freshly painted room to complete the comprehensive transformation.

Contact Pembrook Interiors for a design consultation. We're here to help you create a home that feels collected, not contrived.

05/09/2026

As we are wrapping up the installation on this McLean, VA family room transformation, here's a sneak peek.

Custom upholstery with performance herringbone chenille sectional. Layered window treatments combining plantation shutters with custom drapery. Curated art placement and styling throughout. Lighting designed at 2700K for warmth. Luxury wool broadloom combines durability with comfort underfoot.

Collected elegance - every detail considered, every choice intentional and made for real, everyday life.

Full reveal coming soon.

Design and Photography by Pembrook Interiors | Construction by Stonegate Remodeling

Pembrook Interiors | Luxury Residential Design

📍 McLean, VA & DC Metro
🌐 pembrookinteriors.com

04/12/2026

The best rooms are designed to look beautiful with the door open.

Spring is here in Northern Virginia, and this is the season we've been waiting for - when indoor and outdoor rooms finally connect.

The deck door stays open. Evening light pours in. Indoor and outdoor living seamlessly blend.

This sunroom was designed for exactly this moment. The Jacobean floral drapery frames the opening and the view without competing with it - pattern that echoes the garden while adding richness inside. Custom fullness means the panels drape beautifully whether the door is open or closed.

Good design doesn't choose between indoor comfort and outdoor views. It makes both work together.

These are the moments we design for.

Pembrook Interiors | Luxury Residential Design | McLean, VA & DC Metro

📍 pembrookinteriors.com

04/09/2026

Behind the scenes. Custom furniture isn't just personalization—it's decades of expertise applied to every detail.

When I specify upholstery for clients, I'm making decisions most people never see: frame construction, spring placement, fabric direction, pattern matching, trim application, cushion fill ratios, how the skirt hangs.

This swivel chair from Charles Stewart Company in Hickory, NC shows what 50+ years of upholstery expertise looks like before it reaches a home. Made-to-order, by hand, to exact specifications.

The difference? "Customizable" means picking from preset options—fabric A or B, leg finish 1 or 2. Real custom means craftspeople building to our exact requirements, adjusting proportions, specifying construction for how the piece will actually be used.
That blue tape trim? Applied by hand. The frame? Built to last 50+ years, not 5. The swivel mechanism? Heavy-duty because residential use is harder on furniture than most people realize. Ever wonder why most retail upholstery uses solid fabrics? Pattern matching at this level requires real expertise.

This is why custom furniture is an investment that moves with you—serving a family for generations.

The question isn't whether you can afford custom. It's whether you can afford to replace "good enough" furniture every decade.

Pembrook Interiors | Luxury Residential Design | McLean, VA & DC Metro

📍 pembrookinteriors.com

Photo: Pembrook Interiors at Charles Stewart, Hickory, NC

03/22/2026

Spring doesn't wait for permission. The hyacinths are blooming, the trees are budding, and suddenly those heavy winter textiles feel out of place.

Your interiors can shift with the seasons too—and it doesn't require a full redesign. Just thoughtful recalibration.

A few design moves that make spring feel intentional rather than accidental:

✔️ Swap winter weight for breathability - Store velvet throws, rotate in lightweight cotton or linen. Your body registers seasonal fabrics even when the thermostat stays the same.
✔️ Edit down visual density - Winter asks for layering. Spring asks for breathing room. Remove one decorative element from each surface and watch the space lighten immediately.
✔️ Introduce living color - Fresh flowers aren't frivolous—they're a psychological reset. They last 7-10 days and completely shift the energy of a room.
✔️ Open what's been closed - Windows that haven't been opened since October. Natural light and fresh air change how a space feels, sometimes more than new furniture ever could.

Spring design isn't about trends. It's about honoring what the season already offers: light, air, growth, renewal.

📍 Pembrook Interiors | Luxury Residential & Commercial Design
Serving the DC Metro Area | McLean, VA

03/15/2026

We're honored to be featured in Southern Living's latest article on reducing noise in residential spaces.

Sound is often the most overlooked element when creating a welcoming home. Whether you're dealing with open-concept layouts, hard surfaces, or street noise, there are elegant solutions that enhance your space rather than compromise it.

Our principal designer Jennifer Fordham shared several strategies with Southern Living:

✔️ Custom drapery with R-value interlining, textured fabrics, and deep folds for sound absorption
✔️ Wool rugs with substantial synthetic jute pads
✔️ Textured grasscloth wallcovering in transition areas like foyers and hallways
✔️ Fabric-upholstered walls in media rooms and bedrooms

These aren't compromises—they're opportunities to make spaces both more beautiful and more functional.

Read the full article:

Choosing drapery, rugs, wall treatments, and appliances with intention can significantly reduce the noise in your home. Here's some expert guidance on small changes that make a big impact.

03/10/2026

Just completed our quarterly design maintenance check-in at our St. Lucia vacation rental villa project.

Here's what most people don't realize: good design lasts 10+ years—but only with proper maintenance. Yet almost no one thinks about this until something goes wrong.

What actually needs professional attention? Everything that protects a six-figure design investment:

✔️ Upholstery condition – fabric wear, stain treatment, cleaning protocols (tropical climates and high-use areas are especially unforgiving)
✔️ Lighting accuracy – bulbs get replaced incorrectly (wrong Kelvin, wrong wattage), completely undermining the ambiance
✔️ Textile care – drapery, indoor and outdoor cushions, linens, throws—each has specific maintenance requirements
✔️ Finish integrity – wood conditioning, hardware function, surface wear on furniture and built-ins
✔️ Styling drift – spaces need a professional eye to reset what's shifted over time

We provide comprehensive product care manuals, but there's no substitute for periodic professional assessment. We don't just identify issues—we oversee and implement necessary maintenance on approval. Small issues caught early prevent expensive replacements later.

This villa faces Caribbean sun, salt air, constant tropical humidity, and birds flying through it on beautiful days. Without quarterly check-ins, those linen sofas and outdoor textiles wouldn't last two years. With proper care and minor adjustments, the design stays fresh and the investment protected.

Most designers don't offer maintenance services. But honestly? It's the difference between a design that lasts and one that doesn't.

Serving the DC Metro area | McLean, VA and St. Lucia, West Indies.