Cara Woodhouse

Sweet Spot

New York-based interior designer Cara Woodhouse whips up an artistic interior recipe for a Cult Cookie brand founder and her young family to indulge in.

For interior designer Cara Woodhouse, the connective tissue within her body of design work is always cast around materiality. Perhaps referencing her roots as a young sculptor or her affinity for uncovering natural elements and using them in unexpected ways, regardless of the source, the designer’s material-first mantra has enabled her to render spaces that exude natural beauty with an artistic flair. Such was the case in her latest project for Cult Cookie brand founder Dana Pollack. Known for her trailblazing flavor pairings that reinvent our classic cookie favorites at her eponymous Dana’s Bakery, it’s no surprise that Pollack and her husband turned to Woodhouse to add that same je ne sais quoi to their Long Island home.

“We definitely collaborated,” Woodhouse explains regarding the creative process in which she and Pollack shared a ton of inspiration collateral that Woodhouse then turned into custom design schemes—creating an intentional dialogue from one room to another. “They wanted a lot of natural material features, which really excited me because I love working on projects where I can use interesting and beautiful stones, woods, and other fibers.” The multi-colored marble entryway sets the tone for the creative journey that’s about to unfold when you enter the home. Though small in footprint, Woodhouse didn’t let size stop her from making a statement. “I wanted to make this space impactful and functional,” she explains. “The eye-catching marble floor paired with the custom floating console with a small drawer to stash catch-all items did just the trick.”

Invoking a quiet color palette in the dining room met with unexpected shapes, echoing the impact of the entryway, and a restrained approach to color was introduced. This theme extends through the welcoming family room and primary bedroom, until moody vibes make an appearance in the bar room. “We wanted to edge things up in this space, so we looked to the darker side of the color spectrum,” Woodhouse states. “The dark walls are anchored by the blue and green color-blocked rug that butts against the coolest fireplace, which was custom designed in grand antique active black-and-white marble.” The stunner of a space keeps delivering as your gaze travels through the space—from the Kelly Wearstler Wallpaper on the ceiling to the cerused oak bar continuing the same striking marble from the fireplace on the waterfall countertop and floating shelves.

But this home was always going to be centered around the kitchen. “One of the biggest overhauls was when we reconfigured the kitchen to expand it and create the ultimate dream kitchen—after all, Dana is a chef,” says the designer. Creating a focal point centered around the natural heart of the home, Woodhouse waved her material wand throughout the space. She created fluted details on the island, designed the waterfall marble countertop to reveal an oak detail by the base, and fashioned geometric interest through her architectural cast of lighting.

“This home’s aesthetic is flavorful with color and texture and modern elements,”  muses the designer. “The clients wanted a cool vibe throughout their home for their young family and wanted to add color and shape in a way that was both livable and artistic.” Looks like the checklist is complete.