The One Room Liz Caan Will Never Forget

Interior designers and other experts in the home industry work on an impressive number of spaces throughout their careers. But even if some of the makeovers and redesigns start to blend together after a few years, there are some rooms that are just truly unforgettable. 

So, to give designers a chance to revisit their favorite projects—and to bring you plenty of inspiration for your own home—we’re sharing the one room these pros will remember forever. For some, there’s a sentimental connection, for others, there was an obstacle they never thought they’d overcome. But no matter what, these rooms are worth remembering.

When designing a client’s New York City pied a terre, designer Liz Caan worked diligently to create a space that she describes as “comfortable, colorful, and collected.”  

“They wanted it furnished quickly, and they wanted it to feel like home,” Caan says of her client. “It is special to me because the client trusted me implicitly and let me run with my instincts rather quickly.”

Her thoughtful selections certainly paid off. When Caan’s clients walked into their home to view the transformation, they were “over the moon,” she says. 

Caan’s main goal was for the space “to feel lived in and have layers and personality.” She didn’t make architectural upgrades aside from adding paint and covered a wall using Farrow & Ball Off Black for the backdrop. The moody hue “was a tough sell for the client, but they were trusting and ended up loving it once the painting was completed,” Caan explains. 

Bold art pops against the freshly painted accent wall and provides a focal point in the living area. 

Caan’s favorite elements of the space are all of the furnishings that add sophistication and personality to the home. Pieces include a woven leather coffee table, a wool bespoke rug, a vintage Jindrich Halabala chair, a George Smith mohair sofa, and a Christopher Spitzmiller Gourd lamp, in addition to a vintage bar cabinet and vintage leather ottoman. She adds, “I loved the client’s artwork—it makes the space come to life.” 

An intricate light fixture hangs in the dining nook. “We designed the banquette and had it fabricated in a beautiful woven horsehair fabric,” Caan adds. Throw pillows make the space look inviting and not too precious. 

The furnishings in this unit have influenced other spaces Caan has designed since. “Our projects now always have more bespoke, high quality, vintage, and handmade pieces,” she explains. “The mix is what creates the magic.”