Blending the New with the Loved: The Full-Service Interior Design Experience
Five Steps to incorporate things you already own and love into a new functional yet beautiful space
Designing a home (or just a room) that feels truly “you” doesn’t mean starting from scratch. The best spaces blend the things you already love with fresh design and function—creating comfort, beauty, and a personal story that unfolds in every room. This month’s blog talks about the five steps I take to make a space come to life blending in pieces you already own and love.
Step 1: Discover What Matters
Every interior design project starts with an in-person design consultation. We identify what you want to keep, from heirloom furniture to sentimental pieces, and make a plan that feels uniquely yours. This client wanted to use some unique pieces she collected while she lived in Cambodia. Two cube ottomans and a teak console table. This set the tone for the color palette and space plan for the design.
Step 2: Smart Space Planning
A smart layout is key. I reimagine your space for better flow, functionality, and style—whether it’s opening a kitchen, refreshing a living room, or blending modern and traditional home design elements. Open floor plans can be tricky to furnish. Using scale and traffic flow is important when designing furniture layout.
Functional Space Planning for your Cincinnati Home
Key Tip: Use area rugs, lighting, and furniture placement to define distinct zones in your open-concept floor plan without sacrificing flow or function. This creates a natural sense of order while maintaining the spacious, airy feel that open layouts offer.
Step 3: Old Meets New
Your loved pieces stay. I continue to layer in new furniture, lighting, and decor to complement what you have—creating a timeless, stylish design for your Cincinnati home. In this dining room, I kept the existing dining table, chairs, and classic chair rail molding—all still in great condition. Then, I introduced a fresh color palette, updated lighting, and repurposed accessories to give the room an elevated, cohesive look.
The result? A completely refreshed space that feels new while honoring the original charm. This is where a designer’s eye truly makes a difference—knowing what to keep, what to enhance, and how to bring it all together beautifully.
“Without Missy’s help we would have been lost on our project. She’s very detailed and organized to help all the trades on site. Not only did she listen and understand our vision, the end result was exactly what we were looking for. I highly recommend Missy for your Interior Design project!”
Step 4: Function Meets Beauty
Great design must function just as well as it looks. A full-service approach means your designer can tackle those deeper challenges too:
Need more storage? They’ll design built-ins that look like they’ve always belonged.
Need better lighting? They’ll layer in recessed lighting, pendants, and sconces for ambiance and practicality.
Need better traffic flow? They’ll rethink the layout so daily life moves with ease.
These structural or functional updates can dramatically impact how you feel in the space—even before the final décor touches arrive.
Jack and Jill Bathroom
This Jack and Jill bathroom renovation in Cincinnati, Ohio kept the existing layout—including cabinetry, toilet, and shower placement—to stay within budget while maximizing design impact. Custom cabinetry was thoughtfully designed around the original window, giving the space a unique and personalized touch. A cohesive color palette, updated accessories, and stylish flooring were selected to align with the rest of the home renovation, creating a seamless and polished look throughout.
Kitchen and Bath Designer: Jem Design
Photo: RVP Photography
Step 5: Final Layering and Styling
Once the major pieces are in place and construction is complete, I then add the finishing touches: textiles, accessories, plants, and art. Your treasured items might be reframed, restyled, or even repurposed. That vintage mirror might land in a new spot where it reflects natural light beautifully. An old trunk might become a coffee table with hidden storage. I absolutely love repurposing items and using them in new ways you could never think of!
This final step is about bringing your personality to life, honoring your history while embracing the future of your home
Repurposed Furniture
This cozy Cincinnati living room makeover showcases how thoughtful space planning and repurposed furniture can transform a home without starting from scratch. By reusing existing pieces from around the house—like the living room sofa, basement chairs, and a deep-seated nursery chair—we created a relaxed and welcoming seating area perfect for family gatherings. A storage trunk was repurposed as a coffee table, while two accent stools added flexible seating. A small console table from the foyer was placed behind the sofa to add height and style with layered accessories. To complete the design, a large area rug was added to ground the space and pull everything together.
This is a great example of how an interior designer can refresh your space using what you already own—blending function, comfort, and beautiful design.
Photo by Ross Van Pelt
The Result: A space that’s authentically yours!
By blending what you already own with fresh pieces and purposeful upgrades, full-service design delivers more than a makeover—it creates a home with soul. It’s a space where every corner reflects thoughtful choices, functionality, and heart.
Whether it’s a century-old dresser passed down from family or a new sectional that anchors your living room, a well-designed space honors your past and supports your present—while inspiring your future.
Ready to transform your space without starting from scratch? A designer’s eye can help you see new potential in the things you already love—and make sure everything works together beautifully. Let’s bring your vision to life tailored to meet your needs—no project is too big or small. Ready to bring your space to life? I’d love to hear from you!
Lets Get Started!
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Let’s create a space that’s not just beautiful—but built for endless enjoyment!
— Missy
Cincinnati Interior Designer | Design With Missy