In the BOH series What I Love, we’re asking designers to build us a mood board of what’s inspiring them right now.
A sea-glass backsplash, a patchwork jute rug, rustic teakwood and tropical blue-green textiles: For a coastal retreat in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, Andrea Goldman enticingly blurs the lines between bedroom and beach. “While the rest of the home is very colorful, the primary suite is mostly neutral,” says the designer. An adjacent sitting room—captured in her flat lay—serves as a bridge between serenity and vibrancy. “The mood is quiet, comfortable, with just a touch of adventure,” she adds.
An ocean away from her eponymous firm’s headquarters in Glencoe, Illinois, the Cabo project offered Goldman an opportunity to create a relaxed escape rich in texture. A family of latticelike floor lanterns filters light through earthy, hand-crocheted shades. Overhead, a blown-glass opaque globe capped with whitewashed wood and strung from an intricately knotted, oyster-colored cord continues the sun-bleached theme. Crafted from reclaimed teak logs, the weatherworn console looks as if it could have washed ashore, while a chunky side table carved from 18th century oak introduces a primitive note that stands in striking contrast to an elegant armchair with sleek midcentury lines. “The unique furniture pieces relate to the natural world, while still being sculptural in their own right,” she says. “They’re the starting point upon which everything else is built.”
On top of those bones, Goldman introduces an array of greens, from a deep-sea quartzite for the bar countertop to a forest-dark jacquard velvet that’s thick with Tibetan tigers to a lush retro floral printed on sustainable hemp. “Inspired by the natural attributes of Cabo, the space is all about layers: layered lighting, layered materials, layered palette,” she says. “I love playing with different textures in fabric, furniture and finishes.” Here, the designer discusses each element in her cohesive scheme.
1. LH11 HELIX PENDANT BY BRIGHTBOUND
“The Helix pendant from Brightbound is one of our favorites. This collaboration with Windy Chien is so amazing to us because her knot work [shown at center of flat lay] is mind-blowing. To see it combined into a beautiful fixture makes it feel like art.”
2. KUNYA FABRIC IN YP23009 BY DESIGNS OF THE TIME
“I love a woven fabric that incorporates more than one color. While the predominant hue in this linen-wool fabric is green, there are multiple shades of it represented, along with yellows, browns and whites—all of which make it a great bridge solid in this multicolored palette.”
3. MOSAIC HANDWOVEN JUTE RUG BY ANNIE SELKE
“Bringing natural textures and colors into a Cabo home feels like a reflection of the greenery, sand and water right outside the door. This eco-friendly jute rug manages to relate to the scenery while also grounding all the furniture.”
4. MONSIEUR TRICOT STANDING LAMPS BY TRIBÙ
“This beautiful trio of lamps bridges the space by bringing knitted details outside or texture closer to the sitting room floor. In Cabo, all our projects include an indoor-outdoor component, whether it’s a small balcony or a walk-out terrace.”
5. 1970S GLASSWORKS: LE DISQUE IN AGAVE BY OUTERCLÉ
“Some glass tiles can seem dated or cheesy, but these ones from OuterClé feel fresh while giving a nod to a ’70s design aesthetic. Used in moderation, they make a great backsplash for the bar in our primary suite: calming and like a party all at the same time.”
6. OCEAN STONE QUARTZITE BY MARBLE & GRANITE SUPPLY OF ILLINOIS
“Ocean Stone is a durable quartzite with a rich green tone so saturated it feels like a neutral. The warm hues make it a great fit with the natural palette of Cabo.”
7. CHATEAU LINEN IN VERSAILLES TEAL BY PHILLIP JEFFRIES
“Wallpaper is the go-to method for adding richness and texture on walls that could otherwise look flat. This blue-green textile paper from Phillip Jeffries picks up on the deeper tones in the Jasper & Templeton fabric, as well as the Ocean Stone quartzite.”
8. GRACE FABRIC IN WILLOW BY JASPER & TEMPLETON AT MICHAEL S SMITH
“There’s something so timeless about a leafy floral print. While it could come across as traditional in another context, here it feels fresh and like a contrast to the more contemporary prints around it.”
9. EDELWEISS LAMP IN JED JOHNSON GREEN BY JNOCON
“What drew us to this lamp is the gorgeous detailing, from the leather whipstitch on the shade to the carvings in the base itself. It’s a fun addition to the Cabo scheme that recalls the artisanal touches and saturated color native to the region.”
10. TAYLOR TILES IN PATINA NATURAL MATTE BY INDOTEAK DESIGN
“IndoTeak products are a great indoor-outdoor solution, with enough durability that they could even run into a shower or onto a deck. We love the idea of using these as an accent tile to complement the glass disks above the bar.”
11. MONUMENTAL BLEACHED TEAK CONSOLE TABLE BY ANDRIANNA SHAMARIS
“The reclaimed teak logs that serve as the foundation for this table bring in natural elements to blend with our cozy textiles. Texture is so important for good, natural-feeling design, and this console is so tactile that it can stand on its own.”
12. INDIRA STRIPE FABRIC IN CHOCOLATE BY PENNY MORRISON
“Incorporating a bit of brown in the only white fabric in the mix lets the pattern on this linen block-printed fabric take center stage while also providing visual relief. The ability to both go brighter and keep in line with the darker details in the other materials makes it a welcome addition.”
13. MAKER’S ARMCHAIR BY LAWSON-FENNING
“The architectural detailing on this Lawson-Fenning chair makes it feel like a sculpture all on its own. Paired with beautiful upholstery, it becomes as cozy as it is visually appealing.”
14. PASSAGE FABRIC IN HERBES FOLLES BY ÉLITIS
“This woven Élitis fabric is textural, warm and just the right amount of colorful. The mix of greens makes it a perfect choice for the palette of neutrals and naturals.”
15. TIGER MOUNTAIN FABRIC IN PETRIFIED WOOD BY DEDAR
“This jacquard velvet from Dedar is soft to the touch, with a slight abstraction of a traditional Tibetan tiger pattern often found in rugs. The way it feels playful and a little bit funky makes it impossible not to love!”
16. LIMITED-EDITION 18TH-CENTURY SOLID OAK SIDE TABLE BY LUCCA ANTIQUES
“With its antique feel and primitive detailing, this Lucca Antiques side table is a staple in Andrea Goldman projects at this point. The tone of the wood works well with more muted palettes, in addition to providing a balance for more saturated ones.”
