There's a certain kind of interior that stops you in your tracks — not because it's trying to, but because it isn't. House of Hive, the San Diego based design studio founded by Kailee and Taylor, makes those rooms.
Their work is layered without being busy, bold without being loud, and — in their own words — designed to feel like it's been collected over decades, not ordered overnight. We sat down with the duo to talk about bookshelf wealth, the myth of matching, and why the most interesting design decisions often happen in the details.
Your interiors feel deeply layered and collected — never overly "done". How do you create spaces that feel curated over time from day one?
We try to approach every project as if we're editing a story rather than decorating a room. Instead of filling a space with matching pieces from a single source, we layer old and new, high and low, refined and imperfect. We look for pieces that feel like they could have been collected over decades — vintage finds, meaningful artwork, unique materials, and items with character. The goal is for someone to walk into the space and wonder where everything came from, not where everything was ordered from.
You've spoken before about "bookshelf wealth" and homes with soul. Why do you think people are craving more personality and character in interiors right now?
For a long time, social media rewarded perfection. Every home started to look like a slightly different version of the same room. Think millennial beige. I think people are exhausted by that. They're realizing that the most memorable spaces are the ones that feel authentic and actually lived-in. People want homes that tell a story about who they are, where they've traveled, what they've inherited, and what they love — not just what's trending online.
That's actually a huge part of our design process. We spend a lot of time getting to know our clients on a deeper level and asking questions that go far beyond design preferences. We want to understand how they live, what inspires them, where they travel, the spaces they gravitate toward, and the things that hold meaning for them. The more we learn, the more personal the design becomes. When every decision is filtered through their story, the result naturally feels layered, authentic, and full of character.
Is there a material, finish or design detail you're especially drawn to at the moment?
We're really drawn to materials that age beautifully. Unlacquered brass, natural stone with movement, hand-finished wood, limewash, and anything with a bit of imperfection. The common thread is that they develop character over time. We love spaces that get better with age rather than feeling frozen in the moment they were completed.
House of Hive's instinct for materials that age well maps directly onto our Unlacquered Brass collection — a living finish that develops its own patina with touch and time. If you're drawn to the same idea, it's a good place to start.
Your work balances timelessness with boldness so well. How do you stop a space feeling trend-led while still keeping it fresh?
We try to keep the foundational elements timeless and let the personality come through in more flexible layers. Good architecture, beautiful materials, thoughtful scale, and strong furniture layouts never go out of style. Once that foundation is established, you can be more adventurous with art, lighting, textiles, and collected objects. A space feels fresh when it reflects the people living there — not the current trend cycle.
What tells you the most about a client's personal style early on in a project?
Our discovery process. Before we ever start designing, we have our clients gather inspiration images and then we source our own as well. Together, we go through each image and talk about what they like, what they dislike, and — most importantly — why. It's almost like a personality quiz.
What's interesting is that clients often think they're responding to an entire room, when in reality they're reacting to a specific detail — the warmth of the wood, the scale of a light fixture, the mood of the lighting, or even a piece of artwork. By breaking down images piece by piece, we start to uncover patterns they may not even realize are there. That process tells us far more about their personal style than asking them to define it in words. By the end, we're able to design a home that feels uniquely theirs rather than fitting into a predetermined aesthetic.
What's one design "rule" you think people should ignore more often?
That everything has to match. Some of the most interesting spaces are built on contrast — different wood tones, mixed metals, antiques paired with contemporary pieces. Those combinations create depth. Perfect coordination often ends up feeling flat.
On the hardware front, mixing metals is something we actively encourage. Our Satin Brass and Unlacquered Brass finishes play particularly well together for that reason — related, but not identical.
Antiques and vintage pieces play a big role in your work. What do older objects bring to a home that newer pieces often can't?
Patina, craftsmanship, and a sense of history. Older pieces carry evidence of the hands that made them and the lives they've lived. They add warmth and authenticity in a way that's difficult to replicate. Even one antique in a room can make everything around it feel more grounded and believable.
What's one underrated detail that makes a huge impact in a space, but often gets overlooked?
Molding and wood detailing. Adding architectural detail to a space — whether it's wall paneling, ceiling treatments, trim work, beams, or custom millwork — can completely transform how a room feels. It's one of the most effective ways to add character, depth, and visual interest without relying on furniture or décor.
We often tell clients that architecture is what makes a home memorable.
Hardware is the other one. Our cabinet knobs and pulls are exactly the kind of considered detail that makes paneling and millwork feel resolved — rather than like an afterthought.
What's something outside of interiors that's creatively inspiring you at the moment?
For Kailee, it's painting. Lately, she's been spending time working on her own paintings and exploring color theory.
For Taylor, it's fantasy novels. She loves getting lost in imagined worlds and stories.
Last one. What separates a beautiful room from a room that actually feels magnetic?
A magnetic room makes you want to stay. Beauty gets your attention, but emotion keeps you there.
