Santa Fe Residence — A Living Canvas of Color and Calm

Location: Santa Fe, New Mexico
Type: Residential Interior — Living Spaces
Completion: 2025
Design House: Ardenel Studio

A Gallery in the Desert

Nestled against the foothills of Santa Fe, this residence reimagines the living room as both a gallery and a retreat. Here, pale wood and abundant daylight create a calm canvas, while vibrant art and textiles bring the rhythm of color. The result is a home that feels at once serene and expressive, balancing desert quietude with creative energy.

The Living Room

The central living space is wrapped in light oak across the ceiling, floors, and walls, forming a seamless cocoon of warmth. A striped wool rug in vivid orange, blue, and green grounds the room, its bold hues in playful dialogue with the surrounding neutral tones.

Furnishings are sculptural yet inviting: a curved sectional sofa in taupe, rounded armchairs upholstered in boucle, and a set of organic stone coffee tables. The rhythm of circles—whether in furniture, side tables, or the wrought-iron chandelier—softens the geometry of the space.

Art as Anchor

Large-scale artworks turn each wall into a moment of discovery. An abstract floral composition blooms above the main sofa, while a striking painting of a zebra with a rider in emerald green introduces both whimsy and narrative. Another wall holds a tapestry-like portrait, its saturated forms recalling folk tradition.

Together, these pieces infuse the interior with movement, ensuring that the living room is never static but alive with shifting interpretations.

Passage and Pause

Beyond the living area, a wooden lattice hallway draws the eye forward, casting delicate shadows that shift with the day’s light. This corridor opens into quieter spaces, where a long bench beneath a cross-stitched patterned artwork offers a place of pause. Here, greenery is introduced—a tall plant in a textured pot—bridging the indoors with the desert landscape just outside.

Materials and Details

• Wood: Light oak paneling and ceiling, continuous flooring.

• Textiles: Wool rug in bold stripes, boucle upholstered chairs, patterned poufs.

• Art: Abstract, figurative, and whimsical large-format works anchoring each wall.

• Furniture: Curved sectional, stone coffee tables, sculptural rattan chairs.

• Lighting: Wrought-iron chandelier, sconces, and floor lamps balancing shadow and glow.

A Living Canvas

This Santa Fe residence shows how interiors can become living canvases—spaces that honor stillness while celebrating bold expression. Through color, material, and art, the home becomes a narrative of balance: a serene desert refuge, yet alive with creativity.

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