ByKate McGregor,Photos byNick Mele
UpdatedMar 23, 2026 2:04 PM EDT
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Until this past Thanksgiving, Vancouver-based interior designerGillian Segalhad never laid eyes on her Palm Beach, Florida, project in person. She worked 100 percent remotely (think: countless weekend-antiquing FaceTimes) and had spent nearly six months injecting character and personality into a blank-slate new build from afar. “She found me through Instagram and asked if I was up for the challenge,” remembers the designer. Finally, over turkey and mashed potatoes, Segal met her client face-to-face. One of the projects they could reflect on: a functional workspace for the fashion industry creative. Juggling an all-hands meeting and her kids’ homework time at the dining table simply hadn’t been cutting it.
When Unsure, Lean Into Green
Previously an all-white box, the room is now bathed in a sage green paint—Card Room Greenby Farrow & Ball to be exact—from wall to wall, including the ceiling. Segal knew (or rather hoped) that working from home wouldn’t last forever, so she wanted the area to be as flexible as possible. “It needed to be a space where the kids could come hang out but also exude this calm energy,” she explains. A neutral, in Segal’s mind, thanks to its cool undertones, the verdant shade could accommodate all the room’s possibilities.
Rethink the Molding Approach
Colonial-style picture-frame molding around the entire space was the original plan, but once everything was said and mocked up, it just read as too formal. So Segal opted for curvy squares on the built-ins instead—using a half-circle trim rather than the detailed version that lines the walls. The playful curves echo the desk’s (and bookcases’) rounded corners.
Turn Imperfections Into Features
To escape the house during quarantine, Segal’s client would wander local antiques stores and estate sales, Zooming the designer every step of the way. Their most exciting find? A set of four vintage Italian pendant lights. The problem: Each had a different rod length. “They were clearly custom for the original owner,” Segal explains. But they were too good to pass up.
Sixteen different configuration attempts later, the ambient lighting was hardwired into place. The longer lights hang over the desk and the sofa, where the owner would need the most direct illumination. The other two complete a square arrangement, lighting up the corners of the office.
Kate McGregor
Writer/Editor
Kate McGregor covers everything related to the home, from design inspiration to IKEA hacks. She previously served as market assistant at ELLE Decor, where she focused on curating products for the print magazine’s market pages.
Nick Mele
Photographer
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