ByJulie Vadnal,Photos byHeather Gildroy
PublishedJan 22, 2026 1:35 AM EST
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“You should have seen the carpet installer’s face,” jokesDesign Love FestfounderBri Emeryrecalling the moment she explained her plan to swathe the floor, sofa, coffee table, and credenza in her home office in a rust-colored, high-pileshag. “He was like, ‘What are you talking about?’”
But turning the cozy space—a former catchall storage room in their Los Angeles home—into a ’70s-inspired conversation pit was all part of Emery and her husband’s master plan. When the pandemic hit, thecouplerealized they needed a den-like area for working, but also a lo-fi space where they could host a small group of friends and spin records, be creative, and watch movies—or as Emery puts it, “Make things not on our phones.”
So with the help of Heather Spaulding ofSpaulding Company, the pair installed vinyl walnut paneling fromSurfacing Solutionand hired local builder Santiago Mayer to construct a sofa, credenza, and coffee table that could be wrapped in Shaw’s Ravishingcarpet. (The color name? Chili, naturally.) The cushions got a layer of similarly toned velvet. A set of newly installed French doors, concealed by a sheer curtain, would lead out to the patio.
But as any design-minded person knows, a reference can turn literal fast. To keep the whole look firmly in the 2020s, Emery and Spaulding layered in modern touches, like a customcheckerboardrug fromEtsy, an Entlerlamp, and a Jenni Kayne sheepskinthrowto keep things feeling current.
Not only is it a relaxing place to work or put on a record (the couple loves to spin disco and soul), it’s a guest room. When it’s time for bed, the modular coffee table slides up against the sofa, and the velvet sofa cushions can lie flat across the coffee table to create a cozy spot for a friend who wants to stay the night.
“The first time I stepped into the nearly finished space, I felt like someone had just wrapped me in a warm blanket and I’d had the best nap of my life,” says Spaulding. The vibes are so good, in fact, that the tiny nook inspired Emery and her husband to use it as a jumping-off point for their new home in New York, which Spaulding is also designing. “It’s kind of crazy because we started working on it during quarantine,” says Emery. “And then we had all these dreams about it being this ’60s- or ’70s-style den room—but now it’s manifested into our future house.”
Plush Viscose Pillow, Burke Decor
Double Sheepskin Throw, Jenni Kayne
Candlestick No. 37, Madeleine Pellegren
12u0022 Table Lamp by Entler
Julie Vadnal
Deputy Editor
Julie Vadnal is the deputy editor of Domino. She edits and writes stories about shopping for new and vintage furniture, covers new products (and the tastemakers who love them), and tours the homes of cool creatives. She lives in Brooklyn.
Heather Gildroy
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