Designing the “Great Room” of an impressive home in Palm Springs, designer Shelley Beckes used the mountains and shifting sands of the desert landscape to tame and transform the voluminous space into one filled with warmth and intimacy.

GN: How did you come to develop your style?

Shelley: My mother was the major influence in developing my personal style from the time I was a little girl remodeling her antique dollhouse. Her sense of beauty, her timeless and classical elegance, and her attention to detail are represented in all my interior design projects, whether they be traditional or contemporary.

GN: Tell us about the last project you worked on.

Shelley: One of the last projects I worked on was a beautiful new home under construction in the Palm Springs area. The things I loved most about this project were my clients’ unique personalities and spending time in the natural beauty of the desert. This was the fourth home I had designed for them.

The previous home was in the California wine country, and the interiors I created for it were traditional country French. My clients’ new home in the desert is contemporary—a total departure from what they had in the past. It was such a joy to create something entirely new for them and their new lifestyle in the desert.

The biggest challenge was the large open space of the “Great Room” with 14-foot-high ceilings and a wall of glass doors.

[Image: Shelley Beckes]


This room encompassed the living area, dining area and kitchen, and had travertine marble floors throughout. There were so many hard, reflective surfaces and such volume in the space that I knew I needed to find a way to create a feeling of warmth and intimacy. To do that, I designed a dramatic 28x20-foot area rug to unify the living and dining areas. It helped tremendously to absorb the sound, as did the long, layered drapery panels and the large angled sectional. I designed the area rug especially for this room, with sculpted shapes representing the mountains at dusk and the movement of the shifting sands. Designing it was the highlight of the project for me because of how it transformed the space once it was installed.

[Image: Shelley Beckes]

To create intimacy in the dining area, I used a stunning light fixture with a ring of candles that hung down over the dining table. It met my goal of diminishing the height of the ceilings and enhancing the sense of closeness while dining. It always generates compliments and questions from their guests. Are the candles real or not? Real wax candle sheaths cover the electric lights, giving the appearance of lighted candles.

[Image: Shelley Beckes]
 

GN: What advice would you have for homeowners in hiring and managing contractors, whether it be for paint, flooring, handymen or big remodels like custom-made closets?

Shelley: When hiring a contractor or subcontractor, the most important thing to do is to get a personal reference from your interior designer or architect, or from a friend or neighbor who has had firsthand experience with his work. Go see examples of his work and get references from at least three homeowners.

It can be difficult to supervise the work yourself, so it’s often advisable to hire a general contractor to manage the subs. Your designer or architect can also do some supervision if you contract with them to provide that service.

Manage the money you give the contractors and consider including a performance clause in the contract. Never let them get ahead of you with money. I suggest that you always owe them some amount of money until the job is completed to your satisfaction.

Last but not least, communication is the key to the successful completion of any project. Stay on top of our project and express any concerns as quickly as possible.

GN: What elements define a comfortable home?

Shelley: A comfortable and happy home is one that’s warm and inviting and reflects the lifestyle and personalities of the homeowners. Every time the homeowners enter their front door they feel happy, and that their home enriches their lives through its color, style and design. It’s a place where they are proud to entertain family and friends and create long-lasting memories.

GN: What’s your philosophy on creating meaning in the home?

Shelley: My philosophy is to not give up quality for price when designing a home. I tell my clients: “A room with a few beautiful things is far superior to one full of compromises.” A beautiful home with lovely, well-cared-for things is a treasure to come home to and will be a source of enjoyment for years to come.

Learn more about Shelley Beckes interior designs at beckesinteriordesign.com.

[Main image: Shelley Beckes]