Meghan Eisenberg’s Mid-Century Revival is a New Kind of Dream Home

Rip & Tan: This home holds such significance for you and your family—how did you approach the redesign? What determined which elements stayed and which warranted an update?

Meghan Eisenberg: I approached the redesign very respectfully! My Grandfather was a very talented architect so I trusted the decisions he made when designing the home were done with great thought and purpose. Therefore, we didn’t want to move walls or drastically change the floor plan, rather, we updated the finishes and furnishings within the space to make the home feel like our own. I am so happy we kept the main architectural features the way he had intended because I am actually learning from him by living in his space.

In the areas that we did update, it was based on our family’s needs. For example, in the ’50s and ’60s, they often used small cooktops. With my husband’s passion for cooking, we needed to figure out how to fit a full range and a high-powered hood within the galley kitchen footprint—a definite challenge!

Rip & Tan: From the unexpected color palette to the way you play with lighting, the interior is so fun and inviting. How would you describe your personal aesthetic and the way it manifests itself in this space?

Meghan Eisenberg: I definitely like to push the boundaries a bit, and create something unexpected. But I am also pretty classic. I don’t want something to be overly trendy but I also like things to feel relevant. It’s this constant push and pull, and quite frankly the obsessive over analyzing, that gets me to my destination. I wouldn’t say it’s the easiest process but at the end of the day I feel very satisfied knowing I didn’t leave any stone unturned!

Rip & Tan: What’s your favorite room or element of the home?

Meghan Eisenberg: The raised shag platform in the living room. Since I grew up visiting my grandparents in the house, I have very fond memories of playing “type rope walking” on the wooden beams and doing performances on our built-in stage.

Because it takes up a large section of the living room, many who visited early on in the remodel encouraged me to take it out in order to have more space… but I didn’t necessarily ‘need’ more floor space for additional seating… so I ended up keeping it mainly because I was too nostalgic to get rid of it. But I am so happy I did because it ends up that it is one of the main destinations in the house, not just for kids but for adults too!

When we have dinner parties, all the adults end up hanging out there, drinking wine, and listening to records. Moral of the story: more space doesn’t necessarily mean more… dividing up the room with different areas can actually make a room feel bigger!

Rip & Tan: We’re sensing the influence of nature in the space—can you talk to us about how you achieved this indoor/outdoor flow?

Meghan Eisenberg: Honestly, that is all my Grandfather! A principal feature in mid-century architecture was an emphasis on indoor/outdoor living by utilizing floor-to-ceiling walls of glass, sliding doors, and interior atriums.

You will also notice that windows were located to maximize views and skylights were added to areas that don’t have an abundance of natural light. All I did was paint everything green, hah. My little way of paying homage to this mid-century concept.

Rip & Tan: What are some of your favorite ways to layer textures and materials?

Meghan Eisenberg: Decide where to go big and everything else should be relatively calming.

Rip & Tan: From the art on your walls to the cushions on the floor, your home seamlessly blends the concept of an artistic interior with a truly livable space. What advice do you have for those wanting to curate this kind of form-meets-function interior?

Meghan Eisenberg: I think what creates a livable space are interior architectural choices that are functional and timeless, nothing that is attached to the home should be too wild. Then you can have fun with artwork, paint color choices, decorative lighting, and fabrics.

Get creative in the areas that you can easily change and you should be able to find the right balance between artistic and livable.

Rip & Tan: What’s the key to creating a home that feels rich with warmth while still embodying a sense of minimalism?

Meghan Eisenberg: It’s definitely a balancing act! I love using warm finishes, creamy walls, unlacquered brass that will patina over time, marbles with character, but then I go pretty minimal on everything else, for example, the style of the cabinetry and the architectural details. I suppose the same goes for furnishings, I try to balance traditional fabrics on restrained furnishings or minimal fabrics on traditional furnishings.

Rip & Tan: You’ve mentioned that your purpose as a designer is to bring out a client’s best version of themselves in the form of their interior—how does your own home speak to you and your family? Is there a design ethos you hope to instill in your own children?

Meghan Eisenberg: It speaks to our family by exuding several of the things you have asked about, its warmth, casualness, and creativity! Those are all great descriptors of how I wanted our home to represent us, but I wasn’t sure how that was going to translate into a mid-century setting, which, in its purest form, can feel stark.

I dove deep into mid-century ranch house décor that experiments with pattern and tradition, I chose colors that were unexpected in the environment, and I tried to think outside the box when it came to furnishing periods and finish choices.

My background is in painting and drawing, so my dream would be for each project to feel like an individualized work of art, including my own. I am not sure that there is a ‘design’ ethos that I would like to instill in my children, except, to be yourself, everyone else is taken!

Rip & Tan: Do you have any tips for sourcing meaningful home pieces? How do you tend to approach decor?

Meghan Eisenberg: Figure out what your dream vision is first, unrestrained by budget, existing furniture pieces, or old ideas. Then from there, determine your priorities and make the most impactful changes first. The rest will figure itself out.

Rip & Tan: What does living well mean to you?

Meghan Eisenberg: Living well to me means that I am staying in touch with how insanely lucky I am, being appreciative for all the wonderful people in my life, and utterly grateful to have a career that I am creatively fulfilled by.