Designer, color person, and lifelong homebody with strong opinions about the color pink.
My work sits at the intersection of interiors, story, and emotion by helping people create homes that feel joyful and expressive. Color is always the starting point, but it’s never just about paint. It’s memory, energy, intention, and mood.
I have a natural instinct for reading between the lines—noticing patterns, preferences, and feelings people haven’t fully articulated yet—and helping turn those instincts into clear, confident design decisions. My goal isn’t to ever force boldness, but to uncover what already feels right to the person I’m working with.
Before starting my design consultancy, I spent years in magazine publishing, media, and brand storytelling, writing about design, style, and the quiet beauty of everyday things. That background trained me to look closely, ask better questions, and understand why certain spaces resonate while others fall flat. It also taught me how to translate big ideas into language people can actually use (a skill that now shows up just as much in my design work as in my writing). Clients have lovingly called our sessions “design therapy”… I’ll take it!
I live in Hudson, New York, with my husband and our Basset Hound, Lady, who fully believes she runs the place (and she might be right).
Hi! I’m Daniela…
What I’ve been writing about
25 Gorgeous Colors That Pair Beautifully with Green
20 Stylish Brown Color Combinations for Any Room
This Is the Only Color You’re Going to Want to Cover Your Home In
Where to Find the Best Design-Forward Hotels in the Hudson Valley and Catskills
Breaking Down Cool Color Palettes for Stylish, Relaxing Spaces
The Best Front Door Paint Colors for Homes with Personality
That ’70s Color Palette Is Back, Here’s How to Get It Right
The Interior Design Trend That’s Turning Homes and Apartments into Total Rainbow Rooms
The 12 Best Blue-Green Paint Colors for the Most Soothing Rooms Ever
Unexpected Places to Hang Art (That Actually Look Amazing)
Plate It Cool: Dishware Is the New Wall Art
The Secret to Picking a Perfect Paint Color? It Fits In My Pocket
Pistachio Is the Color of the Moment—Here’s How to Use It
This Halifax Home Hides a Stunning Renovation—and the Ultimate Family Upgrade
A New Kind of Coastal: The Fisherman Interior Trend
A Mid-Century Revival: Breathing New Life into a 1961 California Ranch
Victorian No More: Inside a Stunning Riverside Transformation
Love It or Hate It, Brutalism Is Back — Here’s Why This Style Is Resurfacing
This Remarkable Home Was Made Using Its Own Natural Materials
This Is the "It" Color for Spring, According to Designers
This Is the Surprising Bedroom Color You’ll See Everywhere in 2025
This Is the 19th Century Living Room Trend You’ve Probably Never Heard Of
"Mys" Is the Cozy Swedish Value You Need in Your Life Right Now
I Got a Color Analysis for My Home Decor and It Was Not At All What I Expected
This Playful Design Trend Is Gen Z’s Answer to Minimalism
This Nostalgic 111-Year-Old Staple Is Making a Major Splash as Decor
4 Food-Inspired Colors Dominating 2024, According to Designers
I Painted My Walls the “It” Color of 2024, and It's Surprisingly Versatile
This IKEA Shoe Rack Is the Secret to My Living Room Transformation
Out in the wild
How to Create A Color Palette With No Regrets (Domino)
What Colors Go Best With Butter Yellow? (Homes & Gardens UK)
Wait, Are Circular Beds In? What Designers Really Think About Curved Furniture (The Spruce)
A Design Psychologist Just Explained Why the Color of My Bed Sheets Matters — Now I Need to Buy a New Set (Livingetc)
4 'Wake Up' Colors to Use in Your Home to Give Your Morning as Much of a Boost as That First Cup of Coffee (Livingetc)
"It's Not Just About Being Loud" — 5 Positive Colors Design Experts Say Give Us All the Good Feels (Livingetc)
Daniela & Austin’s Upstate Cabin Renovation (Group Project)
Spotlight on Daniela Araya (Tulip)