In the BOH series What I Love, we’re asking designers to build us a mood board of what’s inspiring them right now.
Jessica Maros is savoring the last days of summer. It’s a time for tranquility and reflection, enhanced by enveloping interiors that offer an ambiance of harmony and calm. Based in Dallas, the founder of Maros Designs follows a style philosophy from slightly farther afield: kanso, the Japanese method of purposeful, minimalistic design. By interweaving this ethos with her “maximalist heart,” she conjures up concepts like a glass-enclosed hideaway in the woods—what she calls a “Whispering Lodge,” filled with warm, textural neutrals and organically weathered forms.
“Earthy, holistic, with a playful touch of color—that’s what I envision for this retreat nestled among the leaves,” says Maros. Welcoming the outdoors inside, her design draws inspiration from the cloudlike Cotinus, commonly known as the smoke tree. “Its dreamy purple foliage evokes quiet strength and softness,” she explains. Sunbaked terra cotta tile, a silken taupe rug, muted gold wallpaper and curiously idiosyncratic ceramic plates complement the materiality, while a biomorphic wooden floor lamp and checkerboard chenille-and-jute fabric inject cool bolts of blue.
“This lodge doesn’t shout,” says Maros. “It’s meant to surround and soothe you.” Dark oak cabinetry, a wheat-gold sofa and eco-friendly linen-esque drapery add to the layered, cohesive moments. On the eve of the change of seasons and the busy autumnal months ahead, these elements combine to create a reminder to pause and breathe. “Being yourself—imperfect, raw and real—is enough,” says the designer, who describes each of the selections in her mood board below.
1. TEMPEST RUG IN TUNDRA BY ARMADILLO
“Adding a silky, hand-knotted, taupe New Zealand wool rug in a corner as a layer for this color palette of peaches, blues and purples: It’s a little masculine, but also feminine.”
2. CHECKMATE FABRIC IN OCEAN BY ZINC
“When your sofa is covered in a fun print like this one, your space is instantly enjoyable. I love the alternating textures of linen-jute and chenille in this fabric, and the color is fabulous.”
3. GRANDE BOUCLE IN TOPAZ BY MOKUM BY CATHERINE MARTIN
“Sitting on a set of boucle chairs made from this substantial fabric is like being transported to under a tree. Contrasting the rich brown with other blues in the mood board creates a dreamy escape out of reality.”
4. TAXIDERMY INSECTS AND DECORATIVE STICKS
“I tend to collect rocks, sticks, and taxidermy of butterfly wings and insects. I find elements of earthy inspiration from the outside to be great sculptural pieces for my interiors.”
5. SMOKE TREE FOLIAGE
“The whole lodge was inspired by this smoke tree. Its palette of muted colors dries beautifully, allowing you to enjoy the arrangements for life.”
6. BLOOM FLOOR LAMP SAMPLE IN MIDNIGHT BLUE BY STUDIO SUPER SUNDAY
“In this space, we picture dyed-blue wood chairs around the kitchen island, the elegance of a bold color contrasting with the rustic lodge. Mounted on a pedestal, the two slim cylinders of this blue-finished floor lamp are futuristic yet organic—almost like flowers in a field.”
7. ZELLIGE TILE IN NATURAL UNGLAZED BY ZIA TILE
“When terra cotta leans toward salmon-peach, I’m all over it! A muted terra cotta that’s a bit rough around the edges, this tile gives authenticity to an open floor plan.”
8. ROLL RIGHT WALLPAPER IN GOLD ON WHITE BY MAKELIKE
“I love a subdued wall feature. This wonderful hand-silk-screened wallpaper feels muted and midcentury: slightly gold and brown and barely there.”
9. HANDMADE PLATE BY JANAKI LARSEN
“On my travels, I found a ceramicist in Vancouver named Janaki Larsen, and her studio was as tranquil as her pieces themselves. The ‘imperfection’ of her work is addicting and makes you realize the beauty inherent in it.”
10. VELA FABRIC IN 01 BY BISSON BRUNEEL
“France has a way of making textiles that last a lifetime, and this linen-look fabric is truly an artist’s masterpiece. As drapery, it lets you play with the light coming in.”
11. BOOM RUG IN ACQUE ECRU BY G.T.DESIGN
“A complementary wool-and-bamboo rug that adds a layer of cozy blue; it’s silky enough for bare feet to walk across and a cozy place to sit down and read.”
12. LAPIDARY ETUI PETIT MOSAIC TILE IN WHITE LIMESTONE BY CLÉ
“When it comes to fireplaces, I love when they’re entrenched in limestone. This concave mosaic tile adds the perfect texture to a midcentury lodge.”
13. ALGORA SOFA IN WHEAT BY CB2
“A sofa in a gold-brown tone serves as a neutral statement piece.”
14. FRAME CABINETS IN DARK OAK BY NOTE AT REFORM
“I’m a huge fan of these Reform kitchen cabinets in a wonderful chocolate brown that leans into midcentury modern and brings a new perspective on dark cabinetry into the mix.”
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