A house that no longer feels like a home to the owners – what a more complex, yet potential-rich, dilemma for interior designers?
The interior of an otherwise gracious 1920 Center Hall Colonial on Providence’s East Side, dreary pandemic-era updates left rooms cloaked in cool blues and grays. “The owners told us it felt sterile,” says Rochelle Bloom, who along with partner Kacey Dillier, helms Providence-based Bloom and Dillier Interiors. The duo welcomed the challenge with open arms. “They were really longing for warmth, pattern, and fun,” Bloom recalls.
Fortunately, the home offered what Bloom describes as “beautiful bones” – from the vestibule windows and elegant staircase to the detailed trim framing the living room fireplace. Color became the unifying language of the redesign. “We always ask clients which colors they’re drawn to before we begin,” Bloom notes. Here, blues, greens, pinks, and purples flow throughout the house, creating cohesion while still allowing each room its own identity. The vestibule is punctuated with a joyful purple wallpaper by Alex Conroy, a textile designer also based in Providence. “You can’t help but smile when you walk in and see it,” Bloom says.
Their designer philosophy is unapologetically bold yet deeply personal. “We believe color brings fun and personality to a home,” she explains. That confidence is balanced with respect for history – most notably in the living room, where heirloom wingback chairs were reupholstered rather than replaced. “It’s about giving a nod to the generations while still moving forward,” Bloom says.
Function was equally important. The homeowners wanted a living room that finally worked for entertaining. Custom-built bookshelves installed before the designers came on board felt flat, but demolition wasn’t the answer. Instead, Bloom and Dillier refreshed them with new hardware, rich blue paint, and ocean-inspired wallpaper lining the backs of the open shelves. “They were high quality,” Bloom explains. “They just needed life breathed back into them.”
“The home is the backdrop of the family,” Bloom says. “It should be as dynamic as the people who live there – ebbing and flowing through different stages of life.” In the reimagined version of this house, that philosophy comes through clearly: sophisticated but fun, rooted in history yet full of joy; a celebration of its architectural heritage and the lively spirit of the family who lives there.
“The Ocean State gives so much inspiration,” says Bloom, a native Rhode Islander. (Dillier has been here for a decade, an architecture graduate from Roger William University.) Living and working here shapes how Bloom and Dillier think about design. A mix of local makers, regional galleries, and time spent by the water informs their approach, grounding even the boldest choices in a strong sense of place. Learn more at BloomAndDillier.com.
“We believe that color brings joy and personality to a home. We’re not afraid of bold choices, and we’re always on the hunt for fresh patterns, unexpected details, and a balance between sophistication and comfort,” says Bloom. The team frequents haunts across the state such as Providence Picture Frame and Dryden Gallery, North Providence; Homeport and Newport Lamp and Shade Company, Newport; Groundswell Garden and Home, Tiverton; The Farmer’s Daughter, South Kingstown; Jordan’s Jungle, Pawtucket; Mike’s Estate Services in West Warwick; and The Floral Reserve, Simple Pleasures, and Stock in Providence, for all the inspiration.
Providence is such a special city thriving with very talented creatives. We love connecting with local artisans at the RISD Craft events and Providence Porchfest; working with vendors like Ardente Supply and Edge & End Studios, Providence, and Hwang Bishop Designs and O&G Studio in Warren.
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