When Paola Alberdi moved from San Diego to Miami, her top priority was curating an inviting guest room to host family members. With a second baby on the way, the Mexican-American lifestyle influencer and her husband Hector were expecting lots of visitors from California as soon as they moved into their new home.

Paolo tapped Havenly lead designer Kelsey Fischer to swiftly reimagine the space, which was a blank canvas with a beautiful view of the double-height living room and the river beyond it. The duo agreed on a modern minimalist aesthetic, complete with clean lines and stark tones. “I wanted it to have both feminine and masculine touches since we knew we would be having people over all the time,” Paola explains.

Before

After

But the room wasn’t only meant for guests—Paola and Hector needed a multifunctional space that could also act as a work-appropriate office and a comfortable den for binging Netflix. “The guest room has the biggest television in our home, so we love to spend family time in here on Sundays, watching our favorite movies or shows together,” shares Paola.

For Kelsey, the biggest challenge was finding a way to seamlessly blend those very different uses into a single design. She managed to strike a balance between hospitable, professional, and cozy by mixing sleek silhouettes with loungy materials. The result is a welcoming room that can truly do it all. Here’s how she pulled it off.

Building a Foundation

Kelsey began the project by choosing the bold statement pieces and then worked her way down to the small details. First, she opted for a pair of sculptural, Space Age table lamps that offer a corporate Mad Men vibe and a cream-colored, upholstered bed frame that brings a sense of softness.

Since Paola already owned a midcentury-style, walnut media console, Kelsey chose nightstands with a similar wood grain to match. “I wanted to make sure that Paola’s existing media console was integrated beautifully into the design and felt natural with the other selections,” she reasons. “I kept the textures layered and pulled in more of those walnut wood tones to balance some of the more high contrast elements.”

Adding Light

Kelsey addressed the room’s most unusual feature—indirect natural light from a floor-to-ceiling window that overlooks the living room, which has stunning views of nature—with a clever optical illusion. She installed symmetrical, rounded rectangle-shaped mirrors above the nightstands to help illuminate the place. 

“I wanted to ensure that we not only maintained that tailored look, but brought a little more light into the space,” she says. “People can view mirrors over the nightstands as a more glam touch, but this shows it’s such a versatile design choice that can be adapted to what the room calls for.”

Upping the Cozy Factor

To guarantee a comfortable experience for guests, Kelsey outfitted the bed with crisp, white linens that feel like sleeping in a hotel. She paired them with a black throw, charcoal-hued pillows, and a deep slate rug for contrast. “I usually go with lighter colored rugs and this time I decided to step out of my comfort zone and go with something a little more bold,” Paola reflects “I love how it turned out!” 

Fast Five with Paola Alberdi

Three things you can’t live without? My phone, coffee, and under eye concealer.

Favorite Netflix binge show? I am constantly watching new ones and I have no chill. I will binge watch and finish the whole thing in one or two days. Schitt’s Creek is definitely a fun one I can just put on the background on repeat.

What’s on your nightstand? Currently, a lamp and my Alexa Echo. I like to keep it simple.

Define your style in three words: Modern, sophisticated, and contemporary.

You just saw your final design and… how do you feel? I loved it! Kelsey, my designer, really understood my vision and style and made the whole process so easy!

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