After a profound loss, one homeowner embraced a home designed for joy

Grief shapes people in different ways. Libby Palmieri Schwartz of House of L Designs was working with a client several years ago when the project was interrupted by the sudden loss of the homeowner’s 52-year-old husband. Her client ultimately decided to complete the nearly 5,000-square-foot home the couple had planned, propelled more by momentum than a clear vision for her future there. Eventually, she sold that home and began building again.

“This time, it was about how she was living her life, not about trying to recreate how she lived with her husband,” Schwartz says of the new 3,400-square-foot home in Bay Village, Ohio. With her children and grandchildren all within walking distance, a comfortable place where everyone could easily drop in was essential, as was ensuring plenty of space for everything from puzzle and Lego-building nights to quiet moments for reading and reflection.

The family room was one of the first interiors to take shape. Overlooking a wooded ravine, it has what Schwartz describes as a “magical treehouse” feeling, thanks to expansive windows that frame the surrounding landscape and flood the interiors with sunlight. “It is one of those spaces where you walk in, and it takes your breath away,” she says.

Still, the home’s most lived-in moments unfold just beyond it in the kitchen. As an avid cook, the homeowner wanted enough room for pasta-making, baking, and hosting family meals without sacrificing functionality. To maximize space, Schwartz designed a storage-forward prep island and a colorful pantry with open shelving, ensuring everything can be seen at a glance. Rich pine cabinetry, amber-hued oak, and dramatic veining in Calacatta Turquoise stone add personality to the space. Nearby, a more relaxed eat-in dining arrangement reflects the casual way she now lives. “This is a very happy, family-centered house,” Schwartz says—and one that’s deeply personal to the homeowner.

FAST FACTS

Designer: House of L Designs

Location: Bay Village, Ohio

The Space: A 3,400-square-foot new build

PLAYROOM

Oversized flowers transform this space into a world of imagination.

What was once slated to remain unfinished storage became one of the homeowner's favorite rooms—and a magical retreat for her six grandchildren. It took some convincing, but Schwartz saw the potential to transform the tucked-away space into an imaginative escape wrapped in oversized florals painted by Wallworks Studio. “We tried to see the space through the eyes of a child,” Schwartz says. “Pure imagination, a sense of fantasy, and a bit of playfulness.”

KITCHEN

A thoughtful layout decision replaced an entire formal dining room.

An avid cook, the homeowner worried that downsizing meant sacrificing the kitchen she loved. Coming from a home with nearly twice the kitchen space, she questioned whether there would be enough room for pasta-making, baking, and hosting family meals.

Schwartz answered those concerns with thoughtful planning. Within just under 400 square feet, she fit a panel-ready refrigerator, double ovens, a Wolf rangetop, two sinks, generous prep space, and a dining table that comfortably seats eight.

Equally important was rethinking how the room functioned once the family arrived. Having rarely used the formal dining room in her previous house, the homeowner had no interest in recreating it. “I would rather have everything together,” Schwartz recalls her saying. Rather than filling the island with stools, the designer created a dedicated prep surface and anchored the room with an eat-in dining table, allowing the homeowner to cook while children and grandchildren linger nearby, not underfoot.

PANTRY

An overlooked pass-through became one of the home's boldest moments.

A palette of currant-colored cabinetry, Clé zellige tile, and Calacatta Viola stone transforms the pantry into what designer Schwartz calls a “jewel-box moment.” A sepia-toned floral sink skirt in Zoffany fabric, trimmed with tangerine Samuel & Sons grosgrain, softens the richly saturated space.

SITTING ROOM

This quiet retreat offers a pause from family life.

Though compact, the sitting room was one of the project's biggest splurges. Wrapped in Nobilis's Josephine wallcovering and layered with custom window treatments, it was designed to visually bookend the richly colored pantry just across the foyer. “It reads with presence rather than size,” says Schwartz.

FAMILY ROOM

Perched above the ravine, the room feels like a grown-up treehouse.

To make the two-story great room feel more intimate, designer Schwartz framed the lower windows in pleated Nina Campbell drapery. A Four Hands game table tucked into the corner was a specific request from the homeowner, creating a dedicated spot for puzzles, Legos, and afternoons with her grandchildren.

MUDROOM

Thoughtful storage keeps everyday life beautifully organized.

Rather than hiding everyday clutter behind a closet door, Schwartz transformed the mudroom into an extension of the home's architecture, complete with integrated storage, a built-in bench, and a dedicated drop zone.

GUEST BEDROOM

Sentimental pieces found new life in a fresh setting.

The twin beds were among the only pieces the homeowner brought from her previous house—at the insistence of her granddaughters, who had grown up sleeping in them. “How can we recreate the room in a more mature way, but still keep it fun and feminine?” Schwartz remembers asking herself. Quadrille's Persepolis wallcovering and a palette of celadon green, watery blue, and soft pink gave the space a fresh perspective while allowing the sentimental pieces to remain.

GUEST BATH

Varying shades of pink keep the monochromatic palette feeling fresh.

Pattern does the heavy lifting in the guest bath, where a mosaic floor gives way to larger-scale checkerboard tile in the shower, creating contrast through both proportion and texture. A blush vanity and celery-green accents tie the room back to the adjacent bedroom.

FOYER

Collected artwork turns a compact foyer into a gallery moment.

Though the entry sequence is relatively short, Schwartz created a sense of progression by layering a custom Oomph Home settee, vintage artwork, and vertical beadboard to draw the eye forward. “Each element is placed to create progression, allowing the entry to feel layered rather than limited by its size,” she says.

About the Designer

Founded by Libby Palmieri Schwartz in 2000, House of L is a Bay Village, Ohio–based interior design firm specializing in full-service residential projects. Schwartz's background in both design and construction management allows her to guide each project from concept through completion, creating homes that feel deeply personal, highly functional, and layered with color and character.