Words by Loureen Murphy
Ashi Waliany’s infusion of modern grace into a San Francisco condo whet the owners’ appetite for more. So they ordered a fresh look and feel for their traditional primary home in Menlo Park. The details: Season it liberally with blues and heirlooms—and hold the wallpaper. In response, former restaurateur and Cusp Interiors principal Ashi whisked together her clients’ ideas with her innovative juices and let them marinate. “This project gave me a chance to explore a different side of their taste, and my own as well, creating a layered, deeply personal home,” she says of the results.
The living room now presents a healthy serving of greens (Benjamin Moore’s Sea Haze) on the cabinetry, fireplace casings and ceiling beams, exuding calm and elegance. “The overall palette draws from nature,” says Ashi. Layers of green with touches of blue in the pillows and carpet create indoor-outdoor continuity. Because her clients love the backyard view, she oriented the sofa to face it. Splashes of artwork collected during the homeowners’ travels dress the room.
As richer fare in deep blues, the elevated office showcases well-preserved land deeds that have been in the husband’s family since the 18th century. Mounted on bookcases behind the desk, the framed deeds highlight a significant piece of family history. Ashi took note of her clients’ pride of ownership and meticulous care of each piece in their home, whether purchased or inherited.
Like a master chef developing deep flavor, Ashi rendered the primary bedroom into a palette-pleaser, layering colors, textures and patterns. To reflect the clients’ current taste and lifestyle, she stripped away the dark green carpet, floral wallpaper and pink bedding. “I wanted to preserve elements of the room’s past while reinterpreting them for today,” Ashi says.
Keepers included the chinoiserie-style nightstands and the window seat. The new bed’s plush blue-gray velvet upholstery evokes quiet and comfort, while the wood flooring and natural tone of the Philip Jeffries grasscloth on the walls exude warmth. Two Midcentury-style upholstered seats open the space that once was weighted down by a massive dresser and mirror. Above, a bubbly light fixture adds sculptural interest. Ashi enhanced the stunted window seat, flanking it with luxurious, high-mounted drapery. That once awkward area now invites cozy moments.
Visitors can cozy up, too, drinking in the guest room’s refreshing ambience. Airy and whimsical, Schumacher’s blue botanical wallpaper envelops the whole space. Ashi intermixed patterns, scale variations and layers in neutrals and blues, consistent hues tying together the whole. In this harmonious haven, guests can read at a cushy upholstered window bench or sip a beverage at their own bistro-like nook. “It feels like an escape,” the designer says.
Her clients’ first sight of Zebrino marble, which they deemed “gorgeous, ”kick-started the home’s biggest change. With Ashi’s help, they found the perfect backsplash piece—and the impetus to break from their usual aesthetic and transform their pink floral powder room into an experience.
Inky blue lime-washed walls complement the slate-stained white oak flooring in a Moorish tile–inspired pattern. Pendant lamps suggestive of dangling pearl earrings replaced the overhead recessed light. Lighter cabinets and a metal wall sculpture finish the update with depth and movement, dashed with salt and pepper. “This room felt like a fun design swing for them—not a huge risk, but certainly bolder,” concludes Ashi.
Mutual trust sweetened this project, especially in the dining room. Despite the request to eschew florals, Ashi embraced the existing upholstered wall covering. “I knew that with a little bit of finesse, we could make that room feel different.” Farrow & Ball’s Crimson Red in a high-gloss finish on the wainscot paired well with the walls, lacquered dining set and buffet the husband bought before he and his wife met. Heirloom china and silver pieces fill the china cabinet, custom-made when they moved in 30 years ago. Ashi’s secret sauce—intense color, energizing without overpowering traditional elements—serves up the perfect bridge between old and new.
Ashi notes that the husband loved the result, confirming that changing the surroundings breathes new life into sentimental pieces.
Staying true to her clients’ taste, Ashi and team built on the past while renewing each room. “We created a space that feels truly authentic and personal to the people who live there. It’s a nice reminder that you don’t have to start from scratch for your home to feel new and fresh.”