Ania Dunlop Crafts Her Own Modern Mediterranean Home for Zen

Creatives benefit from project briefs and client feedback just as writers are made better from editorial assignments and proofreading. Critiquing oneself is never easy. But what happens when an interior designer is tasked with crafting their own sanctuary? Such was the monumental task for Ania Dunlop of Home for Zen who recently bought and completed a gut renovation of her Westchester family home after 30 house tours. Built in 2003, the structure continues to be the ideal stage for soulful expression as she showcases decades worth of art, heirlooms, and the occasional graphic print for extra pops of personality.

Spacious modern living room with high ceilings, tall windows, and cozy seating area. Large indoor plants, round table with decorative items, and minimalist decor accentuate the airy ambiance.

Prospective buyers are enticed by a plethora of things from amenities to flashy finishes, but for Dunlop it will always be about potential. “Despite being a dated Mediterranean-style home, it had great bones, expansive space, and the kind of grounds that are perfect for entertaining,” she says. “I could immediately envision the transformation. It was clear this house was more than just a property; it was a canvas to create something special.”

Modern, spacious living room with white walls, light wood flooring, a curved staircase, large windows, indoor plants, contemporary furniture, and minimalistic decor.

A modern living room with curved plush seating, a marble fireplace, a chandelier, large windows, and an artwork of a woman.

The sprawling residence now comprises three levels – basement, ground, and first – with a dining, family, living, sunroom, kitchen with cafe nook, two offices, five bedrooms, six full bathrooms, two powder rooms, an indoor pool, entertainment area with bar, gym, and screening room. What’s more, the extensive glazing and generous greenspaces extend the interiors for a great deal of living al fresco all year round. Architectural fixtures like the grand double staircase are retained with a new, streamlined railing to contrast the original, more ornate moldings.

A bright, modern sunroom with large windows, yellow armchairs, a round black table, and various potted plants. The room features a nature-themed wallpaper and a ceiling fan.

Modern kitchen with a white island, wooden stools, tropical leaf wallpaper, and glass door adorned with plants.

Dunlap maximizes daylighting in the ground floor open plan with barely off-white walls and a whisper of natural hues for paint that barely blushes when kissed by the sun. Other areas are punctuated with lively wallpapers and surface patterns to create visual interest, often organic in appearance. The solarium has quickly become everyone’s favorite room evoking the spirit of a tropical oasis from its botanical surface patterns, gold velvet chairs, and thriving flora staged throughout.

A modern living room with a white sofa, a large flat-screen TV mounted on a marble wall, potted plants, and open shelves displaying books and decorative items.

Modern living room with a white couch, two black chairs, a large ottoman, and a floor-to-ceiling wine rack. An adjacent dining area and kitchen are visible in the background.

References to earth’s other elements include luxe marble mantles and backsplashes, a smattering of metal accents that will patinate, and handmade ceramics. Much of the home furnishings are made from ash and rift oak then upholstered in shearling, mohair, and boucle textiles. Of note is the first floor design studio, which features a large, weeping willow tree wall treatment whose tendrils extend across the space.

A modern dining room with a long table surrounded by eight chairs, artistic pendant lights hanging above, abstract wall art, and a sideboard with a round mirror. Large windows let in natural light.

Modern living room featuring a large sectional sofa, black leather chairs, a grey coffee table, and floor-to-ceiling windows, with a kitchen and dining area visible in the background.

The interior atmosphere can best be described as a fusion of tastes to satisfy aesthetic palates from the Mediterranean to Parisian Chic. Artisan goods and handcrafted collectibles further imbue the otherwise minimalist spaces with some soul. This type of meaningful curation is what the designer encourages her clients to practice for the sake of quality, sustainability, and timelessness. Implementing it herself is a testament to how fulfilling the return on emotional investment can be when the project is fully realized despite self-doubt.

Modern kitchen with black and white cabinetry, a large kitchen island with seating, three pendant lights above the island, and a vase with flowers as a centerpiece.

A modern dining area features a round white table surrounded by a curved gray banquette and black chairs. Large windows and a sliding glass door provide ample natural light.

“Designing my own home was more complicated than designing for someone else. I really have to trust my gut that all the decisions that I made are the right ones,” Dunlop adds. “The joy came from doing it on my terms, not for future owners or clients, but for my family.”

A modern bedroom with a cozy seating area, stylish bed, lit fireplace, large wall art, potted plant, and contemporary lighting.

A modern bathroom with a freestanding oval bathtub, a wicker chair, dual marble sinks, round mirrors, a small side table, and large windows allowing natural light to fill the space.

A modern home office with a clean design, featuring a large desk, minimalistic chairs, abstract wall art, hanging lights, extensive shelving, and a cozy seating area with a coffee table and a rug.

A modern living room with a white couch, oval coffee table, potted plants, abstract wall art, and a large window with a view of greenery.

Modern home office with wooden floors, white and wood furniture, organized shelves with white boxes, a desk with a computer, and minimalist decor including a small round table in the foreground.

Modern bathroom with a round mirror, marble countertop, rectangular sink, and a black faucet. Three hanging pendant lights and a vase with purple flowers are on the countertop.

A modern gym with mirrored walls, weight racks, a weightlifting station, exercise equipment, and dumbbells on the floor.

A modern home theater with recliner chairs, an elevated sofa, wall sconces, a blue LED-lit ceiling with star-like lights, and a large screen displaying a cityscape image.