Forest Ridge Iowa City | Downsized Retirement Dream Home

Interior Designer Emily Hughes worked closely with H&H Builders on the finish selections and overall design of this custom home, focusing on creating a space that would suit the homeowners’ needs as they downsize. With an eye on future retirement, the goal was to design a home that would be functional, comfortable, and adaptable to their evolving lifestyle. The result is a carefully crafted space that combines both aesthetics and practical considerations, ensuring the homeowners can enjoy it for years to come.
The homeowners aimed to infuse character into their custom home by incorporating unique elements that would enhance its charm and warmth. Rustic wood beams, finished in a light tone, were strategically placed to add an inviting and organic feel to the space. Painted wainscoting in a bold pop of color further contributed to the home’s personality, offering a playful yet refined touch.

The white stone surrounding the great room fireplace and adorning the exterior added a neutral, textured element, balancing the warm wood tones and providing a timeless appeal. To complement the relaxed and cozy ambiance, thoughtfully selected light fixtures were chosen to elevate the overall design with an understated sophistication, seamlessly blending style with comfort. Together, these design elements created a space that feels both elegant and welcoming, perfect for the homeowners’ retirement years.

Design Team: Emily Hughes

Home Builder: H&H Builders

Tile + Flooring: Randy’s Flooring + Sobaski Abbey Carpet
Plumbing: Plumb Supply
Countertops: Elite Stone

Lighting: Illuminate North Liberty

Cabinetry: Cabinet Style
Photography: The Storms Photo
Furniture + Accessories: Mix Home Mercantile
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio
Forest Ridge Iowa City Interior Design Portfolio

Shop the look at our retail storefront
in person or online.

Mix Home Mercantile Logo
Shop the Look at Mix Home Mercantile
Emily Hughes, Interior Designer North Liberty

Principal Interior Designer

Emily Hughes

Interior designer, Emily Hughes, had an appreciation for art at an early age. Her love of drawing, painting, and decorating led her to pursue her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Interior Design. Emily has achieved National Certification of Interior Design Qualification and believes that an educated background in interior design provides the most well-thought-out interior design solutions for her clients.

Emily favors a layered look that mixes modern, vintage, and personal pieces, creating interiors with depth and personality. Adept at interpreting her clients’ wants and needs, she is eager to initiate a design concept that captures their personality and design aesthetic. Emily incorporates the latest trends in unique, durable finishes into all of her designs. Creative at combining a mix of products at varying price points, Emily is driven to provide exceptionally stylish and financially accessible interior design for all.

In her free time, Emily enjoys getting outdoors and exploring new places with her son, Max and husband, Scott. She also loves painting and getting lost in a good book.

How to reach Emily // emily [at] themixhome [dot] com
Follow Emily on Instagram // @emilyhughesinteriors

More from Emily

Poplar St. Custom Build Interior Design Project

PORTFOLIO PROJECT

Coralville Custom Build — Poplar Street

JW Hendrickson Timeless Contemporary

Portfolio Project

Timeless Contemporary — Jeff Hendrickson

Our passion for home interiors.

Blog Article

Living the Dream — Our Story & Passion for Home Interiors

LET'S WORK TOGETHER

YOUR TASTE + OUR EXPERTISE

The approachable design team at Mix Home Design Studio creates refreshingly modern and timelessly classic interiors for residential and select commercial new builds and remodels. We thrive on developing lasting client relationships and strive to capture your personal style through thoughtful collaboration.

We’d love to design with you! The first step for new clients is to complete our New Client Questionnaire. Once submitted, we will review your answers and be in touch within a week or two to schedule an initial meeting.

Please note: Due to high demand and full schedules, we currently have a 15-45 day wait list for new clients, depending on the scope of your project.

PORTFOLIO

Hamptons Organic Modern

Rempel Iowa City New Build 

H&H New Home Construction

Project Shagbark

Custom Build – Poplar Street

Forest Ridge Iowa City

Modern Traditional Homestead

Skogman Parade Home Staging

H&H Remodel

Lakeridge Estates

Timeless Contemporary

Modern Vintage Farmhouse

Buresh Cedar Rapids Remodel

Cedar Rapids Custom Home

Modern Traditional – Cullen Drive

Kitchen + Great Room Remodel