Interior Designer Michelle Gage creates a magical, fantasy-inspired design scheme for a young family in Squirrel Hill.

Inside Michelle Gage’s Fantasy-Inspired Interior Design

A solid work relationship between designer and homeowners is often the result of being on the same page from the get-go. So it was encouraging when Gage realized early on that she and her clients were definitely in sync. During a virtual consultation in the middle of COVID, they were discussing a possible color for the kitchen cabinets, and everyone said—at nearly the exact same time—“blush pink.” (Fast forward: those cabinets are now in Benjamin Moore Monticello Rose.)

Adding a Touch of Magic

In addition to the hue, the homeowners love fantasy, sci fi, mythical worlds, Lord of the Rings, and the like—worlds with a magical feel to them. “The one thing that our firm really tries to do is make sure that the homes look like the client,” says Gage. “It was fun taking cues from them.”

The fantasy theme gets subtle nods in wallpaper prints and textile patterns throughout the home. The wife of the couple is also a professed linen snob, and wanted to make sure all the textiles used in the house were really gorgeous. “The upholstery we brought in was really supple and yummy,” says Gage. She and her children also love to bake, so the kitchen was designed with that in mind. It’s not a huge room, and thus a tall order to make ample room for baking needs. It’s not only highly functional, but has a lot of storage, some snuck in. At the back of the room, Gage also added a custom purple velvet banquette (with a channel-tufted back), near a window facing the backyard. The charming wallpaper is from Ferrick Mason, the window treatments from Radish Moon.

Something for Every Moment

Gage divided the main living area, which is both large and long, into sections. On one side is a cozy fireplace area and on the other a place where the family can enjoy games and puzzles. On the gaming side, a large burl coffee table from Made Goods is intentionally quite sturdy to allow the energetic daughter to dance on it. “It’s a gorgeous piece of furniture, but it can also hold up to real life. They have kids who are creative and like to express themselves, and we didn’t want to limit that in the space,” says Gage.

The green sofa is the client’s own, and the accent chairs are from Highland House. While the group agreed on most everything, the couple didn’t love the first chandelier Gage showed them, stating that they were looking for something “more geometric and less arabesque”, so she selected one in metal and glass that ended up working perfectly.

Starting with the Walls and Moving Inward

The dining room wallpaper, from Designers Guild, was chosen to match the clients’ personalities.“The cats swat at the birds in the mural because they are unable to tell that it’s not real life.” The chandelier is also from Visual Comfort. The drapery fabric, a botanical print that complements the landscape depicted in the wallpaper, is from Walter G, an Australian fabric house, in an ochre block print. The boldly colored buffet is from Julian Chichester.

Letting Unique Details Shine

Large-scale, Japanese cornflower wallpaper from Iksel turns the primary bedroom into a lush and intimate space, the aubergine background and explosion of warm, caramel-colored foliage both warm and artistic. Another piece from Julian Chichester, the vanity, adds an unexpected dash of contrasting color. The custom bed was designed in-house and fabricated in Philadelphia then shipped to Pittsburgh. Wherever possible, local labor (the general contractor and wallpaper installer) was used.

The bright and welcoming entryway has clovers and shamrocks climbing the walls—the paper is from Svenskt Tenn—lending an enchanted forest feel. (The homeowners have dubbed the house the Forest Home.) Although there is a lot of nature outside, it made sense to also have that woodsy sensibility cross over into the interiors. The unusual overhead light fixture is again from Visual Comfort. And while the rug and carpeting look charmingly time-worn, they are actually new, adding a bit of faded grandeur to the mix. 

Placed throughout the home is a collection of artwork that is a mix of the owners’ own and fourteen pieces, all originals, that Gage sourced in Paris. Some sit in a frame and some do not, and Gage was methodical about placement, even making an art map to determine the best position for each. (The unframed kitten portrait over the banquette area is everyone’s favorite.) Giving her free rein to obtain such personal items on their behalf was further proof of the special relationship between Gage and the owners. “Not every client is that trusting.”

Story by Stephen Treffinger
Photography by Erin Kelly

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