Jessica Schuster, owner and lead designer at New York-based Jessica Schuster Design, expertly infused modern femininity into an antiquated breakfast nook for the Kips Bay Decorator Show House in Palm Beach, Florida.

During the Show House unveiling event, House Tipster caught up with Schuster to learn about her inspiration for the unique space.

Originally an unused, outdated breakfast room extended out from the kitchen, Schuster and her young, female design team felt that the area needed a modern purpose. “We wanted to do something different,” she explained. “We wanted to open it up, making it brighter, lighter, and fun.”

After studying the space, Schuster decided to convert it into a “She-Study:” an office space for the contemporary woman. “It’s a place where you can come and do you your work while staying close to what’s happening in the home.”

Although Schuster is known for pushing boundaries and mixing different design periods and styles while still maintaining cool, comfortable, custom spaces, her work on the Kips Bay Decorator Show House was unlike anything else she’s ever done. For this project, Schuster was able to truly put her personal touch on the space, and try some new techniques in the process.

For example, she worked closely with the Canadian company USIMM to create a 3D Venetian plaster wall prototype, which she then meticulously layered with Venetian plaster. The ceiling was in and of itself a work of art with inlaid mother-of-pearl, while the carpet, a custom Jessica Schuster design executed by Crosby Street Studios brought the room together.

Overall, the bright colors and bold patterns contrasted by feminine touches throughout the room were reminiscent of the work of artists such as Matisse and Picasso.

“[This room] is a place where I feel I can be authentically me, and where the woman of the home can be authentically her.”