They call her Miss Hudson. An elegant late Victorian townhouse on Providence’s storied West End, Miss Hudson is less a renovation than a revelation: a home that unfolds room by room, each chamber offering a new mood, a new discovery. “The moment I walked into the condo I knew she was the one,” says the homeowner, a technology executive in her fifties. “Light poured through the windows like a permanent art installation, changing throughout the day and transforming every room.”
Constructed in 1876, the original floor plan – parlor, dining room, family room and kitchen – was a sequence the owner loved and wanted to preserve. “I wanted the house to reveal itself one room at a time,” she says. That decision delighted designer Lindsey Bouley, owner of Lindsey Dana Interiors in Providence. “It’s rare now to have a client ask to keep walls in place,” Bouley explains. “It allowed me to be more creative in telling each room’s story.”
The guiding idea for the project was deceptively simple: treat the home like a jewel box. “If this were reduced to the size of a jewel, would it deserve a place in a jewelry box?” the owner asked. That question shaped every selection – furnishings, lighting, artwork, even the smallest decorative objects – ensuring that each piece earned its place not by cost or trendiness but by how it deepened the overall experience. Color and light play the canvas for each item. Bouley notes the space’s “magnificent” natural light as her first design principle. An earlier palette of cool blues and black trim left the rooms feeling cold despite abundant sun; together, the women pivoted to warm whites and saturated hues that respond dynamically as daylight shifts.
The first-floor palette, save for the kitchen, is Benjamin Moore’s Pink Damask. It was a last-minute choice that inspired the wallpapering of the ceiling in the dining room, making it a conversation-sparking destination. The kitchen opts for Moore’s French Macaron – a soft counterpoint to the invigorating tones elsewhere.
Each room tells a distinct story. The parlor, formally named by the contractor and inspired by Bouley’s love of fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld’s sense of elegant ease, is ceremonial without being stuffy – “collected but smart,” Bouley says. It sets the tone for Miss Hudson: graceful, layered, and a little theatrical. The family room, which the designer’s daughter calls “fancy cozy,” is the house’s everyday heart: a long, narrow space made warm and functional through strategic furniture placement, a built-in reading nook, and a well-loved leather club chair. Texture, too, creates warmth and movement through the rooms. The owner describes her approach as “thoughtful accumulation;” wallpaper, textiles, metals, estate furnishings, books, and collected objects that reveal themselves over time. Bouley builds on that tactile nest with restraint and intention. “Pattern play and texture mixture is central to my design philosophy,” she says, “but I prefer it to feel special, not ubiquitous.” A hand-painted South Asian sideboard anchors the parlor; surrounding textiles and art were chosen to enhance, not compete with, the piece’s decorative detailing.
Providence itself is woven into the design ethos of the home. “The city values history, architecture and independent creativity,” the owner says. “It inspired me to lean into a home that feels unapologetically feminine, deeply personal, and designed to reveal itself one room at a time.” Still, Miss Hudson is not simply a collection of attractive rooms. “The best homes aren’t simply beautiful,” Bouley says. “They’re designed to be experienced.”
Learn more about Bouley’s work and services at Lindsey Dana Interiors, LindseyDanaInteriors.com, Instagram: @lindseydana_interiors
Ideas and resources for making the most of living in the Ocean State.
Bouley notes that she finds endless inspiration wandering aisles at places like Mike’s Estate Services, 30,000 square feet of consigned furnishings, art, kitchen items, lighting, rugs, jewelry and more. With hundreds of new items arriving weekly, the West Warwick mill is a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind items, all reasonably priced. Similarly, Rhode Island Antiques Mall in Pawtucket offers one-stop shopping for estate items, repairs, appraisals, and more.
Bouley enjoys shopping small around Providence and notes Nava (Wickenden Street) and Studio Hop (Hope Street) for curated, often one-of-a-kind homegoods. Nava trends towards unique, whimsical accessories for the kitchen counter, coffee table, bath, and beyond, while Studio Hop offers bold artworks, handmade items, and more from local and national artists. A favorite Providence artist is Jenny Brown, known for her collage and mixed media work.
Looking to add plants to your decor mix? At Providence’s Thea Plant Company, you will find an expansive collection of tropical flora, specialized soils, and thoughtful accessories, alongside expert services including tailored plant care, bespoke design, and professional consultation. Over in Pawtucket, Jordan’s Jungle features vibrant tropical flora and is ready to curate the ideal botanical accents and vessels for your personal sanctuary, workplace, or outdoor living space.
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