How Margaret Naeve Curated Her Own Kind of Dream Home

Rip & Tan: We’d love to know more about your background. Can you tell us the significance of antiques in your interior design journey?

Margaret Naeve: I started interning for a renowned antique dealer in Houston while I was considering attending school for interior design. Little did I know then, she had plans to retire and sell her business. With equal parts passion and naivete of youth, I bought her company. That pivot felt like my true calling, and the interior design side of my business followed as a natural evolution after that—always incorporating a good measure of antique and vintage finds, of course.

Rip & Tan: Whether in feeling, process, signature elements, or something else—what makes an M.Naeve interior?

Margaret Naeve: I aim to create a sense of calmness with a touch of play or whimsy. I like to think an M.Naeve interior offers a sense of wonder and escapism. For example, grounding a room with organic materials and a neutral palette but incorporating impactful contemporary art to surprise you. It’s all about the use of restraint and editing.

Rip & Tan: Speaking as a designer and homeowner, what story does this particular space tell? What was the vision?

Margaret Naeve: This project is a reflection of my multi-faceted journey as a designer, wife, and mother. Over the past almost decade, I have curated pieces from all over the world to create this home. It’s a story that has unfolded over many seasons of both life and career milestones.

Rip & Tan: How did you determine which facets of the design would lean more muted versus more ornate?

Margaret Naeve: I like to ask questions as I make each decision—what happens if this piece falls more into the background to let another material shine? What becomes interesting if we anchor the room with a more traditional antique mantel paired with contemporary furnishings and fabrics? It’s a constant give and take.

Rip & Tan: What tips can you share for those looking to incorporate more storied pieces in their own homes?

Margaret Naeve: Be patient and open to letting the right pieces reveal themselves. The best interiors are layered over time. Visit flea markets and vintage markets, travel, follow and build rapport with antique dealers.

Rip & Tan: Do you have a favorite detail? A favorite room? Why?

Margaret Naeve: Although you would never know it, the sunroom is a space we decided to add towards the end of the remodel. It was an afterthought that unexpectedly became the place where we spend the most time as a family. Blurring the lines of interior versus exterior, it’s a light-filled space that doesn’t take itself too seriously. I just adore those playful, oversized shearling chairs.

Rip & Tan: We’re particularly struck by the seating in your space. Can you give us a peek into the process of curating and styling these incredible pieces?

Margaret Naeve: I am a bit of a chair freak. Dealers and vendors will send me things they think I will like after so many years of buying for the store, and every once in a while I’ll fall in love with something for my personal collection. Styling is about trial and error. I’ve got to see the piece in my space, how the form and the proportions layer into the rest of the room—it’s a feeling.

Rip & Tan: Whether you’re designing for others or refreshing your own home, where do you turn for fresh inspiration?

Margaret Naeve: You have to get out there. It’s important for me to visit galleries and see new exhibitions often in my home state of Texas and beyond. I love to frequent my favorite showrooms in New York and Los Angeles as well.