Grace Blu Interior Design
A Sneak Peek into the Newport Home and Garden Tour with Rona Graf
Each year, we’re proud to sponsor the Newport Home and Garden Tour—a cherished local tradition and an important fundraiser presented by Barclay Butera Interiors. This year marks the 28th anniversary of the tour, taking place on May 15th, and it promises to be more inspiring than ever, featuring 6 beautifully designed homes in the Newport Harbor High School area.
To celebrate, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to interview Rona Graf, the founder of Grace Blu, who designed 3 of the featured homes on this year’s tour. In our exclusive interview, she shares her design approach and offers advice for emerging designers. Whether you’re planning to attend the event or just love good design, you’re in for a treat.
Get to know Rona in our exclusive interview
Q: You designed not one, but three homes on this year’s Newport Harbor Home and Garden Tour! What drew you to participate?
Rona Graf: We were so thrilled that not one, but three of our homes that we recently completed this year were ready for this year’s home tour in Newport Harbor. We are so excited to showcase three completely different styles and aesthetics all within the same lifestyle of what Newport offers.
Q: What advice would you share to a designer looking to participate in a home tour for the first time?
Rona Graf: Use this time to shine and showcase your design ability, your style and who you are and what you do differently for your homes and your clients. We are excited to not only show the home, but the flair of each home in way that showcases us and our love of hospitality.
Q: Is there a particular material, color, pattern or trend you’re loving right now?
Rona Graf: At Grace Blu, we have always loved rich colors and lots of texture. We aren’t necessarily the biggest trend followers, as we always tend to design with the essence of timeless designs in mind. But, I think our personal favorite aesthetic of mixing old with new is certainly a big thing to follow right now. That is a trick to create a space that will stand the test of time as well.
Q: What’s your favorite type of space to design and why? (Kitchens, living rooms, outdoor spaces, etc.)
Rona Graf: I personally love designing the most unique and tailored space in the home… This is where our client’s request a particular need and we have a field day creating that unique space. For example, in our Newport Nantucket home, one of my most favorite spaces we designed is the Bar/Pub Cabana. This was especially fun because we got to become very creative with the different uses of materials and furniture to create a one of a kind space that is where the fun happens in the home! For our Herringbone Habitat home, the record / music lounge is one of my favorite spots. It’s a really cool mix of materials, colors and textures to create the perfect hang out spot with purpose. In The Happy Place, the rooftop is dedicated to beach life at its finest and that is my favorite part of the home. It was easy to design with a backdrop such as the expansive beach view!
Q: How do you give yourself work/life balance when you’re juggling multiple client visions and timelines?
Rona Graf: There really isn’t a work life balance formula on a day to day basis, it’s much more of a macro-view of how to balance the hustle and bustle of a full schedule and enjoying life. Life is short, so I tend to live by the mantra “Work Hard, Play Hard.” I always find time to carve out to enjoy the little moments, and never will pass up the opportunity to travel, even if it’s just a few days- sometimes that is all you need to reset.
Q: You are such a fun follow on Instagram! You and your team seem to genuinely enjoy what you do—what’s the secret to creating such a positive, creative energy in your work?
Rona Graf: Thanks! I really believe that Life is short so it’s best to enjoy and cherish every moment. We work so hard and in order to enjoy so much time spent at work, I try to keep an atmosphere that is fun, creative and inspirational. I think that by creating an environment that is beautiful, you can tap into your full potential and your gift and bring it to the table for all to enjoy. We celebrate the little moments and share them. We also don’t take everything so seriously, sure there are a lot of stressful moments in design and the details matter, but at the end of the day we “get” to do what we love and share our gift with the world. I always say, it’s not surgery or life threatening- it’s just making a home more beautiful than it was.
Grace Blu Essential Picks
We asked Rona to share a few of her favorite pieces from our collection. From timeless staples to statement-makers, here are the items she loves most…
Tropez Outdoor 90” Sofa
The Tropez Outdoor collection, I love the texture and style of this classic sofa and collection. It fit perfectly in a beach home as well as a beautiful classic styled home.
Loom Counter Stool
The Loom Chair is one of our go to chairs that is always a crowd pleaser. Whether using it for indoors or outdoors- it always compliments any other furniture while adding a flair of fun and interest!
Haven 110” Lounge Slipcover Sectional
The Haven Sofa with Chaise is also one of our favorite go to neutral sofa’s with casual yet sophisticated feel.