Beyond filling a room, furniture shapes how we move, gather and feel within a space. For today’s top designers, the right piece can shift a room’s energy entirely, balancing beauty, comfort and craftsmanship. Here, Marie Flanigan, Ray Booth and Alfredo Paredes share how they approach furniture selection, from avoiding common pitfalls to designing and curating collections that embody their signature aesthetics.
This piece is part of LUXE’s Visionaries program celebrating our 20th anniversary. Stay tuned as we explore the “Story of Home” through the voices of leading experts and brands, culminating in our November/December 2025 anniversary issue.
It takes a storied collection of elements to transform a space: architecture, color, lighting and, of course, furniture. “Furniture has the power to completely shift the feeling of a room—it creates scale, defines function and sets the tone for how people gather,” shares designer Marie Flanigan . Known for her sophisticated use of color and texture, the Houston-based creative is a pro at finding special pieces that make rooms both stylish and comfortable. In the New York apartment featured here, she selected Hickory Chair seats with a midcentury modern silhouette to wrap the dining table for cozy family dinners. The dining chairs’ teal upholstery recalls the palette of the room’s Gracie wallpaper.
When done correctly, furniture’s impact goes beyond the physical. “Furniture is more than a place to sit; it defines space and has the ability to make us feel safe, cared for and celebrated,” says Ray Booth. The esteemed designer and principal partner of McAlpine, which boasts offices across the Southeast and in New York City, embedded that sense of security into his Tectonic collection with Hickory Chair. With integrated lumbar support and channel quilting, the oh-so-comfortable pieces are ideal for days spent gathering together.
Designer Marie Flanigan's expert use of scale is evident in this Manhattan apartment's dining room. See: the large family-style table with Hickory Chair seats taking center stage in the space.
"We guide clients by mixing eras and finishes so the room looks like it was collected over time."
- Marie Flanigan
A cozy, sophisticated living space designed by Marie Flanigan.
Popular Materials + Finishes
Whether custom-made or carefully sourced, each piece of furniture tells a story about how we live. And how we live undoubtedly influences the materials we opt for. “Durable finishes are always important, especially in high-traffic spaces, but I balance that with pieces that are architectural or unexpected," Flanigan says. She suggests selecting tough materials like marble for spaces where you need furniture to withstand daily life.
Another great material option is a tale as old as time: wood. “Wood finishes are always more forgiving than painted finishes,” Booth notes. “The natural graining in wood disguises nicks and blemishes.” Often, wood pieces look even better with age and help tell the evolving story of your home.
Designer Alfredo Paredes says he gravitates toward natural, tactile materials like wood, stone and metal as they bring warmth, depth and a sense of permanence to spaces. “I think a lot about how a surface will age; a marble top that shows the mark of glasses, a leather that softens with use or a wood table that collects scratches from years of dinners,” says the New York-based designer, suggesting that those imperfections make each piece even more beautiful over time. “Durability and design are never separate to me because the way something ages is part of its design,” he adds.
Sculptures flank a dreamy seating area in this living room designed by Ray Booth of McAlpine.
"Durability and design are never separate to me because the way something ages is part of its design."
- Alfredo Paredes
Traditional silhouettes meet contemporary architecture in this living room by designer Alfredo Paredes.
How To Avoid Common Furniture Mistakes
How can homeowners avoid some of the most common furniture mistakes people make when purchasing on their own? Designers share their takes.
Mix It Up
A small room doesn’t always equal small furniture. For Booth, sometimes the most impactful selection can be opting for a larger piece in a small space. See his mix of contrasting gestures in this Southampton retreat, for example. And don’t worry if all your furniture doesn’t match—that’s part of the charm, after all.
Take Your Time Picking Pieces
Paredes says it’s important to let spaces evolve over time, and he aims to provide that sense of collected charm through his own furniture line, which is filled with a host of solid materials and strong silhouettes. “The collection reflects my style in that it is cinematic and personal, with forms that feel collected over time rather than designed to match,” he shares. For Paredes, it comes down to choosing pieces that carry meaning and character. “It is better to live with fewer things you love than to fill a space with pieces that don’t speak to you,” he says. Check out the design of his sculptural bed worthy of a furniture wish list featured here.
Flanigan suggests a similar sentiment. “We guide clients by mixing eras and finishes so the room looks like it was collected over time,” she says. Rife with inspiration, her website showcases a curated selection of pieces inspired by client projects, and even features some of the exact furnishings the firm has used. “True to my interiors, each piece reflects a balance of restraint and warmth, designed to feel timeless, inviting and livable,” she says.
Paredes' Sevilla Woven Leather Bed is wrapped in a geometric grid of handwoven belting leather.
Ultimately, furniture goes beyond function—it’s the foundation of a room’s character and an expression of how we live. Through thoughtful design and materiality, each piece tells a story of craftsmanship and connection, transforming spaces into reflections of the people who inhabit them.
Special thanks to our Visionaries partners for celebrating 20 years with LUXE: 210 Design House, ADRIANA HOYOS, AjMadison, ALG Fine Art, American Screen Solutions, Amy Storm & Company, Anees Furniture, Anthony's Patio, AquaTerra Outdoors, Architectural Grille, Assure Interiors, Bailey Vermillion Interiors, Beth Krupa Interiors, Blair Burton Interiors, BSH Experience & Design Center Houston, California Closets, Candelaria Design Associates, CCS Interior Design Group, Chad Renfro Design, Chalet, Chic Design Group, Closet Factory Austin, Coastal Homes, Cohen & Hacker Architects, Collective Design, Cooper Pacific Kitchens, D'Amore Interiors, Dan Luna Woodworking, Design by Maya K, Designs By Sundown, Designscapes Colorado, Drewett Works, Eichholtz, Ellen Grasso & Sons, Encore Stone Studio, Escobedo Group, Fabricut, Farmhouse Stone, Gossett & Co., Herbst Construction Inc., Hinkley, Interiors by Maite Granda, Iraj Taghi Custom Homes, Ivette Arango Interiors, Jacobs + Interiors, Jennifer Martinez Interiors, Jessica Hasten Design, Jobe Corral Architects, JT Finneran, Kasey McCarty Interior Design Studio, Kat Black Interiors, Kelly Architects, King Living, Lemburg House, Lemmons Remodeling, Living Design Studios, LTD Builders, Martha Dayton Design, Massey Associates Architects, MK Construction & Builders, Inc., Morgante Wilson Architects, Moya Living, NR Interiors, Omnio Home Concierge, Orange Coast Interior Design, Pacific Hardwood Flooring, Paula McDonald Design Build & Interiors, Payton Addison, Pittet Architecturals, Pure Design House, r:Home, RPGA Design Group, SCH Homes, Sensi Casa, Sharif & Munir Homes, SilverLining, SKJ Interiors, Studio Celeste, Tate Studio Architects, The Design Coach, LLC, The Luxury Bed Collection, von Weise Associates, Walker Zanger, Ward Jewell Architect, AIA and Wolk Design Associates.