This Designer’s Connecticut Home Is a Love Letter to Timeworn Treasures and Family Life

Designer Emily Del Bello is no stranger to preserving character while designing for real life. It’s what she does for her clients, and exactly what she did for herself when she found this 1920s home in Darien, Connecticut. The architecture, a dreamy blend of Mediterranean and Tudor influences, was full of charm from the start. The previous family had lived here for over 50 years, and Emily could feel it in the walls. Rather than start from scratch, she worked with what was already there: honoring the history, updating what needed love, and designing a home that could handle both silk mohair and sticky fingers. It’s now a collected, comforting, and undeniably cool space that feels every bit like her.

Design: Emily Del Bello Interiors | Photography: Kristen Francis Photography

A Study in Arches and Architectural Grace

One of the home’s most defining features is its elegant arches—soft, sweeping curves that nod to the Mediterranean-Tudor roots of the 1920s structure. They frame doorways, usher in natural light, and add a sense of rhythm as you move from room to room. In the living room, an arched opening sits in between custom bookshelves filled with books and treasures from LES Collection. Peek through the passage and you’ll see glimpses of the family dining room.

In the TV room, rustic wooden ceiling beams warm up the crisp neutral palette and echo the home’s layered mix of materials.

Thoughtfully Designed Spaces for Family Life

The rooms in this home were built with connection in mind. The living and dining rooms sit side by side, flowing seamlessly into one another with no TV in sight (on purpose). Emily intentionally designed the living room to be screen-free, a space for her family and guests to actually talk, unwind, and be present. The dining table, centered beneath a sculptural custom brass fixture from Trueing Studio, serves as the gathering place for everything from weeknight dinners to weekend entertaining.

Collected, Not Decorated

Rather than furnishing the home all at once, Emily took her time, letting instinct and emotion lead the way. “If I saw something and became instantly obsessed with it, I bought it,” she says. The result is a highly personal blend of modern, transitional, and vintage pieces, each with its own unique story. The living room’s 1969 Soriana sofa, sourced from Home Union and reupholstered in silk mohair, is a showstopper. Nearby, a pair of shearling-covered vintage chairs from The Collective Home add texture and warmth. The coffee table is from Homenature, but the double-sided sofa and entry table? Custom-designed by Emily herself.

Durable Design That Doesn’t Skimp on Style

The home is undeniably chic, but it’s also built for real life. With young children, sticky fingers were always part of the plan. Knowing that, upholstery was carefully considered with tactile fabrics that look luxurious but can withstand the mess of everyday life. You’ll spot Holly Hunt mohair, as well as performance materials and high-function finishes woven throughout. Even the Fromental hand-painted wallpaper in the dining room feels like a bold choice, but it’s balanced by the room’s practicality. Every detail in the home speaks to Emily’s belief that durability and beauty don’t have to be at odds—they can, and should, live together beautifully.

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