aspire design and home proudly presents The Art of the Home, a transformational designer showhouse set within a breathtaking 13,000-square-foot estate in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey. This curated exhibition of world-class design, architecture, and fine art will run from September 19 through October 19, with an Opening Night Event to benefit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation on September 17.
Each Tuesday and Thursday, we’re spotlighting a different designer whose creative vision is shaping this bold, curated home. From behind-the-scenes peeks to personal stories, you’ll get an inside look at the minds reimagining what a home can be. Today, we take a look into the space that Terri Fiori is designing.
What mood or feeling are you hoping to evoke with this space?
Terri Fiori: A sense of dreamy disconnection, a little surreal and transportative — where your senses heighten and your imagination wakes up. I’d like people to feel intrigued, maybe even a little enchanted.
What’s the story behind your design? Is there a narrative or theme guiding your decisions?
TF: The initial spark came from the show Severance, which explores the idea of compartmentalizing life. We asked ourselves: What if a room could make you forget the outside world entirely? That tension between escape and presence guided every choice. The dark walls anchor you, while the natural light through the window pulls you into a softer, more meditative state.
How did you begin the process? Was there a single material, color, or image that set everything in motion?
TF: We fell in love with Arte’s Blooming Pineapples — a bold, tropical faux linen wallcovering we used on the ceiling. Its oversized, otherworldly floral motif hinted at faraway places and hidden meanings. It set the tone for a space that feels like an exotic journey tucked into a quiet room.
What can you share about your palette, textures, or material choices? Are there any unexpected combinations we can look forward to?
TF: We played with texture a lot in this space — from the faux linen wallcovering on the ceiling to the small-scale “snakeskin” print of the rug. We layered contrast upon contrast. The tailored sofa against deep, sleek walls… the shimmer of a vintage Murano glass chandelier near a cascade of silica pendants. Nothing is overly matched, but everything speaks to each other.
Designing for a showhouse comes with a unique kind of freedom. How has that influenced your process so far?
TF: The freedom to design without restrictions really forced me to push the limit on this design. Pairing contemporary pieces of art with a more moody botanical vibe creates a tension that I don’t typically push in my work, so it was exciting to be able to do so.
What’s been the most exciting part of dreaming up this space?
TF: Getting outside of my comfort zone. This room pushed me to experiment — to chase a concept more than a style. It was exciting to be able to “push the envelope” and explore tension, pairing moody botanicals with contemporary art, embracing contradiction. It’s a space that doesn’t play it safe.
How would you describe your room in three words?
TF: Moody. Escape. Sanctuary.
How do you think visitors will interact with or experience your room once it’s complete?
TF: I hope they’ll pause and say, “I haven’t seen anything like this.” I want the room to linger in their minds.
How does this showhouse project connect to your broader body of work or current design direction?
TF: It reinforces something I’ve always believed: every great space needs an element of surprise. This room reminds me to keep chasing that feeling, not just for showhouses, but in every space I design.
Purchase tickets for The Art of the Home here.
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