14 Home Decor Items Designers Would Put in Their Own Dream Homes

People turn to interior designers when they’re looking to create their dream home, right? Well, sort of. Designers are trained professionals that know how to take a client’s vision from concept to real life, but the truth is, even dream homes are built on a foundation of compromise. Things like budget, time, and square footage all factor heavily into what’s really possible. 

Let’s just say for a moment, however, that money is no object. What dream product would you bring into your home—no holds barred? I posed that question to some of my favorite interior designers, and their answers ranged from the surprisingly practical to the truly outlandish! Read on for their picks.

“I’d take just about anything made by De Sede (a Swedish furniture brand) but specifically, I’ve been lusting after this sofa recently. I will always gravitate towards sleek lines, minimal shapes, and worn leather—this piece encapsulates all three. De Sede has always pushed the boundaries when it comes to design that marries form and function, and all of their pieces (both old and new) have become iconic staples in design.” —Bobby Berk, designer and host of ‘Queer Eye’

“I have been pining after the Abel Sofa from BDDW for years at this point. Everything about it is special yet quiet. Maybe someday I’ll figure out a way to justify the purchase, but with two young kids and now two very wonderful but not-so-clean pups, it will stay just a dream. It’s SO SPECIAL. Those wooden arm details and the cast iron ball feet are almost too good. Plus, the light tufting and single cushions make it so versatile style-wise. Again, dream piece.” —Emily Henderson, designer and blogger

“I’ve been hunting for antique Art Deco Chinese rugs! I love the colors, the floral forms, and animal motifs. They’re often vibrant and create such a soft yet bold statement.”—Dabito, photographer and blogger at Old Brand New 

“Now that we are working from home what I covet more than anything is… a desk chair! Yes, a desk chair. Now that may sound a bit boring, but I swear it isn’t! Pininfarina’s Ares Line Xten Office Chair is highly practical because it’s a desk chair, but also, with its $1.5 million price tag, it’s highly impractical. But a girl can dream! It is the most spectacular chair! To give you an idea, Pininfarina is best known for their design on cars like the Ferrari and Maserati. Basically, it’s the Ferrari of office chairs! This chair is supremely beautiful and functional. Nothing is sacrificed.” —Brigette Romanek, Romanek Design Studio

“Maybe it’s because autumn is here and cooler months are ahead, but I have been longing for a conversation pit sofa. There’s something so intimate about being surrounded by your closest friends and family, listening to a record and enjoying the fireplace. I can just imagine the lazy Sundays I would spend cuddling with my husband and our Yorkshire Terrier, Eames, and flipping through shelter magazines. Sure, the modern sectional sofa is practical, but it’s nowhere near as fun!” —Shaun Crha of Wrensted Interiors and Hot Young Designers Club podcast

“Living in an apartment in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, right now, I have a 24-inch 4-burner stove. I enjoy cooking so much, but my kitchen isn’t equipped in a way that matches my cooking goals! I’d love a completely re-done, ultra kitchen with a wall-mounted convection oven, integrated appliances, and a 6-burner gas cooktop. Either that or some sort of nuclear robot vacuum that can instantly banish all of my dog’s hair from any textile surface.” —Leyden Lewis of Leyden Lewis Design Studio

“My dream home product is Lindsey Adelman’s Cherry Bomb Fringe Chandelier. I’ve been obsessing over this light fixture for more than five years. It’s the perfect mix of understated cool and glamorous, and I love it for its subtle drama.” —Molly Torres Portnof of DATE Interiors

“I’d love a Pill Basin from nood in Australia. The only problem is deciding on a color, but if pressed today, I’d choose Pastel Pink. I love the organic texture of the concrete combined with the graphic shape and unexpected colors. All of their products look like some sort of confection, especially in their range of candy-like pigments. I’m really drawn to the idea of bringing color into our utilitarian plumbing fixtures like they did in the 1950s, but Nood does it in a modern, elevated way. Plus, I think using the sink as a design focal point is a great visual reminder to wash your hands!” —Rebecca Plumb of Studio Plumb and Hot Young Designers Club podcast

“My dream home product is a greenhouse-like, life-sized terrarium that would partially cover a swimming pool as to create an indoor/outdoor swimming environment. I LOVE swimming pools, and I think historic indoor pools are some of the most enchanting and captivating design moments I can think of. But I also really can’t sacrifice an opportunity to swim outdoors, so I want the best of both worlds. While this isn’t something I have seen before (outside of the inside of my head), I dream about how unbelievably striking the glass overhang would be, all while incredibly practical and functional.” —Megan Hopp of Megan Hopp Design

“I would love to own the Trapeze 10 from Apparatus Studio in porcelain with burnished brass metal. It’s a light I’ve been swooning over for years and simply haven’t had a place for it in our NYC home. I dream of the day we have a large and amazing dining room to host all our loved ones where we could put this piece—front and center—over our handcrafted carpenter’s dining table. I love this light for its timeless, simple, yet oh-so-dramatic shape and its material composition. There’s a beautiful counterbalance of modernism and old world based on the materials they’ve chosen to design and produce this piece in.”—Becky Shea of Becky Shea Design

“I am currently in the process of designing my own kitchen (after designing so many for our clients), and I think that investing the most you can afford in beautiful cabinetry is absolutely worth it. I swoon over special touches like a detail on a toe kick, beaded doors, and natural wood finishes. Cabinetry is furniture that works hard for you every single day. If you can install cabinetry and millwork that is classic, beautiful, and built to last, I think it’s worth making the investment. You will appreciate it every time your drawers glide open beautifully, and you pull out a handy roll-out tray that perfectly houses your things.”—Melissa Sanabria of Sanabria and Co. 

“I’ve been coveting a Noguchi Akari E Pendant for ages. I recommend one of these to almost every one of my clients, but no is brave enough to do it!! I love the contrast between the oversize scale (it’s 9-feet tall!) and the delicate washi paper over bamboo. I really love anything Japanese design at the moment. Soooo dreamy!!”—Tina Rich of Tina Rich Design

“My dream home product is DeGournay’s Erdem wallcovering. Nothing feels more luxurious to me than a hand-painted silk wall covering. I love the bold colors of this one and the whimsical nature; it’s truly like turning your walls into a work of art.” —Emma Kemper of Emma Beryl Interiors 

“The kitchen is the heart of the home, so if money was no object, the one item I would insist to have in my home is the La Cornue Chateau series oven and range. Not only is it extremely functional and considered to be one of the best by home and professional chefs alike, but it comes in the most amazing finishes like the all copper version. This is truly an heirloom piece that a family can pass down through generations. It would shine in anyone’s home kitchen.” —Allison Petty of Hyphen & Co.