The Designer’s Journal: Heather Peterson Design on Layering History, Personality, and Soul

For Heather Peterson Design, every project begins with three voices: the house’s, the client’s, and her own. With a philosophy rooted in honoring what already exists, Heather finds joy in working with inherited pieces, quirky architectural details, and vintage treasures—proving that timeless design doesn’t mean starting from scratch.

“I’m a self-taught designer, so I never really learned the rules,” she shares. “If you get the space planning right and nail your proportions, you can go bold with color and pattern, and have a lot of fun doing it.”

We caught up with Heather to learn more about her fearless approach to layering, her love of bold statement-making moments (like an eye-catching plaid sofa), and her current Schoolhouse favorite.

What’s your design ethos?

We believe every project has three important voices: the house's, the client's, and ours. We typically honor the house in any permanent materials and infuse the client's voice through furnishings and art. We believe you do not have to start over and we take pleasure in starting with what you have, whether that means working with odd architectural elements or embracing your inherited furniture. We also love to shop vintage and believe that storied pieces add soul to any project.

What design “rule” do you always follow, and which was made to be broken?

I am a self-taught designer and did not formally learn the rules. I do believe that if you get the space planning right and nail your proportions you can get away with a lot in your selections and go wild with color and pattern.

What’s your favorite way to create a statement in a room?

We love to use a strong pattern in a large dose, whether that means wallpaper, a rug, or a statement sofa (eyeing the Schoolhouse Milo in colorblocked plaid right now!). This anchors the room and offers a cohesive color palette to work from.

What’s your favorite piece of decor in your own home?

My home is full of inherited and collected pieces and everything has a story, which makes it hard to pick. I'm currently loving the William Morris block print linen fabric covering my bedroom walls. It is tactile, immersive, and historic-yet-modern, which lends a certain timelessness to my modern house!

Can you share your favorite Schoolhouse product?

I'm obsessed with the Telephone Table. We are presenting it to a client as a side table in their living room to pair with a mint green wool couch and a vintage cork coffee table with built-in magazine racks. I love powdercoated pieces and especially perforated metal, and there is something delightfully old-fashioned about such a specific-use item.