Peeking into other people’s homes is one of my favorite things, but after a year and a half of designing my own, I’ve gained a whole new admiration for interior designers. The sheer number of choices is dizzying, and the best designers are like mind readers, uncovering what their clients truly want. One designer who excels at this is Chester-based Caryn Paradis.  She makes it her mission to understand how a family will actually live in their space, letting that insight guide every decision. I recently had a fun chat with Caryn about her unique process and a home she recently completed in Niantic.

Caryn kicks things off with a 28-page questionnaire (yup, you read that right) ! She asks about everything: do you host Thanksgiving, and for how many? Are you a morning person or a night owl? Do you thrive in a bustling room or crave a quiet nook? How would your friends describe you, and how do you see yourself? This deep dive lets her uncover what makes each client tick, so she can craft a design that truly fits their life and personality.

I absolutely love this approach. Hearing about Caryn’s process made it clear that every design choice centers on the client, not the designer’s ego.

The Niantic project involved a small summer house left to the owner by her grandparents. The owner wanted a bigger home that would suit her and her husband year-round. Ultimately, they built a new place from scratch on the double lot and added elements of the old house into the new build.

Caryn’s thoughtful approach led her to incorporate nostalgic elements, such as cladding the hallway with salvaged floorboards from the original home and using many of the owner’s existing furniture pieces, reinforcing the emotional connection between past and present through her design choices. 

The finishing touches in the home are well-considered. A wall of Moroccan tile evokes the ocean at their doorstep. Vaulted ceilings echo arched doorways, and a mix of dark and light colors, along with a green-tiled bar with beautiful red birch cabinets, all come together for a unified look. Even the stairway is intentional, with slim, carved-wood newel posts that complement the metal balusters.  

Whether your project is big or small, Caryn’s work is anything but cookie-cutter coastal. Take a look at these photos for a glimpse of her creative flair.

All Photos By: Kyle Caldwell