We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
Sign Up for Domino’s Newsletter
From Miss Universe to full-blown lifestyle tastemaker, Olivia Culpo has mastered the art of making things look—and feel—good. But at home, it’s less pageantry, more peace and quiet. When she and her husband settled into their lake house in Charlotte, North Carolina, Culpo envisioned interiors that felt grounded, natural, and deeply calming.
To bring that vision to life, she turned to Crate & Barrel’s Design Desk for guidance—though she jokes that her relationship with the brand goes way beyond formal collaboration. “I’m embarrassed to admit how much time I spend in their store and on their site,” she says. “But I’ve worked with their design experts before and knew they’d get exactly what I was going for.”
Photography courtesy of Crate and Barrel
Armed with a mood board and a clear sense of what she wanted the rooms to feel like, Culpo worked with the team to build out her bedroom and dining room—layering in soft textures, sculptural silhouettes, and warm, earthy finishes that echo the natural beauty just outside her windows.
Below, she shares her favorite styling tricks and the design choices that made the biggest impact.
Start With a Mood, Not Just a Style
Before picking pieces, Culpo anchored her approach around the setting itself. “Our lake home is a special place where we unplug and recharge,” she says. “We wanted the interiors to reflect that same sense of calm and natural beauty that surrounds us outside.” Think rich woods, touchable textures, and a palette that pulls straight from the landscape. “Inviting and grounded, but still refined”—that was the goal.
Photography courtesy of Crate and Barrel
Layered Neutrals Are Never Boring
Culpo’s palette is filled with creams, browns, and mossy greens—but there’s nothing flat or forgettable about it. “To keep neutrals from feeling flat, I rely on layered textures, intentionally mixed materials, and varied finishes,” she says. Her trick? Subtle shifts in depth and tone, like pairing wood grain with velvet or matte ceramics with soft linens.
One standout example: the deep green Medoc Swivel Chairs in the bedroom. “They mirror the natural tones of the trees outside and tie the whole space back to the landscape in a really thoughtful, cohesive way.”
CRATE & BARREL
Medoc Swivel Chair
$1,199
CRATE & BARREL
Keane Canopy Bed
$2,099
Choose a Mix of Shapes and Materials
“Balance” is the word Culpo returns to often. “In both rooms, I wanted to create contrast while still keeping everything cohesive,” she says. That meant pairing linen and boucle with sleek brass and sculptural marble—combos that add polish without overwhelming the space. “It’s really about combining different finishes and shapes in a way that feels layered but not chaotic.”
Photography courtesy of Crate and Barrel
Let Lighting and Rugs Do the Heavy Lifting
Culpo treated lighting and rugs like true design players—not afterthoughts. “The ivory area rug in our bedroom adds warmth and brightness,” she says. “It was so funny—right when we rolled out this rug, Oliver [my dog] ran in and cozied himself up right in the center, so we knew it was a keeper.”
And in the dining room? The sculptural Revelery Glass Pendant brings everything together. “Its soft glow really sets the tone—it adds elegance without feeling overly formal and perfectly complements the room’s natural textures and relaxed palette.”
CRATE & BARREL
Jorgen Silver Travertine Table Lamp
$399
CRATE & BARREL
Iiona Large Brass Candelabra Chandelier Light
$999
Pick One Piece to Guide the Room
No idea where to start? Culpo recommends zooming in on a single piece. “Start with one piece you really love—whether it’s a bed, a dining table, or even a piece of art—and let that guide the rest of the space,” she says. “That helps ground the room and gives the rest of the pieces a clear direction.”
Photography courtesy of Crate and Barrel
Entertaining? Think Layers, Not Fuss
As a frequent host, Culpo’s goal is to make guests feel instantly at ease. “It’s important to me that my guests feel at home in a warm and welcoming space—not overly formal or sterile.” Her go-to tablescape formula: keep dinnerware simple, lean on natural linens, and play with proportion.
“Varying height and texture will make your tablescape feel full and interesting,” she says. One thoughtful touch? Embroidered napkins. “The Marin Linen Napkins add a polished but relaxed feel—they are perfect for embroidering my guests’ initials on for dinner parties.”
CRATE & BARREL
Marin Desert Green Linen Napkin
$50
CRATE & BARREL
Emmett Antique Brass Taper Candle Holder
$35
Don’t Be Afraid to Let It Evolve
Even with expert help, Culpo embraced a slower, more lived-in approach to design. “I think layering takes time—and that is what makes a space feel personal,” she says. “Don’t be afraid to live in a space a little and let it evolve. Mixing textures, adding meaningful pieces, and playing with scale helps make a room feel elevated—but the most important thing is that it still feels like you.”
Photography courtesy of Crate and Barrel
Design Help Makes a Difference
While she has a strong eye for design, Culpo credits Crate & Barrel’s Design Desk with helping her get from inspiration to execution. “They helped me refine my ideas and find pieces that elevated the design without overpowering our home’s architecture,” she says. “The end result feels beautifully curated—not overdone, just perfectly balanced.”