Moody Modern: A Custom Home Designed for Lifestyle & Art

At Meghan Blum Interiors, every project begins with a story. For our Moody Modern project, the vision was clear from the start: create a home that was sleek and contemporary, unapologetically bold in tone, and deeply personal in the way it reflected the homeowner’s lifestyle.

A Vision for Something Different

Modern homes are still a rarity in Central Iowa, and our client wanted to break away from the familiar. The motivation was rooted in designing a space that felt open, dramatic, and distinct—moody in some ways, luminous in others. Just as important, it had to support a love for entertaining, with seamless transitions between indoor and outdoor spaces.

Entertaining at the Heart

A large entertaining kitchen became the anchor of the design, paired with a custom wine cellar and a pool for summer gatherings. One of the most intentional features we incorporated was a raised garden just steps from the kitchen doors. This wasn’t just an aesthetic flourish—it was built around

the client’s passion for cooking. Fresh tomatoes, herbs, peppers, and lettuces are harvested straight into recipes like gazpacho, stuffed peppers, marinara, and salsa. Even the ritual of canning and the seasonal switch from summer to fall crops became a part of the home’s rhythm, blurring the line between house and garden.

Designing Around an Art Collection

Another defining element of Moody Modern is its deep connection to art. The homeowner’s appreciation for contemporary works spans more than 15 years, with pieces collected from both local and national artists. Our design team collaborated closely to ensure every artwork had its place. That meant curating walls for statement pieces, layering in picture lights and sconces for ambiance, and incorporating custom-built bookcases for display. The home doesn’t just showcase art; it’s built to honor it.

Masculine, Moody, Modern

Throughout the interiors, the design style is expressed through sharp edges, darkened tones, and layered textures that bring depth and character. Metal, glass, stone, and richly tactile fabrics work together to strike a balance between sleek modernity and lived-in warmth. The result is masculine and moody, yet inviting—exactly the atmosphere envisioned from the beginning.

A Home That Reflects a Life

What makes this project special isn’t just the architecture or furnishings; it’s how the design reflects the homeowner’s lifestyle. Entertaining flows effortlessly, the kitchen and garden fuel a love for food, and the art-filled walls tell stories that matter deeply. Every detail—from lighting placement to the material palette—was designed with intention.

The Moody Modern project is proof of how personal and purposeful design can be when lifestyle leads the vision. At Meghan Blum Interiors, we don’t just create beautiful spaces—we create homes that live and breathe with the people who inhabit them.

To view the full gallery, visit this link- https://www.meghanbluminteriors.com/portfolio/moody-modern .