Description
This week on Open House, NBC host George Oliphant steps in for Sara Gore and invites viewers to explore a remarkable collection of homes, design projects, and historic spaces that reveal the many ways people shape the places they inhabit.
The journey begins in Manhattan's East Village with interior designers Josh Evan Goldfarb and Michael Edward Moirano. Tasked with creating a pied à terre for a creative couple (one an artist and the other a musician), this talented design duo transformed a classic New York City loft into a richly layered retreat. Original brick walls and exposed rafters set the stage for a thoughtful composition of vintage furnishings, custom upholstery, sculptural lighting, and carefully selected materials. A rosewood dining table by Andrianna Shamaris anchors the open plan, while a music room filled with guitars, oversized seating, and soft textures captures the artistic personality of the homeowners. Beyond an antique door that was sourced in New Orleans, the primary bedroom continues the loft's palette of blues and purples, helping to create an atmosphere that feels calm and intimate.
Next, architect Harper Halprin of AAHA Studio welcomes viewers inside a Pacific Palisades residence designed around volume, light, and connection to the surrounding landscape. From the moment of arrival, sightlines extend through the home toward gardens and hillside views beyond. Detailed millwork, expansive windows, and a dramatic kitchen centered around a marble island establish a sense of openness throughout the great room. Upstairs, a bridge overlooks the entry before leading to four bedrooms, including a primary suite where floor to ceiling glazing frames the natural terrain outside. From the bed or the bathtub beside a double sided fireplace, the changing light across the hillside becomes part of daily life.
We then return to New York City to join museum director Margaret Holmes for a look around the Van Cortlandt House Museum in the Bronx: the oldest surviving building in the borough. Built in 1748 for Frederick Van Cortlandt, the Georgian style home stands within what was once the family's estate. Museum Director Margaret Holmes leads us through grand parlors, period dining rooms, and historic chambers, while highlighting well-preserved architectural details such as locally quarried stone, Dutch tiles, and original woodwork. Visitors learn about the home's connections to George Washington, the American Revolution, and the generations who lived and worked there. The tour concludes in the preserved quarters of enslaved people, an important space that offers insight into a difficult and often overlooked chapter of New York history.
The episode then heads to Brooklyn Heights, where furniture designer and sculptor Gregory Beson and his adorable pup Bear invite viewers into the cozy, welcoming apartment he calls "a cabin in the woods in the clouds." Filled with exposed brick, timber beams, oak floors, and limewashed walls, the studio reflects his deep appreciation for natural materials. Walnut and cherry slabs sourced from Pennsylvania become custom pieces that anchor the compact home, while carefully chosen lighting creates a warm glow as daylight fades. Beson also welcomes us aboard the ferry for his daily commute to his workshop, where sketches, hand tools, wood, stone, and craftsmanship come together. In both his home and studio, materials are celebrated for the way they age, gather character, and become part of everyday life.
And last but certainly not least? Colin Flavin and Heather Souza of Flavin Architects present the Wales House in Lincoln, Massachusetts: a 1958 modernist residence designed by Henry Hoover and Walter Hill. Originally conceived as a careful response to the natural contours of the site, the home has been thoughtfully updated for a young family while preserving its architectural integrity. Visitors move through restored wood paneling, glass walls, a renovated kitchen, and a sunken family room that opens toward the landscape beyond. The project also includes a newly designed carport and a former garage transformed into a yoga studio and guest house. Throughout the property, architecture and nature remain in constant conversation, from the floating entry stair above glacial stone to bedroom views that greet the surrounding forest each morning.
From historic preservation and contemporary architecture to handcrafted furniture and stunning interiors, this episode of Open House celebrates thoughtful design and the unique ways people create a sense of home. That being said, which lovely abode most resonated with you? Tell us in a comment right below!
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