Dining Room Hillsborough, NJ | Michele Alfano Design | POETIC MODERNISM®

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That moment when your shoulders drop, your breath

That moment when your shoulders drop, your breath slows and the space takes care of you….but it could be anywhere in your home, when guided by Poetic Modernism® what part of this new spa bathroom design in Denville NJ do you vibe with? #poeticmodernism® #spabathroom #morriscountynj #designfortheexhale #modernbathroom

There is nothing more powerful than a client testi

There is nothing more powerful than a client testimonial. I designed a full gut renovation for a 5,000 sq ft home in Rockland County, NY. It’s exciting to start from scratch developing the floor plan layouts and bringing the 3D design to life while weaving in my belief that spaces should feel like an exhale….calm emerges from material complexity. Every decision is made with the body in mind so spaces take care of the people living in it #PoeticModernism® #designfortheexhale #interiordesign #rocklandcountyny #hudsonvalley

Happy New Year! I didn’t feel called to do a 202

Happy New Year! I didn’t feel called to do a 2025 recap. Instead, I wanted to share my home to show you what I believe in….This space takes care of me and my family. I share this because 2025 was not the easiest year personally, and this particular space in our home has held us. It restores us. That is intentional.

This is Design for the Exhale, rooted in Poetic Modernism®.

I believe visual noise, when used with intention, creates emotional quiet. As a designer, I’m less interested in what fills a space and more interested in what allows it to exhale.

Depth, texture, and repetition create space to breathe.

Design for the exhale doesn’t live in blank minimalism. A white, empty room is a void. Nature is layered and that is precisely why it calms us. Bark, leaves, shadow, grain, movement. Ever notice …It brings enormous visual information, yet the body relaxes.

A calm that comes from depth is the kind of “noise” I design with. Depth is defined differently for every client and every space. It is not formulaic and is shaped by the people, the place and the way the space is meant to be lived in.

This philosophy extends beyond homes. It translates seamlessly to offices and commercial spaces as well.

If this resonates with you, and you’re planning to build or renovate, or feeling overwhelmed by design decisions, I would love to work with you in 2026.
#poeticmodernism® #interiordesign #bergencountynj #oceancountynj #secondhomes

Brought in for a designer’s eye on a 7,000 sq ft

Brought in for a designer’s eye on a 7,000 sq ft flip. My role was to help with architectural finishes, elevate the kitchen and bath details, decorative lighting and bring cohesion to what was already in motion.

Thoughtful design isn’t always about starting from scratch… sometimes it’s about knowing how to make it sing. Builder: @lcldevelopment Architect: @nha.architects #poeticmodernism® #Designfortheexhale #interiordesign #flip #haworthnj #bergencountynj #bergencountyrealestate #robernbrandambassador