Each year, Real Simple, our sister brand, brings together leading interior designers and architects to craft inspiring spaces, with this year’s showcase marking its 7th annual event in a charming Brooklyn brownstone. The excitement this year is heightened with the addition of a second decorated home located in the newly constructed One Park Row in Lower Manhattan, where actress Drew Barrymore will serve as a special guest designer.
In an exclusive interview with Real Simple, Barrymore shared her insights on creating intentional wellness spaces, revealing a sneak preview of the relaxation hub she is designing for the upcoming 2025 RS Home. Emphasizing accessible design and joyful living, she hopes to create an engaging home environment that resonates with this year’s theme.
Barrymore expressed her belief that there is no singular aesthetic for wellness spaces. She stated, “I think I’m too greedy to settle on any particular style,” indicating her desire for diverse art and colors to coexist harmoniously in a space. She intends her design to be a vibrant and comforting retreat, offering a stark contrast to conventional minimalist palettes.
Highlighting the significance of personal well-being, Barrymore stressed that wellness rooms should primarily serve the individual. “The room should represent how to lower your eyelids, calm your nerves,” she explained, advocating for spaces that encourage self-care and relaxation.
While the grand reveal of the 2025 Real Simple Home will take place in October, this year’s showcase features a four-bedroom penthouse suite transformed by six interior design professionals, along with a two-bedroom apartment revamped by three content creators in the DIY Annex. Anticipation is growing for innovative decor concepts, striking paint choices, and practical storage solutions.
Excitingly, visitors in New York City will have the opportunity to tour this year’s stunning project in person, further emphasizing the event’s mission to inspire and promote thoughtful design.