Venus Williams may be best known for her talent on the tennis court, but her passion for interior design has made her a standout in the celebrity design industry — thanks to her iconic Florida-based firm, V star. And we can’t stop browsing her latest designs.
Although the star focuses primarily on commercial design nowadays, there are some amazing decor ideas to be found in her company’s projects — and many of them can be easily transferred into our homes (albeit in smaller, more subtle ways).
Here, we’ve broken down five of her best design projects and note some key ideas to steal from her spaces.
Our top five looks from Venus Williams
Having opened V Starr Studio in 2002, Venus has used the project as a side passion off the field. Since then, she has designed over xx interiors – including that of her sister, Serena. It is now a full-fledged design firm specializing in commercial design, with a history of working in the upscale residential sector.
1. On The Board Project
Despite the restaurant’s extensive renovation, V Starr’s South Floridan ‘On The Boards’ renovation is a major example in decorating sympathetically with the landscape surrounding the property, says Jennifer Ebert, deputy editor (digital) for Homes and gardens.
Venus says the project was inspired by the estate district’s lush greenery and really comes into play in the fluted bar—a look that can be easily replicated on kitchen islands or even in a garden bar, she says. The addition of artwork by local photographers helps tie everything together, and I think there’s a lot to learn about shopping local and using what your surroundings have to offer to help curate a space that not only feels well put together, but inspired.
Jen is Deputy Editor (Digital) at Homes & Gardens online. Before starting this position, she completed several interior design courses at KLC Design School, as well as working across Ideal Home, LivingEtc, 25 Beautiful Homes, and Country Homes & Interiors as an interiors writer.
2. Tropical terraces
There’s no shortage of bright tropical prints sprinkled across V Starr’s curated designs on Instagram, and our news editor Megan Slack can’t get enough.
“I love the escapist feel of tropical printed tiles served on a statement fireplace,” she begins. “It’s a really vibrant twist on traditional fireplace ideas, making a nice summery twist on an otherwise wintry addition to the terrace—perfect for warming up on a chilled summer night with friends and a few drinks.
“I also love how the textiles around the fireplace match the tiles without flooding the space with too much color when decorating with pattern,” she adds. “It’s lively but doesn’t sacrifice sophistication.”
Megan is the news and trends editor at Homes and gardens. She has a history in domestic journalism LivingTech And Real homes before joining H&G Team as news editor. Prior to Future plc, she worked as a news anchor at The telegraphAfter obtaining a master’s degree in international journalism from the University of Leeds.
3. Club Atlantico
Club Atlantico was Venus’ opportunity to combine the strong architectural lines of a modern club with soft fabrics and furniture lines to create a community (albeit steeped in luxury) space.
“We found inspiration in the sense of community that is created in multi-functional spaces typically found in hotels,” said Sonia Hafey, Vice President and Principal Designer at Hospitality Design. “Our design softened hard architectural elements like iron and stone with soft, flowing velvet fabrics, while delicate beachy inserts and expansive windows allow natural light to flood in. They were key to uniting the indoor space with what’s outside.”
The project is a perfect example of decorating with neutrals to create a space that feels open but also very welcoming.
Sonya Hafey is the Director of V Starr and has led the company since 2009. When she joined the firm, Sonya used her extensive experience from previous roles, as founder of her own design firm, to transform V Starr from being exclusively residential to including a strong commercial foundation.
4. Add a luxurious daybed
Daybeds have grown in popularity over the past few years with a sudden surge of interest in the benefits of sleeping outside, but it looks like Venus is ahead of the curve with this canopy-covered daybed in a luxury apartment project.
This custom installation by Venus and her team shows how you can easily use the space on a large patio to create a cozy snoozing spot with a beautiful Mediterranean touch that provides privacy and protection from the sun.
Leigh McAlpin of Classic Architectural suggests making your nap spot cozier by adding plush, weatherproof pillows, cushions, and blankets. Choose weather-resistant materials that are easy to maintain. If privacy is a concern for you, you can also create a private area using outdoor blinds, as Venus did here, or you can get creative with trellises or neatly arranged plants.
“You’ll feel more relaxed, and there won’t be as many distractions as a result.”
5. Serena’s “livable luxury” laundry room
However, not all of Venus’s work features earthy neutrals and tropical prints. To show true versatility, the sports star and her team redesigned her sister Serena William’s luxurious bathroom with a minimalist vibe.
The wet room was designed based on the bathrooms of several hotels Serena has stayed in around the world, according to the studio’s Instagram, with a minimal aesthetic achieved through stark whites, real marble, and gold accents. The sole color is introduced through the bathroom’s plants which again evoke the plant life and palm trees surrounding the house, which can be seen through the bathroom’s tall windows.
To create a similar look yourself, you should follow the “less is more” philosophy, suggests Kim Shattuck, principal interior designer at Dream Home Studio: “Homeowners should get rid of almost everything on their sink countertops,” she declares. “The mess of medicines, grooming tools, and people piling around their sinks hurts my determined heart.” Seriously, not everything has to be in plain sight.
Instead, neatly organize everything in drawers and cabinets that are still within reach, then add a few decorative items to create a clean Zen spa bathroom vibe.