Robin Muto Interiors

This kitchen had the efficiency of a professional kitchen and the warmth of a home…….Almost.

The blue and white tile behind the range wasn’t part of the original plan. It wasn’t practical or necessary.

It just felt right.
Sometimes design is analysis.
Sometimes it’s intuition.

Fireplaces have a grounding presence. Even without a flame, they draw people toward them.

These four projects all place the fireplace at the heart of the room, yet no two are alike. Each was designed to reflect the architecture of the home and the people who live there.

A fireplace surround is more than a finishing detail. It’s an opportunity to create something that feels as though it has always belonged.

Art was where my eye was trained.

Long before I designed interiors, I spent hours in museums absorbing not only the art, but the entire experience — the architecture, the atmosphere, the placement of each piece, the lighting, the restraint, the curation. Spaces where every decision mattered.

That way of seeing never left me.

Museums present the best of the best — work that has already been filtered, studied, and deemed worthy of our attention. The world of furnishings and materials is often the opposite. Trade shows and design centers can be overwhelming seas of repetition and mediocrity. Finding pieces with soul, proportion, and presence requires patience, discernment, and a trained eye. You know it when you see it.

That philosophy inspired what I call our Gallery Room.

Several times each year, we invite one regional artist to transform the room through their work. We visit the artist’s studio, curate the collection, and compose each installation around the relationship between art, furniture, architecture, and light — an expression of what I think of as Artful Living.
For me, art and design have never been separate worlds. One has always informed the other.
🖼️This exhibition features the work of Syracuse artist Penny Santy. We will be having an artist reception on June 12 between 5-8pm and all are welcome to join us and meet the artist. 👩🏻‍🎨

Color, for me, has very little to do with trends or restraint. It has everything to do with feeling.

Every one of these rooms was designed for a specific person, a specific life, a specific energy. The color wasn’t added to make a statement or to be “bold.” It was used because it belonged there.

Cobalt blue that brings confidence to a room. Deep crimson that makes art vibrate against the walls. Warm saffron and gold that create a sense of richness and ease. A kitchen layered in color, personality, and surprise.

There are many completed projects where my goal is popularity; I want the space to be enjoyed by many- Offices, Retail stores, etc. But, when I work for clients in their homes, I design toward connection. When a home feels deeply personal — when it reflects something honest about the people living there — that’s when it works.