The federal-era home was initially built in 1828, and its architecture was typical of the newly founded United States between the 1780s and 1830s. The interior design was inspired by the folk music scene of the 1960s-70s and maintained the character of the semi-detached house, promoting connection through entertainment and music and creating an ideal place of communion to receive friends. "I was thinking a lot about the 1960s-70s folk music scene in Laurel Canyon (Los Angeles) when designing this home and how that could blend with the character of a historic townhouse," says the interior designer. "I wanted to foster connection and community through entertaining and music, to create a place that invited groups of friends to get together, stay for a while, and be present with each other."

The main objective was to create a cosy, effortless, irreverent atmosphere. "I worked hard to retain the character of the townhouse while minimizing any formal elements," says McKay. "I wanted everyone to feel comfortable and welcome here and not take themselves too seriously.".
Earth tones, neutral and warm, predominate in natural oak, brass hardware and terracotta bricks, which contrast with darker details such as dark green tile or slate countertops.
For fabrics, the designer opted for deeper tones, such as blues and greens, except for the kitchen, which received brighter blues, oranges and reds. All these saturated tones were set against white walls.

The materials were selected because they were all referential to the house's history.