May 14, 2026
A Family Retreat in the Berkshires, Grounded by Astrid
by Haley Holm-Pedersen
Design: Emma Beryl Interiors | Photography & Videography: Living Legend Productions | Floor: Astrid
Tucked into the side of a mountain in the Berkshires, Emma Beryl’s family home feels a bit like a treehouse: immersed in nature, quietly removed, and designed for slowing down.
For Emma, the connection to this place runs deep. She spent summers here as a kid, returning year after year to camp, building a rhythm of outdoor days and simple routines. Now, with a home of her own in the Berkshires, she’s recreated that same sense of memory-making, this time with her own family.
“This is where we spend real quality time,” she says. “We’re outside, we’re cooking, we’re just together.”
A Home Designed for Togetherness
An antidote to her always-moving life in the city, this home was meant to feel different from the start. Emma approached the design with intention: it needed to be playful, comfortable, and full of personality.
“In the city, we’re always out and about,” she explains. “Here, we really hunker down.”
That shift is evident everywhere, from the layered materials to the vibrant, lived-in feel of the interiors. The home invites use: a game of checkers by the fire, a cozy meal in the kitchen, or storytime pulled from a shelf packed to the brim with the kids’ favorite books.
Light, Warmth, and a Fresh Start
One of the most transformative updates came from the floors. The original flooring was dark, inconsistent, and disconnected across levels. By replacing it with Astrid, Emma unified the home, bringing cohesion, light, and warmth throughout.
“It just tied everything together,” she says. “Now it feels lighter, brighter, fresher…warmer. All the good things.”
Designing for Real Life
With three young kids, durability was just as important as aesthetics.
Emma was drawn to Astrid for its balance: natural, beautiful, but resilient enough for everyday life. A material that could handle wear without feeling worn out.
“I didn’t want something that always looked perfect,” she says. “I wanted it to feel like a home.”
Two years in, that choice has held up. Even in high-use spaces like full bathrooms, the floors have maintained their integrity and appearance.
The Beauty of Materials That Age Well
For Emma, great design is about allowing a space to evolve with time. She gravitates toward natural, “living” materials that develop character over time rather than degrade.
“When materials age naturally, they actually get prettier,” she explains. “It’s hard to pinpoint when they were installed, and that’s what makes a home feel timeless.”
