When Jodi Rae Ryan and Lindsay Kate Bilchik, the sisters behind the boutique interior design firm LJI Design, start on a new project, the first thing they do is get to know their clients. "We want to know how they want to live," says Westport-based Lindsay. And the truth is, most of us live in and around our kitchens. They're the beating heart of a home, and Jodi and Lindsay know that. They've helped their clients design breathtaking, functional kitchens and dining rooms that incorporate the homeowners' personal style. "We start with the floor plan and flow, and then we try and find an anchor piece that speaks to the style of the people we’re working with,” says Lindsay. "It's a puzzle, and that one piece is usually the highlight that helps jumpstart the overall feel.” A great example of their approach is this coastal Connecticut kitchen, which Lindsay describes as a "California chic" style. Originally, the plan was to do the kitchen in black and wood tones, but the owner was struggling to find a countertop stone that worked in the room. When they found the one shown here, the whole concept changed. "Once we found it, it went to white and wood," says Lindsay. It offered a uniqueness that brought the whole room into shape– the functional quartzite could handle the demands of feeding a family, while the fluted wood on the island made for a unique centerpiece to the room.
Another local project was the dining room seen on page TK. The vision was "unexpected" while still being simple and classic—with a delicate wallpaper in the dining room as their starting point, the sisters pulled in blush, teal, and green tones for a "dream-like" space. The custom dining table, Juliana Lima Vasconcellos dining chairs, Garde light fixture, and French doors that connect the living area to the dining room are refined without being stuffy.
Contrast that with the "accessible luxury" kitchen/dining room seen at TK. This project combines ultra-functionality with whimsical touches like Missoni dining chairs: everything has a place in this space—including hidden ovens and a secret walk-in pantry concealed by clever cabinetry. "There's no excess here," says Jodi. “Everything needs to have a function.”
Not every kitchen and dining space gets daily use, though—the dining room and eat-in-breakfast nook seen at TK belong to a weekend escape in Fairfield County for an N.Y.C.-based family. “We wanted to give them a sense of peace and zen,” explains Jodi. “It’s ethereal, it’s dreamy. You walk into this space and leave your troubles at the door.”
Last but certainly not least, Jodi designed her own kitchen, at TK, as a labor of love. “I wanted to honor the architecture of the house, but make it more contemporary,” she says. The kitchen island is a centerpiece—Jodi had it designed to look like a well-loved piece of furniture, complete with mahogany legs and tons of storage—but her vision started with a still life painted by their mother that hangs between her pantry and her mudroom. “I kind of built the entire space around it,” says Jodi. “I made sure that we had a place to highlight it. It feels like this kitchen was always here, which is my favorite part.”
LJI Design is a sister-run boutique interior design firm. They focus on trends in material and design, taking inspiration from the fashion and interiors world in new and unexpected ways—prior to joining Lindsay in the interior design world, Jodi worked in fashion and product design. The two teamed up in 2020. Lindsay lives with her husband, two sons, and her dog in Westport, Connecticut. Jodi lives in Needham, Massachusetts, with her husband and two daughters. For more information about LJI Design or to book a consult, visit ljidesign.com.