Fun is the New Black: Nancy Geaney on Designing A Rich, Lived-In Life

Nancy Geaney is the kind of interior designer whose work doesn’t announce itself—it welcomes you. A native New Yorker who found her forever home in the Hudson Valley, she brings a lifetime of visual fluency to every space, shaped by a richly layered background in fashion, modeling, set styling, textile design, and event production. Long before interior design became her focus, Nancy was already attuned to what makes a room feel alive: mood, texture, flow, and the emotional intelligence of a space that knows how to hold people.

Based in Woodstock, Nancy is known for balancing traditional and modern with an ease that feels instinctive rather than imposed. Her rooms never feel staged; instead, they suggest a life well lived—one filled with art, music, nature, and warmth. Whether she’s staging a home or helping a client reset a space that feels stuck, she leads with empathy, believing the most meaningful design begins emotionally and unfolds visually.

Deeply rooted in her community, Nancy brings the same generosity of spirit to her volunteer life as she does to her interiors— from Woodstock Meals (aka Meals on Wheels) to Woodstock NY Pride and local arts organizations. It’s this blend of confidence, care, and generosity that defines her approach: design not as ego, but as storytelling, problem-solving, and connection.

In this conversation, Nancy reflects on her winding creative path, the beauty of patina and a good thunderstorm, the power of letting go—and why fun, not perfection, is the true measure of a home that works.

And with that, meet Nancy Geaney.

INSIDE+OUT: You’re a native New Yorker who landed in the Hudson Valley. What pulled you north—and what made you stay?

Nancy Geaney: I’m originally from Northport, on the North Shore of Long Island. In 1981, I purchased my first home in Stone Ridge. My husband, Tim, and I were married at Opus 40 in ’84, and we created many lasting relationships with friends who still live in the area. We sold it in 1991, but we always knew we would be back! We have such a rich history here, and despite being the daughter of a sea captain, I was drawn to the Hudson Valley and the varying terrain and constantly changing weather in the Catskills. I feel especially charged after a good Catskill Mountain thunderstorm. While looking at surrounding towns, it was our desire to be part of a vital community, and we found that in Woodstock.

Your background spans fashion, set styling, textile design, and events. Was there a moment when interior design clicked as the through-line—or did it sneak up on you?

Nancy Geaney: It definitely snuck up on me. Looking back, though, it makes perfect sense. Whatever I was doing, I was always thinking about mood, color, texture, and telling a story. Staging fell in my lap when my old friend from my days as a model, Lisa Cooper, had a real estate listing she wanted to market as an event space. The client was thrilled and asked me to stage the house as well. We used our own furniture in the early days. It wasn’t unusual to find our home without a dining table or sofa. The interior design jobs flowed in the same natural way, usually a buyer who liked how I staged the house they just bought.

January is a season of renewal. When you step into a home that feels “stuck,” where do you begin the reset—emotionally or visually?

Nancy Geaney: Emotionally, always. I want to understand what isn’t working in terms of flow, and I strive to create a place of calm and warmth. Once I can put my finger on what isn’t harmonious- clutter, heaviness, lack of light- the visual reset needed becomes clearer. Often it’s less about adding something new and more about letting go. My friend Richard Des Jardin teaches Interior Design at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT). He told me in a very thick French accent, “Make sure you can ride a tricycle around the room.” Always makes me laugh, but it’s a good place to start.

You design spaces that don’t feel staged, yet you also run a staging business. What’s the difference between a home that’s styled and a home that actually lives?

Nancy Geaney: A well-staged/styled home shows possibility and offers a vision of a desired Hudson Valley lifestyle, which is quite specific. People want to move up here to relax, enjoy nature, art, and music. I try to bring in all of those elements. Everyone wants to live their best life, and I need to show them that it can be done here, in “this” house.

Vagabond’s Daughter, your textile line, feels personal and expressive. How does working with fabric change the way you think about rooms—and stories?

Nancy Geaney: Vagabond’s Daughter is on a bit of a hiatus, but I still use a lot of my naturally dyed drapes, linens, and pillows. Like any self-respecting Taurus, I’m drawn to texture and color. It’s the most immediate way to create a mood, and in that, tell a story about who lives, or has lived here. 

Clients often arrive overwhelmed. What’s your secret to putting people at ease during what can be a very emotional process?

Nancy Geaney: I do my best to listen before rushing to fix or fill a space. People want to be heard, and sometimes that takes a little time, trial and error. I try to remind them it’s not about perfection—it’s about creating an ever-changing space that supports their lifestyle. It’s like building any good relationship.

What’s the biggest misconception people have about interior designers—or about your work in particular?

Nancy Geaney: That it’s not all about making a pretty house. Good design and good staging are actually smart problem-solving: flow, function, and comfort. Again, what works for your lifestyle. Then the beauty will follow.

You balance traditional and modern with such ease. What’s your test for knowing when a room feels finished, not fussy?

Nancy Geaney: I think one of my strengths is mixing it up, making sure a place doesn’t feel overwrought or, for lack of a better term, designed. A room should feel calm but not sterile. One thing I love about staging is the short timeline I have to work with. It forces me to be more spontaneous, and that’s when the magic happens.

Your community work—from Meals on Wheels to Woodstock NY Pride—is deeply hands-on. How does service show up in your design philosophy?

Nancy Geaney: It has helped me get acquainted with my neighbors and my immediate community. It has made me richer. It has also taught me humility. It reminds me that design isn’t about ego, but caring. I’ve gotten to see firsthand how compassion and small, thoughtful gestures matter and make a difference in people’s daily lives.

Who’s a Hudson Valley creative or business we should absolutely have on our radar right now?

Nancy Geaney: My gals at Studio Hinterland (a community of local women artists/designers and makers), Elderberry Antiques, Design & Flowers in Woodstock NY, Milne Antiques & Design on the Rondout in Kingston NY, MVN Design +  Kingston Social in Uptown Kingston NY, and Soma Grove in Woodstock NY are where I recharge and stay fit and healthy! I’m also a regular at Restore on Route 28 in Kingston and I’m not above diving for art at our local dump. I’ve found some great pieces there!

When you’re sourcing antiques or wandering a yard sale, what instantly makes your heart beat faster?

Nancy Geaney: Patina. Something that’s been loved hard and lived with. Those special finds carry stories that can’t be manufactured.

Tell us something about yourself that would surprise even your clients.

Nancy Geaney: I love Thursday night karaoke at Tinker Tavern. I’ve completed the first draft of a novel. I was a supermodel in the ’80’s!

When you’re not designing or giving back, how do you truly unwind? What brings you back to yourself?

Nancy Geaney: Time with my 4-year-old grandson, Ozzie and my chestnut gelding, Jojo. 

If you could give homeowners one piece of advice for 2026, what would it be?

Nancy Geaney: Design for the life you live, not how you think you’re supposed to live. A budget isn’t a bad thing- I find having boundaries pushes my creativity and makes my choices more original. 

And finally, what home trend are you ready to leave firmly in 2025?

Nancy Geaney: Hyper curated monochromatic spaces. Homes should invite life in—bring on the color, music, laughter, the mess, the dogs and cats! Fun is the new black!

Photos by Tim Geaney + Nils Schlebusch

Follow/Connect with Nancy Geaney Designs + Vagabond’s Daughter Textiles via Website | Facebook | Instagram

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