Interior designer Veronica Mishaan has always viewed spaces through the lens of an artist. Growing up surrounded by the craft in Bogotá and Cartagena, Colombia, under the guidance of her mother—a successful designer herself—Mishaan developed a profound appreciation for fine art, color theory, and spatial composition. Today, as the creative force behind Veronica Mishaan Design House, she channels this lifelong passion into high-end residential, hospitality, commercial, and product design projects spanning the globe from her offices in New York City, Bogotá, and Bermuda.
Her journey into the design world, however, was not entirely straightforward. After graduating from Tufts University, where she rigorously studied quantitative economics and international relations, Mishaan initially intended to pursue painting as a full-time career. It was her father who gently steered her talents toward her mother’s interior design practice, suggesting she apply her creative eye and structural understanding to practical spaces.
"I realized interior design is just another art form," Mishaan recalls, looking back on the pivotal career pivot. "And something that was supposed to be six months has turned into 16 years of work."
Working alongside her mother, Mishaan helped build M De M Designs, crafting bespoke interiors and handcrafted furnishings across Colombia. After six years of close collaboration, she assumed sole leadership of the firm, evolving it into Veronica Mishaan Design House and expanding her international footprint. This unique blend of analytical rigor from her economics background and intuitive artistry from her painting roots informs her signature philosophy: she approaches every interior as if it were a blank canvas, thoughtfully layering color, texture, geometry, and materiality to cultivate spaces with deep emotional resonance and movement.
Now, Mishaan is being featured in the latest edition of the Friday Five column, offering a closer look at her creative process and highlighting one of her most ambitious recent undertakings: a sprawling, 6,250-square-foot penthouse apartment situated high above Bogotá.
A Bogotá Penthouse Rooted in Decades of Memory
The penthouse project encapsulates the core ethos of Veronica Mishaan Design House—creating spaces that gracefully evolve with time, honor personal narratives, and strike a delicate balance between past and present. Uniquely, the apartment has belonged to the same family for more than three decades. Rather than wiping the slate clean for a completely modern look, Mishaan was tasked with updating the expansive home to fit the owners’ current lifestyle while carefully preserving the rich tapestry of memories accumulated over thirty years.
"This project in Bogota reflects our core philosophy: spaces that evolve with time, embody personal narratives, and harmonize past and present," Mishaan explains.
The extensive renovation began with a reimagined layout designed to optimize flow and functionality. Custom tinted wide-plank oak flooring was installed throughout, complemented by a sophisticated interplay of recessed and decorative lighting, and finished with smooth, tactile walls.
Upon entering the penthouse, visitors are immediately greeted by a customized rug from Rug & Kilim paired with a striking bronze sculpture drawn directly from the family’s private art collection. Overhead, an Elsa Foulon porcelain pendant light casts a warm glow, while a dramatic custom cast-bronze staircase railing—crafted directly from molds taken of an actual tree branch—anchors the vertical circulation of the home, bridging nature and architecture right at the threshold.
The main living areas further demonstrate Mishaan’s talent for fostering human connection through thoughtful spatial planning. On a clear day, the magnificent Andes Mountains loom in the background, effectively becoming a natural extension of the interior decor. This breathtaking vista frames a living room anchored by prominent works from artist Peter Halley. A custom sofa upholstered in rich Lee Jofa wool sits alongside sleek marble-top tables and an expressive cast-bronze water lily table. Arranged in a deliberate circle to encourage dialogue, the layout reinforces Mishaan’s belief that a successful interior must generate conversation.
What Inspired the Bogotá Penthouse
Honoring 30 Years of Family History
Balancing modern luxury with sentimental value required a delicate touch. The design team intentionally reused existing furniture and artwork, repositioning cherished pieces in completely new contexts to breathe fresh life into them. For instance, a desk that once occupied a prominent spot in the original living room was relocated to serve a new purpose in the primary bedroom suite.
The primary suite itself was entirely reenvisioned as a deeply personal sanctuary. Relocated to a new zone of the penthouse, it is enveloped in a rich navy wallcovering and features a bed upholstered in intricate paisley wool. A Kelly Wearstler bouclé chaise and matching bench add sculptural elegance, while custom shelving crafted from brass, wood, and glass provides functional display space.
The adjoining primary bathroom makes a bold architectural statement, featuring pink marble floors that climb up the walls and seamlessly transition into elaborate blue-and-white waterjet marble. Nearby, a "dream dressing room" fulfills every luxury requirement with mirrored walls, a custom parchment vanity, and a curved bench upholstered in tactile Pierre Frey velvet.
Family-centric spaces were equally prioritized. For the clients’ visiting grandchildren, Mishaan designed custom-built bunk beds that maximize spatial efficiency, paired with playful Temple Studio wallpaper that injects youthful character into the room. Similarly, the family room embraces a cozy, gathering-focused atmosphere through dark blue grasscloth walls, a parchment-wrapped custom bookcase, blue leopard Stark carpeting, Lee Jofa mohair upholstery, and animal-print drapery.
Bogota’s Lush Greenery and the Andes Mountains
Beyond the family’s history, the penthouse design draws profound inspiration from its geographic surroundings. The soaring views of Bogotá’s mountainous terrain served as a primary catalyst for the material and color palettes chosen throughout the residence.
"The view of the mountains of Bogota is not a view you get in many metropolitan cities, so I thought it was something worth using as an inspiration," Mishaan notes.
This natural landscape directly influenced spaces like the children’s playroom, which features sage green millwork, honey oak floors, dark wood doors and baseboards, and natural marmorino plaster walls. Earthy tones run consistently through the home, using organic wood and botanical motifs to reinforce a continuous dialogue with the outdoors. In the primary bedroom, a dark blue blossom wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries creates a transportive, serene atmosphere reminiscent of a quiet, secluded garden.
Similar natural textures define the secondary living room, where marmorino plaster walls establish a refined backdrop for a sage silk rug from Rug & Kilim. Here, existing furnishings were carefully preserved, while chairs surrounding a game table were updated with fresh Nobilis fabric to bridge heritage craftsmanship with contemporary comfort. The space is anchored by personal artwork, including Patrick Tschudi’s 2011 piece, Flow Followers.
Curating the Art Collection and Material Palette
Art plays a foundational role in defining the penthouse’s emotional and cultural weight. Alongside Peter Halley, the residence showcases significant works by prominent artists such as Sophia Vari, Pedro Ruiz, and Larraz. Yet, Mishaan points out that the material selection ultimately drove the aesthetic cohesion of the entire project.
"There was no clear storyline," she reflects. "It became a balanced combination of the materials that felt right to the client and myself."
The resulting material palette is an intricate layering of textures and finishes. Stark leopard-print carpets, printed linen window treatments, a reused antique Aubusson rug, wool bouclé seating, and dark brown velvet drapery coexist harmoniously. Custom furnishings, bespoke millwork, bronze hardware, and honey-toned wood flooring add warmth and personal identity to every room. In the home office, original built-in bookcases and wall paneling were lacquered in deep blue, extending across the ceiling to create a dramatic monochromatic envelope that cocoons the space.
Adding an authentic local connection to the project, much of the custom furniture and intricate millwork was fabricated by artisan workshops throughout Colombia. Through this careful synthesis of past memories, personal art collections, natural inspirations, and local craftsmanship, Mishaan has transformed a decades-old family penthouse into a living work of art that looks forward to the future while honoring its deep roots.
