Interior designer Veronica Mishaan has always viewed spaces through the lens of an artist. Growing up surrounded by creativity in Bogotá and Cartagena, Colombia, under the guidance of her mother—a successful designer herself—Mishaan developed an early appreciation for fine art, color, and texture. While her mother taught her the foundational lessons of confidence, layering, and spatial proportions, Mishaan’s own journey into the industry took a winding path rooted in both analytical thinking and artistic expression.
After graduating from Tufts University, where she concentrated her studies in quantitative economics and international relations, Mishaan initially intended to pursue a full-time career in painting. However, her father encouraged her to apply her burgeoning artistic skills to her mother’s interior design practice. What was initially conceived as a temporary six-month venture ultimately blossomed into a lifelong vocation spanning more than 16 years.
Working alongside her mother, Mishaan helped build M De M Designs, a firm recognized for crafting bespoke interiors and handcrafted furnishings across Bogotá and Cartagena. After six years of collaborative partnership, Mishaan stepped into sole leadership of the firm, steering its evolution into Veronica Mishaan Design House. This transition allowed her to cultivate her distinct creative vision and expand her international reach. Today, operating out of offices in New York City, Bogotá, and Bermuda, Mishaan oversees a diverse portfolio of residential, hospitality, commercial, and product design projects worldwide.
Mishaan’s unique educational background—combining the structural rigor of quantitative economics with the boundless possibilities of fine art—directly informs her professional philosophy. She approaches every residential project much like a blank canvas, thoughtfully balancing color, texture, geometry, and materiality to infuse spaces with depth, movement, and personal meaning. Rather than imposing a signature aesthetic on every client, she adapts her approach to suit the individuals who will inhabit the space, treating each commission as a distinct learning experience.
Recently, Mishaan’s design philosophy was brought to life in a striking 6,250-square-foot penthouse located in Bogotá. Featured in the latest installment of the Friday Five design series, the expansive apartment serves as a masterclass in balancing heritage with modernity, honoring a family’s rich history while adapting their living environment for a new chapter in life.
Bogotá Penthouse
"This project in Bogotá reflects our core philosophy: spaces that evolve with time, embody personal narratives, and harmonize past and present," Mishaan notes.
The penthouse holds deep sentimental value for its owners, having remained in the same family for more than three decades. Rather than wiping the slate clean, Mishaan undertook a sensitive renovation that honors decades of accumulated memories while seamlessly integrating contemporary design elements, curated art, and bespoke furniture crafted by her firm.
Visitors stepping into the penthouse are immediately greeted by a foyer that sets the tone for the rest of the residence. A custom rug from Rug & Kilim pairs harmoniously with a bronze sculpture drawn directly from the family’s private art collection. Overhead, an Elsa Foulon porcelain pendant light casts a soft glow, while a striking cast-bronze staircase railing—crafted using molds taken directly from an actual tree branch—extends gracefully through the home’s vertical circulation, anchoring the interior in the organic world.
What Inspired the Bogotá Penthouse
30 Years of Family Memories
Redesigning a home inhabited by the same family for over 30 years requires a delicate balance of respect and reinvention. Mishaan reimagined the apartment’s layout to support the owners’ current lifestyle without erasing the history embedded within its walls. The structural updates introduced custom tinted wide-plank oak flooring, a sophisticated combination of recessed and decorative lighting, and walls finished in smooth, tactile plaster.
The primary suite was strategically relocated to create a deeply personalized retreat. Wrapped in a rich navy wallcovering, the bedroom features a bed upholstered in paisley wool, complemented by a Kelly Wearstler bouclé chaise and bench alongside custom brass, wood, and glass shelving. The adjoining primary bathroom makes a bold statement with pink marble floors that extend up the walls, transitioning seamlessly into intricate blue-and-white waterjet marble.
Adjacent to the primary suite is a dream dressing room complete with mirrored walls, a custom parchment vanity, and a curved bench upholstered in luxurious Pierre Frey velvet. Elsewhere in the home, guest quarters were carefully tailored to accommodate extended family, including custom-built bunk beds designed specifically for the owners’ visiting grandchildren.
"The client wanted this home to be updated to the new stage of life, but did not want to erase all the memories that were lived in that space for 30-plus years," Mishaan explains. True to this sentiment, many existing pieces of furniture and artwork were meticulously restored and repurposed in new locations throughout the apartment. For instance, a desk that once anchored the living room now finds a quiet, functional purpose within the primary bedroom.
Bogotá’s Greenery and the Andes Mountains
Beyond the family’s history, the penthouse’s breathtaking natural surroundings played a pivotal role in shaping the interior design. Situated against the dramatic backdrop of the Andes Mountains, the apartment offers panoramic views that are rare to find in major metropolitan environments.
"The view of the mountains of Bogotá is not a view you get in many metropolitan cities, so I thought it was something worth using as an inspiration," Mishaan says.
This dramatic Andean landscape directly inspired the material and color palettes used throughout the home. In the children’s playroom, sage green millwork, honey oak floors, dark wood doors and baseboards, and natural marmorino plaster walls establish an organic, grounding atmosphere. Earth-toned accents and botanical motifs reinforce this continuous dialogue with the outdoors. In the primary bedroom, a dark blue blossom wallpaper by Phillip Jeffries creates a serene, transportive environment reminiscent of a tranquil garden retreat.
In the secondary living room, marmorino plaster walls provide a refined backdrop for a sage silk Rug & Kilim rug. While existing furnishings were thoughtfully preserved, items like the game table chairs were refreshed with upholstery in Nobilis fabric to bridge the gap between historical sentiment and modern comfort. The space is further elevated by the owners’ personal art collection, including the 2011 painting Flow Followers by Patrick Tschudi.
The Owners’ Art Collection and Material Palette
The family’s extensive art collection—featuring notable works by Peter Halley, Sophia Vari, Pedro Ruiz, and Larraz—serves as a cultural and emotional anchor for the entire residence. However, Mishaan notes that the broader material palette ultimately drove much of the interior’s narrative.
"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 interior is a rich tapestry of textures, patterns, and finishes. Leopard-print Stark carpets, printed linen window treatments, a reused antique Aubusson rug, wool bouclé upholstery, and dark brown velvet window treatments interact to create tactile depth. Custom furnishings, bespoke millwork, bronze hardware, and hand-finished architectural details add layers of intimacy, while honey-toned wood flooring and a custom family room bookcase wrapped in white parchment infuse the space with warmth.
"Extensive use of marmorino plaster throughout the common areas [creates] warmth and softness," Mishaan adds.
In a final nod to local craftsmanship, much of the custom furniture and millwork throughout the penthouse was produced by skilled artisan workshops across Colombia, forging a deep, tangible connection between the residence and the vibrant culture of its home country.
