Designer Series: Jeff Schlarb Defines Modern-Day Maximalism

From bold color palettes to sculptural lighting and layered textures, learn this designer's tricks for creating artful (and art-filled) spaces that feel both curated and lived-in.


Welcome to PJ's NEW Designer Series where we spotlight standout designer projects and incredible stories. Each feature delves into the creative process and inspiration behind these remarkable designs. Join us as we explore how San Francisco interior designer Jeff Schlarb and his eponymous studio, Jeff Schlarb Design Studio, approaches design with a sense of play, precision, and a clear point of view. In this edition of our Designer Series, we highlight Jeff’s West Coast sensibility and fearless design choices that shape spaces that inspire and endure.

Jeff Schlarb Design Studio
California-based interior designer Jeff Schlarb and his studio have become a hub for bold, expressive design. With more than 20 years of experience in the industry, he has cultivated a style he calls “Rad Elegance” which is a fusion of classical architecture and contemporary flair. Often featuring richly layered wallcovering, sculptural lighting, modern art, and unexpected color combinations, Jeff brings a confident, playful approach to interiors that are both visually striking and deeply livable. 

In a luxe bachelor pad, Jeff chose a rich wood veneer wallcovering. "The graphic quality of the chevron and the wood veneers is so cool because it picks up the light," said Jeff. "The material changes as you walk around the room. It’s interesting and it’s monochromatic.”

Which PJ Wallcovering Gets The Most Fanfare?
A PJ classic, Jeff loves our mural Serenity which showcases the sweeping branches of a mighty willow tree and brings the outdoors in. "We’ve used it a couple times to so much fanfare," said Jeff. "We used it in an entire room for a penthouse; a model for a sales group. We used it in a chateau and covered the whole entry."

Whether it’s a grand Victorian or a sleek modern penthouse, Jeff sees wallcoverings as a bridge between eras. “Let’s say you have a classic home with interior architectural details, you can do a really graphic or sharp looking wallcovering to complement. I love the graphic quality of wallcovering."

For this bathroom below in the heart of California wine country, Jeff layered in old world charm to what was essentially a white box. “This was a remodel of a ’97 house. We paired thick, linear tiles with a graphic wallpaper. The colorway, the structure of the tile, and then the wallcovering is the pop. This is the difference that we like to see and the scales of patterns."

Phillip Jeffries Broad Strokes is a painterly abstract pattern on silk for a hint of glamour.

An Artful Bedroom
For the primary bedroom below,  Sunset Silk adds interest to the walls without overwhelming it with a pattern. All of Phillip Jeffries natural silk wallcovering panels beautifully. "It’s a subtle, rich pattern," said Jeff. "It's a non-pattern pattern. We always tell our clients that it won’t line up and it’s not supposed to line up. Sometimes you need the background to have a finish, but not a loud kind of material, so this was perfect.”

Wallcovering As Art
For Jeff, wallcovering is more than a backdrop—it’s a catalyst. “There’s a foreground and a background in every room,” he said. “Wallpaper can move the needle and take a space from classic to contemporary." Jeff’s team leans into Phillip Jeffries’ expansive offerings. “We use Quick Ship a lot. It’s a lifesaver,” he said. “Our design team sources broadly, but we always come back to PJ. The variety, the quality—it’s unmatched.”

Phillip Jeffries Vinyl Reconstructed draws your eye up with a bold, graphic pattern on the ceiling.



Beautiful Bird Print Inspired By A Kimono
When asked what draws him to a wallcovering, Jeff doesn’t hesitate. “Pattern. That’s where the interest starts. I love a product that makes you pause and ask, ‘What is that?’ And then you get closer and realize—oh wow, it’s wood veneer, or it’s handwoven. There’s a payoff in the investigation.”

For the client below, Jeff's vision for their dining room included bringing in color with some sort of life and nature. The client loved the birds and after seeing a multitude of options, they fell in love with PJ's Flight wallcovering collection.
 

Jeff Schlarb Design Studio creates spaces that are collected and layered with intention—artful, expressive, and never shy. His maximalist lens brings depth and drama, while wallcovering from Phillip Jeffries adds the texture and tone that make each room feel complete. It’s design that dares to be bold, and always leaves an impression.

“There’s no one else like you guys. The quality, the price point, the sheer range—you’re winning.”

But really, we're both winning.

Photos by Aubrie Pick (grey bedroom), Noe DeWitt (entry, bathroom, bedroom, dining) and Christopher Stark (silk bedroom)
Bedroom at top: Against The Grain
Designs by Jeff Schlarb Design Studio