Jessica Nicastro on Crafting Layered, Lived-In Interiors with Soul
people • DESIGNERS
Based in Los Angeles, Jessica Nicastro is celebrated for her warm, textural interiors that feel both elevated and deeply personal. Her spaces blend vintage character with modern ease, reflecting a signature California sensibility that is sunlit, tactile and effortlessly refined.
Through her studio, Jessica Nicastro Design, she creates homes that balance style and soul. Every detail, from aged plaster walls and vintage rugs to handcrafted lighting, is chosen with a curator’s eye and a storyteller’s heart. In this Designeers interview, Jessica shares her love for vintage discovery, the art of indoor and outdoor living, and how texture, light and personal memory shape spaces that truly feel like home.
Words: designeers
NOVEMBER 2025
WEBSITE: jessicanicastrodesign.com
INSTAGRAM: @jessicanicastrodesign
DESIGNEERS
If Los Angeles were a room, what would it look like?
Jessica Nicastro
It would be a space layered with rich texture and character, plastered walls with a soft, hand-finished feel, warm oak floors underfoot, and furnishings in a mix of linen, leather, and velvet. A beautifully worn vintage rug would anchor the room, telling its own story. Sunlight would stream through floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a golden glow that shifts throughout the day.
Every detail would feel personal, reflecting the lives and memories of the people who inhabit it. There would be an amazing playlist of the sounds of Laurel Canyon on, and spicy margaritas being poured! The space would hum with warmth, creativity, and a lived-in kind of beauty.
DESIGNEERS
What’s your secret recipe for creating that seamless indoor–outdoor living vibe?
Jessica Nicastro
Transform your outdoor space into a place you truly want to spend time in, an extension of your home that feels every bit as inviting as the indoors. Incorporate texture through your furnishings to create warmth and depth, and choose materials that seamlessly transition between inside and out. I love to layer lighting in both spaces; it adds dimension, atmosphere, and a sense of continuity that ties everything together.
DESIGNEERS
When you’re hunting for vintage pieces, what’s the thrill: the chase, the find, or the story it tells once it’s home?
Jessica Nicastro
I absolutely love the chase. There’s nothing quite like the thrill of searching for that perfect piece, the anticipation, the discovery, the moment you spot something special. Finding it is deeply satisfying, of course, but the beauty of vintage is that the hunt never really ends. There’s always another piece out there waiting to be found, with its own story to tell.
DESIGNEERS
If you could design an entire house around one vintage treasure, what would it be?
Jessica Nicastro
Lighting, without question. I’m endlessly drawn to vintage lighting; it has such presence and history. The right fixture can completely transform a space, casting not just light but mood and character. I also love that lighting feels timeless and practical; in homes with young children, it’s the perfect investment piece because it’s safely out of reach yet still makes a statement.
“I’m endlessly drawn to vintage lighting; it has such presence and history. The right fixture can completely transform a space, casting not just light but mood and character.”
Jessica Nicastro
DESIGNEERS
You’ve described your style as layered and lived-in. What’s the one detail that makes a space instantly feel “home”?
Jessica Nicastro
For me, it’s the perfect chair, the one that invites you to sink in with a book, a drink, or just your thoughts. Every home needs that spot that feels entirely yours. It’s often in those lived-in moments that a space truly starts to feel like home.
DESIGNEERS
What’s your non-negotiable when collaborating with artisans and builders?
Jessica Nicastro
Collaboration and communication are absolutely essential. Working with artisans and builders is one of the most rewarding parts of the process. The most beautiful work happens when there’s mutual respect, trust, appreciation for each other’s craft and expertise, and an ongoing exchange of ideas.
DESIGNEERS
Dream dinner guest?
Jessica Nicastro
My grandfather. He was a builder, and I’d love the chance to sit down with him and talk about construction, craftsmanship, and how much the industry has evolved. We’d have endless things to discuss.
DESIGNEERS
Favourite hotel in the world?
Jessica Nicastro
Les Suites Cinabre, I haven’t been yet, but I’m absolutely obsessed. It’s at the top of my list, and I’m manifesting a stay there soon (measuring tape in hand, of course!). And the One&Only Mandarina - a secluded treehouse overlooking the ocean? Yes, please.
