It was not her first foray into interior design. The chef and co-owner of Up Stairs at the Pudding, Hughes decorated the critically acclaimed Cambridge restaurant three years ago, acting as general contractor for its kitchen and terrace renovation. It is an unusual, innovative look, and this year, Hughes was rewarded for her confidence with an invitation to apply for a prestigious James Beard Award for restaurant design. So when it came time for Hughes to renovate her home, she did it with the same eclectic style and confidence. Indeed, to walk into her home is to get an immediate sense that traditional rules do not apply, and that's just the way she likes it.
Some floors are yellow.
Some Christmas decorations hang year-round. The food motif, unsurprisingly, carries throughout the house. Pink is an interesting color, and one that doesn't get much positive play. It is sometimes described quite derisively as the color of Pepto Bismol or bubble gum, and vivid shades of teenage fuchsia demand about as much respect as old Debbie Gibson pop music. But in Hughes's hands, pink gains depth-evoking calm or excitement, depending on the treatment of the room.