Mary Jo Bowling

Like many of the people she covers, Mary Jo Bowling has had a passion for interior design and architecture from a young age. She grew up to become a design writer and editor and a serial remodeler. Mary Jo has written about beautiful homes around the country for magazines like Sunset, Better Homes & Gardens, San Francisco and California Home + Design; as well as websites such as Houzz and Curbed. For the last several years, she’s focused on homes in Northern California and the Pacific Northwest in her role as homes editor for LUXE Interiors + Design. She lives in the Bay Area with her family where she just finished restoring a 106-year-old farmhouse and is busy remodeling a condo constructed in 1978.

artful modern living room in a San Francisco town house with views of the city skyline

Defining Design In San Francisco + Northern California

Homes Editor Mary Jo Bowling walks us through the design trends shaping San Francisco and Northern California's residential aesthetics. Get the scoop here.
breakfast nook in a classic kitchen in browns and greens

Go Behind The Design Of A Dreamy Green San Francisco Kitchen

Modern color meets classic lines in a stately San Francisco kitchen designed by Christopher Peacock. Explore the dreamy green space here.
cedar-shingled home exterior with a classic car in the driveway

How A Chicago-Area Home Made Its Lake Views The Focal Point

Thoughtful architecture by the team at Searl Lamaster Howe and design by Alexis Bednyak makes Lake Michigan seem just steps away from this Chicago-area home.
the cedar-clad front of a Washington waterfront cottage

Discover The Design Trends Shaping The Pacific Northwest

Homes Editor Mary Jo Bowling guides us through the Pacific Northwest's current design vernacular. See the design trends shaping the region's aesthetic.
inside a houseboat in Seattle's Portage Bay

Hope Floats At This Charming Houseboat On Seattle's Portage Bay

On Seattle’s Portage Bay, a design team creates a long-dreamed-about houseboat. Paul Wanzer of Hoshide Wanzer Architects + Interiors shares the story.
modern kitchen with green refrigerator and matching cabinetry

An Iconic San Francisco Home Is Refreshed With Color + Pattern

Interior designer Noz Nozawa and the architects at Atelier Ma Design realize a San Francisco family abode filled with color and pattern.
cozy home library with a window seat

Tour A Modern Home That Blends Into A Historic Chicago Neighborhood

A new Chicago home designed by Wheeler Kearns Architects reflects both its owners’ clean-lined style and the neighborhood’s classic nature.
modern living room with a blue sofa and arched windows covered by drapes

This California Home's Refresh Preserves Its Traditional Spirit

When brothers buy a classic San Francisco dwelling, a new story begins. See how Jay Jeffers transformed the home into a contemporary retreat.