Project Happy Place: Herron House Brings Curated Art to the Newport Harbor Home Tour
This year’s Newport Harbor Home Tour was more than just a showcase of beautiful houses—it was a celebration of storytelling through design. Herron House was honored to be part in the event, partnering with Grace Blu Interior Design to bring curated art into their clients’ oceanfront home, lovingly dubbed The Happy Place.
As an art advisory rooted in the belief that art transforms space, our role was to infuse each home with works that didn’t just match the aesthetic—but deepened it. From bold, contemporary paintings to nostalgic California photography, every piece was selected to evoke emotion, memory, and a strong sense of place.
Art That Tells a Story
At Herron House, our curatorial process always begins with a conversation. What mood do we want to evoke? What stories do the walls want to tell? Who lives here—and how do they move through the space?
For the Newport Harbor tour, we worked closely with designers to ensure that each piece told a part of the story they wanted the home to reflect.
Cole Sternberg; contention over the horizon’s curve, 2024; 58 x 72 in.
One striking piece placed in the living room is by Southern California-based artist Cole Sternberg, whose practice often includes submerging or dragging canvases through natural elements. A few weeks ago, we followed Cole through this process, which you can read about in our blog post: here. This particular work below was literally pulled through the Pacific Ocean—a concept we loved for its raw connection to the coast. Featured in the stairwell, with its deep marine hues and wave-like textures, it captures the untamed energy of the ocean while echoing the breezy, beach-forward vibe of the home.
Cole Sternberg; remembrance of chilled unification, 2021; 40 x 30 in.
Throughout the home, you’ll find photographs by Yoni Goldberg, who documents quiet, poetic moments in urban California—like an early morning on 65th Street, right on the peninsula. These local landscapes lend an intimate, personal touch that feels rooted in home and in memory. Finding inspiration right in our backyard allows for us to channel personal touches through the art we choose. With many of our pieces being in communication with our pocket of Southern California, we try to make sure that we curate with intention; always aware of the rich context of our surroundings and placements.
Yoni Goldberg; Porsche Study No. 1, 2024; 27 x 38 in.
Why Art Curation Matters
Art is more than a final flourish. It’s the soul of a space.
It’s what makes a hallway contemplative, a breakfast nook joyful, a bedroom quietly powerful. Thoughtfully placed, art doesn’t just complete a room—it redefines it. It reflects identity, sparks inspiration, and in many cases, becomes a meaningful long-term investment.
At Herron House, we guide clients toward works that resonate with their aesthetic and their values, but past this, we believe in art enhancing your day-to-day life. Kyle Steed’s and Thai Mainhard’s vibrant and playful pieces in the kitchen and dining room not only change the energy of the room, but how you experience life. Getting to start breakfast next to the inspiration and feeling these bright colors and dynamic shapes of these paintings means that you get to begin the day with the vivacity of these works.
L. Thai Mainhard; Sunrise; 24 x 24 in.; R. Kyle Steed; Arrangement No. 1, 2024; 53 x 63 in.
Thank You to The Happy Place Team
We are so grateful to Jenny Harrington and The Happy Place team for bringing us onto this project and for trusting us with bringing life to this home. Art can often be the final layer that pulls a home together, but it's more than just decoration. It’s a reflection of identity, a source of inspiration, and in many cases, a lasting investment. Through curated placement and personalized advisory, Herron House helps clients select work that resonates with their aesthetic and values—while also enhancing the spaces they live in every day. It is our belief and mission that art takes on meaning through coexistence. Whether it be by passing by one of Cole’s works on your home stairwell or meditating on Hannah Polskin’s diptych before bed, we hope that our client’s consciousness is empowered through the art they live with.
If you missed the tour but want a closer look at the art we placed—or if you’re looking to begin or grow your own collection— take a look at our gallery view or send us an email at info@herron-house.com.
Hannah Polskin; Genuflexion 11; Genuflexion 12; 20 x 16 in. each
Interior Design: Grace Blu Interior Design: Rona Graf & Courtney Gregg
Builder: Burkhart Brother’s Construction
Architect: William Guidero Planning & Design
Photography: Yoni Goldberg Studio