Madeline Stuart
photo by Trevor Tondro
If you could have a second home anywhere, where would you live? Exactly where I have a second home...in Santa Barbara, CA.
What are three words to describe your style? 1. Understated 2. Unpretentious 3. Untrendy
Tell us about your childhood bedroom? It was decorated by my decorator mother. I had no say whatsoever and I hated it. It had Brunschwig et Fils wallpaper with tiny red and pink dots and flowers, a dotted Swiss canopy over my antique 4-poster bed, and an antique wicker desk and rocking chair painted white.
What’s the first investment piece you ever bought for your house? My first big purchase was a very simple Italian secretary with subtle parquetry details, tall, tapering legs, and a gorgeous French-polished finish. It’s still a piece I treasure. I have it in my dining room—it’s super chic and holds all my silver serve ware.
In the history of design, if you could hire any designer other than yourself, who would it be? Frances Elkins (because she’d incorporate pieces from Jean Michel Frank!)
No room is complete without interesting lamps.
People think of me as tough, but I am really super sensitive
Things you omit from:
A flower arrangement excessive greenery
An hors d’oeuvre platter bacon wrapped anything
A bar cabinet absinthe
A song for:
Dinner at home Miles Davis – My Ship
Working at your desk Anything by Antonio Carlos Jobim
Going for a run I don’t run.
Biggest Vice? Candy. And lots of it.
If you were on an Ambien high and internet shopping, what would you buy? If I was on Ambien, I’d be sleeping. For the sake of argument, let’s say a Cocaine and tequila infused high. If that was the case, I’d be internet shopping for shoes and clothes. I’m a shopaholic with an occasional case of the over-spending blues.
Do your clothes reflect your design sensibility, if so, how? Definitely! I loathe anything too trendy (no distressed jeans with holes and rips…ugh!) or pieces that can be instantly carbon dated to a designer’s specific collection. I love classic, chic clothes that have a slightly 70’s vibe.
Who is your star crush? David Bowie. I’d have given anything to meet him.
What is the thing you would never do on a project, but don’t detest when you see others do it? Crazy patterned wallpaper on the ceiling.
If there were a fire, and you could only keep one design book, what would it be? Spanish Influence on American Design and Decoration by R.W. Sexton. Can I add one more? It would be Stephen Salny’s book on Frances Elkins.
For posterity, what would you like your work to be known for? Chic, comfortable, understated interiors.
photo by Trevor Tondro
A Few Favorites:
Movie: All About Eve
Book: My own (ha!). Appointment in Samarra by John O’Hara
Scent: Lavender
The fabric you always come back to: Linen velvet & Fortuny
Dream project: Building a house for myself
Meal: Spaghetti Bolognese WITH meatballs!
Drink: Tequila on the rocks with lemon
Hotel: Posta Vecchia
Travel Destination: Italy
Artist: IMPOSSIBLE QUESTION! But I’ll play along and say Edward Hopper.
Thing to collect obsessively: Books
Era in the history of design: Too close to call…1910 Austria & Germany AND France in the 1930’s/40’s.
Museum: A toss-up between The British Museum and The Met
Paint Color that always look great: BM White Dove OC-17
Favorite person to follow on Instagram: Galen Lowe
Dogs, Cats, or No Pets? DOGS!!
