Design Alchemy
photo by Chad Mellon
If you could have a second home anywhere, where would you live? Maggiore, Italy
What are three words to describe your style? 1. Pattern-filled 2. Collected 3. Cozy
Tell us about your childhood bedroom? It was ever changing! My mom and I would “refresh” my bedroom almost every summer. And, yes, the room always had a theme. I think the Celestial theme was my favorite — we crafted a gold and blue mosaic tile mirror over an old dresser that we painted (each drawer with a different design, of course). We “faux painted” the walls yellow and gold, and stenciled suns and moons. My 11 year old self thought I was so cool.
What’s the first investment piece you ever bought for your house? For my 30th birthday I purchased my first “grown up” piece of artwork. There is a local artists’ work that I coveted and finally took the plunge and purchased my first piece. She currently hangs in my entryway surrounded by William Morris paper.
In the history of design, if you could hire any designer other than yourself, who would it be? Dorothy Draper (I would just love to be a part of her process and watch how she worked)
No room is complete without your personal art collection.
People think of me as extroverted, but I am really introverted.
Things you omit from:
1. A flower arrangement - Eucalyptus (especially silver dollar)
2. An hors d’oeuvre platter - Deviled eggs
3. A bar cabinet - Everything stays! You never know who you will be hosting. That being said, I would omit anything plastic, real glass only!
A song for:
1. Dinner at home - Neil Young, Harvest Moon
2. Working at your desk - XX, Intro
3. Going for a run - Drake, Nice for What
Biggest Vice? Mortadella is my weakness (imported, with pistachios)
If you were on an Ambien high and internet shopping, what would you buy? Whatever designer bag I am coveting at the time — because I would totally justify the spend ;)
Do your clothes reflect your design sensibility, if so, how? Yes and no. My closet is filled with patterns (mainly patterned dresses). However, lately I have found myself focused more on establishing more of a capsule collection — and have been gravitating towards solids/staple pieces. Also, I spend so much of my time sourcing furniture, that when it comes to online shopping for clothes, I’m SO burnt out lol.
Who is your star crush? I never really get star struck, but we did run into Hailey and Justin Bieber at the basement diner at the Beverly Hills Hotel and that got me pretty good. Also, running into Michael Che at the Comedy Cellar in NY never gets old.
What is the thing you would never do on a project, but don’t detest when you see others do it? Incorporate anything animal print.
If there were a fire, and you could only keep one design book, what would it be? You know, I have a large collection of design books at our studio, but there’s not just one that I would save from a fire... sorry! I do, however, have a fun collection of art books at home, and I would definitely snag my Matisse coffee table book.
For posterity, what would you like your work to be known for? The ability to layer pattern in an unexpected way.
photo by Stephanie Russo
A Few Favorites:
Movie: You’ve Got Mail
Book: I read constantly — my recent favorites are Remarkably Bright Creatures and Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow
Scent: Jo Malone, blush peony and suede (I wear it almost every day and love! Le Labo Rose 31 is pretty lovely too)
The fabric you always come back to: Kit Kemp for Christopher Farr Lost and Found (I have used it in almost every colorway and I never get tired of it)
Dream project: An amazing boutique hotel in Santa Fe, NM
Meal: Pasta, always always pasta
Drink: Depends on my mood: A glass of Gamay, a white Negroni or dry gin martini (Beefeater is my gin of choice)
Hotel: Splendido Mare in Portofino
Travel Destination: Italy, always!
Artist: David Hockney and Henri Matisse (can’t just choose one!)
A cause near and dear to me: Planned Parenthood
Thing to collect obsessively: Small bowls, but who doesn’t? I’m always collecting pottery pieces, I just can’t say no.
Era in the history of design: 1920s
Museum: The Met
Paint Color that always looks great: Revere Pewter, boring I know, but it always looks just right.
Favorite person to follow on Instagram: Jenna Rennert and Martha Stewart, of course!
Dogs, Cats, or No Pets? No pets currently, but I’m constantly sending pics of dogs from our local shelter to my partner. One day!
