Michael Mitchell
photo by dustin peck
If you could have a second home anywhere, where would you live? Nantucket
What are three words to describe your style?
Layered
Pattern-heavy
Well-traveled
Tell us about your childhood bedroom? In 1978, my bedroom was decorated in sophisticated airplanes; airplane drapery with lots of red and blue. My toy box was a bench that my great grandpa made.
What’s the first investment piece you ever bought for your house? I bought a small painting by Betsy Havens when I was in my early 20s. It was $550 and my friends thought I had lost my mind for spending that much on a piece of art.
In the history of design, if you could hire any designer other than yourself, who would it be? Steven Gambrel
No room is complete without, something black in it. It can be furniture, paint, accessories or anything. I have to have black to ground a room.
People think of me as being very sophisticated and well-traveled, but I am really, a little boy from the country at the end of the day.
Things you omit from:
A flower arrangement: I omit anything contrived from a flower arrangement.
An hors d’oeuvre platter: Rocky mountain oysters.
A bar cabinet: Paper cups! Anything that can be recycled.
Biggest Vice? Clothes! Anything that I can put in my dressing room.
If you were on an Ambien high and internet shopping, what would you buy? I could go wild on 1stDibs!
Do your clothes reflect your design sensibility, if so, how? Yes! I like the mix of patterns, color and texture.
Who is your star crush? Henry Golding
What is the thing you would never do on a project, but don’t detest when you see others do it? Low seating.
If there were a fire, and you could only keep one design book, what would it be? Dragons and Pagotas by Aldous Bertram
For posterity, what would you like your work to be known for? That I’m a great storyteller of my clients lives. It’s something I pride myself on.
photo by dustin peck
A Few Favorites:
Movie: The Talented Mr. Ripley
Book: Running with Scissors
Scent: I like fabuloso!
The fabric you always come back to: Pearl River by Schumacher
Dream project: I love doing farms and ranches. I would love to do a sprawling ranch in Montana including barn, outbuildings etc.
Meal: My favorite meal is my momma’s beef stroganoff or a caprese salad.
Drink: Orangina
Hotel: The Capri Palace
Travel Destination: Italy, the whole country
Artist: Anne Darby Parker
A cause near and dear to me: Preservation
Thing to collect obsessively: Anything Asian!
Era in the history of design: I’m always excited about what’s happening this moment
Museum: The Gibbes Museum in Charleston
Paint Color that always looks great: School House White by Farrow & Ball
Favorite person to follow on Instagram: Matthew Carter
Dogs, Cats, or No Pets? I don’t trust people that don’t like animals. I have dogs!
