Tyler Hill
Photo by Nancy Nolan
If you could have a second home anywhere, where would you live? Aspen, of course!
What are three words to describe your style?
1. Sleek
2. Comfortable
3. Unique
Tell us about your childhood bedroom? Well not surprisingly, I wouldn’t let the hired interior designer enter my room. I spent lots of time fishing as a kid, so my inspiration was an upscale and quaint fishing lodge. I traveled around Texas looking for vintage treasures including an iron bed from Fredericksburg, Texas that my brother and sister-in-law have in their home today. It was the first time I got to experiment with textiles, and I loved every second! The designer must have too because once the project was completed, she said my room was her favorite. She could have hired me so I didn’t have to go off to college…
What’s the first investment piece you ever bought for your house? I bought a pair of beautiful Italian made sconces while on a shopping trip in Parma, Italy. Toma Clark Haines (known as the antiques diva to designers) asked a group to accompany her to Mercanteinfiera and I was in awe of all the eye candy. The vintage glass sconces are handmade and I knew when seeing them, they would be a part of my life forever. They work great installed on an antique mirrored wall and are my favorite souvenir from all my travels.
In the history of design, if you could hire any designer other than yourself, who would it be? This is hard because there is so much talent out there. I think it would depend on where the house is, but I have always connected with Stephen Shadley’s work. I also love Drake Anderson. Oh, and David Kleinberg. This is like picking a favorite movie!
No room is complete without: Good lighting of course…
People think of me as easygoing , but I am really the total opposite when it comes to my work.
Things you omit from:
A flower arrangement: Daises
An hors d’oeuvre platter: Kabobs
A bar cabinet: Anything plastic
A song for:
Dinner at home: Anything by Billie Holiday
Working at your desk: “Walking On the Moon” by The Police
Going for a run: Pink and Above and Beyond
Biggest Vice? In Washington on weekdays I have a salad from Sweetgreen delivered at 1pm.
If you were on an Ambien high and internet shopping, what would you buy? Signed/First Edition books
Do your clothes reflect your design sensibility, if so, how? I only buy clothes I know I will feel comfortable in. I like to dress up, and if hosting an event related to my design work, I like to incorporate a piece of my aesthetic into the choices. My current work is leaning on the contemporary side, so I don’t want to show up head to toe wearing Ralph Lauren, but I strongly believe that the majority of time your clothes should reflect you, your history, where you have been in this life, and where you’re going.
Who is your star crush? Patrick Dempsey
What is the thing you would never do on a project, but don’t detest when you see others do it?
Paint hardwood floors
If there were a fire, and you could only keep one design book, what would it be? Mark Hampton on decorating, an ID Bible.
For posterity, what would you like your work to be known for? I would like my work to be known for being original and adventurous.
Photo by Emily Followill
A Few Favorites:
Movie: Hotel Rwanda
Book: Gilded Lily
Scent: Rosemary
The fabric you always come back to: Velvet
Dream project: To design a Nancy Meyers next film set
Meal: My mom’s chicken enchiladas
Drink: Negroni
Hotel: Four Seasons Biltmore Santa Barbara
Travel Destination: Ischia, Italy
Artist: Charlotte Terrel
A cause near and dear to me: Ending human trafficking. There is nothing worse for me.
Thing to collect obsessively: Books
Era in the history of design: Art Nouveau
Museum: The Met
Paint Color that always looks great: Hardwick White by Farrow and Ball
Favorite person to follow on Instagram: Kelly Behun and Mark Sikes
Dogs, Cats, or No Pets? Dogs
