Lee Ann Thornton Interiors

If you could have a second home anywhere, where would you live?
London - Lee Ann
The Cotswolds - Allie

What are three words to describe your style?
1. Collected 2. Warm-welcoming 3. Storied - Lee Ann
1. Colorful 2. Cozy 3. Tailored - Allie

Tell us about your childhood bedroom?
Keep in mind it was th 70’s so there was lots of patchwork pillows, some made by myself. I loved on saturdays to take my bike down to the local sewing shop and come home and cut up fabrics and sew pillows. i changed them out every few months. - Lee Ann
As you can imagine with Lee Ann as my mom, my childhood bedroom was perfection. Lots of pink and green, checks and the coziest bed imaginable. Nothing was too perfect but my mom invested in pieces that I have now in my house today and I am forever grateful for that. - Allie

What’s the first investment piece you ever bought for your house?
Thirty years ago I purchased a pair Rose Tarlow club chairs. They were covered in a Rose Cummings red stripe and I still have them to this day. recovered of course. Buy well once and things can last forever. - Lee Ann
I bought an antique suzani a few years ago that makes me so happy every time I see it. It is a piece of art in itself that I am going to frame or upholster something fabulous with it. - Allie

In the history of design, if you could hire any designer other than yourself, who would it be?
Sister Parish or the dynamic duo Diamond Baratta - Lee Ann
I would enlist the past and future of Colefax and Fowler, Robert Banks Pye and Emma Burns or Rita Konig - Allie

No room is complete without custom lampshades (Lee Ann). lots of low lighting and books (Allie)

People think of me as formal but I’m really all about comfort and coziness - Lee Ann
People think of me as very outgoing but I’m really an introvert. - Allie

Things you omit from:

1. A flower arrangement: Other flowers -Lee Ann. Fern Fillers - Allie

2. An hors d’oeuvre platter: Fruit -Lee Ann. Crudite, I am a cracker and baguette girl all the way - Allie

3. A bar cabinet: Gin - Lee Ann Sour Mix-a perfect margarita just needs some great fresh lime

   juice - Allie

A song for:

1. Dinner at home: Anything by Ella Fitzgerald - Lee Ann. Tired of Being Alone Al Green - Allie

2. Working at your desk: Boz Scaggs - Lee Ann. Althea the Grateful Dead - Allie

3. Going for a run: Janet Jackson - Lee Ann. New Romantics Taylor Swift - Allie.

Biggest Vice? A cold glass of white wine when I get home. - Lee Ann. Diet Coke - Allie

If you were on an Ambien high and internet shopping, what would you buy? Probably another pair of jeans, my children will be horrified by this as I am famous for my denim collection. - Lee Ann
I’d probably spend the night on Moda Operandi and order every piece from Ulla Johnson or be bidding on a vintage Land Rover Discovery (RIP the one I sold 2 years ago) - Allie

Do your clothes reflect your design sensibility, if so, how?
I design with comfort in mind and my clothing is very similar although I tend to dress with little pattern unlike my interiors. - Lee Ann
I rarely decorate with any gray nor wear it. Comfort and color are how I like to decorate and definitely how I like to dress. The majority of my wardrobe is filled with patchwork coats, blue jeans, colorful prints and cashmere sweaters. - Allie

Who is your star crush?
Harrison Ford - Lee Ann
Robert Redford in the 70’s - Allie

What is the thing you would never do on a project, but don’t detest when you see others do it? Monochromatic Design - Lee Ann
Minimalism - Allie

If there were a fire, and you could only keep one design book, what would it be?
An original Colefax and Fowler - Lee Ann
Any Gil Schafer book specifically A Place to Call Home. - Allie

For posterity, what would you like your work to be known for?
Designing homes for families to make memories in. Holidays birthdays spent in charming rooms we created for celebrations. - Lee Ann
Creating happy and lasting homes for families to live comfortably and celebrate - Allie

A Few Favorites:

• Movie:
  I love all rom coms so probably Notting Hill - Lee Ann
  Without a doubt I can always rewatch It’s Complicated - Allie

• Book:
  A Year in Provence - Lee Ann
  Don’t think I can pick just one but recently I read Atomic Habits and couldn't recommend it more. - Allie

• Scent:
  I don’t wear perfume so it would be a diptyque candle in Baise scent - Lee Ann
  Décors Barbares Fleur de Steppes or Les Indiennes Albertine - Allie

• The fabric you always come back to:
  Carsten Check by Brunswig and Fils - Lee Ann
  Décors Barbares Fleur de Steppes or Les Indiennes Albertin - Allie

• Dream project:
  a storybook home in Carmel California - Lee Ann
  a historical home in Charleston - Allie

• Meal:
  Ceasar Salad and a baked potato - Lee Ann
  A smashburger or Crispy Rice with Spicy tuna. Gotta love the highs and lows - Allie

• Drink:
  Diet Coke - Lee Ann
  Its my vice for a reason...Diet Coke - Allie

• Hotel:
  Carlyle NYC - Lee Ann
  I am desperate to go to Crillon le Brave in Provence - Allie

• Travel Destination:
  London - Lee Ann
  Jackson Hole. My husbands family has had a ranch there since the 1920’s and it is such a special palace for us both - Allie

• Artist:
  John Singer Sargaent - Lee Ann
  I love American Folk Art, I find so much joy in the pieces by Grandma Moses - Allie

• A cause near and dear to me:
  Children’s Hunger - Lee Ann
  Equal access to food, safety and education for all children - Allie

• Thing to collect obsessively:
  What you love - Lee Ann
  Serving pieces and table linens - Allie

• Era in the history of design:
  80’s - Lee Ann
  1970’s - Allie

• Museum:
  Frick - Lee Ann
  I love any historical house museum, with my move back down to Charleston coming up I think of Drayton Hall in particular - Allie

• Paint Color that always looks great:
  This is a common question we get with our consulting clients and we recognize that it can be challenging to determine without a professional. Our go-to is....Parma Grey by F and B or simply Windoborn White by F and B for a clean fresh look - Lee Ann
  Farrow & Ball Brinjal - Allie

• Favorite person to follow on Instagram:
  Ina Garten - Lee Ann
  Design: Dingley Dell Creative, Leah O’Connell and Sarah Van Renen Style: All of the Scandinavian Bloggers - Allie

• Dogs, Cats, or No Pets?
  We have a King Charles Spaniel named Graham, he is our joy. - Lee Ann
  All of the animals. My husband and I are plotting our future farm with lots of dogs, chickens, sheep and maybe some mini cows too. - Allie