‘On Style’ Offers Inspiration and Advice From Interior Designers
Peek into the approaches and design philosophies of five of the country’s top interior designers profiled in a new book
Editor and textile designer Carl Dellatore profiles 50 of the top designers working in the U.S. today in his new book, On Style: Inspiration and Advice From the New Generation of Interior Design (Rizzoli, $45). Dellatore has produced editorial content for House & Garden, Martha Stewart Living and House Beautiful. He also is the author of Interior Design Master Class and The Fabric Style Book.
On Style‘s designer profiles include photos of the designers’ projects, along with their stories, influences, inspirations and advice. Here we bring you excerpts, with five designers describing their work in their own words.
1. Designer: Bennett Leifer of Bennett Leifer Interiors
Location: New York City
Influences: Karen Knorr’s photographs of the palaces and forts of Rajasthan, India. The saturated colors, uniquely characterized by their individual patinas, are breathtaking. Elsa Schiaparelli is influencing a current project I am working on. I am drawn to how she incorporated surrealist art as an accent into something as tactile as fashion. Her work was incredibly intellectual. And Robert Polidori’s photography has greatly influenced me, particularly how he captured Versailles.
The look: Classically influenced rooms that respond to modern life.
Color: Color is incredibly subjective. For example, I would describe a woven fabric of two colored threads by their two respective names, whereas other people might see only the overall combination. It’s a matter of perception. For me, every tone counts and becomes a cumulative part of the palette. I thoroughly embrace this. Black is an anchoring force and a visual stop sign to draw your eye to its surroundings.
Location: New York City
Influences: Karen Knorr’s photographs of the palaces and forts of Rajasthan, India. The saturated colors, uniquely characterized by their individual patinas, are breathtaking. Elsa Schiaparelli is influencing a current project I am working on. I am drawn to how she incorporated surrealist art as an accent into something as tactile as fashion. Her work was incredibly intellectual. And Robert Polidori’s photography has greatly influenced me, particularly how he captured Versailles.
The look: Classically influenced rooms that respond to modern life.
Color: Color is incredibly subjective. For example, I would describe a woven fabric of two colored threads by their two respective names, whereas other people might see only the overall combination. It’s a matter of perception. For me, every tone counts and becomes a cumulative part of the palette. I thoroughly embrace this. Black is an anchoring force and a visual stop sign to draw your eye to its surroundings.
Key element: Something patinaed in every room: age-worn paint on a carved chair, an oxidized bronze table, vintage Fortuny textile cushions. These elements lend an instant sense of history.
Always have: Jewel tones, lustrous finishes and sculptural accents.
Inspiration: On a recent trip to India, I was struck by the forts and palaces of Rajasthan. The powdery colors and innovative decorative techniques are incredible.
Never forget: The importance of the phrase “Measure twice, cut once” cannot be overemphasized. I refer to this quote in all aspects of life, but it has a particularly literal translation in the design industry.
Always have: Jewel tones, lustrous finishes and sculptural accents.
Inspiration: On a recent trip to India, I was struck by the forts and palaces of Rajasthan. The powdery colors and innovative decorative techniques are incredible.
Never forget: The importance of the phrase “Measure twice, cut once” cannot be overemphasized. I refer to this quote in all aspects of life, but it has a particularly literal translation in the design industry.
2. Designer: Emilie Munro of Studio Munroe
Location: San Francisco
The look: Eclectic, detailed and unexpectedly luxurious.
Key element: No matter the scope of the job, we find a way to include a statement pendant light or chandelier. Decorative lighting is the jewelry of the house and makes a huge impact in any room, but especially in the entry, dining room and bedrooms.
Always have: Unexpected, conversation-starting patterns are my specialty, but I also install many interesting natural-fiber textures in rooms to bring a subtle softness and interest to a space. I look at mirrors as interior-facing windows because they reflect both scenery and light. You have to be careful not to over-mirror a space, but every room can have one as long as it’s properly scaled and mixed in nicely with art.
Never forget: For all the current focus on technology, I think the next phase of luxury is disconnection. Perhaps that means a room or even a wing of the house where mobile devices and computers don’t work, or vacation homes that are 100% off the grid.
Location: San Francisco
The look: Eclectic, detailed and unexpectedly luxurious.
Key element: No matter the scope of the job, we find a way to include a statement pendant light or chandelier. Decorative lighting is the jewelry of the house and makes a huge impact in any room, but especially in the entry, dining room and bedrooms.
Always have: Unexpected, conversation-starting patterns are my specialty, but I also install many interesting natural-fiber textures in rooms to bring a subtle softness and interest to a space. I look at mirrors as interior-facing windows because they reflect both scenery and light. You have to be careful not to over-mirror a space, but every room can have one as long as it’s properly scaled and mixed in nicely with art.
Never forget: For all the current focus on technology, I think the next phase of luxury is disconnection. Perhaps that means a room or even a wing of the house where mobile devices and computers don’t work, or vacation homes that are 100% off the grid.
3. Designer: Brian Paquette of Brian Paquette Interiors
Location: Seattle
The look: Traditional floor plans inflected with a mix of contemporary furnishings.
Color: I like to build palettes based on the natural elements outside the home. I tend toward colors that feel as if the pigment has been kissed by dirt or the earth.
Key elements: Sculptural lighting, layered rugs and art — always art.
Always have: Natural elements: wood, stone, cowhide, wool. Making a strong connection between nature and the built environment is paramount to successful rooms.
Location: Seattle
The look: Traditional floor plans inflected with a mix of contemporary furnishings.
Color: I like to build palettes based on the natural elements outside the home. I tend toward colors that feel as if the pigment has been kissed by dirt or the earth.
Key elements: Sculptural lighting, layered rugs and art — always art.
Always have: Natural elements: wood, stone, cowhide, wool. Making a strong connection between nature and the built environment is paramount to successful rooms.
4. Designer: Tina Ramchandani of Tina Ramchandani Creative
Location: New York City
The look: Soulful minimalism — warm and modern.
Color: When using color, I think it’s important to commit, make a statement and have a driving vision. I try to infuse various shades of the color in several ways: layered; on the walls, ceiling, floors and furniture; and in accents and accessories.
Never forget: Scale is one of the most misunderstood elements of design. Not only does a piece of furniture have to fill a room properly, it also needs to be layered to add interest. I achieve this through varying furniture heights, large area rugs that take up the majority of the room, and floor mirrors that are the correct height and do not feel as though they are sitting low on the wall. The wrong scale creates an undertone of chaos and makes those in the room feel uneasy, while proper scale, size and height allow those in the room to feel relaxed.
4 Tips for Designing a Home That Sparks Creativity
Location: New York City
The look: Soulful minimalism — warm and modern.
Color: When using color, I think it’s important to commit, make a statement and have a driving vision. I try to infuse various shades of the color in several ways: layered; on the walls, ceiling, floors and furniture; and in accents and accessories.
Never forget: Scale is one of the most misunderstood elements of design. Not only does a piece of furniture have to fill a room properly, it also needs to be layered to add interest. I achieve this through varying furniture heights, large area rugs that take up the majority of the room, and floor mirrors that are the correct height and do not feel as though they are sitting low on the wall. The wrong scale creates an undertone of chaos and makes those in the room feel uneasy, while proper scale, size and height allow those in the room to feel relaxed.
4 Tips for Designing a Home That Sparks Creativity
5. Designer: Bria Hammel of Bria Hammel Interiors
Location: Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Influences: Sister Parish, for her love of the color pink and her skill with color and pattern. The casual elegance she brought to every space is exactly what I try to bring to my work. Her rooms still appear timeless.
The look: Clean, crisp, supremely comfortable.
Color: I use color to set a tone or mood in every space we design. I gravitate toward soft, calming colors, as those are the type of environments we strive to create. A color should always be paired with a contrasting hue. I design using cool and warm colors in every room. If blue is the primary color, I like to offset it with camel or pink — a warm color to ground the cool tones of the space.
Key elements: Generously proportioned, plush upholstery; rattan.
Always have: A touch of femininity. There is something nurturing and livable about feminine details in a room, whether it’s a color or a decorative trim.
Never forget: When we’re picking a white, we’re always paying attention to not only the other furnishing, but the other colors in the room. If there is a lot of direct sunlight, we pick a cooler white. Less sunlight calls for a warmer white.
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Location: Mendota Heights, Minnesota
Influences: Sister Parish, for her love of the color pink and her skill with color and pattern. The casual elegance she brought to every space is exactly what I try to bring to my work. Her rooms still appear timeless.
The look: Clean, crisp, supremely comfortable.
Color: I use color to set a tone or mood in every space we design. I gravitate toward soft, calming colors, as those are the type of environments we strive to create. A color should always be paired with a contrasting hue. I design using cool and warm colors in every room. If blue is the primary color, I like to offset it with camel or pink — a warm color to ground the cool tones of the space.
Key elements: Generously proportioned, plush upholstery; rattan.
Always have: A touch of femininity. There is something nurturing and livable about feminine details in a room, whether it’s a color or a decorative trim.
Never forget: When we’re picking a white, we’re always paying attention to not only the other furnishing, but the other colors in the room. If there is a lot of direct sunlight, we pick a cooler white. Less sunlight calls for a warmer white.
More on Houzz
Read more stories for pros
Browse millions of photos for inspiration
Talk with your peers in the Pro-to-Pro discussions
Join the Houzz Trade Program