find your muses
Good design has something that I think of as the Kate Moss effect. You can’t stop looking at her and you don’t entirely know why. There is an ethereal, powerful presence of mind that is communicated in her images. Whatever that field is she is emanating, that is internally what we are responding to, what we can’t look away from. Good design in like that. It has the signature of a deeper presence, a deeper knowing to it.
The interior design stars, those who have hit their creativity flow and are working at the edge of their gift are important. They are attached (more than most) to a powerful creative force and it is uniquely and elegantly expressing itself through them on the planet. They broaden our eyes to the intricacy and art in the world. We connect to their deep love of creation and being.
I am so grateful to these designers for all they have shared of over years. They inspire me to look at the home as an extension of the essential self, the culmination of your unique energetic imprint. They are all gifted, magical sensory storytellers.
Jenna Lyons https://www.instagram.com/jennalyonsnyc/
One of my first images on Pinterest was Jenna Lyon’s New York Townhome. Black walls with colorful Moroccan rugs, hi/low/vintage/thrifted, marble veins in bathroom, architecture photography, etc., etc. This was 15 years ago and we are all living in her world now because she is visionary. She spent decades at J.Crew and is now a Real Housewife. But don’t let that fool you, she is an artist’s artist. Her new Soho loft is thing to behold. I can’t even describe its perfection of materiality, composition, art, balance, elegance and rebellion. Its perfect.
Leanne Fordhttps://www.instagram.com/leannefordinteriors/
Leanne Ford’s rooms are magical minimalistic love stories to fashion, music, art and all things good in the world. I watched Leanne Ford’s videos on loop as we did renovations on the rental. Her interiors are soulful, artful, restrained and imaginative. She has an elegant command of materiality. Her line at Crate and Barrel is amazing as well. I realized as we rewatched her series for the zillionth time, I was watching her both for her artistic approach and her presence. She has a Zen about her. She seems so unbothered by it all, just focused on creating. This dedication to craft and the her obvious gifts are impressive, but her impact in encouraging others to create what they like, right now in this moment, with the items at hand is what I am really grateful for. Seemingly simple, there is deep transformative wisdom to how she approaches design, people and life in her work.
Christiane Lemieux https://www.instagram.com/christianelemieux/
Her images always stop me and arrest me with their beauty. There is a deep materiality, contrast and refined luxe to her rooms. She adds an edgy, refined quality to luxe materials and rooms that’s hard to explain but mesmerizing. They are like rare birds, unique and exquisite. I love her eye.
Sarah Sherman Samuelhttps://www.instagram.com/sarahshermansamuel/
Sarah Sherman Samuel has a great command of textiles and expands my vision of balancing colors, vintage and textiles in a room. Her interiors are vivid, artful and have a California casual, dimensional and vintage glam quality. She is great for those who like earthly tones. She also is creator with great lines of rugs, furniture and fabric.
Nicole Hollis https://www.instagram.com/nicolehollissf/
Nicole Hollis’s mix of transitional pieces is elevated and sophisticated. Her use of velvets, metals, materials and objects has a quiet sophistication. She has a unique lens. I love her use of color and how she incorporates it into more neutral themes. She also has a fashion-based materiality that really resonates with me.
Kelly Wearstler https://www.instagram.com/kellywearstler/?hl=en
I say this with complete conviction and no derivative humor. Kelly Wearstler is a genius. A true genius in a time period that has yet to identify geniuses in the design realm. This doesn’t mean that I would want to live in all her interiors, they may drift a bit too rock glam for me. Nonetheless, her craft is executed with a wholeness and eye for color that is sublimely ethereal. Her command of textiles, color, historical reference and imagination surpasses what anyone on the planet can do. She has no peers. That’s all I can say. Study her interiors.
Muses have a role in your personal design evolution. If a client wants help identifying their vision, I always suggest to make a Pinterest board of their favorite images and rooms. Then stand back and look at the group as a composite to identity the threads and themes that link them.
There is so much background information to be gleaned from whose work lights up you up. Study it, master it, and then make it your own.
Yes, the vision and muses will change or alternate. My home is very Leanne Ford right now (too many videos??). But Jenna Lyons Soho loft is my future (and most likely everyone else’s too). If you are lost as to what you want… find your muses, make a board, study the composite and identify the threads. Then align with the frequency of mind to design your home that way. Find what lights you up and run towards that giving gratitude to universe and the muses who guided you along the way.
