Page 35 - Allisons Magazine Issue #95

“ I’M OBSESSED WITH COUTURE FASHION AND HOW

SYMBIOTIC IT IS WITH INTERIOR DESIGN AND OTHER
ASPECTS OF OUR CULTURE. ANYTHING THAT JEAN-
PAUL GAULTIER, BALMAIN, OR ELIE SAAB SHOWCASES
ON THE PARISIAN RUNWAY CAPTIVATES ME.

What are your design frustrations? What is your philosophy on design
The actual skill of interior design is and life?
not frustrating—the gift of creativity is Life is short. Enjoy it to the fullest while
innate and comes from within. But the you can. And, if you can somehow
real challenge comes from interactions infuse something beautiful into your
with people during the process. Being lifestyle, that’s a life well lived.
an interior designer calls for the best
human resource skills and diplomacy. How would you describe your
design style?
What sets you apart from My design style is trad nouveau. It’s
other designers? a fresh, continental mix of tradition
My candor—I keep it real. I tell it like and modernity.
it is, and I’m not ashamed to share the
setbacks and struggles I’ve experienced What traits make you well suited
in my past. I want to help others find to be a designer? What are some
their way and that sometimes means challenges you’ve had to overcome?
dropping the pretense. People value I always tell young design students
transparency, so they relate to you more that the most important skill they can
when you’re being your authentic self. have in this career is not necessarily the
We have more in common as a human degree, the ability to sketch, or other
species than we know. technical abilities. Rather, humility is
the most important quality to possess.
Who is your ideal client? Humility keeps you grounded. It is the
My ideal client is the one who only mind-set that enables you to learn
communicates what they want (even from your mistakes and grow.
if they don’t know what they want—
admitting that part is half the battle) Tell us about this project:
and trusts my vision. Also, my staff This ranch was a new construction
and I strive to always be respectful and project, so I was thrilled to work with
hospitable to our clients, so clients who a superbly talented team of architects,
treat us with kindness and honesty are builders, and craftsmen. The interiors
highly valued. are traditional in style, but there
are some rustic and French country
influences as well.

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