Leanne Ford Is the Master of an All-White Interior—This Is Her Secret

Mimi Shin, a UCLA-trained architect and interior designer, brings a unique perspective to her work, deeply influenced by her decade-long career as a fashion editor at prestigious magazines like Harper’s Bazaar and Vogue. Shin’s design philosophy emphasizes a foundational approach to space, prioritizing timeless, handcrafted materials, and graceful proportions, similar to how a fashion editor would focus on the silhouette of an outfit. She integrates carefully curated accessories to elevate the overall design, treating them as analogous to the finishing touches in fashion. This methodology is evident in her personal Venice bungalow remodel, which serves as a prime example of her ability to blend new construction with existing character. Shin's journey into interior design was sparked by a realization that her passion lay in the broader aspects of design rather than solely clothing. After a transformative dream, she pursued architecture at UCLA, attracted by its innovative 3D modeling program. Her architectural education provided her with a comprehensive understanding of construction, zoning laws, building codes, and materials, which she considers crucial for establishing credibility in a male-dominated field. She notes the importance for women in the industry to be highly qualified and knowledgeable, enabling them to confidently engage with other architects. In her professional practice, Shin has cultivated a loyal client base among Los Angeles's creative and executive communities, including Hollywood writers, producers, and Snapchat executives. Her clients value her design expertise and her distinctive fashion background. Her own home, a Spanish colonial beach shack in Venice, showcases her design principles. Facing the need for more space, Shin opted for a thoughtful expansion rather than a complete demolition, adding a second story to the main house and constructing a discrete two-story back house. This expansion respects the original character of the bungalow while addressing modern needs, including additional bathrooms and a media room. The outdoor space of her Venice home further exemplifies her innovative approach, featuring a rectangular pool, an outdoor dining area, and a wooden sauna nestled within an ORCA-designed urban garden. The design cleverly integrates these elements without making the lot feel crowded, maintaining a sense of openness and surprise for visitors. Shin consciously preserved the original footprint and scale of her bungalow, contrasting with the “raze and rebuild” philosophy sometimes taught in architecture school. She implemented design choices such as limewashed plaster walls to create a lived-in, authentic feel, preferring this over the sterile appearance of new drywall. Shin's fashion background is particularly evident in her approach to accessories and finishes. She integrates vintage furniture pieces, like a Charlotte Perriand chaise lounge, which add character and a sense of history, much like a stylist would use a worn item to add authenticity to an outfit. Her bathrooms feature an artful mix of tiles by Nathalie du Pasquier for Mutina, custom stained-glass windows, and fixtures chosen for their aesthetic appeal, often resembling jewelry. She actively seeks wall sconces that evoke earrings, highlighting her continuous thought process regarding lighting as a form of adornment. Her work demonstrates a cohesive integration of fashion-forward detailing with solid architectural principles, resulting in effortlessly beautiful and deeply personalized spaces. #MimiShin #InteriorDesign #FashionEditor #HomeTours #VeniceBungalow #ArchitecturalDesign #Remodeling #DesignPhilosophy #CreativeSpaces

Leanne Ford, a renowned interior designer, has launched her debut 25-piece rug and pillow collection in collaboration with Loloi, joining a distinguished roster of designers including Joanna Gaines and Jeremiah Brent. This collection is characterized by its grounded, tactile nature, linear patterns, and organic restraint, drawing inspiration from the children's classic, 'The Secret Garden'. Ford emphasizes that the rugs are designed for everyday living, meant to be walked on, lounged on, and loved, prioritizing comfort and durability over excessive preciousness, making them suitable for busy households and even holiday gatherings. The collection features a variety of textures, from low-pile options ideal for high-traffic areas to plush, soft rugs perfect for floor-sitting. A notable example is the Craven line, which utilizes space-dyed wool to achieve a subtle, imperfect stripe pattern. Ford explains that this approach aims for a softer, more painterly aesthetic than sharp, graphic stripes, ensuring timeless appeal. The Weatherstaff rugs, another highlight, are flatwoven jute designs that are thin enough to fit under door swings while still providing natural texture and warmth in high-traffic zones. The Lennox collection showcases undyed wool, offering a tonal effect with rich texture that adds soul to a space. Ford's design philosophy embraces imperfection, believing that it adds magic and character to interiors. She sees her rugs as timeless pieces that can seamlessly integrate into various styles and rooms. Beyond traditional placement, Ford offers innovative ideas for using smaller rugs, such as defining zones under a coffee table in a large living room or layering multiple rugs to create distinct seating areas in open-plan spaces, drawing parallels to hotel lobby designs. The collection's human quality is evident in its fluid lines and hand-drawn patterns, which stem from Ford's creative process of sketching with paper and charcoal rather than relying on digital tools. This personal touch imbues the stripes and checkers with unique personality, making them feel both classic and contemporary. In addition to rugs, the collection includes throw pillows in organic greens and terracotta hues, such as the olive-toned Captain Decorative Pillow Cover and the Medlock Decorative Pillow Cover, which reinterprets the Craven rug's organic stripes. These pillows are designed to complement the nature-inspired palette of the rugs and can be mixed, matched, or allowed to stand alone as focal points. Ford asserts that the collection's earthy, neutral palette aligns with her overarching design aesthetic, aiming to create a sense of calm and exhale within a home. The article concludes by stressing the importance of rug placement, suggesting that even with trendy designs, strategic positioning, potentially guided by principles like feng shui, is crucial for maximizing their impact and functionality within a space. #LeanneFord #LoloiRugs #InteriorDesign #RugCollection #HomeDecor #TextileDesign #DesignPhilosophy #HomeAccessories #StripedRugs

Leanne Ford, a prominent designer, collaborated with Semihandmade to create a new line of semi-custom cabinets. Her primary goal for this collection was to address a common issue with white oak door fronts, which often develop an undesirable yellowy-orange tint due to protective sealants. Ford aimed to achieve an unfinished, natural white oak look, a challenge she personally experienced on numerous projects, sometimes leading to extensive hand-sanding to remove veneer. Through her collaboration with Semihandmade, Ford worked with manufacturers in Ohio to develop a precise stain formula that delivers the desired natural aesthetic. In addition to the natural white oak option, the collection includes a warm white painted front, utilizing Sherwin-Williams's Shoji, a favorite shade of Ford's. The door styles in this collection are deliberately curated to be versatile and widely appealing, featuring a classic Shaker, a flat slab, and a 'Frame' option, which is a slender version of the Shaker profile. Unlike traditional Semihandmade offerings that focus on IKEA kitchen hacks, this line is part of Semihandmade’s own semi-custom range, meaning customers receive complete cabinet boxes with their order. Ford shares seven key design tips, drawing from her experience with her latest project—a historic home in Pittsburgh that she renovated and listed for sale. Her first piece of advice is to re-evaluate the conventional 'kitchen work triangle.' She suggests considering individual needs and cooking habits rather than strictly adhering to this layout, embracing a willingness to deviate for personal comfort and functionality. Her second tip involves repurposing cabinetry for bespoke elements, such as integrating cabinet lines into a vintage island, a technique she employed in a closet to create a beautiful, finished piece from all angles. When selecting door styles, Ford advises starting with hardware choices. The desired size, visibility, and style of knobs and pulls can significantly influence the most suitable door profile. For instance, a simple slab door offers maximum flexibility for various hardware, while a Shaker style pairs best with simpler, smaller options. Ford advocates for concealing appliances, making panel-ready appliances a non-negotiable in her designs to ensure dishwashers and refrigerators blend seamlessly with cabinetry. Regarding countertops, she favors honed marble over glossy, encouraging clients to embrace its natural aging and staining. In her Church Lane project, she utilized salvaged marble, over-grouted with wide grout lines, to create an artistic and imperfect aesthetic, emphasizing that perfection can be monotonous. For optimizing storage in shallow spaces, Ford recommends using floor-to-ceiling boxes equipped with bars and S-hooks for hanging items, a solution she applied in a bedroom with limited deep cabinet space. Finally, Ford suggests knowing when to limit millwork, emphasizing that a kitchen doesn't require floor-to-ceiling cabinetry throughout. She points out that Semihandmade provides side slabs that allow for ending cabinet runs, creating opportunities to incorporate vintage tables or butcher block islands and breaking up continuous cabinetry for a more varied look. #LeanneFord #Semihandmade #CabinetDesign #KitchenRenovation #InteriorDesign #HomeRenovation #DesignTips #WhiteOak #CustomCabinets

Leanne Ford, the renowned HGTV star, is celebrated for her distinctive use of white paint, a passion evident in her Pennsylvania home where a sign boldly declares, “paint it white.” Her design philosophy, which emphasizes the transformative power of a simple coat of white paint, is thoroughly explored in her debut design book, 'The Slow Down.' This book offers an intimate look into the extensive restoration of her historic Pennsylvania residence, detailing every white paint color she meticulously selected for both its interior and exterior surfaces. Ford's primary choice for much of her home's interior is Shoji White by Sherwin-Williams. This particular shade is characterized as a warm, creamy white with subtle undertones of greige. She applied Shoji White to a variety of surfaces, including the ceilings, trim, and walls of her kitchen, primary bedroom, and primary bathroom. Demonstrating its versatility and timeless appeal, Ford even extended its use to the floors of her butler's pantry and primary bath, where it helped create a sophisticated checkered pattern. For the third floor, Ford opted for Behr’s Crisp Linen. This color was chosen to unify the ceiling, walls, and flooring of what was once an uninspiring attic, transforming it into a welcoming common area. The space, now furnished with comfortable seating and warm decorative accents, reflects Ford's commitment to creating inviting environments, a commitment so strong that she removed a bedroom to realize her vision for this area. In the basement, Behr’s Blank Canvas, recognized as the brand’s 2023 Color of the Year, serves as an ideal backdrop for the family's art studio. This choice highlights Ford's belief that even an all-white space can be a vibrant setting for creative and messy play, as she notes in her book. The exterior of Ford's home features Natural White by Behr. This selection was made to complement the property's natural stone elements, which possess a creamy hue. Ford explained that she desired a crisp yet warm exterior paint that would harmonize with the existing stone, ensuring a cohesive and aesthetically pleasing look for the entire residence. The article also provides direct shopping links for each of the featured white paint colors. #LeanneFord #WhitePaintColors #HomeDesign #InteriorDesign #PaintChoices #SherwinWilliams #BehrPaint #HomeRenovation

Designer Leanne Ford, known for her creative and thrifty approach, emphasizes that significant home transformations do not require a substantial budget. Her design philosophy revolves around reimagining common objects and salvaging materials to create unique and memorable spaces. This approach is detailed through seven specific projects where she repurposes inexpensive or free items. One innovative technique involves reclaiming old wood floors by reinstalling them as ceiling planks. Ford particularly favors exposing the underside of the planks, which often reveals hidden textures and finishes, giving new life to material that might otherwise be discarded due to damage or an owner's desire for new flooring. For window treatments, Ford suggests utilizing old lace tablecloths or fabric scraps found at flea markets or thrift stores. These materials provide a delicate aesthetic, allow natural light to filter through, and offer a degree of privacy. She recommends a simple installation method, such as using rope or direct nailing, to maintain an uncluttered and effortless look. Art, often a costly element in interior design, can be created using repurposed paint drop cloths. Ford saves these cloths, which naturally acquire paint splatters and textures during renovations, and uses them as wall hangings or makeshift tablecloths. The canvas material offers warmth and texture, and the incidental paint marks often complement the room's color palette. Transforming ordinary items into light fixtures is another of Ford's favored hacks. She demonstrates this by converting a fishing net into a large, striking pendant light using a basic cord kit. This method highlights how unconventional objects can become focal points, adding visual interest and character to a space. Ford also champions the use of inexpensive porcelain sconce bases from hardware stores. She elevates these basic fixtures by adding attractive light bulbs, or by painting them to match the wall or in a contrasting color like black. This offers an affordable and straightforward solution for adding sconce lighting. Rope is presented as a versatile and inexpensive material for updating furniture and fixtures. Ford illustrates how wrapping tired light fixtures or worn furniture pieces with rope can conceal imperfections, introduce texture, and impart a fresh, stylish appearance. Finally, Ford shares her distinctive method of coffee-staining walls to create a textured, warm aesthetic. Inspired by her own experience with accidental coffee stains on fabric, she applies diluted coffee to walls with rags. This technique allows for creative control over the intensity and pattern of the stain, offering a budget-friendly way to add depth and character to a room, despite a temporary coffee aroma. #HomeTransformation #BudgetDesign #DIYHomeDecor #LeanneFord #RepurposedMaterials #ThriftyDecor #InteriorDesignHacks #CreativeProjects

Charleston, South Carolina-based interior designer Angie Hranowsky, known for her vibrant use of color, showcases her distinctive approach in her own design studio. For Hranowsky, color serves as a primary source of inspiration and creativity, a philosophy evident across her diverse projects, from residential spaces to commercial installations. Her design signature is marked by the incorporation of saturated brights, applied through various elements such as paint, upholstery, large-scale art, and especially wall treatments. An example of her bold style is her Charleston home, which features a magenta living room sofa paired with Roman shades in a similar vibrant pink. Another instance is her installation at the design emporium Fritz Porter, where pale peony walls are accented with angular turquoise sconces and emerald green silk drapery. When designing her own studio, which functions as a showcase, a brainstorming hub for her team, and a client meeting space, Hranowsky deliberately opted for a bold aesthetic. She chose turquoise as the dominant color for her office, situated in a 1920s brick building in downtown Charleston. Hranowsky views turquoise as a color that reflects earth, sky, and water, providing constant inspiration. To achieve the desired depth and texture, she enlisted decorative painter Suzanne Allen, who applied layers of pigmented plaster to the walls. This labor-intensive process resulted in a multifaceted, earthy variance in texture and tone, transforming the turquoise from a simple color into an artistic element. Hranowsky made a conscious decision to not paint the entire height of the walls, leaving the upper sections and ceiling white. This choice was strategic, as it created an airy feel and provided a necessary contrast to the rich turquoise below. In decorating a room already featuring such a strong foundational color, Hranowsky employed a formula of adding more color. She strategically introduced fuchsia and golden yellow, hues she considers to have equal value in terms of their dense saturation and jewel-like richness. These colors serve as perfect accents to the turquoise. Her selection of a groovy desk chair and an angular accent chair in complementary colors exemplifies her skill in creating contrasting yet harmonious elements. Additional touches of golden warmth are incorporated through brass light fixtures, yellow-flecked abstract artwork, and fresh Forsythia branches. To maintain visual order, Hranowsky organizes her extensive collection of design resources, including swatches, samples, and strike-offs, by hue. These are neatly stored in assigned drawers within a custom quartzite-topped island, readily accessible when developing new schemes. The only concessions Hranowsky made to a more neutral palette were for the countertop and floors. This choice was deliberate and effective, allowing textiles placed on the island or spread on the floor to stand out without distraction. Although she is her own most adventurous client, the studio is fundamentally designed as a workspace to foster her creativity, ultimately benefiting the homeowners with whom she collaborates. #AngieHranowsky #InteriorDesign #ColorTheory #DesignStudio #CharlestonDesign #WallTreatments #TurquoiseDecor #HomeDecor #ColorfulInteriors

Singaporean celebrity fashion stylist Rong successfully created a stylish all-white bachelorette pad without the assistance of an interior designer, relying entirely on her personal taste and creative vision. The result is a luminous and chic space characterized by its monochromatic white aesthetic accented with silver chrome tones. Despite the common difficulty of achieving a balanced all-white interior, Rong's home maintains a minimalist feel while exuding character, avoiding any sense of saturation and ensuring a harmonious balance throughout. This achievement is particularly notable given that she sourced most of her furniture and finishes from online platforms like Taobao, demonstrating a strong trust in her own instincts, originality, and personal style. The article provides four key tips for replicating an all-white home aesthetic. The first tip emphasizes treating furniture as art. Rong's approach involved selecting pieces that function not merely as utilitarian items but as sculptural elements within the space. To implement this, it is recommended to choose furniture in various white hues and tones, such as ivory, cream, pearl, milk, and alabaster, to add subtle depth. Incorporating an accent highlighter, like Rong's choice of silver chrome, helps to break the monotony. Furthermore, balancing textures and including a few abstract pieces can prevent the all-white scheme from appearing flat or dull. The second tip highlights the importance of attention to detail. Every aspect of Rong's home, from lighting fixtures to specific mirrors, chairs, and even electrical switches, was intentionally chosen. This meticulous selection process ensures that each component contributes to the overall aesthetic, even within a minimalist setup. The article suggests training the eye to notice subtle attributes, such as curved edges over straight ones, in furniture selection. This does not necessarily involve purchasing expensive items; instead, it focuses on unique design elements like a bubble-shaped chrome tissue box, a wavy floor-to-ceiling mirror inspired by Ettore Sottsass, conical pendant lights, or circular wall sconces. The underlying principle is to visualize how small details contribute to the larger picture, ensuring a minimalist theme remains engaging and not boring. The third tip focuses on playing with textures and tones. The effective use of varying textures and white/silver tones is crucial to prevent the space from appearing flat. For instance, Rong’s living room features a cotton T-shirt fabric sofa on a tufted cream rug, a masculine silver metal reading lamp, and a luxe white cushion on an occasional chair, balanced by a textured ceramic stone-white lamp. This interplay of materials and finishes, evident in elements like her sintered stone island, silk sheets, and silver chrome doorways, adds visual interest and depth to the monochromatic design. The final tip involves creating a space illusion. Dark color palettes tend to make spaces feel smaller, whereas lighter shades, especially white, create an illusion of expansiveness. By consistently using white throughout her 947 sq ft apartment, including “Sail White” from Nippon Paint for walls and ceilings, Rong made every room appear larger than its actual size. This strategy contributes to the apartment's overall chic and fashionable ambiance, resembling a stylish New York City abode that is minimalist yet creative, functional yet fashionable, and more cool than overtly luxurious. #AllWhiteInteriorDesign #Minimalist #InteriorDesignTips #HomeAesthetic #DIYHomeDecor #FashionStylistHome #MonochromaticDesign #SpaceMaximization

The renowned designer Leanne Ford, known for her layered, monochromatic aesthetic, approached the backsplash in her latest renovation project—a Sears Craftsman house in Pittsburgh—with an experimental DIY method. Instead of traditional installation, Ford aimed to whitewash plain ceramic tiles to achieve a unique, textured look. She sourced dark gray cement tiles from Clé and enlisted Pittsburgh-based ceramicist Philip Soucy for assistance. Together, they hand-painted the tile fronts with white glaze, deliberately embracing imperfections for a distinct, artisanal finish. During the kiln firing process, an unexpected chemical reaction occurred. The gray tiles, when baked, reverted to a terra cotta color, introducing warm, earthy tones that were not initially planned. This serendipitous outcome, however, proved to be a pivotal design element for the entire kitchen. Ford embraced this 'happy accident,' allowing the newfound warm hues of the backsplash to inspire the broader design scheme of the room. She complemented these orangey tones with metallic accents, specifically incorporating brass and copper elements throughout the kitchen space. This creative improvisation not only resulted in a chic and personalized kitchen backsplash but also demonstrated how unforeseen elements can significantly influence and elevate a design project. The unique, handcrafted backsplash now stands as a distinctive personal touch from Ford for the future owner of the renovated home, setting the aesthetic direction for the kitchen's overall ambiance. The article highlights how embracing spontaneity and collaboration can lead to innovative and beautiful design solutions, turning an accidental color shift into a central feature of the home's design. #LeanneFord #DIYHomeDecor #KitchenBacksplash #HomeRenovation #InteriorDesign #CeramicTiles #DesignInspiration #HappyAccident #WhitewashedTiles

Leanne Ford, a designer, shares her initial experiences and journey into gardening, a pursuit she previously did not consider important but has now found great joy and education in. Her engagement with gardening began three years after purchasing her home, which features 2.5 acres of groomed garden. The garden was a significant factor in her decision to buy the house, evoking childhood memories of 'The Secret Garden' and envisioning future family moments within its wisteria pathways and expansive backyard. Initially, Ford prioritized renovating the interior of her home due to various constraints, including mental capacity, resources (time, money, and team), and the understanding that internal disarray would reflect negatively on the exterior. Consequently, her secret garden aspirations were put on hold. After three years, with the interior sorted and a fresh coat of paint, she felt it was finally time to tackle the garden. Ford admits to having no prior gardening knowledge, describing her expertise as "nothing, nada, zilch." She has enlisted the help of an experienced local gardener named Michael, known for his artistic approach to landscaping, who offered his assistance after recognizing the potential beauty of the neglected land. This support is crucial for Ford, given her lack of experience. Ford notes the demanding and cyclical nature of gardening, contrasting it with her profession as an interior designer. In interior design, once a piece of art or furniture is placed, it typically remains, requiring no further intervention. Gardening, however, involves continuous effort, with plants growing and eventually dying, necessitating replanting and ongoing care. This perpetual cycle of labor without a definitive "completion" fascinates and challenges her, as it stands in stark contrast to the finite nature of interior design projects. Her immediate gardening goals include establishing a thriving kitchen garden capable of feeding a small community, a vision she acknowledges may be ambitious. For the present, she aims to start with a few raised beds in her side yard, branding it a "kitchen garden" as a symbolic first step. She emphasizes a preference for a low-maintenance, year-round attractive, easy-going, light, bright, and "greeny" aesthetic for her acreage, moving away from high-maintenance options. Ford also discusses the historical rose garden that once flourished on her property, a local legend. Despite frequent inquiries about its revival, she has decided against it. Her primary reason is a personal disinterest in roses, finding them only aesthetically pleasing when at their absolute best, with little appeal in their intermediate stages. The extensive care and effort required for roses to reach their peak make them an impractical choice for her current lifestyle and preferences. She concludes that the legend of the roses will persist, but the roses themselves will not be replanted, preferring to start fresh with plants that align with her low-maintenance vision. #LeanneFord #HomeGarden #GardeningJourney #InteriorDesign #DIYHome #LandscapeDesign #LowMaintenanceGarden

Interior designer Neal Beckstedt adopted a unique strategy for integrating color into the House of ELLE Decor, a 4,100-square-foot penthouse in downtown Manhattan. Instead of either completely eschewing color or using it extensively, Beckstedt opted for a sporadic application to guide visitors through the apartment and introduce excitement. He drew inspiration from past issues of ELLE Decor and the palette of Farrow & Ball paints, envisioning a well-traveled international couple as the home's inhabitants. The design aimed to merge traditional and modern aesthetics, reflecting the building's late 19th-century architecture and recent condo conversion. Berwick Edel, an interior renovation company, executed the painting and wallpapering. Beckstedt's approach involved layering colors and creating contrasts to establish a progressive journey through the home, from an intimate foyer to a more neutral living room and culminating in a striking wine room. In the foyer, Beckstedt selected Farrow & Ball’s Pigeon, an earthy green-gray, for the walls to create an intimate welcome. This was complemented by Blue Gray on the wainscoting and Farrow’s Cream, a slightly darker cream, on the ceiling. All three shades were applied in Farrow & Ball’s Modern Emulsion finish. This subtle combination was intended to provide a contrast with the brighter living-dining area, making the white spaces appear crisper. For the expansive living-dining room, Beckstedt introduced an unexpected touch of color with a ceiling alcove painted in Farrow & Ball’s Setting Plaster, a warm, dusty pink, using Estate Emulsion, and an accent of Archive in the same finish. This creative use of color aimed to add a sense of surprise and drama. Beckstedt emphasized that the key to cohesion without being overly matching lies in the relationship between the chosen colors and artwork. In the guest bedroom, a single wall was painted in Farrow & Ball’s Red Earth, a sunbaked terracotta in Estate Emulsion. This bold backdrop was paired with desert-hued furnishings, including custom velvet bedding and a Dan Christensen painting, maintaining a calm and modern feel through a harmonious color family and varied textures. The wine room, located just off the living room, was designed as the most dramatic space. Beckstedt transformed it into a glossy red jewel box by painting the walls and ceiling in Farrow & Ball’s Picture Gallery Red with a Full Gloss finish. The rug, vintage sofa, Napoleon chair, and a Larry Zox painting all matched this scarlet hue, accented by black and brass in the floor-to-ceiling wine rack. This room was the only one to feature a glossy finish, providing a striking contrast to the matte finishes used elsewhere in the penthouse, and served as a focal point for drama and shine within the entire home. #InteriorDesign #ColorPalette #LuxuryPenthouse #ManhattanRealEstate #FarrowAndBall #PaintColors #HomeDecor #ModernTraditionalBlend #Showhouse

This blog post offers an exclusive tour of Dallas-based interior designer Erin Sander's custom-built home in University Park, highlighting her unique design philosophy of 'relaxed, refined luxury' and 'Belgian farmhouse' aesthetic. The 5,000-square-foot estate, featuring four bedrooms and five baths, was constructed from the ground up on a quarter-acre lot, with Sander herself drawing the floor and architectural plans. The design emphasizes natural light and understated yet impactful details, drawing inspiration from her travels and other design projects. The home’s architectural features include a long hallway terminating in a window, with steps leading to the second floor, designed to create visually appealing focal points. Custom light fixtures and detailed wood flooring were also designed by Sander. The living room, a space optimized for practicality for her young children, features performance fabrics, a custom grasscloth-covered coffee table, and artwork by Katrine Hildebrandt. An annex, originally Sander's home office, now serves as a family study. This vaulted, story-and-a-half space offers ample storage and privacy. The kitchen is a central highlight, showcasing rift-sawn white oak flooring and hand-hewn Douglas fir beams. A striking pale blue Lacanche oven range, chosen early in the design process due to its year-long procurement time, sets the tone for other blue accents in the space. Other notable kitchen elements include an unlacquered brass faucet by Waterstone and a backsplash by Clé Tile. Over the eye-catching island, custom-made fixtures from Urban Electric Company in a hand-hewn brass finish are suspended. Scandinavian-designed stools provide practical seating, and decorative bowls, including a vintage piece from Sander’s grandmother and ceramics by Sara Kersten, add personal touches. The honed marble countertops were intentionally chosen to observe their wear and tear over time, informing her client recommendations. Café curtains made from hand-blocked fabric by Galbraith & Paul add another layer of detail. The dining room combines vintage McGuire chairs, re-covered in Peter Dunham fabric, with contemporary art by Addie Chapin. Exposed brick and a light fixture from Currey & Company contribute to a modern yet cozy atmosphere. A collection of pewter dishes, including pieces from her mother and finds from the vendor Unrefined, adds dark contrast and personal history to the dining area. A custom coffee station, a testament to the family’s love for coffee, features a La Spaziale espresso machine with walnut panels, open shelving, and an Ann Sacks’ Savoy series backsplash. This functional space is equipped with refrigerator drawers for coffee essentials. The primary bedroom boasts a whimsical Oly Studio light fixture depicting a flock of birds, vintage cabinets from Juxtaposition Home, custom lamps, and quadrille bedding. The master bathroom includes custom white oak vanities and hand-cut limestone floors laid in a unique pattern, accented with tiny blue celeste marble mosaics. The home's exterior features a mix of materials like lime-washed brick and cedar shake, surrounded by live oaks and potted olive trees, creating an approachable street view. A custom wood bench from David Sutherland is nestled among Savannah holly trees in the backyard. The article provides a comprehensive look into an interior designer's personal residence, showcasing a blend of functionality, luxury, and personal style. #InteriorDesign #CustomHome #DallasHomes #HomeFeatures #LuxuryInteriors #BelgianFarmhouse #DesignerHome #HomeDecor #ErinSanderDesign

This article explores the career and design philosophy of Leanne Ford, a prominent interior designer known for her unique approach to home renovation and her distinctive aesthetic. The piece highlights her collaboration with her brother, Steve, particularly on their HGTV show "Restored By The Fords," and their recent memoir, "Work in Progress." Ford's design philosophy is characterized by a willingness to take risks and push boundaries, often transforming conventional spaces into extraordinary ones. This is exemplified by her decision to create an epic master bath in a cookie-cutter house, even if it meant challenging traditional notions of home value. The article traces Ford's unconventional path to becoming a renowned designer, noting her lack of formal design schooling. Her career began with a cold email to a fashion brand, leading to an internship and subsequent work as a stylist. She discovered her passion for interior design, recognizing parallels between fashion and home aesthetics, such as proportion, color mixing, and blending high-end with affordable elements. This background informs her signature style, which she terms "warm minimalism," characterized by white paint, wood tones, and abundant natural light, often incorporating Americana touches when renovating historic properties like schoolhouses. Initially, Ford faced challenges in gaining acceptance from HGTV producers, who found her too unconventional. Her distinctive style, including bleach blonde hair, fur coats, and Iris Apfel-inspired sunglasses, was initially deemed "too cool" for television. It took two attempts and a softening of her on-screen persona before the network greenlit a pilot. Even then, she resisted network pressure to incorporate more color into her designs, steadfastly adhering to her preferred palette of white, black, and wood tones. This conviction ultimately paid off, with her pilot performing exceptionally well, leading to multiple seasons of her show and lucrative collaborations with brands like PPG, Formica, and Target. Ford emphasizes the importance of trusting one's instincts and not shying away from perceived risks in the creative process. She believes that the elements she initially second-guessed often turn out to be the most compelling aspects of a design. Her career is presented as a testament to the idea that embracing risk and authenticity can lead to significant success and influence in the design industry. The article concludes by reinforcing her belief that a creative life inherently involves risk, a gamble she is consistently prepared to take. #LeanneFord #InteriorDesign #HomeRenovation #HGTV #WarmMinimalism #DesignPhilosophy #CreativeProcess #RiskTaking #RestoredByTheFords

Shanti Crawford of Indigo & Ochre Design transformed a 2,600-square-foot, four-bedroom penthouse in Brooklyn from a "modern white box" into a vibrant, functional family home. The clients, a family with three daughters and a dog, sought to add warmth, color, character, and personality to the new build, which initially felt cold and barren. Crawford's approach emphasizes socially responsible and sustainable design, reflected in her use of colorful, thoughtfully collected, and layered decor. The primary goal was to create distinct and intimate areas within the open-plan layout, allowing each family member to engage in various activities simultaneously, such as working, studying, socializing, dining, and playing music. This was achieved through strategic furniture arrangements, custom built-ins, and the transformative power of color. AThe design process began with the clients' desire for a fresh start, especially as their children were growing older. Crawford provided guidance from the pre-closure phase, focusing on integrating character into the developer's clean, modern aesthetic. Key to her design was the incorporation of beloved pre-existing items, including a massive patchwork kilim from Morocco and a rustic sideboard. She aimed to ensure these pieces felt intentionally integrated and harmonized with the new, streamlined elements of the apartment. Crawford used color as a declarative element to define spaces. For example, the entryway was painted in a pale pink hue, Benjamin Moore Wheatberry, which subtly appears in other areas of the home, creating a cohesive visual flow. The entry also features practical storage solutions like hooks, baskets, and cubbies from Room & Board to accommodate the active family's needs. Texture was added through a ceramic disc wall hanging and a woven Tuareg mat. In the living room, the vibrant patchwork Moroccan kilim served as the primary inspiration for the color palette, influencing the selection of seating, artwork, and accessories. Crawford also introduced a gentle antique Oushak rug to complement the kilim without competing with its intricate patterns. The dining room features the clients' cherished kilim, anchored by a sleek Artisan Latus table and Gubi Beetle chairs, with brass legs that echo other metallic accents in the adjacent sitting area. This intentional mix of rustic and modern elements ensures balance and visual interest. The family room, referred to as a 'snug,' was designed to be a cozy, intimate space. It was painted in a warm, deep gray, including the ceilings, to embrace the lack of natural light. Deep jewel tones and lush textures, such as velvet upholstery, were incorporated, along with a vintage Heriz carpet to add personality. Custom walnut shelving units were built to span an entire wall, providing depth and delineation, and housing a Samsung TV and Noguchi Akari floor lamp. The master bedroom was conceived as a serene retreat, adhering to principles of "soothing neutral colors, simple and clean lines, texture over pattern." The primary colors are neutral, with subtle pops of deep color from peacock sconces and a luminous mouth-blown carafe and glass. The bed frame is custom, and the bedding and throw are from Wolves Within. The study, designed for multiple functions including a home office, occasional guest bedroom, and storage, features a custom-designed built-in bookshelf that frames a Kalon Studios daybed. A vintage Paul McCobb desk and a vintage Swedish Kilim rug complete the space, demonstrating how distinct areas were created while maintaining an open flow within the larger apartment. The collaboration with landscape designer Laura Harmon of LFH Studio for plants further enhanced the natural integration of the design. #InteriorDesign #ApartmentDecor #FamilyHome #ColorPalette #CustomBuiltIns #StrategicFurniture #BrooklynDesign #VintageDecor #SustainableDesign

Farah Prochaska, a Utah-based design blogger and freelance stylist, embarked on a DIY bathroom renovation project inspired by designer Leanne Ford's signature textured wall treatment using Surecrete. Prochaska was motivated after watching Ford apply the concrete coating on "Home Again With the Fords" and seeing it in person at one of Erik Allen Ford's Buck Mason stores. She successfully transformed her children's builder-grade bathroom into a more serene space, documenting her process and sharing key lessons learned. The project involved several crucial steps and considerations. Prior to applying Surecrete, Prochaska streamlined the existing bathroom by replacing an old all-in-one tub-shower with a new alcove bath and framing the walls with a waterproofing membrane. She also removed trim work around the window to achieve a sleek surface. A significant lesson learned was the importance of thorough preparation, particularly priming. Initially, Prochaska attempted to apply Surecrete directly onto the bright red, waxy waterproof board of the shower, as she had observed on television. However, this resulted in the red color peeking through and an uneven application, leading her to sand down and chisel off the initial coating. After this setback, she successfully prepared the walls with two coats of an all-purpose primer, creating a neutral and smooth base for the Surecrete. Applying Surecrete requires specific techniques. Prochaska advises covering the entire area, including floors, switch plates, faucets, and toilets, to protect them from the material. She also recommends creating a drop station outside the working area to prevent tracking debris through the house. When mixing Surecrete, it's a combination of half Surecrete, half colored powder (she used Whitewater), and one quart of water, mixed to a pancake batter-like consistency. The mixture requires continuous stirring and occasional addition of water, noting that adding water will slightly darken the mixture, which can be embraced by applying random swipes for a natural variation in tones. Prochaska suggests starting the Surecrete application at the top 8 inches of the room, near the ceiling, using a fan-like motion. This approach helps manage drips and blobs that might occur due to the awkward angles. After the top section is complete, she recommends smoothing out any drippings and applying a few random 1-by-1-foot swatches around the room, as this will represent the whitest shade of the cement. For cleaning, Surecrete is waterproof and can be easily cleaned with a kitchen dish brush and clear dish soap. The renovation extended beyond just the Surecrete application; Prochaska further committed to the aesthetic by replacing the old vanity cabinet with a floating IKEA unit, installing a concrete sink, and a marble countertop. An asymmetrical mirror completed the look, and she even sourced a matte black faucet which caught the attention of Leanne Ford herself, signifying the success of her DIY endeavor. #BathroomRenovation #DIYProject #Surecrete #LeanneFordInspired #HomeImprovement #TexturedWalls #BeforeAndAfter #DesignInspiration

The article explores interior designer Leanne Ford's unconventional approach to ceiling paint, highlighting her preference for a high-gloss finish in a neutral shade. Ford's design philosophy emphasizes balancing natural, muted tones with rich textures, and she extends this to her ceilings, transforming them into statement pieces that reflect light and add character to a space. Her living room features Sandstone Cliff from Behr, applied in a high-gloss sheen, which she notes creates a dreamy effect by mirroring and redirecting light throughout the day. For a more intimate setting, such as her library, Ford opted for Thyme Green from PPG paints, also in a high-gloss finish, showcasing her versatility in using this technique. The article also delves into the practical considerations of choosing the right paint finish and shade for ceilings. While high-gloss finishes, like those favored by Ford, can create an illusion of increased natural light, they are not standard in the industry. Designers typically prefer matte or eggshell finishes for ceilings because their lack of shine effectively conceals imperfections. High-gloss ceilings can also potentially distract from other focal points and furniture within a room. However, for those seeking to enhance brightness and create a unique visual impact, Ford's method is presented as an effective strategy. When selecting a ceiling color, Ford's use of a light, neutral shade in her living room serves as a valuable example. Such colors contribute to making a room feel more spacious and allow other decorative elements to stand out. Homeowners can either pair a light ceiling with bold wall colors or maintain a cohesive look by painting the entire room in the same organic hue. For smaller rooms, there is greater flexibility to experiment with tonal variations. Additionally, if a ceiling possesses distinctive architectural details, a more saturated color choice can be considered to highlight these features. The article implicitly encourages readers to consider their ceilings as an integral part of their interior design scheme, offering guidance on how to make deliberate choices about color and finish. #LeanneFord #CeilingPaint #HighGlossFinish #InteriorDesign #NeutralColors #PaintTrends #HomeImprovement #DesignHacks

Leanne Ford, an interior designer, is set to release a quarterly art-centric magazine called "Feel Free," which encourages readers to interact with its pages by tearing them out for collages, framing, or mood boards. This analog approach in a digital era aims to provide a tactile and less precious experience for readers, contrasting with the typical reverence for magazines. The first issue of "Feel Free" is noted for its DIY inspiration, particularly a creative method for repurposing canvas drop cloths after painting. Ford suggests that after using drop cloths for painting walls in her signature white hue (Crisp Linen by Behr), they can be transformed into personalized, large-scale artworks. By adding more paint or charcoal sticks, these inexpensive materials become budget-friendly statement pieces. This idea aligns with the magazine's overarching theme of fostering creativity and breaking conventional design rules. The article highlights Ford's unconventional approach to art in her own home, particularly concerning her three-year-old daughter, Ever. Unlike many parents who restrict drawing to paper, Ford permits her daughter to draw on certain furniture items, including a sofa and doors, likening the results to a "Cy Twombly" aesthetic. This approach emphasizes allowing children creative freedom and embracing imperfections in a lived-in space. To manage the inevitable artistic mishaps on furniture, Ford relies on a specific cleaning product: the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. She mentions its effectiveness on upholstery, indicating a practical solution for maintaining a balance between creative expression and home upkeep. This detail offers readers a tangible tip for addressing similar challenges in their own homes, especially those with young children. Furthermore, the debut issue of "Feel Free" offers ample material for creating collages, featuring a mix of inspiring content such as photographs of Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, sketches from Ford's Crate & Barrel collaboration, and engaging text overlays. Ford's philosophy on collage-making is to embrace a "seasoned" look, advocating for the use of readily available materials like nails, tape, pins, staples, or paper clips for hanging. This encourages a casual, unpretentious, and spontaneous approach to decorating, reinforcing the magazine's theme of liberating creativity and design from strict rules. #LeanneFord #InteriorDesign #DIYHomeDecor #ArtisticExpression #HomeCreativity #MagazineLaunch #CleaningTips #ParentingAndDesign

Fanny Ward, a London-based interior designer and stylist, shares insights from her extensive career, which spans collaborations with major brands like Fortnum & Mason and Harrods, as well as designing interiors for homes, hotels in locations such as Marrakesh, St Lucia, Geneva, and even super yachts in the Mediterranean. Now in her 70s, Ward reflects on her journey into the design world, which she describes as serendipitous. Her career began after her marriage ended, working at The Dining Room Shop where she discovered a passion for visual merchandising and decorating. An unexpected feature of her home in the Sunday Express by editor Eve Pollard led to a portfolio development through collaborations with renowned photographers like Fritz von der Schulenberg and Simon Upton. Her first significant professional role was with Dulux paint, where she was responsible for promoting their color schemes. This experience, along with her innate 'eye' for design—a trait she attributes to her mother—allowed her to learn on the job and develop a practical approach to interior design. Ward emphasizes that an inherent aesthetic sensibility is crucial and cannot be taught in a classroom setting. Throughout her career, she has worked with a diverse range of clients, but a pivotal moment was her collaboration with Volga Linen and Theresa Tollemache, which led to her taking on a full-time interior design role after decorating a large estate in Scotland. Ward recounts memorable projects, including transforming television presenter Jim Davidson's house into a Moroccan casbah. This project involved extensive customisation using Arabic fabrics, unique chair coverings, abundant cushions, and MDF mouldings to create an authentic atmosphere. She highlights her unwavering passion for good lighting, advocating for 'borrowed light' techniques, as practiced by Georgians, to brighten dark spaces and uplift the mood. She strongly advises against overhead lighting in most rooms, preferring floor or table lamps, with exceptions for bathrooms, kitchens, and strategically hung chandeliers. Her design philosophy also includes tailoring her color palettes to the project's location, incorporating natural elements like lichen yellows and various greens for Scottish projects, and emphasizing textures such as tweeds and chintz to blend the indoors with the outdoors. Ward provides practical advice on furniture placement, suggesting that sofas and chairs should be moved slightly away from walls to create a more inviting space. She also champions the preservation of a building's original character, emphasizing sustainability and the importance of allowing a home's personality to evolve with its inhabitants through quality furnishings. Despite having access to high-end suppliers like Howe London, Love Your Home, George Smith, Little Greene, Annie Sloan, Lewis & Wood, and Nina Campbell, Ward also champions affordable options from Ikea and Dunelm for transforming spaces on a budget. She encourages painting old furniture to give it new life, showcasing her belief that good design is accessible regardless of financial constraints. Currently engaged in a barn conversion in Scotland, Ward expresses her love for working on projects from the ground up, meticulously drawing everything to scale to immerse herself in the design process. She finds immense joy and engagement in her work, which allows her to meet fascinating people and their stories, while also maintaining a healthy work-life balance by setting boundaries for her working hours and taking time for personal life and travel with friends and family. Her advice to aspiring designers is to gain experience by working for others and to be brave in pursuing their passions and building connections. #InteriorDesign #FannyWard #CareerHighlights #DesignPhilosophy #HomeDecor #LightingDesign #ClientProjects #Entrepreneurship #CreativeProcess

Interior designer Lilly Taylor recently undertook a full renovation of her West Nashville home, a residence she built with her father, John Gianikas, eight years prior. The home is situated on a property that borders Richland Creek and the Greenway, offering a secluded feel and scenic views of the creek and surrounding landscape. Taylor's design philosophy, which she applied to her own home, centers on creating classic, comfortable, and carefully curated interiors that are both sophisticated and approachable. Her approach incorporates organic and balanced elements, blending old and new, raw and refined, with a strong emphasis on texture and tone to achieve a bespoke feel. The goal is for her designs to appear organic and not overly stylized, utilizing antique pieces and custom textiles to add depth. The renovation encompassed the main floor, including the mudroom, powder room, laundry room, dining nook, kitchen, and the primary suite, as well as Taylor’s office and her daughter’s nursery. The primary objective of the renovation was to introduce warmth and more organic materials throughout the spaces. This involved extensive painting, updating lighting fixtures, adding millwork, incorporating wallpaper, and designing custom textiles. Taylor aimed to make the house feel cozier and more enveloping than it had previously, often employing a technique she calls "color-drenching" to create moody and cozy atmospheres in several rooms. Among the various redesigned spaces, Taylor particularly favors the kitchen, bedroom, and her daughter’s nursery. The nursery served as the initial inspiration for the entire home renovation. It features a Sanderson wallpaper with subtle blush tones, which then influenced the color palette and finish selections for the rest of the house. Taylor layered textures to create a dreamy space that is sophisticated yet playful, reflecting her own childhood memories of her bedroom. She hopes her daughter will experience similar nostalgia for her room in the future. For the primary bedroom, Taylor selected a warm and calming off-white paint with green undertones. Despite the room's large, vaulted ceiling, the chosen color makes the space feel serene and moody without being dark. Textile choices also contributed to the warm ambiance, with bedding and drapes switched from white to ivory, allowing a tapestry-like headboard fabric to become a focal point. Taylor notes that the room evokes a sense of peace, highlighting the importance of a well-designed primary bedroom for mental well-being, a principle she often shares with her clients. This peaceful and cozy motif is consistently woven throughout the entire home, establishing a sense of serenity, comfort, and style. #InteriorDesign #HomeRenovation #WestNashville #LillyTaylor #CustomInteriors #CozyDesign #OrganicMaterials #ColorDrenching