Interior Designer Crush: Meredith Sherrill of Meredith Sherrill Design

This blog post features an interview with Missy Steffens, owner of M. Steffens Interiors, highlighting her approach to interior design. Steffens grew up with a strong appreciation for art and architecture, a passion she attributes to her family's collections of art and antique furniture and early exposure to these fields through travel and reading. She recounts an anecdote from fifth grade where she and a friend rearranged a rented beach house, which her parents acknowledged looked much better, indicating her early inclination towards design. Her academic journey further solidified her design philosophy. A semester in London during college deepened her understanding of art and architectural history. In graduate school, her specialization in Mid-Century Modern furniture led her to appreciate the balance between form and function, a concept she actively incorporates into her daily design work. Steffens describes her style as classic, fresh, and clean, characterized by a careful blending of old and new elements to create spaces that are both comfortable and elegant. Steffens' career began following her master's degree in art history from Vanderbilt, where her thesis focused on the furniture of Charles and Ray Eames. Her interest in furniture and antiques continued through her early adult life, leading her to collect pieces and frequent antique shows. After a period of focusing on family, she realized her natural talent and enjoyment in thinking through spaces, prompting her to establish M. Steffens Interiors. Her first professional project, renovating two children's bathrooms and bedrooms in 2011, is highlighted as an example of her timeless aesthetic, still appearing fresh almost a decade later. Inspiration for her work comes from various sources, including everyday details, interesting forms, colors, and architectural elements. She also draws inspiration from fashion designers like Lela Rose and Delpozo, particularly their use of color combinations. Steffens looks up to industry role models such as Darryl Carter, known for his blend of antique furnishings with clean upholstery, and architect Gil Schaefer, admired for his eye for space and design. Her personal design aesthetic is rooted in Southern tradition, but she infuses modern and fresh elements to achieve a layered and collected feel. She emphasizes creating functional spaces tailored to clients' lifestyles, incorporating nods to the past while remaining forward-thinking, consistently striving for a balance of form and function in renovations and furniture plans. Steffens finds professional joy in observing the finished installation of her projects. She notes that two commonly misunderstood aspects of interior design from an outsider's perspective are the extensive logistics involved in each project and the frequent occurrence of backorders. As a trade secret, she shares that Benjamin Moore's White Dove is her preferred ceiling color for most spaces, advising a softened ceiling color for moody rooms like libraries or studies to achieve balance. Her design philosophy is encapsulated in five words: fresh, collected, timeless, layered, and thoughtful. #InteriorDesign #MissySteffens #MSteffensInteriors #HomeDecor #DesignPhilosophy #ArtAndArchitecture #SouthernTradition #TimelessDesign #MemphisDesign

Cheryl Luckett, the creative force behind Dwell by Cheryl, shares insights into her journey as an interior designer, her signature design style, and the inspirations that fuel her work. Hailing from Gulfport, Mississippi, Luckett grew up in a traditional Christian home with educator parents, fostering an environment where creativity became her personal refuge. This upbringing, steeped in Southern charm and hospitality, significantly influences her design philosophy. Luckett's path to becoming a designer wasn't direct. Although she always possessed a creative flair, evident in her college dorm room being a showcase for prospective students, it wasn't until later that she recognized design as her true calling. After her first home was featured in a local paper, she began to consider design as more than a hobby. In January 2012, she launched her blog and business as a side venture while working in corporate America. The desire for greater fulfillment led her to devise a 36-month exit strategy, dubbed "Project 36," which involved taking design classes and building her business financially before ultimately leaving her corporate job. Her personal design style is described as "new school traditional," characterized by classic forms infused with vibrant colors and personality. Luckett emphasizes that color and pattern are consistent elements in all her designs, regardless of the specific style. A significant source of her design inspiration comes from textiles, often serving as the starting point for her projects. She believes that layering patterns through textiles inherently creates warm and inviting spaces. Among her most memorable projects, Luckett highlights her participation in the Julian Price Showhouse in Greensboro. This project, featured in Southern Home magazine, was a pivotal moment in her career. She was assigned the principal closet and dressing room in a historic home, transforming it with rich blue walls and upholstered walls with nailhead details, which garnered significant attention. As a Black woman in the design industry, Luckett acknowledges the increasing racial diversity over the past decade and views her cultural background as a strength, allowing her to connect with clients on a deeper level. Regarding her own home, Luckett recently completed a renovation of her principal bathroom, a project she had postponed for over a decade. She describes it as an absolute dream, particularly appreciating having a beautiful and well-appointed space for relaxation. A consistent element she strives to incorporate into every space she designs is original art, believing that unique pieces add significant personality and visual interest. When seeking decor, she prefers shopping vintage at antique malls and dealer locations, enjoying the "thrill of the hunt" for unique treasures. However, Luckett expresses her weariness of the accent wall trend, particularly the addition of millwork to a single wall in an otherwise uninspired space. #CherylLuckett #InteriorDesign #DesignPhilosophy #TextileInspiration #SouthernCharm #HomeRenovation #VintageDecor #DesignTrends #DwellByCheryl

Kelly Wearstler, a prominent figure in contemporary American design, views design as an intuitive process akin to falling in love repeatedly. Her distinctive style, characterized by sumptuous and vibrant interiors, is evident in high-end residences and luxury hotels worldwide, from Beverly Hills to the Caribbean. Wearstler's design philosophy is deeply influenced by a wide array of sources, including global travel, nature, architecture, fashion, graphic design, literature, and art, with particular admiration for the works of Pierre Cardin, Oscar Niemeyer, Carlo Scarpa, Louis Kahn, Gio Ponti, and Carlo Mollino. Her eponymous luxury-lifestyle brand encompasses a broad spectrum of design services, including residential, hospitality, and commercial interior design, alongside curated collections of furniture, lighting, rugs, fabrics, wallcoverings, tiles, luxe bedding, fine china, and decorative home accessories. Wearstler's design approach is marked by a sophisticated contrast of raw and refined elements, a harmonious blend of color, and a thoughtful integration of diverse periods of furniture. This unique methodology has earned her recognition on prestigious lists such as Architectural Digest’s Top 100 Architecture & Interior Design, Elle Décor’s A-List, Wallpaper’s Top 20 Designers, and TIME Style & Design’s Design 100. She conceptualizes each project as an opportunity for storytelling, aiming to create evocative, adventurous, and soulful narratives through a rich mix of materials and influences. Her mantra, “love color, take risks, stay curious,” guides her attraction to designs that intelligently utilize materiality, juxtapose various historical styles, and introduce an element of surprise. Born in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, in 1967, Wearstler honed her skills in interior and graphic design at the Massachusetts College of Art. After relocating to the West Coast, she launched her design business, initially gaining traction with the Avalon Hotel in Beverly Hills. This success paved the way for numerous international projects, including the Viceroy Santa Monica, multiple properties for the Viceroy Group, and the Four Seasons Anguilla, where she skillfully merged natural elements like driftwood and petrified wood with global textiles to redefine Caribbean luxury. Her portfolio also features the Bergdorf Goodman restaurant in New York City, which elegantly combines elements from the 1930s to the 1970s, and the Compartés flagship store in Los Angeles, a modern reinterpretation of classic European chocolate shops. Her residential work spans high-profile homes for celebrity clients like Cameron Diaz, Gwen Stefani, and Ben Stiller. A current venture, Proper Hospitality, involves the design of high-end residences and hotels, with completed projects including the Hollywood Proper Residences, Santa Monica Proper Hotel, and San Francisco Proper Hotel. These projects showcase her signature blend of vintage and new furnishings, custom lighting, bespoke elements, and local artworks. Upcoming Proper hotels in Austin and Downtown Los Angeles further demonstrate her expansive vision. Wearstler emphasizes the importance of client collaboration, stating that the most successful projects arise when clients actively voice their vision. Her role is to interpret and filter these ideas, creating spaces that evoke specific moods and tell compelling stories. She stresses the significance of scale and hierarchy within a space, advocating for a thoughtful mix of texture, history, pattern, and color to achieve balance and allow statement pieces to stand out. Her creative process involves deep research into a location's history and architecture, followed by an intuitive selection of art, rugs, and vintage pieces to establish the core vibe. She uses “vibe trays” to visualize how all elements, textures, and colors will harmoniously interact within a space, sourcing unique items from around the globe to curate truly distinctive environments. Wearstler sees windows as framed artworks that integrate external elements and colors into the interior, further enhancing the cohesive design narrative. Throughout her career, Wearstler has continually challenged herself, taking risks and expanding her artistic horizons. She views her clients, particularly those from the film, music, and art industries, as vital partners and teachers, each contributing unique perspectives that enrich her design process. A key distinction in her work is the tailored approach to residential versus hospitality projects; while both receive the same passion and explorative process, hospitality designs require a greater focus on commercial specifications and creating a comfortable, home-like atmosphere unique to the location. Turning points in her career include the Avalon Hotel, the Bergdorf Goodman restaurant, and the large-scale Westfield Century City renovation, all of which pushed her creative boundaries and fostered a sense of accomplishment. Wearstler's home collections target individuals who appreciate art, travel, and thoughtful details, offering environments designed to expand experiences and heighten senses. Her ongoing projects continue to explore new commercial and residential ventures globally, consistently seeking the next design adventure. #KellyWearstler #InteriorDesign #ModernAmericanDesign #LuxuryInteriors #HospitalityDesign #ResidentialDesign #DesignPhilosophy #ArchitecturalDesign #StorytellingInDesign

April Tomlin, a distinguished interior designer, has cultivated a unique and recognizable style influenced by her upbringing and early exposure to construction and design. Her mother, a single parent who managed a plumbing business, sold real estate, and personally built their family homes, instilled in Tomlin a strong work ethic and a foundational understanding of construction from a young age. This environment fostered her innate ability to transform houses into homes, setting the stage for her future career in interior design. Tomlin recounts an early memory at age eight, where she and her brother rearranged furniture and painted her mother's bedroom walls, highlighting her childhood inclination towards creating beautiful living spaces. Today, April Tomlin Interiors is a thriving business catering to high-profile clients. Tomlin's designs are characterized by their compelling compositions, which skillfully balance intensity with serenity. Her aesthetic often features monochromatic themes, yet it is infused with sophisticated spontaneity, incorporating unique pieces that reflect her appreciation for both beauty and raw, imperfect elements. Tomlin describes her personal style as "earthy with a little edge," favoring casual and relaxed interiors. This is evident in her use of slipcovers, linen, wood, plaster, and neutral palettes, all contributing to a calm and inviting atmosphere. She also integrates unexpected elements like funky art, bold wallpaper, and interesting lighting to add surprise and character to her spaces. While she maintains a distinct personal style, Tomlin emphasizes that she adapts her designs to suit the client's personality, acknowledging that a designer's innate style will always subtly influence their work. Tomlin draws inspiration from exterior courtyards and gardens, aiming to replicate their peaceful and calm ambiance within indoor spaces. Her design pieces are sourced globally, with a particular emphasis on Australia, though she also frequently incorporates items from accessible retailers like Target, Crate and Barrel, One Kings Lane, and Etsy for filler pieces. She advocates for the use of raw, organic materials, such as unstained raw woods and various plasters, which she believes can elevate a plain wall without drawing excessive attention. One of her current favorite projects involves designing her own new home, a venture she relishes for the freedom it offers in expressing her uncompromised vision. For those looking to enhance their homes, Tomlin offers two key pieces of advice: invest in quality drapes and thoughtful lighting. She notes that drapes, even non-custom ones, are a significant expense but are crucial for preventing a space from appearing flat. She prefers soft linen drapes installed on ceiling tracks for a lighter, less heavy look. Regarding lighting, she recommends using dimmers, switching to soft white bulbs instead of Edison bulbs, and selecting unique fixtures that stand out. On the topic of design trends, Tomlin expresses enthusiasm for the minimal molding look currently popular in Nashville, incorporating drywall return windows and doors, no crown molding, and two-inch baseboards in her own new home. When asked about work-life balance as a wife, mother, and successful designer, Tomlin suggests acknowledging and accepting the need to prioritize. She dedicates her energy to her work, her children, close friends, and one charity, recognizing that sacrifices like ample sleep, a perpetually spotless home, constant self-grooming, and regular workouts are necessary. She finds joy in her children and work and believes it is acceptable for others to pursue hobbies that bring them happiness outside of work and family obligations. Her ultimate design philosophy is encapsulated in five words: "Do. What. Makes. You. Happy." She encourages individuals to create homes that bring them joy, editing out elements that don't and collecting pieces that evoke a smile. #InteriorDesign #AprilTomlin #HomeDecor #DesignerCrush #NashvilleDesign #EarthyDesign #WorkLifeBalance #DesignTips

Melissa Bodie, co-founder and director of Melissa + Miller Interiors, shares insights into her career as an interior designer and offers five key pieces of advice for creating joyful living spaces. Bodie's upbringing, influenced by her mother's home-building career, instilled in her an early passion for design and architecture. She recalls suggesting a staircase repositioning at the age of eight, which her mother adopted successfully. Throughout her career, Bodie has worked with notable design figures such as Nina Campbell, Martin Brudnizki, and Martha Stewart, learning the importance of meticulous attention to detail from these industry leaders. She emphasizes that while their styles varied, a common thread was their focus on the minutiae, which significantly impacts the overall aesthetic and feel of a space. She also candidly shares a humorous early career mistake, highlighting the steep learning curve in the industry, particularly in styling for high-profile clients like Martha Stewart. Melissa + Miller Interiors, with offices in London and Philadelphia, specializes in high-end, bespoke interior design, prioritizing comfort and functionality alongside luxury and style. The firm offers comprehensive services including knowledge of architecture, textiles, antiques, project management, and custom design. In 2020, they launched an e-design service, providing their custom interior design expertise to clients globally with quick turnaround times. This initiative also serves as a platform for social good, with a portion of fees donated to organizations like Feeding America, NAACP, and Black Artists + Designers Guild. The firm actively reassesses its brand partnerships and sourcing to promote diversity within the design industry. They also host a weekly Instagram series, "Meet a Maker," spotlighting talented BIPOC and female artists, craftswomen, and designers. Bodie's five recommendations for sparking joy in living spaces begin with the principle to "Buy what you love." She believes interior design should transcend trends, focusing instead on how a room evokes feelings, creates ambiance, and offers comfort without sacrificing style. A home should be an extension of one's personal style, as the client ultimately lives in the space. The second tip, "Buy from whom you love," encourages intentional purchasing from artisans, makers, and craftspeople whose stories resonate. Melissa + Miller Interiors supports this by featuring diverse creators in their "Meet a Maker" series and through their gift guide. The third recommendation is "Be well," focusing on mental health within interior design. This involves creating spaces that promote tranquility and peace, often referred to as "zen zones." These can range from a dedicated meditation room to a cozy corner, incorporating soothing elements for all five senses: calming colors and lighting for sight, soft textures for touch, scented candles for smell, and organized playlists for sound. Bodie suggests colors like light blues, soft greens, greys, blush, and lilac for their peace-promoting qualities. The fourth point advises against comparison, stating that "Comparison precludes joy." Finally, "Outdoors, in" emphasizes integrating nature into living spaces, whether through a balcony, terrace, or garden. Bodie views outdoor areas as extensions of the interior, decorating them with beautiful furniture, lighting, and accessories. Due to client demand, Melissa + Miller Interiors plans to launch a garden design arm to create exteriors that complement their interiors. Bodie advocates for democratic design, believing that safe and beautiful environments should be accessible to everyone, including in public schools, daycare centers, and city hospitals. Her firm has demonstrated this commitment by designing a public space for a family homeless shelter. She also supports movements that amplify women's voices, particularly women of color. When asked about a person she'd like to meet, Bodie names Michelle Obama, admiring her influence. Melissa Bodie can be followed on Instagram at @melissaandmillerinteriors. #InteriorDesign #MelissaBodie #MelissaMillerInteriors #HomeDecor #JoyfulLiving #DesignPhilosophy #EdesignServices #SocialImpact #WellnessDesign