Favorite Things: Cindy Erdall of Gabberts Design Studio

Chris Goddard, founder of his Fayetteville, Arkansas–based design firm, initiated his career during college in the 1980s, driven by a passion for visual merchandising that evolved into interior design. Despite studying business, he found himself doing small design jobs for free, learning painting and wallpapering to understand the process thoroughly. His accidental foray into design became serious when a wealthy client gave him a blank check to redo her house, prompting him to learn about resources, pricing, and the design industry without formal training. He frequented design centers in Tulsa and Dallas, impressing showrooms with his assertiveness and ultimately opening his own 18,000-square-foot store, Beauregard, in 1992, which housed a design studio, workrooms, and a florist. Goddard's early projects were notable, with his first-ever design job published in Architectural Digest when he was just 21. This unexpected recognition led to numerous projects for the same family, including corporate headquarters, boats, and planes. His firm now handles 20 to 60 projects annually, comprising 40% commercial and 60% residential work. He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning, detailing how he educated both himself and his clients on the value of quality materials and bespoke design elements in a region initially lacking high-end design exposure. He also works with institutions like Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art, designing installations that merge art with livable spaces. His career, however, has not been without significant challenges, including a memorable incident where a client's yacht sank due to incorrect screw lengths used during window treatment installation. This experience, though initially terrifying, taught him the critical importance of meticulous measurement and attention to detail. Goddard maintains a philosophy against having a singular “look” as a designer, instead striving to create spaces that perfectly reflect the client's personality, as if a designer was never involved. This commitment extends to never reusing the same fabric or furniture piece twice, meticulously archiving samples from each project to ensure uniqueness. The evolution of the design industry, particularly the rise of the internet and knockoff markets, led Goddard to close his retail store after 15 years, shifting his focus entirely to his design firm. He continues to value the in-person experience of shopping and encourages clients to find unique treasures during travels, rather than relying solely on online purchases. Despite his traditional approach to sourcing, his team incorporates modern tools like 3D renderings to meet contemporary client expectations. He acknowledges the difficulty of social media visibility given the NDAs he signs for high-profile clients, often only sharing tight shots of details. Recognitions in his career include ASID and Interior Design Society awards in 2019, and being named among the top 100 firms globally by the Andrew Martin Interior Design Review. Goddard navigates the challenges of client expectations, pricing transparency, and working abroad, where he has faced issues with customs. He attributes his global growth to word-of-mouth referrals rather than advertising, highlighting the personal nature of service-based businesses. His current endeavors include developing his own fabric, furniture, and bedding lines, marking a new phase in his extensive design career, which he hopes will allow him to expand beyond constant travel and hands-on project management. He also discusses the cyclical nature of design trends, noting a return to '70s and '80s aesthetics with a modern twist, and the importance of allowing creative individuals downtime to recharge. When hiring, he seeks talent that complements his strengths, emphasizing the need for adaptability and technological proficiency in an evolving industry. Goddard values his ability to now decline projects that don't excite him, recognizing that passion is crucial for successful outcomes. His firm's resilience during economic downturns is partly attributed to its recession-proof location and a strategic balance between residential and commercial projects. #InteriorDesign #ChrisGoddard #DesignCareer #LuxuryDesign #BespokeDesign #ClientRelationships #DesignBusiness #ArkansasDesign

Rebecca Constable, an interior designer known for creating timeless and inviting homes that also accommodate daily life, recently launched Room by Room Interiors. This new venture offers ready-to-go design schemes, providing an accessible and affordable alternative for individuals seeking design assistance without the commitment of hiring a full-time designer. These schemes include comprehensive guidance, from key design principles to specific recommendations for paint colors, furniture, and accessories. Constable's design journey began after transitioning from a career in management consulting and project management at John Lewis. Following the birth of her children, she sought a more flexible profession, initially redesigning her own home and then assisting friends and family, which organically led to the growth of her interior design practice. She notes the significant overlap between project management and interior design, highlighting the organizational aspects crucial to both fields. Her personal home is characterized by a vibrant and layered approach, incorporating color, pattern, and various textures. Each room is distinct, and Constable frequently uses different fabrics to achieve this variety. She also emphasizes the use of natural materials such as oak floorboards, marble tiles, and quartzite counters, embracing the natural wear and tear these materials exhibit over time. Her favorite room is her and her husband's bathroom, which she describes as a calm and luxurious space for relaxation. Constable's design philosophy is deeply influenced by her Swiss grandmother, whose home featured a rich collection of antiques, self-painted oil paintings, and hand-decorated furniture. This eclectic mix of old and new, combined with a love for color and pattern, defines Constable's style. Her own home reflects this sensibility, blending antique pieces with more modern elements. Regarding her latest endeavor, Room by Room Interiors, Constable explains that the platform addresses the challenge many people face in finding the right design elements for their homes. By curating complete design schemes, the service aims to simplify the decorating process for those who lack the time or inclination to research extensively. This initiative makes professional interior design principles and product selections available to a wider audience. Constable also shared a wish list of ten items that align with her design aesthetic and current preferences. These items include a versatile sofa bed from The House Upstairs, a Folia Scalloped Natural Linen Wall Light from Lights & Lamps for architectural detailing, and a Wilmington Reeded Bedside Table from Alfred Newall, valued for its curves and the timeless quality of limed oak. Other items comprise a Frill Pouffe from Six The Residence for bedrooms or dressing rooms, a Dunes Rug from Pelican House x Lucy Williams, praised for its brown and blue color combination, and an Exton Mirror from Vaughan, considered a timeless piece suitable for various spaces. The list also features Marton Side Tables from The White Company for their utility in small spaces, a Ma Ma Lay Rattan Tray from Kalinko for desk or bedside organization, Brass Wiggle Handles from Bias Editions for a fun and luxurious touch, and a Rosemary Willow Diffuser from Bamford, appreciated for its fresh scent and aesthetic appeal. These selections collectively showcase Constable's commitment to functionality, natural materials, and a balanced blend of classic and contemporary elements. #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #RoomByRoomInteriors #RebeccaConstable #DesignInspiration #Furniture #HomeAccessories #TimelessDesign #NaturalMaterials

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

Marcelle Guilbeau, an interior designer based in Nashville, discusses her unique approach to creating "Soulful Homes" by helping clients discover their "Soul Style." Her design philosophy is rooted in a deep connection to spirituality and the concept of "place," emphasizing comfort, hospitality, and making good memories within a home. She highlights that her passion for spirituality and place led her to interior design after initially pursuing philosophy and religion in college. Guilbeau's work aims to translate a client's inner desires and aesthetic preferences into a living space that genuinely reflects who they are. The core principles of curating a Soulful Home, according to Guilbeau, involve a three-step process. First, clients identify their "Soul Style" by determining if they lean more towards modern or traditional aesthetics, and whether they are practical or sensual in their preferences. Modernists are characterized by a love for openness and innovation, while traditionalists value roots. Practical individuals prioritize purpose, and sensualists focus on nurturing. Second, a timeless and classic base is established for the design, which typically includes significant investment pieces like a sofa and chairs in a living room. This foundation requires careful consideration and expenditure to ensure longevity and satisfaction. Third, the home is finished with layers, which are aesthetic components that can be added or changed over time, such as rugs, wall colors, wallpaper, side tables, lighting, and artwork. This layering approach allows for responsiveness to the evolving space and ensures a well-rounded final design. Guilbeau employs a "Fabric Exercise" to help clients discover their color palette and personal aesthetic, serving as a starting point for their Soul Style. During this exercise, clients are given a selection of fabrics and encouraged to choose those that resonate with them. This process often reveals preferences for specific colors, patterns (geometrics, organic shapes), and textures, which then inform the overall home palette. This interactive method allows clients to explore their creativity, make connections between fabric choices and broader design elements they admire, and significantly advance the design process early on. The goal is to empower clients to connect with what they truly love, moving beyond just visual appeal to an experience of comfort and belonging. Regarding design advice, Guilbeau advocates for making impactful choices for significant investments in the home, likening it to purchasing a high-quality item like a Burberry trench coat. She advises clients to choose items they genuinely love, ensuring long-term satisfaction. Her favorite room in her own home is a keeping room with 12-foot ceilings and 10-foot-tall windows, designed by her architect husband. This space features a minimalist limestone plaster fireplace, a deep hearth, a cream wool rug, shell chairs, and an Italian leather loveseat, providing a comfortable and nature-oriented retreat. Guilbeau approaches design with an organic mindset, allowing "wow factors" to emerge naturally during a project rather than forcing bold ideas from the outset. She illustrates this with an example where teal velvet chairs and colorful pillows unexpectedly guided the color palette for a historic East Nashville home renovation. Marcelle Guilbeau is also the author of an upcoming book, _The Soulful Home: A Guide for Authentic Living_, which will be a photo-illustrated guide to understanding and connecting with one's personal Soul Style. The book will introduce the "Soul Style Compass" to help readers identify their Major and Minor Soul Styles (combinations of traditional, modern, sensual, and practical), and guide them in building a classic base and layering pieces over time. Her current inspirations include vintage finds from local sources like Eneby Home, Patina + Co, Canterbury Cottage, and the Nashville Flea Market, as well as showrooms like Kravet, Lenos Limited, and Good Wood. If she could choose another designer for her home, it would be StudioIlse for its upscale, bohemian aesthetic. Conversely, she would love to design a home for Lauren Hutton, admiring her natural, effortless style and her unique prefab steel home in Taos. Guilbeau considers a wine opener, Tide detergent, and a fuzzy robe as three indispensable household items.

Sarah Peake, founder of Studio Peake, showcases one of her most cherished interior design projects: a double-fronted Georgian cottage in South London. This project was particularly significant as it marked her first solo endeavor after establishing her studio. The cottage, located on a wisteria-filled terrace, previously featured an industrial aesthetic dominated by black and grey, and an unsympathetic 1980s rear extension. The initial phase of the project involved extensive renovation to restore original architectural elements such as architraves, doors, skirtings, cornices, and radiators, which had been lost or altered over time. The clients, who had moved into the house after their honeymoon, lived there for six months to understand its nuances before commissioning Peake. Their brief was to create a vibrant, distinctive, yet comfortable and cozy home. The kitchen, rather than being completely replaced, underwent a significant refresh to combine existing features with new additions. A new limestone floor, Lanyan Limestone by Artisans of Devizes, was installed, and the existing joinery was painted in a custom green matched by Dulux. Carrara marble replaced the laminate countertops, and new drawer handles were sourced from Lassco reclamation yard. A French polisher from Portobello Painters restored the timber cupboards, while a custom floor paint from Papers and Paints and 'Stone I' from Paint and Paper Library were used for the walls. To introduce coziness, soft furnishings were added, including curtain fabric from Namay Samay with a Samuel & Sons fringe, an A Rum Fellow rug, an embroidered cushion from William Yeoward, and a white lamp from Porta Romana, effectively balancing the hard surfaces. In the main living space, a bespoke yellow paint color, mixed by Papers and Paint, was chosen for the walls, extending the painted wooden floor from the kitchen. A colorful rug from Ornate Rugs complemented the vibrant walls. A fireplace surround made of Bardiglio marble from Jamb and a chandelier from The English House were key features. The client's appreciation for art was evident with a William Crozier painting from Piano Nobile displayed above the fireplace. The design aimed for an interesting yet unoverbearing space through a mix of patterns, plains, and finishes. A small, low-ceilinged area at the back was transformed into a cozy nook with bespoke TV and bookcase joinery by Billy Crawshaw, carpeted with Tim Page Claremont, and featuring a David Seyfried chair upholstered in Fermoie fabric with Besselink & Jones wall lights. The master bedroom, described as Peake’s favorite, achieved a balance of color and tranquility. The walls and joinery were painted in Fencing Blue by Papers and Paint Library. Curtain fabric from Lasso by Pierre Frey and a Kelly Wearstler headboard with Romo Linara piping were incorporated. A painting by Venetia Berry, already owned by the client, served as the color palette's foundation for the room. Bed linen from Gayle Warwick Siena, a throw from Once Milano, and a custom cushion made from Guy Goodfellow fabric with a Samuel and Sons fringe completed the space. Moving to the landing and stairs, the entrance hall was designed as a crucial introduction to the house. Sanderson ‘Hemp’ wallpaper provided a muted backdrop, contrasting with the more defined colors in adjacent rooms. The French polisher from Portobello Painters restored the handrail, and Edward Bulmer’s Celadon paint was used on architraves and doors. An antique chair, a Sarah Balme painting, a mid-century chandelier from Pamono, and a white lamp from Porta Romana adorned the half-landing. For the guest bedroom, situated opposite the main bedroom, the focus was on the view of the bed. A shaped headboard by Pat Giddens Ltd, upholstered in Holland and Sherry fabric, was a central element, complemented by Afghan hats from Etsy above the bed. Hand-dyed velvet cushions by Kirsten Hecktermann and a custom-embroidered rectangular cushion from A Rum Fellow added luxurious touches. An antique pedestal desk was brightened with modern pieces, including a Benchmark chair upholstered in Vaughan and Holly Hunt fabrics, a raspberry lacquered lamp from Salvesen Graham, and a gathered silk shade by Penny Morrison. Finally, the tiny box room underwent a significant transformation. Previously painted black with acid green wallpaper and a low, angled ceiling, it was re-envisioned with a ‘bed nook’ to maximize standing height. Billy Crawshaw paneled the walls with MDF, painting them in Edward Bulmer’s Fair Blue. Ottoline Devries’ wallpaper and fabric were used within the bed nook, along with Samuel and Sons contrast piping and Colefax and Fowler roman blind borders. A bookcase above the headboard and a wall light replaced a traditional bedside setup. The bathroom, largely preserved due to its existing good condition, received subtle enhancements using leftover stone and marble, Edward Bulmer Celadon paint on woodwork, a touch of Soane wallpaper, and a rattan mirror from Kempton Racecourse, demonstrating that minor changes can have a major impact. #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #GeorgianCottage #StudioPeake #SouthLondon #Renovation #ColorfulInteriors #CozyHome #ArchitecturalRestoration

Christine Lin, founder and principal of Form + Field, an interior design firm based in San Francisco, shares insights into her work, inspirations, and projects. Lin's background includes studies in architecture and mechanical engineering at MIT, where she also delved into furniture and product design and art history. This diverse academic foundation, combined with rigorous training in corporate and startup tech environments and an MBA from UC Berkeley, equipped her with expert management and execution skills. Her keen eye for design has been further honed through extensive study and global travel, seeking out new art, design, and architecture. Form + Field's design philosophy centers on integration and longevity, aiming to create holistic, enduring environments that promote joy and well-being. The firm intentionally crafts spaces tailored to individual needs, whether residential or commercial. Lin describes her style aesthetic as 'eclectic modernism with an emphasis on contemporary art and architectural detailing.' The design process at Form + Field is highly client-centric. It begins with a comprehensive discovery phase, including extensive questionnaires, to deeply understand clients' personal interests, preferences, and cherished memories of interiors. This information serves as a foundation for crafting a unique space. Lin likens the design process to a Venn diagram, where one circle represents the client's desires and functional requirements, and the other encompasses Form + Field's design principles. The 'overlap' between these two circles, which varies with each client, is where the firm identifies the magical and personalized aspects of a project. Lin finds inspiration primarily through conversations with passionate individuals across various crafts and arts, transferring that energy into her design work. One of her most inspiring projects to date is the Martis Camp project in Tahoe, a collaboration with Faulkner Architects, set to conclude in 2024. This project stands out for its ambitious scope, extensive custom design integrated with interior architecture, and the exploration of new vendors, fabrication processes, and color applications. Her dream project involves designing a small boutique hotel that offers a unique guest experience, deeply rooted in the surrounding culture and context of its location. Form + Field's ideal clients are described as kind, well-traveled, cultured individuals who value quality, invest in good design, appreciate architecture, and collect art. These clients are typically open to exploration, new ideas, and unexpected design solutions. Lin identifies Form + Field's 'design superpower' as their ability to interpret clients' needs and desires through their distinct lens, translating them into elevated, unique designs. The firm prides itself on creating spaces where each project possesses a distinct personality, clearly reflecting the occupants. Her design heroes include architect Rem Koolhaas/OMA, whose conceptual approach, focus on ideas over a singular aesthetic, and willingness to take risks are deeply inspiring. Looking ahead, Form + Field is embarking on a large, new-construction generational home project in Kauai, collaborating with Zak Architecture. This endeavor represents an exciting opportunity to create a holistic vision for a dream vacation home, building on an established trust with the clients, for whom this is their third project with the firm. #InteriorDesign #ChristineLin #FormAndField #DesignPhilosophy #EclecticModernism #ClientCentricDesign #ArchitecturalDetailing #DesignInspiration #CustomDesign

The Petit Palais in Paris is currently hosting an exhibition dedicated to Charlotte Perriand, focusing on the significant role photography played in the development of her renowned interior designs. This unique exhibition delves into Perriand's creative process, presenting her inspirational photographs alongside the finished products they informed. The core idea is to illustrate how Perriand's observations of the natural and urban environment, captured through her camera lens, directly translated into her groundbreaking furniture and interior architecture. Perriand's engagement with photography as a preliminary study method began in 1928, when she joined the influential Le Corbusier/Pierre Jeanneret studio as a furniture design associate. During this period, she dedicated herself to exploring the 'laws of nature' in various contexts, from bustling cityscapes to serene mountain landscapes. The exhibition features a substantial collection of 380 photographs, many of which depict objects and forms discovered during her extensive walks and explorations. This photographic archive underscores her philosophy that the modernist movement was driven by a spirit of inquiry and a process of analysis rather than a mere stylistic trend. Her keen eye for the world around her is evident in these images, revealing a designer who constantly sought inspiration from her surroundings. A key highlight of the exhibition is the direct juxtaposition of these inspiration photographs with their resultant designs. For instance, the skeletal structure of fish bones is shown to have directly informed the design of her 'Banquette Tokyo.' Similarly, the elegant lines of a reclining human figure are presented as the muse behind her iconic 'Chaise Longue Basculante.' Other examples include the 'Chaise Ombre' from 1954, shown with its photographic precursor, and the 'Table Basse' from 1984, which evolved from an 'Art Brut Grès plage Normandie vers' photograph from 1935. The 'Chaise longue bambou' from 1940 draws inspiration from a 'Paysanne corse' photograph from 1937, demonstrating Perriand's ability to translate organic forms into functional and aesthetically pleasing furniture. Furthermore, the exhibition reveals Perriand's innovative approach to design by showcasing how she was one of the first designers to integrate photography as an essential tool throughout her furniture and interior design projects. This method allowed her to meticulously analyze forms, textures, and compositions from the real world, subsequently abstracting and reinterpreting them into her distinctive modernist aesthetic. The exhibit also includes images like 'Immeuble de l’Armée du Salut en construction, vers' from 1931, which inspired the 'Meuble de séparation' from 1954, and 'Pont à poutrelle' from 1933, leading to the 'Table Gigogne' from 1951. These examples highlight her holistic approach, where even architectural elements and everyday structures found their way into her furniture designs. In essence, the exhibition at Petit Palais offers a profound insight into Charlotte Perriand's meticulous design methodology and her enduring legacy as a modernist pioneer. It demonstrates how her photographic practice was not merely a documentation tool but a fundamental component of her creative process, allowing her to bridge the gap between observed reality and innovative design solutions. The careful arrangement of photographs and finished pieces effectively illustrates her journey from capturing momentary inspirations to crafting timeless pieces of furniture and interior spaces, firmly establishing her as a designer who saw the world through a uniquely analytical and artistic lens. #CharlottePerriand #InteriorDesign #ModernistDesign #DesignHistory #PhotographyInDesign #PetitPalais #FurnitureDesign #LeCorbusier #DesignProcess

Jane Hall, an architect, author, and curator known for her work in expanding the understanding of design and its societal impact, discusses her new book, "Making Space: Interior Design by Women." Hall is a founding member of Assemble, a London-based collective that received the Turner Prize for its community-focused architectural work. Her academic background includes studies at King's College, Cambridge, the Royal College of Art, and a PhD focusing on modernist architects. In 2013, she was the first recipient of the British Council's Lina Bo Bardi Fellowship. Her publications consistently aim to re-evaluate the role of women in the creative arts. Her 2019 book, "Breaking Ground: Architecture by Women," provided a comprehensive, visually rich overview of hundreds of buildings by women architects, seeking to integrate their contributions into architectural history. Following this, "Woman Made: Great Women Designers" (2021) cataloged over 200 female practitioners across various design fields, including furniture, products, and graphics, reframing design history as a interconnected global narrative rather than a limited canon. Her latest work, "Making Space: Interior Design by Women," focuses specifically on interior design, exploring its evolution through the careers of 250 female designers from the early 20th century to the present. Hall highlights how interior design, despite often being seen as a "feminized" profession, has historically provided a significant arena for women's design influence. She notes that unlike architecture, interior design was less institutionalized and theorized, allowing women an earlier and more artistic role in shaping spaces, particularly domestic ones. Hall emphasizes that while the term "interior designer" is a modern professional title, many women in her book, especially from earlier periods, engaged in what could now be considered interior design without formally identifying as such. She points out the client-centric nature of interior design, contrasting it with product design for mass production. Interior designers, she explains, act more like artists, translating client visions into unique aesthetic statements, thereby influencing broader design trends. She identifies the Second World War as a turning point, noting that before the war, many women in the profession came from affluent backgrounds, enabling them to realize ambitious and extravagant projects. An example is Dorothy Draper's design for the Greenbrier Hotel, characterized by bold colors and patterns, which pushed conventional boundaries of taste. Hall observes a surprising lack of Bauhaus or Modernist interior designers among women, as interior design often operated outside academic and theoretical frameworks, providing an avenue for women to express avant-garde ideas. In the post-war period, designers like Florence Knoll gained prominence, alongside figures like Barbara D’Arcy of Bloomingdale's, who made design accessible to a wider audience by showcasing how to integrate products into home interiors. Hall also cites Eva Jiricna, who introduced high-tech aesthetics and glass staircases into retail environments, influencing contemporary spaces like Apple Stores. Other influential designers include Marion Hall Best, known for her vibrant 1960s color-blocking, demonstrating how individual creativity initiated broader trends in interior environments. Contemporary interior design, while more specialized, still requires significant artistry. Hall notes that while the industry has expanded and designers are highly skilled, the proliferation of platforms like Instagram can sometimes flatten the perceived complexity and excitement of their work. However, modern designers, including those like Alex Dorley, Sophie Ashby, Pamela Shamshiri, Jialun Xiong, Maye Ruiz, and Tekla Evelina Severin, continue to create innovative and influential interiors, often extending their practice to include their own furniture, paint, and fabric lines. Many younger designers, not from traditional wealthy backgrounds, find opportunities in commercial spaces, pushing creative boundaries to stand out in a visually driven world. #InteriorDesign #WomenInDesign #Architecture #DesignHistory #FeministArchitecture #DomesticSpaces #CreativeArts #PhaidonBooks

Matilda Goad, a 31-year-old designer and creative consultant, has become a prominent figure in the intersection of fashion and interiors. Her designs, characterized by eccentric flourishes, rainbow colors, scalloped edges, and cane detailing, are highly popular on platforms like Instagram, where she boasts over 62,000 followers. Goad has also established herself as a go-to homeware expert within the fashion industry, counting notable figures such as creative director Alex Eagle and designer Margherita Missoni among her admirers. Her strong connections to the fashion world are evident through her familial and social circles, including her cousin, Vogue journalist Plum Sykes, her best friend and Shrimps founder Hannah Weiland (whose 2018 wedding Goad styled), and her friend and neighbor, podcaster and author Pandora Sykes. During a tour of her recently renovated London home with her three-month-old baby, Domino, Goad emphasizes her keen attention to detail in her decorating approach. She explains that her decorating style mirrors her fashion sense, prioritizing detailing, accessories, textures, and colors. Examples of her meticulous design choices include vibrant red grout on white pantry tiles, cut-out cane diamond paneling in her bedroom wardrobes, and French bistro-style half-curtains by her breakfast table. Goad's journey into interiors was somewhat serendipitous. She began her career in fashion, working for Vogue Russia, Teen Vogue, and Wonderland magazine, and later assisting photographer and stylist Venetia Scott. Her transition to interiors occurred when she struggled to find an affordable lampshade with specific design elements. This led her to customize lampshades by adding braiding and eventually having them professionally made. This pursuit of visual perfection culminated in the launch of her eponymous brand in 2016. The brand, which initially featured a best-selling range of lampshades, has since expanded to include cutlery, napkins, planters, and other items, with prices ranging from £24 to £300. Her products are retailed at prominent stores like Liberty and Matchesfashion.com, and she also maintains a global customer base through her website. Goad is mindful of not overproducing, aiming for a concise collection where every item serves a strong purpose while also being aesthetically pleasing. In May 2019, Goad and her husband, Tom Corbett-Winder, moved into their three-story terrace house in northwest London. The renovation, which took four months, was managed by Tom's project management company. The outcome is a colorful and contemporary space that seamlessly blends practicality with style, embodying Goad's whimsical aesthetic while remaining a functional family home. The home features several clever design solutions: a reeded drawer cabinet in the sitting room, painted a vibrant betel-nut red with Beata Heuman bow handles, offers deep storage for children's toys. The denim-upholstered banquette in the kitchen incorporates hidden plug sockets and built-in storage. Japanese-style bar stools swing out from a reinforced breakfast bar to maximize space. While the design includes feminine touches, Goad ensures a balanced aesthetic by incorporating elements that add a subtle toughness, preventing the overall look from being overly sweet. For instance, her pink bedroom is balanced by scuffed wooden floorboards and a four-poster wooden bedframe, an eBay find that she personalized with blue rings using leftover tester pots. Goad draws inspiration from diverse sources, ranging from her mother's appreciation for chintz to the art of Swedish artist Hilma af Klint. She actively shares her design knowledge through her monthly newsletter, the Dispatch, where she recommends suppliers and sells vintage finds. Despite the polished appearance of her home, Goad considers it an ongoing project, constantly adding and adjusting elements, believing that a home evolves over time. She likens small changes, such as swapping a lampshade, to putting together a new outfit, emphasizing that these adjustments can refresh a room. Ultimately, she believes that the feeling a home evokes prepares one to engage with the outside world. Matilda also offers several practical tips for achieving a stylish home: repurpose luxurious fabrics for smaller impactful areas, use misspelt words or designer names in eBay searches for bargains, follow accounts like @haines_collection for affordable fabric offcuts, don't hesitate to use placeholder items until the perfect piece is found, and introduce unexpected furniture pieces into rooms to make them feel less sterile. She also recommends several antique dealers on Instagram: @oldalbion for vintage gems, @thehomebothy for decorative antiques, and @vintageonthevine for Goadesque chintzy pieces. #MatildaGoad #InteriorDesign #LondonHome #HomeDecor #FashionAndInteriors #DesignTips #ColorfulInteriors #Renovation #HomeStyling

Drew Cauley, a designer from Design Resource Gallery, identifies his breakfast room as his favorite space within his home. This preference stems from his intentional design choices aimed at fostering a seamless connection between the indoors and the natural environment outside. The room's aesthetic is heavily influenced by a large landscape mural that serves as a focal point, bringing elements of nature directly into the living space. Complementing this visual feature are various natural wood accents, carefully integrated throughout the room to enhance the organic, outdoor-inspired ambiance. Cauley's design philosophy for this room emphasizes comfort and tranquility, creating an inviting atmosphere for daily routines. The selection of materials and finishes is deliberate, contributing to a sense of warmth and natural beauty. The natural wood elements, for instance, are not merely decorative but also tactile, grounding the room in organic textures. These choices collectively create a harmonious environment that supports relaxation and a connection to the natural world, aligning with the designer's vision for a personal sanctuary within his home. The breakfast room functions as more than just a dining area; it is a space designed to uplift and inspire, reinforcing the importance of natural light and organic design in daily life. This room exemplifies how thoughtful interior design can significantly impact well-being and daily experience by blurring the lines between indoor comfort and outdoor serenity. #InteriorDesign #HomeDecor #BreakfastRoom #LandscapeMural #NaturalWoodAccents #DesignPhilosophy #DrewCauley #DesignResourceGallery

Meredith Stern, an interior designer and home stylist, defines her legacy through the relationships she cultivates with clients and the personal, transformative spaces she designs for them. Her design philosophy extends beyond aesthetics, focusing on understanding each client's lifestyle, preferences, and aspirations to create spaces that are not only visually appealing but also uniquely tailored to their individual needs. Stern limits the number of large-scale projects she undertakes to ensure each receives her full attention and commitment. Her undergraduate background in psychology significantly influences her design approach, enabling her to create homes that positively impact her clients' mood, productivity, and overall well-being. She emphasizes that the functionality and appearance of a home profoundly affect happiness and quality of life, aiming for her projects to leave a lasting impression of joy, comfort, and inspiration. Meredith Stern Interiors is characterized by its meticulous approach to client understanding, eschewing 'cookie-cutter' designs for personalized spaces that enhance daily life. Stern's psychological background provides a unique insight into how environments shape emotions and well-being, which she integrates into every project. She takes pride in the trust clients place in her to actualize their visions, finding immense reward in transforming homes and the lives within them. The human connections forged during projects are as meaningful to her as the design itself. Starting her own business, Meredith Stern Interiors, was a significant life transition initiated during the COVID-19 pandemic after renovating her own home in Florida. This experience rekindled her passion for design, though the entrepreneurial journey presented challenges such as client acquisition, balancing creativity with business operations, and establishing her brand in a competitive industry. Perseverance, hard work, and the support of her husband, family, and the design community were crucial to her success. She learned the importance of patience, resilience, and maintaining her vision, along with prioritizing quality over quantity by selectively choosing projects to ensure dedicated attention to each client. Stern articulates that Meredith Stern Interiors is more than just about creating beautiful spaces; it is about designing homes that genuinely reflect their inhabitants. Her overarching goal is to craft spaces that are aesthetically pleasing, highly functional, and transformative, ultimately bringing joy, comfort, and daily inspiration to her clients. She views design as a service that profoundly impacts lives by shaping the environments people inhabit. The interview also delves into a personal anecdote, outlining a hypothetical week-long itinerary for a best friend visiting Florida, filled with activities centered around thrifting, vintage hunting, and design inspiration. This includes visits to World Thrift in Lake Worth Beach, various thrift stores in Delray Beach, followed by dinner at The Grove. The itinerary extends to Miami to explore vintage and antique shops on Biscayne Boulevard, particularly mentioning Avra Art, Robert Massello, Cur8ed Studio, Iconic Design Gallery, CastellArts, and Michel Contessa. Meals at Mandolin in the Design District are suggested, alongside exploration of Wynwood's street art and the Design District's architecture. A visit to the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens in Boca Raton is also included, highlighting its serene beauty and intentional design. Stern attributes much of her success and confidence to her husband, who has been her biggest supporter and cheerleader since the inception of Meredith Stern Interiors, providing unwavering belief and encouragement throughout the challenges and triumphs of entrepreneurship. #InteriorDesign #HomeStyling #MeredithStern #ClientRelationships #PsychologyInDesign #Entrepreneurship #FloridaDesign #PersonalizedSpaces

The article introduces Cat Earp, an interior designer who, after completing the shepherd huts she rents on her Dorset farm, has launched her own design studio. In addition to expanding her homeware range, Earp has also undertaken the extensive design of her family's 16th-century thatched farmhouse. Earp's background in fashion PR for brands like Gucci, Prada, and Mulberry cultivated her creative passion, which she has now fully channeled into interior design. Her initial foray into interiors began with the shepherd huts at Aller Dorset, a project that, by necessity, pushed her to develop her design confidence. Each hut is uniquely designed, often starting with a specific color or a favored fabric in the kitchen, and building the rest of the scheme from there. The positive reception to Aller Dorset and her design work motivated her to start selling her designs and launch The Aller Studio, offering interior design services for projects of all sizes. Earp draws inspiration from fabrics and pieces she loves, alongside the work of interior designers such as Elizabeth Hay, Lucy Barlow, Laura Stephens, Beata Heuman, Emma Ainsborough, Sarah Southwell, and Sean Symington. Her preferred brands for homeware include Alice Palmer, Bettina Ceramica, Matilda Goad, Beauvamp, Hum London, and Hastshlip. A cherished item in her own home is a bespoke plate from Harlie Brown, displayed prominently in her kitchen. She also highlights a new wavy footstool from Isabelle Baldwin as a perfect addition. For local shopping, Earp recommends Aitta in Sherborne and the curiosity store in Dorchester, while online she favors Glassette for its curated selection of independent homeware brands. She recently discovered Birdie Fortescue for its well-priced lamps and lampshades. The renovation of her own 16th-century thatched farmhouse was a significant undertaking, involving changes to the layout, a new kitchen, and new bathrooms. Due to its listed building status, Earp collaborated closely with an architect to navigate planning permissions and structural considerations, ensuring the preservation of original elements while modernizing the space. Her design process involved creating mood boards, collecting fabric and paint samples, and setting up scheme areas in her sitting room to ensure a cohesive flow throughout the house. A strong advocate for bold colors, Earp believes they never disappoint and emphasizes attention to detail in finishes. Key areas of her renovated home include the hallway, which features Farrow & Ball paint, Beata Heuman pendants, Bettina Ceramica wall lights, and a scalloped built-in bench. The kitchen, a major part of the renovation, involved extending the space to include a utility room, pantry, and dog's room. Designed by The Dorset Kitchen Company, it showcases a blue unit color, Farrow & Ball paint, Beata Heuman and Beauvamp pendants, Otto Tiles, and furniture from Birdie Fortescue and Isabelle Baldwin. The cloakroom boasts Soane wallpaper, The English Panelling Company wall paneling, Mandarin Stone floor tiles, a Soho Home vanity unit, Alice Palmer lampshades, Pooky wall lights, and an Alice Palmer mirror. The pantry, a personal favorite, features Ottoline wallpaper and Mandarin Stone flooring, while the utility room continues the blue theme with Farrow & Ball paint and units from The Dorset Kitchen Company. The main bedroom is designed for timeless tranquility, featuring Soane's scrolling fern fabric for blinds and curtains, Farrow & Ball paint, Vaughan lamps, and furniture from Clockhouse Furniture and The Trove. The en-suite bathroom incorporates checked Mandarin Stone flooring, Otto Tiles zellige tiles, The English Panelling Company paneling, Farrow & Ball paint, Etsy mirrors, Soho Home vanity units, Alice Palmer lampshades, and Pooky wall lights. Her daughter's bedroom is inspired by Schumacher's tiger-palm print wallpaper, complemented by Lewis & Wood linen and a ric-rac trim. Her son's bedroom uses English Panelling Company panelling and Farrow & Ball paint, with cushions from Schumacher and a headboard from The Aller Studio. The son's bathroom features playful wallpaper, a Holly Oak House vanity, and a Hastshlip rattan mirror. Finally, the guest bedroom utilizes Ottoline's little wild tulip print fabric, a headboard and cushions from The Aller Studio, and lampshades from Hum London. The guest bathroom features Alice Palmer striped wallpaper, checked floor tiles, and an Alice Palmer bin. #InteriorDesign #HomeRenovation #AllerDorset #CatEarp #TheAllerStudio #DorsetFarmhouse #DesignInspiration #LuxuryInteriors #ShepherdHuts

Universal Design Studio (UDS), an architectural practice founded in 2001 by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, is celebrating two decades of groundbreaking work. Documented in their new book, 'Inside Out' (Phaidon), the studio’s success is attributed to its collaborative spirit, involving over 240 individuals throughout its history. Unlike traditional design firms that emphasize a singular artistic vision, UDS operates as an “experimental playground” where multiple thinkers contribute to a diverse portfolio of projects. These projects span retail spaces for luxury brands like Stella McCartney and Mulberry, hospitality ventures such as the Ace Hotel in Shoreditch and a cocktail bar for Fortnum & Mason, exhibition designs for the V&A Museum and Frieze Art Fair, and workspaces for IMB and Jimmy Choo. Barber and Osgerby initially established UDS to differentiate their architectural and interiors work from their product and furniture design studio. They recognized that while a multidisciplinary approach was common in Italy, it was less understood in the UK. This led them to create a new division focused on architecture and interiors, with a strong emphasis on collaboration. The studio maintains an egalitarian approach, where no single author dictates a project's direction. Instead, teams work collectively, valuing diverse perspectives to break new ground and challenge conventional thinking in each sector. UDS is also known for its commitment to reusing and repurposing existing buildings, prioritizing how spaces are utilized and how they serve their communities over demolition and new construction. Despite being an architectural practice, Osgerby notes that they primarily focus on interior and adaptive reuse projects rather than constructing new buildings from the ground up. Jason Holley, director of UDS, explains that the studio's principle is to work 'from the inside out,' focusing on human experience and the specific context of a building. This ensures that every design solution is tailored to its site and users, rather than adhering to a signature stylistic approach. Key projects illustrate UDS's impact. The Stella McCartney stores in New York and London, completed in 2003, were early successes, demonstrating the seamless integration of bespoke product, industrial design, and interior architecture. The custom-made tile used in these stores exemplifies the studio's philosophy of bringing the detail of furniture design to architectural spaces. In 2012, the interactive Google Web Lab at the Science Museum showcased UDS's ability to blend physical and digital worlds, creating an engaging space for technological exploration and storytelling. The Ace Hotel in Shoreditch, completed in 2013, marked a pivotal moment for both the studio and the surrounding neighborhood. UDS, despite having no prior hotel experience, embraced the challenge and collaborated closely with the Ace team. This project, which blended hotel functionality with local culture and casual workspace, became a significant contributor to the area's identity. This success led to a long-term partnership with The Office Group, for whom UDS designed Tintagel House and other workspaces. Looking ahead, co-director Paul Gulati identifies future areas of focus, including improving experiences in healthcare for the aging community and revitalizing high streets, leveraging their expertise in creating community-focused spaces. Mobility and electric vehicles are also areas of interest. Holley emphasizes the studio's goal of creating spaces that people deserve, seeking clients and collaborators who share their passion for openness and innovation. Osgerby reflects on the studio's core aim as recreating a 'campus atmosphere,' reminiscent of his time at the Royal College of Art, where interdisciplinary collaboration fostered productive and exciting exchanges of ideas. #UniversalDesignStudio #ArchitecturePractice #InteriorDesign #CollaborativeDesign #SustainableDesign #EdwardBarber #JayOsgerby #HospitalityDesign #RetailDesign

Nashville-based interior designer Christy George emphasizes the significance of the powder room, describing it as a favorite space to design due to its universal use by guests and its potential for high-impact design within a small footprint. She views these compact spaces as opportunities to infuse personality and create a memorable impression on visitors. George is known for her creative approach to repurposing furniture into unique vanities, transforming ordinary items like sewing machine tables, dressers, and even unconventional objects such as buckets with old metal stools into distinctive focal points. This ability to innovate and craft something extraordinary from unexpected materials is a hallmark of her design philosophy, often surprising and delighting her clients. She recounts a particularly memorable project where she successfully convinced a client to convert a small passageway with three entry points into a showstopping powder room. This transformation illustrates her skill in reimagining challenging spaces and her confidence in executing bold design choices that yield remarkable results. For those looking to draw inspiration from her work, George highlights several key products from PDI Kitchen, Bath & Lighting that she recommends for powder room renovations. These include the Hudson Valley Lighting Maynard, known for its elegant illumination; the Decorators Best Seabrook Cyprus Sky Blue And Gold Wallpaper, suggesting a decorative element that can add texture and color; the Kohler Memoirs Stately Toilet, indicating a preference for classic and functional fixtures; the Uttermost Lev Mirror, which can enhance light and space; and the Kohler Occasion Toilet Paper Holder, emphasizing attention to even the smallest details in design. #InteriorDesign #PowderRoom #NashvilleDesign #ChristyGeorge #HomeDecor #DesignEssentials #CreativeDesign #LuxuryInteriors

Adi Goodrich, a multidisciplinary designer, shares insights into her diverse career, which spans film sets, art installations, interiors, and furniture design. Goodrich's journey began in Momence, Illinois, leading her through studies at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Sorbonne in Paris. Her initial professional experience included window dressing for prominent retailers like Barneys New York and Anthropologie, which eventually led her to Los Angeles. In L.A., she transitioned into set design, a field that allowed her to combine her passion for storytelling with design. In 2015, Goodrich co-founded Sing-Sing Studio with her husband, Sean Pecknold. This studio specializes in large-scale film and advertising sets, site-specific art installations, and sculptures. More recently, Sing-Sing Studio has expanded its scope to include interior design and the production of small-batch furniture, launched in 2022 under the brand name Sing-Thing. Goodrich's background deeply influenced her approach to design; her family lived above her artisan father’s woodworking and antiques restoration business, fostering an early appreciation for materiality, construction, and craftsmanship. She describes herself as a “spatial designer,” a role that encompasses creating immersive worlds for various media, from photo shoots and commercials to films, and also extends to installations and public sculptures. Her foray into set design began with a film collective, leading to commissions for commercials, such as a Lavazza campaign that featured costume design, a custom espresso-cup chair, and a vibrant use of colors and shapes. Recognizing her growing interest in interior spaces, she pursued further education in interior design and architecture at UCLA Extension. Her first interior design commission was for Wine & Eggs, a bodega in L.A.'s Atwater Village, which she designed with inspiration from small French grocery shops. This project subsequently led to the design of Dreams, a nearby lifestyle store, which Goodrich imbued with a surrealistic quality, reflecting her belief in the power of dreams and her desire to avoid being conventional. She also designed the first brick-and-mortar store for the online fashion retailer Lisa Says Gah! Goodrich's design aesthetic, characterized by ice-cream and terra-cotta colors, distinctive materials, and patterns, draws inspiration from mid-century Italian style, particularly Gio Ponti, as well as artists and designers like Josef Albers, Jean Arp, Merce Cunningham, Charles and Ray Eames, Alexander Girard, and India Mahdavi. Goodrich’s design philosophy emphasizes creating playful, collaborative environments, exemplified by her office project for iam8bit, a media production company. Her debut furniture collection, Sing-Thing, is handmade in L.A., primarily from cherrywood and colorful high-pressure laminate. She describes the collection as a blend of artistic influences, picturing “a wet Sophie Taeuber-Arp painting that’s fallen on top of a Charlotte Perriand table.” The collection aims to create accessible and livable pieces for her friends, reflecting her commitment to practical yet artful design. Her work across various disciplines consistently demonstrates a vibrant, imaginative, and highly personal approach to design. #AdiGoodrich #SingSingStudio #SpatialDesign #InteriorDesign #FurnitureDesign #SetDesign #ArtInstallation #LosAngelesDesign #MultidisciplinaryDesign

The article details a design project undertaken by Emma Beryl Kemper of Emma Beryl, a New York City design studio, to transform a two-bedroom Greenpoint duplex. The condo, originally created from a storefront in a vintage row house approximately a decade prior, was characterized by a cold, "cookie-cutter" aesthetic and lacked personalized touches for the young family residing there. The primary objective of the renovation was to infuse warmth and character into the space, making it feel more like a home, and to significantly enhance its functionality. One of the initial challenges involved the original kitchen, which featured only a single wall of cabinetry and an island. Beryl reconfigured this area, adding a wine bar with a glass cabinet to create a smoother transition between the functional kitchen space and the open living room, integrating it more effectively with the adjacent dining area. Beyond the kitchen, the project focused on maximizing storage throughout the duplex. This included reconfiguring the upstairs bathroom and adding a shower to the downstairs powder room, thereby converting it into a full bath. Custom built-ins were designed for an awkward downstairs room, which served the dual purpose of concealing plumbing pipes and creating a cozy nursery for the family. To achieve the desired warmth and character, the design incorporated vintage pieces, hand-painted tiles, and a selection of specific furnishings and materials. Manhattan-based Jan Renovations carried out all the new construction work, including custom millwork. In the open living room, a vintage rug from ABC Carpet, a grasscloth-covered media unit, and a new sofa from Restoration Hardware were combined with the clients' existing coffee table and chairs. The floor-to-ceiling storefront windows, which made the living room feel exposed, were addressed by adding a built-in window seat with integrated storage, creating a barrier and softening the space with curtains. A custom-built narrow bookcase in the corner was installed to hide wires. The dining area features a built-in banquette that conceals a steel rail for the downstairs staircase, also providing additional storage. Rejuvenation chairs accompany a wooden farmhouse-style table, complemented by a West Elm chandelier. A wooden desk from Restoration Hardware is positioned alongside the dining area. The kitchen was enlarged while maintaining its general location, featuring a contrast of white upper cabinets and open shelves with dark navy lower cabinetry. Carrara marble countertops and handmade tiles on the backsplash were significant upgrades. The master bedroom, being small, was designed to maximize openness, with custom floating nightstands and walls painted in a moody dark hue. Lutron shades were installed for privacy on the frosted storefront windows. The door to the upstairs bathroom was relocated to the front entry, necessitating a complete change in the room's footprint. The bathroom's color scheme aligns with the kitchen and master bedroom, incorporating patterned floor tiles from Tabarka Studio and custom-made wall tiles to match the blue in the flooring. A Restoration Hardware vanity and Cedar & Moss sconce completed the new bathroom. On the lower level, a custom-built angled closet provides linen and coat storage. The downstairs nursery features a bi-level window seat, a long wall of storage, and a floor-to-ceiling closet, all custom-built from lacquered wood to conceal mechanicals while allowing access. Distinctive wallpaper from Hygge & West and Dwell Studio baby furnishings enhance the space. A shower was added to the downstairs bathroom by utilizing space beneath the staircase, with a sink from Restoration Hardware and floor tile from Wayfair. The article also mentions the availability of before-and-after photos to illustrate the transformation. #InteriorDesign #Greenpoint #CondoRenovation #EmmaBeryl #CustomMillwork #BrooklynDesign #HomeTransformation

Interior Design magazine hosted its first ArtbyDesign talk at its new office in PENN1, Manhattan, featuring artist Rebecca Moses and editor-in-chief Cindy Allen. The event, held in collaboration with Garden on the Wall, aimed to provide a platform for emerging designers to network and gain insights from established creatives. Cindy Allen introduced Rebecca Moses, highlighting her significant impact on people's lives through her work. Moses began the discussion by recounting her early ambition to become a fashion designer, which she pursued by graduating from FIT and subsequently working with Pierre Cardin. She emphasized the importance of embracing risks, illustrating this by sharing her experience of moving from New York to Paris to launch her own collection. Moses advocated for confronting fear, asserting that failure can lead to discovery and fuel career progression. Her career path led her to Italy, where she continued to evolve professionally and personally. Moses discussed her fascination with the manufacturing process, stressing that understanding how things are made fuels creative energy. This principle became particularly significant during challenging periods in her life. Following the death of her husband, Giacomo Festa Bianchet, Moses transitioned from fashion design to art, creating illustrations for various magazines. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic prompted another significant shift in her work. She engaged with communities through social media, offering portrait drawings in exchange for personal insights into people's lives at home. This initiative culminated in “The Stay Home Sisters,” a project dedicated to honoring the contributions of women who worked as nurses during the pandemic. The talk also served as an opportunity for Moses to offer guidance to the young designers in attendance. She encouraged them to tap into their innate creativity and personal resources, advising them to utilize their "mystery inside." The event underscored the value of adaptability, resilience, and continuous creative exploration in the design industry. It provided a platform for networking and inspiration, fostering a sense of community among designers, and offering practical advice on navigating career transitions and challenges. The inaugural ArtbyDesign talk set a precedent for future events aimed at supporting and guiding the next generation of design professionals. #ArtbyDesign #RebeccaMoses #CindyAllen #InteriorDesign #PENN1 #FashionDesign #ArtisticJourney #CreativeProcess #DesignTalk