How did you get into design?
It’s something I have to do. When I was younger I would curate rooms from the Sears catalog, which dates me, but it was my favourite way to spend a Saturday afternoon. When my eldest child was born I started taking classes to support the work I was doing writing about the subject and it grew from there.
Do you have a favourite project?
That’s hard to say. I like different aspects of the work. Detailing a bathroom is different than decorating a living room. Different materials present different challenges in terms of how to plan around them. The best part is that I’ve been fortunate to enjoy great clients and interesting projects. I’m still motivated to learn more and to do more ambitious work every year.
How do you know what to present to your clients?
People tell me I’m deeply intuitive. I do feel I can read energies, which can be very overwhelming and occasionally confusing. However, I see it as the main reason I’m able to create spaces for my clients that meet their vision even when they are not able to articulate it clearly. For me it’s the totality of all the things I sense and learn about a client and the life they are living and want to live in their home. It’s a very personal relationship. Listening is key to understanding and creating the right space for every client.
What is the most challenging piece you’ve ever had to work into a room?
I did have a client once suggest that a well-past-its-prime chair would be “fine” as it was for their new space. Truthfully, it looked like it came out of a dumpster filled with university student cast-offs. It took some negotiating, but we did manage to get it re-upholstered and moved into an area of the house where the scale was a better fit.
What keeps you interested in this work?
Each project is different and presents a new set of challenges in terms of space plans and technical details. I’m devoted to the idea that your space can make you happier and more productive, or the reverse, depending how you approach it. I see the way we design our spaces as nourishment for the soul. When I feel the energy in a new space I know I’ve helped create something that will nurture that family and their connections to one another in the future.
There is a huge movement towards wellness and sustainability in design right now, what are your thoughts on this?
That’s a huge subject. I think keeping sustainability front and centre is important not only for the earth, but also for our health. We have learned a lot about what constitutes a healthy environment and about what will create longevity in a design. Sometimes the more benign finish will not last and so it’s not the best choice. Everything needs to be weighed. That said, I try to be guided first by quality, because something that doesn’t need to be replaced quickly, or that can be recovered or reworked will always be the more sustainable choice. Secondly, I look at air quality, trying to keep interior air-quality high is essential and then finally certifications. I have specific ones I like to see for wood products, for fabrics and for paints.
What is the hallmark of a great space?
I think a great space needs to have both a sense of personal history and a sense of humour. This really isn’t a one-size fits all situation and what works for one person might not be right for someone else. For me, a sense of personal history means emphasizing a collected aesthetic that is not too match-y. Having pieces with some story and provenience to them. Also, nothing too perfect. We live hard in our homes and a space that is absent of character and patina is not natural, or easy to maintain. I’ve learned this the hard way, but you need to be able to make a few marks without feeling the entire space has been compromised.
Do you have a favourite piece?
I have more of a favourite category. There is not enough time — or enough homes — for me to own and place all the chairs I love. Maybe I will recommend one of them for you!
What’s the ONE thing you absolutely can’t live without?
Aside from water? Art. I think it’s really important to surround yourself with ideas that intrigue you, challenge you to think and lift your spirit. Art does that for me.
Red or white?
Both. Depends on the season and my mood.
