In my nearly two decades as an interior designer, I have noticed something interesting when I meet with new clients: I can often size up their design taste by their taste in clothing.
I once met with a lovely woman in her early 60s who often wore pressed linen trousers, crisp white blouses and contemporary silver jewelry. When I presented three bathroom concepts for her to consider, I was betting on the design that most reflected her personal fashion sense. Sure enough, she chose linen colour tiles on the floor, contemporary white wall tiles in the shower, and chrome fixtures throughout.
Last year, I completed an extensive main floor renovation project in a waterfront home in Hudson (pictured in slider). Almost immediately, my clients fell in love with a Robert Allen fabric in a robin’s egg blue, which became the inspiration for the entire main floor. We ended up using it on the backs of the dining room chairs, window treatments in the kitchen, two swivel armchairs in the living room and it even inspired hand-painted vestibule walls.
I couldn’t help but notice that Mrs. H. often wore this exact colour and, what’s more, her eyes were the same colour as the unusual light-blue glass tile on the proposed backsplash. She wore this colour to accentuate her blue eyes — and then decorated in it!
As for me, I always go for black and white interiors when it comes to styling my personal space. And guess what? I also prefer black and white and/or red clothes (note the tea towels and small red appliances in my kitchen renovation).
If you prefer neutral colours with tailored lines, you will probably feel most at home with the same thing: neutral furniture with clean lines. If you love floral prints in your dresses, opt for floral fabrics in your window treatments or cushions. If you like pops of colour in your clothing or accessories, bring those colours into your house as well. If yellow makes your heart sing, go for it. You have to live there – not your interior designer.
Our homes should make us feel happy. If your home is not in harmony with who you are, give this approach a try.
Moral of the story? We are not only what we eat. We are what we wear — at least when it comes to interior design.
