Right Now In Design

I went to an event tonight at Pierre Frey hosted by none other than Pierre Frey (grandson to the man who founded the company in 1935), Nicole Gibbons (author of So Haute) as well as Joshua Greene and Alex Kale (founders of Shagreene). The event had a magnificent panel that included the following four extremely talented designers:

Nate Berkus

Not only is Nate Berkus filled with amazing decorating advice, talent and good looks but he’s also one of the better spoken, easy going and funnier (is that a word?) decorators I’ve come across in awhile. It’s nice to know that there are people out there who can decorate your home with a sense of style yet still have a great sense of humor about life. I’d work with Nate any day!

Steven Gambrel

Steven Gambrel established his firm in 1995 and has done wonders ever since. He spoke a lot about texture and surface materials, something he’s “obsessed” with at the moment. He’s obviously remarkable at what he does and a true artist/designer who’s looking to create amazing homes for great clients. Another one I’d work with..

Laura Kirar

Laura is the founder and creative director of Laura Kirar TRU Design which creates elegant, innovative interiors and products for the home. She has a wonderful presence about her that seems somewhat modest. Something I admire in talented designers. Laura has been extremely successful in creating high end products for the home such as furniture, tile, carpets, lighting and much more. Another one to keep your eye on!

Jessie Carrier and wife Mara Miller

Most recently Carrier and Company was named one of the country’s “Top 20 Young Designers” by Traditional Home and if you browse his portfolio you’ll know why. Jessie was rather soft spoken and felt very small against a larger panel of great designers but with out a doubt deserved the recognition that Trad Home gave him.

Now for the dirt…

Tips for designing and decorating your home:

1. Keep your interests, favorite colors and surroundings in mind when choosing home furnishings

2. Stay consistent with your project, your vision and stay focused until the project is complete

3. Keep quality in mind when purchasing things and don’t just buy something because it’s less expensive – go for the throw or the side table that’s going to make a statement, last a lot longer and make you happier in the end

4. Focus on a combination of colors that you like instead of just choosing one. If you like greens and blues, make it your palette

5. Be passionate about your choices and select items and finishes that you’re crazy about!

If I had to choose one of these designers to work with or decorate my home I’m not sure who I’d choose. They all have their own flare and their own style that would make any home great. Take a look at some of their work below and see if you can decide who you’d want to hire..