I was chatting with Stefan Hurray who writes the blog Architect Design last week and I mentioned to him that I finally met Miles Redd. Stefan, it turns out, is a big Miles Redd fan and he said that if he ever wins the lottery, he is hiring Miles to decorate his house. But then he said he might want Charlotte Moss to do one room. That was until I suggested that they each do a house. If it’s a fantasy, you might as well dream big! Stefan was excited by the thought of Miles (example above) decorating his city home and Charlotte decorating his country house!
I’m not sure if Stefan had this in mind but I thought it was a very pretty example of Charlotte Moss’s country house style. Since Stefan is an architect, the designers probably wouldn’t be given free reign, since he admits that he is a very opinionated architect! (Aren’t they all!)
The conversation got me thinking about who I would choose. I admire the work of so many designers, it would be hard to choose one but if I had them design different homes like Stefan, I wouldn’t have to! The one interior designer I kept coming back to as I was thinking was
Nate Berkus. I love that his designs fit the client and the space and always look personal and not “done.” He also seems like he would be fun to work with since he has a great personality. That and the fact that he’s friends with Oprah! Just kidding! I really think he would get my style and I especially love the apartment he helped to decorate for his boyfriend and designer, Brian Atwood, in Milan that was just featured in the April 2009 issue of
Elle Decor (above).
Another favorite designer is
Steven Gambrel. I loved every room in his West Village townhouse in the January/February 2009 issue of
Elle Decor and he would be my choice to decorate my country house. I’m not usually a big fan of color and pattern in my city apartment so I might let him go crazy in the country house. Ok, maybe not totally crazy but a little crazy. I trust him.
After my post about
India Hicks and her properties in the Bahamas, she’s the only person I would want to help me with my beach house! I think the photos speak for themselves!
Since this is my fantasy, I would of course have a flat in London and I can’t think of anyone else I would want to decorate it besides
Veere Grenney. I loved everything about his home when I saw it in Australian Vogue Living and would move right in if I could. He incorporates art well in his interiors and that is very important to me.
Perhaps, I’d also open a private little club in London like Annabel’s. If I did, it would mostly be because I would want David Collins to design a bar for me. His are hands down the best I’ve ever seen.
Last but not least, I’d want a little pied-à-terre in Paris. I was thinking that I might like Jacques Grange to decorate it but really only if he could find me a place in his building with the view of the trees above. That’s the best part. I had considered Peter Marino since I love the Paris apartment of
Giancarlo Giammetti that he designed but I’m not sure I could deal with the biker look he is always sporting.
After the homes, that leaves the yacht and private jet. I’ll have to think about who would decorate those. If you’re going to dream, you might as well dream big! That’s what makes it so fun! So who would be on your dream design team? What houses would the decorate?
13 Comments
If I could have a dream home — it would probably have to have one room designed by Darryl Carter. My aunt, an Interior Decorator in NY, is friendly with Darryl and I had the chance to meet him once. What a nice person too.
Just really appreciate his simple, organic, yet – not stark- taste.
I would choose Muriel Brandolini d’Adda for my townhouse in New York because I would want lots of colour there; for my flat in Paris I would have Andree Putman, so stylish and refined, mmmhhh then my villa in Amalfi… I would decorate it myself. Dream on…(I also love most of your choices)
Forgot…my Paris apartment will be exactly in your picture “dans les Jardins du Palais Royal”.
What a delicious post Heather, thank you. For me, the spare elegance of the Steven Gambrel room got my pulse racing. I love the soft sage green of the lighting fixture with the eau de nil chair cushions and the dove grey walls. Mmmm. David Collins’ bar is intoxicating too.
what a fantastic post…
i’m a big david collins fan…i actually visited the blue lounge during design week in london, which coincides which fashion week…so it was great to enjoy a nice pint while being surrounded by the glitteratti and fashionistas…
it is a fantastic bar…and close to the mandarin hotel and the champagne bar in harvery nicholls, so if ever in london be sure to drop by these 3 hotspots…
Great post!! I love fantasizing about stuff like that!! ha..I think I would choose Katie Ridder to do my country house and Nathan Egan to do my city house..(even though I hear Wayne is a big meanie ..?..).
Nice pick!
I love this question! I would have Victoria Hagan do my country house. Thad Hayes would do my city condo. Andree Putman would do my Paris flat. And Kelly Wearstler would do my vacation house in the Caribbean. And I have to find a place for Jeffrey Bilhuber, so he would do my…second city residence? I mean, dream big!
I have an acquaintance (here in Atlanta) whose home was designed by Miles Redd (interiors), and I get to go see it in a few weeks…I can’t wait!
My dream team…that is tough. I love Lars Bolander, Suzanne Kasler. Now, after meeting Phoebe Howard, she is on the team too! And Phoebe’s husband Jim Howard for the architectural details.
Some great photos – thanks 🙂
Wow, you really did put me all over this, I wanted to see what people said before I left my comment though! After reading my choices in hard print (or soft, what is the internet anyway?) I stick with my choices. M.R. city and C.M. country! I’m glad to see you stuck with Nate Berkus – he’s such a talented and modern designer! The others are wonderful too though of course!
Steven Gambrel for the city and Vicente Wolf for my country/beach house.
What a fun post!
Sam – I forgot about Daryl Carter. Maybe he can do my other country house! Ha!
Brillante Home Decor – my friend’s sister is actually having her NYC apartment designed by Muriel! I can’t wait to see the photos! Andree is another good choice. Maybe she and Jacques can work together for me 😉
Rose – that light fixture had me at hello!
Custard by Design – how fun to be there during fashion week! I haven’t been to London in a few years due to the exchange rate so maybe I should crave it soon.
Fancy Pants – those are great choices!
RJH dl H – thanks! You don’t want to play along?
Matt – you have to dream big! I LOVE your choices! I just saw Jeffrey Bilhuber’s office and it’s so chic! You must find a place for him to design! Maybe he can your office too 😉
Things that Inspire – You’ll have to keep me posted if the Miles Redd house is published! I bet it’s fabulous!
Down Comforter – welcome!
Stefan/AD – it was a great conversation and a fun post! Thanks for the inspiration!
Musette – more good choices!
Thanks to everyone who played along. I love design but you can’t take it all too seriously! Continue to dream big!