Design Pros Draw Inspiration From Mom
Architects, interior designers and a DIYer share design tips from Mom, covering art display, universal design and everything in between
Interior designer Carla Aston fell in love with design when her mom let her select her tween bedroom carpet, bedding and paint. "My mom let me move furniture around, create little vignettes and a gallery wall. She opened the doors to my love of interiors," says Aston.
Read on to see how Aston's mother and six other moms influenced and inspired their designer children.
Read on to see how Aston's mother and six other moms influenced and inspired their designer children.
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Helping her mom age in place has pushed Aston to put her Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist training to good use. "The universal design modifications I've made in my mom's home enlightened me to the changing needs of clients," she says.
Design tip from Mom: When it comes to universal design, expanding the doorway is most important. Aston says that for those moving in and out of a space with a walker, you "must have clearance for your device," as shown here and in the previous photo. She adds that when designing or remodeling a bathroom from scratch, oversize it for future use; grab bars can be easily added as necessary, and the extra space makes the bathroom feel luxurious.
Related: Bathroom Safety Features That Support Your Style
Design tip from Mom: When it comes to universal design, expanding the doorway is most important. Aston says that for those moving in and out of a space with a walker, you "must have clearance for your device," as shown here and in the previous photo. She adds that when designing or remodeling a bathroom from scratch, oversize it for future use; grab bars can be easily added as necessary, and the extra space makes the bathroom feel luxurious.
Related: Bathroom Safety Features That Support Your Style
Architect Hugh Randolph says his mom taught him to be curious and to have empathy, which has helped him look at things from the point of view of his clients — an "invaluable skill," he says, for any architect or designer. Randolph grew up in a house that had a revolving collection of literature, history and art books and plenty of access to art supplies; this makes sense, as his mom is a skilled visual artist.
Design tip from Mom: Creating a lively, lived-in household is more important than achieving a show-house look. Encourage all members of the family to read and play by filling the home with books of all types, art materials and plenty of conversation areas. Display artwork in both expected, high-traffic areas and unexpected places like bathrooms and walk-in closets; you never know when an impressionable young mind will be impacted by what they see.
Design tip from Mom: Creating a lively, lived-in household is more important than achieving a show-house look. Encourage all members of the family to read and play by filling the home with books of all types, art materials and plenty of conversation areas. Display artwork in both expected, high-traffic areas and unexpected places like bathrooms and walk-in closets; you never know when an impressionable young mind will be impacted by what they see.
| Interior designer Charmean Niethart comes from an Italian family, so there was plenty of homemade spaghetti sauce and warmth to go around in her childhood home. "My mom always had a blanket or throw handy around the house so that no one would ever feel cold. She's always thoughtful like that," says Niethart. Design tip from Mom: Carrying on the tradition, Niethart creates a cozy and welcoming ambience by sprinkling blankets and throws over armchairs, sofas and other high-traffic conversation areas in her own work and home. Throws also protect seat cushions from things like dirt and pet hair. |
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| Architect Paul Moon's clients are always surprised to learn that he does most of the landscapes for houses he designs (this image included). Moon's mom, a curious and avid traveler and "exquisite gardener," taught him much of what he knows about plants and gardening. Design tip from Mom: The first day you finish a yard, plant a Chilean wine palm. It's rare, grows slow in temperate climates and "makes for a great gift for future generations to enjoy," Moon says. |
Interior designer Garrison Hullinger remembers how his mom, who ran a jewelry and cosmetics home business, would spend days convincing his father to update their interiors with new colors, appliances, entry tiles, carpets and paint. "She had a knack for completely transforming a space with a few tweaks. It was amazing to see," says Hullinger.
Design tip from Mom: You can update a house without having to do a full remodel, just as Hullinger updated this traditional living room space. Start with a few new color additions, add shine in an unexpected place, display spectacular items and new artwork in conversation areas, and consider new light fixtures or floor lamps with new shades.
Design tip from Mom: You can update a house without having to do a full remodel, just as Hullinger updated this traditional living room space. Start with a few new color additions, add shine in an unexpected place, display spectacular items and new artwork in conversation areas, and consider new light fixtures or floor lamps with new shades.
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Interior designer Allison Jaffe got her keen eye for spotting luxurious fabrics and classic patterns from her mom. "My mom has a degree in textiles, so she imparted on me the importance of fabric and pattern selection and a love of finding out about the piece's history," says Jaffe.
Design tip from Mom: Learn to recognize classic patterns on fabrics and wallpaper that endure passing trends; you'll probably keep the decor piece for much longer than something that feels very now but will appear dated in a year. The trellis wallpaper in this bedroom designed by Jaffe is a study in the proper use of scale and color. It sets the tone for a dark and dramatic bedroom and will never go out of style.
Design tip from Mom: Learn to recognize classic patterns on fabrics and wallpaper that endure passing trends; you'll probably keep the decor piece for much longer than something that feels very now but will appear dated in a year. The trellis wallpaper in this bedroom designed by Jaffe is a study in the proper use of scale and color. It sets the tone for a dark and dramatic bedroom and will never go out of style.
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| "My bargain-hunting skills are completely thanks to my mum," says DIY design blogger Gemma Bonham-Carter. "She is an expert treasure hunter. From beautiful antiques buried in thrift-store junk to discounted furniture, the woman can find it all." Bonham-Carter is currently remodeling and updating her Ottawa, Ontario, bungalow with her husband. Design tip from Mom: Find joy in repurposing and upcycling. Look at an old piece of furniture with fresh eyes. Bonham-Carter did just that with her coffee table (this picture), which she "fished out" of her father-in-law's farm, sanded and refinished. Try stripping something down, painting it or changing the hardware — you'd be amazed at how good it feels to give preloved furniture a second life. More: Lessons From a Decor Mentor |
Comments
feeny My mother always let me make design decisions for my own room. Then she made me live with whatever I had chosen for many years--long after I was embarrassed by my juvenile choices and my taste had evolved in other directions. This taught me patience--to weigh designs carefully, sketch them out, imagine their effects, and research other options before committing to a purchase. It also taught me how much design matters.
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Cathy Lara @feeny, Thanks so much for sharing! So many people I've talked to shared such vivid memories of their first design story, one that's almost aways linked to their moms.
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Ideabook updated on May 13, 2012.
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