John McClain Dishes on Design, Inspiration and His New Book
The designer and author of ‘The Designer Within’ shares what he thinks homeowners should know when planning a redesign
Award-winning interior designer John McClain didn’t want to publish just another pretty coffee table book. Instead, the Houzz TV and HGTV veteran, whose work has appeared in numerous national publications, wanted to write a book that would demystify the design process (and designers) for readers, help them tap into their own creativity and give them tools to create beautiful homes of their own. And he wanted it to be gorgeous to boot.
The result is McClain’s newly released tome, The Designer Within: A Professional Guide to a Well-Styled Home, in which he shares tips and tricks of the trade. McClain also shows off some of his favorite interior design projects, some of which are pictured below, and breaks down how he achieved their looks. We chatted with the multihyphenate pro about the inspiration and know-how that readers will take away from the book’s pages — and his message that good design isn’t the exclusive domain of the rich. The interview was lightly edited for length and clarity.
The result is McClain’s newly released tome, The Designer Within: A Professional Guide to a Well-Styled Home, in which he shares tips and tricks of the trade. McClain also shows off some of his favorite interior design projects, some of which are pictured below, and breaks down how he achieved their looks. We chatted with the multihyphenate pro about the inspiration and know-how that readers will take away from the book’s pages — and his message that good design isn’t the exclusive domain of the rich. The interview was lightly edited for length and clarity.
Photo by Stephen Allen
What’s the most important thing homeowners should think about when planning a redesign?
I always tell homeowners, “Start with what you’re feeling.” The first chapter in my book is called “Listen to Your Heart.” That is intentionally there as the first chapter because I feel that is the basis for all that should happen within a home. Not what your neighbor does, not what a magazine does necessarily, not what, God forbid, a catalog does.
I want people to really think about what they need, how they use a space, how they want to use a space, what is the ideal way that they can use a space. And our job is to show them methods that they’ve never thought of before, never even seen. I don’t really like to follow any trends per se. I love to develop things that are out of the box, and I use my own home as an experimental design prototype sometimes for what I can show to clients.
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What’s the most important thing homeowners should think about when planning a redesign?
I always tell homeowners, “Start with what you’re feeling.” The first chapter in my book is called “Listen to Your Heart.” That is intentionally there as the first chapter because I feel that is the basis for all that should happen within a home. Not what your neighbor does, not what a magazine does necessarily, not what, God forbid, a catalog does.
I want people to really think about what they need, how they use a space, how they want to use a space, what is the ideal way that they can use a space. And our job is to show them methods that they’ve never thought of before, never even seen. I don’t really like to follow any trends per se. I love to develop things that are out of the box, and I use my own home as an experimental design prototype sometimes for what I can show to clients.
20 New Coffee Table Books for the Design Lovers on Your List
Photo by Zeke Ruelas
You tell a great story in the book about learning to compromise as a new designer when you and a homeowner disagreed on a color scheme. How do you find that sweet spot between working collaboratively with a client and expressing your vision?
Clients don’t know what they don’t know. They only know what they’ve seen or what limited interaction they’ve had with a design style. I dive a little bit deeper and really think about why they’re liking it. For instance, if they’re saying, “Oh, I love modern farmhouse” — a style we don’t necessarily do — I ask, “Why do you like it? Is it the simplicity of it? Is it the fact that it’s a white room with just a few color accents throughout it? What is pulling you into that space?”
I really try to find the why behind what they’re telling me. I feel that is when it opens up this dialogue with them. Then we, as designers, can start incorporating all the things we know.
What I’ve learned as a designer is if I can appeal to the emotional aspect of the why that they’re looking for, then it solves so many problems and it allows us to have fun with some of our selections too.
You tell a great story in the book about learning to compromise as a new designer when you and a homeowner disagreed on a color scheme. How do you find that sweet spot between working collaboratively with a client and expressing your vision?
Clients don’t know what they don’t know. They only know what they’ve seen or what limited interaction they’ve had with a design style. I dive a little bit deeper and really think about why they’re liking it. For instance, if they’re saying, “Oh, I love modern farmhouse” — a style we don’t necessarily do — I ask, “Why do you like it? Is it the simplicity of it? Is it the fact that it’s a white room with just a few color accents throughout it? What is pulling you into that space?”
I really try to find the why behind what they’re telling me. I feel that is when it opens up this dialogue with them. Then we, as designers, can start incorporating all the things we know.
What I’ve learned as a designer is if I can appeal to the emotional aspect of the why that they’re looking for, then it solves so many problems and it allows us to have fun with some of our selections too.
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Photo by Stephen Allen
What do you wish homeowners knew about the design process?
I try to educate designers on finding their ideal client and homeowners on finding their ideal designer — and both of those have to align really well. I’m very transparent in my consultations and say, “If there’s not any sort of synergy or chemistry between all of us, then we won’t move forward because we all need to enjoy this process.”
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What do you wish homeowners knew about the design process?
I try to educate designers on finding their ideal client and homeowners on finding their ideal designer — and both of those have to align really well. I’m very transparent in my consultations and say, “If there’s not any sort of synergy or chemistry between all of us, then we won’t move forward because we all need to enjoy this process.”
What to Know About Working With an Interior Designer
McClain’s North Hollywood, California, living room. Photo by Zeke Ruelas
You mention in your book that you own hundreds of design books. What’s currently on your coffee table?
One that never leaves is Kelly Wearstler’s. I love her books so much. She just takes so many risks. I’m not at that point where my clients are letting me take that many risks, but I love her books and little parts of her always inspire me. One magazine that I keep around is a 1975 Architectural Digest because it breaks down not only designers at that time but also genres and periods. I have several photography books as well for inspiration.
See more of McClain’s house on Houzz TV
You mention in your book that you own hundreds of design books. What’s currently on your coffee table?
One that never leaves is Kelly Wearstler’s. I love her books so much. She just takes so many risks. I’m not at that point where my clients are letting me take that many risks, but I love her books and little parts of her always inspire me. One magazine that I keep around is a 1975 Architectural Digest because it breaks down not only designers at that time but also genres and periods. I have several photography books as well for inspiration.
See more of McClain’s house on Houzz TV
Photo by Zeke Ruelas
What tools do you use to collaborate with clients?
We use the Houzz ideabooks — they’re literally written into my standard operating procedure. The ideabooks are where clients will upload their things, we upload our things, and then we have what I call a project direction board meeting. We take all of that information and make a project direction board to make sure we’re on the right path for the project. That approved project direction board moves into the Houzz Pro system [project management software for designers and contractors] as the direction for the project. It becomes a cover page for their project.
I always say Houzz Pro is like having another team member on board with my company. It lets us find any type of information for any project that we’ve done. Clients love it because they feel like they have a place that they can go at any point and not have to ping us all the time.
What tools do you use to collaborate with clients?
We use the Houzz ideabooks — they’re literally written into my standard operating procedure. The ideabooks are where clients will upload their things, we upload our things, and then we have what I call a project direction board meeting. We take all of that information and make a project direction board to make sure we’re on the right path for the project. That approved project direction board moves into the Houzz Pro system [project management software for designers and contractors] as the direction for the project. It becomes a cover page for their project.
I always say Houzz Pro is like having another team member on board with my company. It lets us find any type of information for any project that we’ve done. Clients love it because they feel like they have a place that they can go at any point and not have to ping us all the time.
Photo by Stephen Allen
How does learning about design by reading your book or by reading Houzz improve a homeowner’s experience of working with a designer?
Part of the goal with the book was to bridge that gap between designers and homeowners so we all are on the same page. What I love about Houzz is that all of the great articles that Houzz sends out to homeowners and to designers are essentially doing the same thing.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
How does learning about design by reading your book or by reading Houzz improve a homeowner’s experience of working with a designer?
Part of the goal with the book was to bridge that gap between designers and homeowners so we all are on the same page. What I love about Houzz is that all of the great articles that Houzz sends out to homeowners and to designers are essentially doing the same thing.
New to home remodeling? Learn the basics
Photo by Zeke Ruelas
What other projects do you have in the works?
I’m launching a podcast called The Designer Within in December in which I’m bringing the homeowner with the designer and we’re all going to talk things out on every episode. I’m doing a set of online courses for designers and other professionals, The Designer Within: Business, on how to start, operate and grow their businesses, and then a set of courses for homeowners called The Designer Within: Homeowner that will teach them not only design principles but also what to ask for when they’re hiring a designer, what to look for and how to find one that works well with them.
What other projects do you have in the works?
I’m launching a podcast called The Designer Within in December in which I’m bringing the homeowner with the designer and we’re all going to talk things out on every episode. I’m doing a set of online courses for designers and other professionals, The Designer Within: Business, on how to start, operate and grow their businesses, and then a set of courses for homeowners called The Designer Within: Homeowner that will teach them not only design principles but also what to ask for when they’re hiring a designer, what to look for and how to find one that works well with them.
Photo by Stephen Allen
What is the most important question on your mind at this stage of your career?
How to have a bigger impact. I want to change the design industry’s perspective of ourselves and also the perspective that potential clients have of designers so they don’t see us as unreachable, as these unobtainable people.
I tell everybody, “I did not grow up in an affluent family. We had enough, we had a lovely home, but I was not able to hire a designer, nor was my family when I was younger, and that’s OK. We still had a great home life. Just because you have a multimillion-dollar home does not make you any better than someone who has a $300,000 home. There’s no difference in my mind.”
When designers finally embrace that too, that’s when the difference will happen. My mission right now is to get that conversation started.
What is the most important question on your mind at this stage of your career?
How to have a bigger impact. I want to change the design industry’s perspective of ourselves and also the perspective that potential clients have of designers so they don’t see us as unreachable, as these unobtainable people.
I tell everybody, “I did not grow up in an affluent family. We had enough, we had a lovely home, but I was not able to hire a designer, nor was my family when I was younger, and that’s OK. We still had a great home life. Just because you have a multimillion-dollar home does not make you any better than someone who has a $300,000 home. There’s no difference in my mind.”
When designers finally embrace that too, that’s when the difference will happen. My mission right now is to get that conversation started.
Front jacket photo by Michael Scott
The Designer Within: A Professional Guide to a Well-Styled Home (Gibbs Smith, $45) by John McClain, with principal photographer Zeke Ruelas
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The Designer Within: A Professional Guide to a Well-Styled Home (Gibbs Smith, $45) by John McClain, with principal photographer Zeke Ruelas
More on Houzz
8 Things Interior Designers Want You to Know
Read the latest design and remodeling stories
Get design ideas
Find a pro for your project
Shop for your home
Whom did you have in mind when you were writing The Designer Within?
I grew up in Chatsworth, Georgia, where there was no accessibility to designers. I wrote the book with people in my hometown in mind. Specifically, I was speaking to a 12-year-old John McClain — someone who loved design and saw and appreciated the beauty in it but did not know exactly how to bring that to life.
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