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Interview :: J.K. Kling Interior Design

April 13, 2015 · Comments { 4 }

I was instantly drawn to the fresh, elegant and traditional minimalism of the interiors showcased in the portfolio of J.K. Kling Associates. With over 25 years of experience, Judy Kling and daughter Wendy Wolcott are transforming interiors from Manhattan to Palm Beach. Rich in pattern, color and comfort, the design duo creates the kind of spaces that make you not want to leave your home. So I’m thrilled to be interviewing Wendy Wolcott of J.K. Kling Associates today!

Simplified Bee: I love that you are a mother – daughter team! When did you realize that you wanted to design together?

Wendy Wolcott: Ever since my mother started J.K. Kling Associates when I was fourteen, I would intern for her during the summers and was always involved in the business in one way or another. It was not until working with David Easton in New York City that I realized what a great opportunity it would be working for my mother. Although working for an amazing firm like David’s was invaluable, nothing could compare to the hands on experience you get with having your mother as your boss.

marble backsplash // designer kitchen // JK Kling

SB: What are your personal styles? How are they similar? Different?

WW: Our personal styles are very much alike. We gravitate towards a more neutral palette that is well edited yet comfortable. Wendy tends to designs with a more modern look and practical, kid friendly approach due to having two boys and a dog. Judy, on the other hand, has a more classic and sophisticate style in which she combines antiques and modern accents beautifully.

SB: Who would you most like to collaborate with on a project?

WW: There are so many fabulous architects and designers that we would love to work with but if we could only pick one, Billy Baldwin would be an honor to work with. One of our favorite quotes from Billy was “I have always believed that architecture is more important than decoration. Scale and proportion give everlasting satisfaction that cannot be achieved by only icing the cake.” Billy was very much ahead of his time. The image above could easily be from the 1960’s or today.

SB: Do you have “go to” paint colors? If so, which ones?

WW: We are very loyal to our Benjamin Moore colors. BM White Dove and Super White can be found in almost all of our homes; however right now we are coveting Farrow & Ball’s High Lacquer Hague Blue.

SB: Which of today’s interior design trends are here to stay and which ones will we see fade away?

WW: While ikats and over-scaled patterns have been in and out of the spotlight for decades there may be a trend towards smaller more minimalistic patterns and design in the future.

SB: Where do you recommend clients splurge versus save?

WW: We always clients to encourage invest in at least one good piece of art. You can fill your home with great looking pieces, in any price range, but great art that speaks to you is priceless.

SB: What excites you most about interior design today?

WW: Since Judy entered the business, in 1984, her absolute passion is what the internet has brought to interior design. There was once a time where you had to research, travel and scout. Nowadays, so much is accessible right from your design studio.

SB: Fill in the blank. No room is complete without…

WW: No room is complete without great lighting and something personal. A room can change completely with the right light bulb and personal photographs of friends and family. We also feel no bedroom is complete with out the most luxurious bedding, nothing can make is better than the softest ironed sheets and a downy bed.

powder room with chic wallpaper // JK Kling

SB: Do you have a favorite design tip or words of wisdom when decorating?

WW: Every eight to ten years a room needs a face lift. No matter how well a room is kept fresh and modern touches always make a difference.

SB: What’s next for J.K. Kling Associates?

WW: Since the opening of our new Palm Beach office, our past year has been filled with travel, wonderful clients and exciting new projects. We can only hope to continue on this fantastic path.

Thank you Wendy for your time. We look forward to seeing your next project!

*all photos provided by J.K. Kling Associates

Read full story By Cristin on April 13, 2015 in Bathroom, Bedroom, Features, foyers, interior design, Interiors, interview, Interviews, Kitchen, Living Room, living rooms, pattern, wallpaper

Interview :: Interior Designer Meredith Heron

June 10, 2014 · Comments { 7 }

She’s beautiful, witty and a fabulous interior designer. I had the pleasure of meeting Canada’s Meredith Heron while touring KBIS with BlogTour earlier this year and liked her from hello. I also became an instant fan of her classic design style with a modern unexpected twist. Meredith has an amazing eye for combining color, pattern and textures. She makes it look effortlessly. Each space is inviting, unique and fresh. In addition to being a great person and having an impressive design portfolio, Meredith has regularly been featured as guest host and design expert on national television programs such as Restaurant Makeover, which has been seen by audiences all over the world. What can this woman not do?!

I’m thrilled to be interviewing Meredith today!

Simplified Bee: Your signature designs are fresh, colorful and bold. When did you know you wanted to be an interior designer?

Meredith Heron: I wanted to be a designer when I was 9 going on 10. My parents had split, I lived with my dad and he was working with an interior decorator. Her office was beside my hairdressers. I loved wallpaper. The selection process was so much fun and I never tired of flipping through the books. I wanted my dad to marry her. He didn’t. It was probably the worst mistake of his life. My stepmother isn’t nearly as cool. Heck, she’s not even nice. I put that aside however until my early 20s when, as an elementary school teacher I realized I had made a huge mistake choosing that as my career path. At this point, design was a hobby. I was poor as teachers are terribly underpaid or were back then when they first started out. I took a job making paint at Home Depot and became an in-demand associate. After too many requests to come to people’s homes I decided to go back to school part time for design which I did over the next 3.5 yrs. I made the leap in 2002 to leave teaching just shy of my 30th birthday. I haven’t looked back since.

modern traditional breakfast nook - meredith heron design

SB: How would you describe your personal style and how has it evolved over the years?

MH: I’ve always had good taste but MAN OH MAN did I ever do some really ugly work early on. I focused too much on keeping the prices down and budget DIY decorating. It’s why I rail so much against it now. It really doesn’t pay in the long run and promotes a disposable lifestyle which is completely against what I believe in. I love pattern and colour and with experience I would say that I find myself extremely skilled in combining both to achieve dramatic effects. I see myself as a story teller. Clients hire me to write their biographies but instead of words, I use fabrics, furniture, architectural elements and of course personal items to them. I blend the new with the sentimental, the heirlooms to weave the clients through their decor to create a home. This can’t be about the look for less or budget decorating, yet it doesn’t mean it has to be expensive. It’s really a mind set. Invest in things you love. Hold on to those things that have meaning or remind you of someone you love or a time you cherish. Use these as your foundation and layer. I see my relationship with my clients as one that is not finite but rather is ongoing. We just peel back another layer each time. I now tell people that I am a Modern Traditionalist. That feels right.

interior design quote - meredith heron interivew - simplified bee

blue dining room - meredith heron design

SB: What type of architecture are you drawn to?

MH: Georgian, Edwardian to a degree and Greek Revival. I think that I am a Southern Women with Parisian ancestors trapped in a Canadian’s body. I am a classicist. I love strong bones. I love my architecture to have symmetry so that I can be asymmetrical. I love a good paradox. Irony amuses me even in design. I prefer a more is more approach.

living room - art gallery wall - meredith heron design

SB: Who would you most like to collaborate with on a project?

MH: I’m totally freezing up here and feeling like I have to choose and this choice will forever determine I am not sure what but let’s give it a whirl. I would love to collaborate with Tory Burch on something fabulous I am not sure what but I think that our sense of pattern play would make us a great combination. From the design side of things I would love to work with Steve Gambrel whom I adore.

SB: I love that you don’t shy away from bold use of color. Do you have “go to” paint colors? If so, which ones?

MH: I have a reputation for using bold colours but I tend to keep my crazy colour moments to just that moments and I usually express them with fabrics rather than paint. I love white walls, but I love blue/black walls equally as much. Living in Canada we have a much cooler light that is not forgiving to bright colours like you find in the islands or more tropical climates. My go to paint colours – Benjamin Moore’s Raccoon Fur. It’s my standard issue I want a navy kitchen blue/black. We sometimes vary that with it’s lighter counterpart Anchor Gray. C2 Paints has an in between version of the perfect shade of indigo called Mistral. It is my mistress. We use Pratt and Lambert’s Seed Pearl as the perfect white it’s not too yellow and plays nicely with greys and rich blues. Benjamin Moore’s Feather Grey and Whitestone are our go to mauve meets periwinkles. I tend to prefer cooler tints on the walls it’s easier to add a splash of a warmer or more saturated bright in fabric. If I had a formula I would say I go cooler on the walls, I will add a warm pastel on occasion to the ceiling but I let my fabric stories warm things up or incorporate bold and dramatic art.

SB: Which of today’s interior design trends are here to stay and which ones will we see fade away?

MH: I want to give an invisible throat punch to the whole “Abandoned, burned to the ground Belgian Farmhouse with an Industrial Hoarder Complex” look that seems to still be hanging around. Restaurants seem to all wear a similar uniform these days. Paint the walls black, use some splintered wood and tetanus causing metal for furniture and then add a chandelier and call it Industrial Chic… I’m OVVVVVVAHHHH it. I seriously designed restaurants almost ten years ago now that had that look. Let’s agree to move on. I would love to see the return to traditional and layered luxe pick up more steam than the Steampunked to death… ya know? Brass I predicted well over three years ago was making a return and I’m thrilled to see how much it has been embraced so I think that it will continue to make it’s home in the industry.

SB: Where do you recommend clients splurge versus save?

MH: Buy the best sofa you can afford. TRUST ME on this one. I’m currently awaiting my new sofa from Wesley Hall and I literally cannot wait. I have a pretty settee in my living room now but it is SO not comfortable. If you are on a tight budget, use 4×4 white ceramic tiles and offset them in a brick pattern. Add black grout. You can dress it up with brass or crystal or dress it down and make it feel cozy and casual. Silk drapery is often cheaper than cotton or linen. Invest in quality area rugs – Persians are so forgiving we put one by our front door and encourage people to walk in with muddy boots or snowy footwear. Let the mess dry and vacuum it up and it looks fabulous.

SB: Facebook or Pinterest?

MH: I am a social media whore. It’s true. I love chatting with friends on Facebook, but I use Pinterest for work. It’s design porn and I’m addicted. I swear my blood pressure drops when I open my Pinterest Tab and refresh. Until I find something I lust after and must own.

SB: What is your advice to other interior designers who are timid about trying social media marketing outlets?

MH: It really depends on your personality. I could talk paint off of a wall so I’m really good at being myself and just letting it all hang out on the more chattier outlets. I also have a plethora of pictures to share including my process and what my husband has made me for lunch or dinner so Instagram is a great connecting point for me. If you are shy I would suggest Instagram as the SM to hone first. You can share your Instagram to twitter and Facebook so you can kill three birds with one stone. Blogs aren’t for everyone but a Tumblr esque blog where you can share inspiration is often as impactful as those who are more verbose. Authenticity is thrown around as a buzz word but it’s true. Find the medium that is the best reflection of who you are and allows you to speak in the best voice possible.

SB: You had an exciting collaboration for DXV American Standard earlier this year. Can you tell us more about that and what’s next for Meredith Heron Design?

MH: Thank you! Working with DXV and the team from American Standard has been exceptional. I have been working on a new line of wool and silk bespoke area rugs for my own collection which we should receive our first shipment of over the summer which is incredibly exciting. I also have a very big and exciting collaboration that I will be sharing in the relatively near future but have to stay Mum on the subject for just now. I am a terrible tease yes but I promise the wait will be worth it!!! Building a brand is very much like birthing a baby and raising them into a child and beyond. It’s rewarding, frustrating, isolating, scary and exhilarating often within the same day. I wouldn’t have it any other way!

*all images provided by Meredith Heron Design

Read full story By Cristin on June 10, 2014 in Bathroom, bathrooms, brass, Features, interior design, Interiors, interview, Interviews, Kitchen, Living Room, wallpaper

Interview :: Interior Designer Michelle Workman

May 22, 2013 · Comments { 4 }

Michelle Workman is one of Hollywood’s most sought after interior designers and has transformed homes of Jennifer Lopez, John Travolta and Kirstie Alley. Workman and her sophisticated interiors have been featured in such publications as Veranda, Traditional Home and InStyle, as well as on HGTV, Martha Stewart and Oprah. After years of designing for the Hollywood elite, she is packing up her family and heading south to Chattanooga, Tennessee. (sounds crazy right?) I’m super curious as to how this fast paced LA designer will transition to a slower paced southern city. I can’t imagine she will miss the massive traffic jams in SoCal! We can find out too because Workman’s new web show, Glamour Goes South, documents the move and airs exclusively on The Design Network, serving as the cornerstone of the burgeoning network.

Jennifer Lopez's Kitchen // Veranda // designer Michelle Workman

Simplified Bee: When did you know you wanted to be an interior designer?

Michelle Workman: I really knew it much later in life than one would expect. I was in my late(ish) twenties. I had already done design in my early twenties, but had quit in frustration, and then one day I sort of realized it was my true talent. I enjoyed it so much that I began to wonder why I was trying to do anything else.

purple living room - Michelle Workman Interiors

SB: How would you describe your personal style and did it change once you had kids?

MW: I would describe my personal style as eclectic-quirky-elegance, and no, it has not changed since having kids. I really believe that if you bring kids up in a beautiful environment they will respect that environment. There are accidents on occasion, but nothing of meaning or great expense has ever been ruined.

stylish built-in bookshelf - Michelle Workmans Interiors

SB: Who would you most like to collaborate with on a project?

MW: That’s pretty easy – Anthony Barratta.

SB: Do you have “go to” paint colors? If so, which ones?

MW: No, I am open to whatever palette most defines the client’s outlook on life. I equate colors with emotion, and personality, so the colors in each of my designs are chosen in direct correlation with what I think most expresses the client.

SB: Which of today’s interior design trends are here to stay and which ones will we see fade away?

MW: That’s tough, because any trend if done well, and in appropriate reserve, can last and last. It’s when a trend is over used, and done in a low quality or shoddy fashion, that it starts to become passé.

yellow chinoiserie wallpaper - Entry by Michelle Workman Interiors

SB: Where do you recommend clients splurge versus save?

MW: Always splurge on bigger furniture items – sofas, case goods, etc. Occasional pieces, accessories, and lighting can be less expensive and therefore easier to change out, and create a whole new look easily. I do believe that you should re-upholster and update all soft goods every ten years.

banana leaf wallpaper bedroom - Michelle Workman Design

SB: You have embraced social media and write a blog in addition to being on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. Do you prefer one over the other? What is your advice to other interior designers who are timid about trying social media marketing outlets?

MW: I most prefer Pinterest and Instagram (@InteriorIcon). Both are visual, and I am a visual person. I do a fair amount on twitter (@InteriorIcon), but that’s because I’ve been doing it for so long now, but I do really try to engage with the people I follow, and also always try to answer questions from anyone that @mentions me, whether I follow them or not. I just feel that is common courtesy. My advice to other designers is this: whatever you put out there, for everyone to see, make it real, make it from you, and make it heartfelt. I don’t always follow that rule, but I really try to for the most part. There are those days when I just can’t be bothered and those are the tweets or posts that get absolutely no response.

green+white lacquer sectretary desk - Michelle Workman Interiors

SB: Fill in the blank. No room is complete without…

MW: personality!

Jennifer Lopez's bedroom // Veranda // Michelle Workman Interiors

SB: What’s next for Michelle Workman Interiors?

MW: Good golly! Lots going on right now. A series of eBooks (12 total) on color, the first of which is about Pink which will be released April 25th. A new web series – Glamour Goes South – the first and second episodes went live recently. I am moving my family to Tennessee this summer, along with much travel for publicity. And, oh yeah, a huge project in Oregon! It’s been a crazy (but good) start to the year.

And I’m excited to see Michelle’s next projects (sure to be amazing) and learn how her move to Tennessee goes!

Thank you Michelle for your time and support of Simplified Bee over the years!

xo,

Cristin

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Read full story By Cristin on May 22, 2013 in dining rooms, Features, furniture, interior design, Interiors, interview, Interviews, living rooms

Interview :: Interior Designer Traci Zeller

April 22, 2013 · Comments { 5 }

Listed as one of Charlotte’s 25 Most Stylish People in 2010 by Charlotte Style Magazine, Traci Zeller of Traci Zeller Designs is known for her clean, sophisticated, and approachable interiors. Through travels over the years, Traci’s exposure to the fine art, architecture and interiors around the world has helped refine her aesthetic. In addition, motherhood has also allowed her to approach design from a more practical viewpoint. As a busy wife and mother to twin boys, I can relate to Traci’s appreciation for the need for spaces to be beautiful and functional. I’m thrilled to be interviewing her today!

Simplified Bee: When did you know you wanted to be an interior designer?

Traci Zeller: I’ve often said that interior design found me (rather than the reverse), but I know I wouldn’t be a designer today if my husband and I wouldn’t have built a custom home. It was my first time living (as an adult) anywhere other than an apartment or dorm room!

SB: How would you describe your personal style and did it change once you had the twins?

TZ: My personal style is clean and classic. I love simple yet sophisticated interiors that combine traditional and modern elements. Before my twin boys were born, I wasn’t overly concerned with the amount of maintenance something took or how fragile anything was. Gosh, especially when I was single, I probably could have been happy living in a museum! Of course, that philosophy doesn’t exactly work with children, and especially not twin boys. When I would be shopping with my boys as toddlers and get the inevitable question “Are they twins,” I’d always respond “yes” and then jokingly ask the boys “are your twin tornadoes or double trouble?” To the delight of the other shoppers, they would emphatically respond, “BOTH.” Obviously my environment is important to me, however, and I wasn’t willing to let our house become the twins’ romper room. Instead, I created a new approach to interior design that incorporated my practical perspective as a parent of twins.

SB: Who would you most like to collaborate with on a project?

TZ: Oh my, that is a hard one. If you mean another interior designer, I’d have to pick Mary McDonald, Barbara Barry or Suzanne Kasler. They are all amazing, and I would love the opportunity to watch them work.

colorful living space by Traci Zeller Designs

SB: Do you have “go to” paint colors? If so, which ones?

TZ: Of course, the right paint choice depends on the fixed elements in a room, but I do have certain colors that I use time and time again. A few of my favorites are Benjamin Moore’s Classic Gray, Bleeker Beige and Kendall Charcoal and Sherwin-Williams’ Wool Skein and Urbane Bronze. My favorite gender-neutral children’s color is Benjamin Moore’s Dill Pickle.

SB: Which of today’s interior design trends are here to stay and which ones will we see fade away?

TZ: The one “trend” that I really see sticking around is the increased ability for consumers to customize products, even if they are not working with a designer. Years ago, it used to be that you bought a product one way and that was it. Custom products were either not available or cost-prohibitive for most people. Today, major manufacturers and retailers are offering dozens of different finishes and fabrics, not to mention mix-and-match styles, at a variety of price points. Over time, I expect more and more options to be available — and expected — and far fewer things to be strictly “off the rack.

Trends I see fading away? I love bold colors (usually in moderation), but I dearly hope that neon’s days are numbered.

SB: Where do you recommend clients splurge versus save?

TZ: With nurseries, I always recommend that my clients splurge on pieces the children can grow with — like a quality dresser — and save on pieces that will be quickly outgrown — like the crib or a glider. In other rooms, it

really depends on our priorities and how I can get the most “bang for the buck.” But, I’ll never recommend cheap upholstery!

SB: You have embraced social media and write a blog in addition to being on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest. Do you prefer one over the other? What is your advice to other interior designers who are timid about trying social media marketing outlets?

TZ: I love writing a blog. Not only does it give me the opportunity to share my thoughts and my work with thousands of people, but it really helps to focus my thinking and hone my own opinions. I heard Bobby McAlpine once say that much of what he does is intuitive for him, but when he taught as a professor of architecture, he had to learn how to verbalize that intuition. Writing a blog works the same way. The true test of whether you understand something is whether you can teach it to someone else. I would tell other designers to just “go for it.” Social media is fun; that’s why they call it social! Remember, too, that you don’t have to do everything. Pick what you like to do, what is fun for you, and do that.

SB: Fill in the blank. No room is complete without…

TZ: No room is complete without art. I love, love, love art, and most spaces don’t come alive without it.

Bubbly // Traci Zeller fabric collection

SB: Tell us about your exciting new fabric line!

TZ: I am so excited about my new fabrics! I teamed up with Trellis Studio, a custom design studio in South Carolina, to develop Traci Zeller Textiles, and I have three patterns in four colorways debuting in April. Paintings created by my twin boys with my mom were the inspiration for the Bubbly pattern (shown above), which consists of four pieces of artwork pieced together and turned into a repeat. Sparkler was inspired by (no surprise here) fireworks (which my boys love) and truly captures the joy and exuberance with which children approach life. Prep is a simple ticking stripe updated with modern colors. It is striking on its own, but a perfect “calm” coordinate for either Bubbly or Sparkler. I am especially proud that Traci Zeller Textiles are entirely created in the Carolinas, from inspiration to design to printing.

SB: What’s next for Traci Zeller Designs?

TZ: Trellis Studio and I are already hard at work on new several fabric introductions, hopefully to debut in 3Q 2013. The new patterns are more sophisticated and probably more reflective of my overall aesthetic. We actually started with these patterns, but — likely because I am constantly inspired by my children — Bubbly, Sparkler and Prep took on a life of their own. Even before that, however, I’ll be debuting a new candle with a Traci Zeller Home signature scent. Of course, all of that is sandwiched in between working with my fabulous clients, for whom I am incredibly thankful, and running after my little buddies!

Thank you so much Traci for you time and sharing some of your beautiful portfolio with us!

Crsitin

*all image via Traci Zeller Designs

Read full story By Cristin on April 22, 2013 in Features, interior design, Interiors, Interviews

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Tag Archives | interior designer interview

Interview :: J.K. Kling Interior Design

Interview :: Interior Designer Meredith Heron

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Interview :: Interior Designer Traci Zeller

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