I like interesting stories and I also like interesting houses. I also want to believe that I am talking about the former and understand the latter. (Aren't we all like that?)
So when a book called Authentic Interiors: Rooms That Tell Stories (Gibbs-Smith, March 2024) caught my eye, I thought, “Shazam!” My worlds collide! ”
I read the 224-page, photo-rich hardcover, then called author and interior designer Philip Gollivan to see if he could tell me the secret to designing rooms that tell our story, not just a story. I asked. (That said, many designers tell their own stories.)
In his foreword, Gollivan quotes 20th century designer David Hicks: “The best rooms have something to say about the people who live in them.” The book then features projects inspired by 14 of his clients, including the author's own home.
“If you're designing a home, whatever your budget, whether it's a grand house or a shoebox apartment, make sure the interior space is an extension of yourself,” he said. . “After all, this is where you come home, where you sleep, where you live.”
Authentic Interiors by Philip Gollivan (Gibbs-Smith, March 2024, $45, 224 pages) “offers a lot of flavor,” says Publishers Weekly.
Few people would disagree. However, this is one of those design maxims that is easier said than done. If done poorly, the results can be disastrous. Some people's stories aren't pretty. I flipped through the pages looking for clues.
For one couple, a screenwriter and a newspaper editor, Golivan used posterized black and white images of famous people's faces. In a Brazilian couple's New York City apartment, they embraced the saturated tones of a rainforest, painting the walls a lacquered emerald and incorporating fuchsia furniture.
Like any writer I interview, especially for this piece, I wanted to know the writer's story. where did he come from? So I asked Golivan, who has a home in Connecticut and an apartment in Manhattan, that and a few more questions.
Before we get to other people's stories, what's your story? What did your early house look like?
Our home had a mix of antique and modern furniture because my parents had different tastes. It was never “decorated”. We lived in Portland, Maine, where we had long, dark winters. My family had this old farmhouse that served as a repository for family hand-me-downs and heirlooms. I spent hours researching all these parts for my own enjoyment. I became visually interested in furniture from an early age. Maybe I was the first girl to subscribe to Architectural Digest magazine when she was 10 years old.
Interior design wasn't your first career. When and why did you make the switch?
After graduating from college, I worked in sales, got married, had children, and worked to pay my bills. We were living in New York when 9/11 happened. It made me rethink everything. Then I decided to do what I love. I joined an interior design firm to learn the ropes and went out on my own two years later. I took a break when House & Garden magazine asked me to design a room for a show house they were building. They had one room left, a 12-by-8-foot laundry room, the smallest room in the house. We made the most of it.
Your room tells your customer's story and has a distinct look. How would you explain that?
I love textiles, fabrics, colors and patterns. I like to work with great 20th century design firms to create a look that combines eras that I call classic modern that speaks to both the home and the homeowner.
Exactly color! Not everyone can peel off a Chinese red lacquered wall.
I'm a big fan of neutral and earth tones, but I especially like mixing strong colors. Color is powerful and transformative. For example, the chapter titled “Reinvention” features an apartment in New York that we renovated after the owners divorced. He lived in the same place as his ex-wife, but wanted it to be completely different. Painting the walls a bright spring green felt like a new beginning.
Beautiful interior design books are displayed all over the coffee table. Why another one? How is your book different?
The reason I have the word “authentic” in the title is because it's important to me. In the design world, we see a lot of pastiche, where designers copy and paste other people's work. Authenticity is extremely important in any creative endeavor. I wanted to convey that and emphasize that a successful interior must speak to the architecture of the house or apartment, the surrounding geography, and ultimately the owner of the home. .
What if the homeowners are a couple with different interests and tastes?
Every couple has different opinions about appearance. Negotiate. Successful home design includes elements that reflect all residents, ultimately making the interior more unique.
Why do I get a shiver when I enter my house?
Furniture that is completely beyond scale. A sofa that's too big or art that's too small can ruin a room.
How can we inject our stories into our homes, whether they reflect our professions, interests, or traditions?
Think about the things you love and want to be with, like your children, pets, travel, and your roots. It may not be your profession. Some clients don't want to be reminded of work when they get home. And you'd be surprised how many people want to decorate their favorite sport using the colors of their team. Heritage is also important. I always like to know where my clients grew up.
What do you want your readers to understand?
Although the book has many photos, I would like you to pay attention to the text as well. I want them to read different stories and see how the stories come alive in the design. I hope they see how the best design comes from within and think maybe I can do it too.
Marni Jameson is the author of seven books on home and lifestyle. Contact her at www.marnijameson.com.
