New interiors book 'Authentic Interiors' features rooms that tell a story

I like interesting stories and I also like interesting houses. So when a new book, Authentic Interiors: Rooms That Tell Stories (Gibbs-Smith, $45) caught my eye, I picked it up. The 224-page photo-rich hardcover features projects inspired by 14 of his clients, including the author's own home.

So I called author and interior designer Philip Gollivan to discuss the secret to designing rooms that tell not just a story, but our story. (Because despite what they say, many designers tell their own stories.)

“When you design a home, whether it's a mansion or a shoebox apartment, whatever your budget, make sure the interior space is an extension of yourself,” he tells me over the phone. “After all, this is where you come home, where you sleep, where you live.”

This is one of those design maxims that is easier said than done, so we flipped through the pages for some tips. 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.

Q. Before we get to other people's stories, what's your story? What was your childhood home like?

A. 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. Maybe I was the first girl to subscribe to Architectural Digest magazine when she was 10 years old.

Q. Interior design wasn't your first career…

answer: 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 got a job at an interior design company, learned the ropes, and went independent two years later. I took a break when House & Garden magazine asked me to design a room for a show house building a 12-by-8-foot laundry room. We made the most of it.

Q. Your room tells your customer's story and has a distinct look. How would you explain that?

A. 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.

I'm a huge believer in neutral and earth tones, and 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.

Q. Beautiful interior design books are displayed all over the coffee table. How is your book different?

A. The reason I have the word “authentic” in the title is because it's important to me. 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. .

Q. What if the homeowners are a couple with different interests and tastes?

A. Every couple has different opinions about appearance. Negotiate. Successful home design includes elements that reflect all residents, ultimately making the interior more unique.

Q. Why do I get a shiver when I enter my house?

A. Furniture that is completely beyond scale. A sofa that's too big or art that's too small can ruin a room.

Q. How can we bring our stories into our homes?

A. Think about the things you love and want to be with, like your children, pets, travel, and your roots. Some clients don't want to be reminded of work when they get home. Heritage is also important. I always like to know where my clients grew up.