Design Plot Twists: Using Unexpected Combinations To Tell Your Story with Schuyler Sampterton
Schuyler Samperton and I talk about incorporating inherited items, mixing styles and eras, and creatively using dark wood. We highlight the importance of scale, inventive textile applications, and using light fixtures as focal points. Schuyler also goes behind the scenes with her own fabric and wallpaper lines and provides tips on mixing and matching patterns. We explore several of her projects so you can see how she integrates personality and storytelling into her rooms.
Watch this entire episode on YouTube HERE
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The Design Philosophy
In our conversation, Schuyler dived into her design philosophy, highlighting the importance of being open to change and integrating personal history into the home environment. She shared her experience inheriting furniture and objects from her parents who passed away 18 days apart. This poignant story illustrated how these cherished items found a new life in her Connecticut home. Schuyler emphasized that design should reflect one's values and personal narrative, ensuring the space feels authentically lived-in.
Mixing Eras and Styles
A standout theme in Schuyler's practice is her talent for mixing different styles and eras to create a cohesive yet eclectic aesthetic. During our discussion, she described a project where she transformed a former guest house of Rudolph Valentino in the Hollywood Hills. She combined rich, dark fabrics with a variety of stylistic elements in a room with ample natural light. This combination, alongside an intriguing piece by artist Lisa Borgnes Giramonte, highlighted how a layered design approach can transform a space. She described how unexpected elements, like a pair of Deco chairs, paired with a cool floor lamp, and Lisa’s needlepoint piece became the centerpieces of a room filled with light, creating a cozy reading nook.
Creative Use of Traditional Elements
Schuyler’s eye for innovative design is perhaps best exemplified in her use of dark wood in unexpectedly modern ways. While exploring a vibrant and playful powder room, she opted for dark wood accents instead of the expected white. This choice added warmth and character to a space filled with teal and turquoise wallpaper, illustrating her belief that design should feel layered and personal.
The Value of Investment Pieces
In another conversation point, Schuyler emphasized the statement a large-scale piece can make in an otherwise understated room. She showcased a beautiful example with a grand floor lamp in a minimalistic apartment, demonstrating how one impactful piece can redefine a space’s ambiance.
Lighting as a Statement
Schuyler’s design expertise extends to her selection of lighting fixtures, which she uses to balance and highlight various elements in a room. She noted that in settings like a two-story living area or an open-plan kitchen, lighting becomes a central element, dictating the room’s tone and feel.
The Power of Textiles
Schuyler’s affinity for vintage textiles was another interesting point of discussion. She often uses them as unexpected room elements, such as draping a rug over a table, bringing depth and texture to the design. Whether it’s her prom dress casually draped in a Florida home or an impressive antique Susani piece adorning a high-ceilinged room, textiles play a crucial role in her decor ethos.
Designing with Fabric and Wallpaper
Our conversation also touched on Schuyler's own fabric and wallpaper collections, which are designed with mixing in mind. She spoke passionately about color and pattern, revealing how her Caledonia pattern is a bestseller and her favorite for its vibrant yet adaptable design.
Schuyler's insights left a lasting impression, full of inspiration and valuable lessons. Her approach to design serves as a beautiful reminder to embrace one’s history and personal style in creating a home that feels genuinely one’s own.
Until Next Time
-Zandra
