The Style Files: Conversations with Creatives

Jane Churchill’s Interior Design work has made her a household name both at home and abroad. With more than 40 years in the business, Jane Churchill has a deep knowledge of the classic decorating tradition. Unlike many Interior Designers who work from a specific style, Jane combines classic and contemporary elements so that each project is unique and personal to the client.

Ariel Okin is the founder of her eponymous firm, Ariel Okin Interiors, a New York based, full service interior design firm specializing in luxury residential, commercial and hospitality projects. Ariel’s portfolio ranges from traditional to contemporary, with a focus on elegant, livable spaces. A deft use of color, an emphasis on clean lines, and a mix of bespoke and antique items are hallmarks of her aesthetic; she believes every home should reflect its owner’s personality. A graduate of Columbia University and George Washington University, Ariel has been featured and profiled in Elle Decor, Domino, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, Vogue, The Wall Street Journal, and New York Magazine, among others. Ariel is a contributing writer to Vogue.com, Architectural Digest and Domino, and was named one of the top 20 Interior Design Instagram accounts to follow by Domino. Current projects include a full floor gut renovation on the Upper West Side, an Upper East Side pied-a-terre, a hospitality project in Palm Beach, and multiple homes in the tri-state area.

Over the years Kit Kemp MBE has been forging an internationally-acclaimed reputation, not only for her unique hotel interiors as Founder and Creative Director of Firmdale Hotels but also as a successful textiles, fragrance and homewares designer, author and a highly-respected champion of British art, craft and sculpture. With a collection of ten couture hotels in London and New York, Kit is celebrated for her individual and original approach to the way she transforms and arranges buildings, with a colourful and detailed storytelling in her design. She has won many awards for her designs including House & Garden’s Hotel Designer of the Year, The Crown Estate’s Urban Business Award, CN Traveller’s Best Hotel in the World for Design and Andrew Martin International Interior Designer of the Year. Kit has collaborated with leading global design brands such as Wedgwood, Wilton Carpets, Andrew Martin, Anthropologie, Christopher Farr, Chelsea Textiles, C P Hart, Porta Romana and Fine Cell Work, creating collections including tableware, fragrance, furniture, fabrics and wallpaper. In 2012, Kit published her first book, A Living Space which follows an inspiring personal voyage through the many spaces she has designed. This was followed by a second book, Every Room Tells A Story and her third and latest book, Design Thread.  Kit Kemp has been invited as Guest Editor for Homes & Gardens and Hospitality Design USA. In 2017 Shop Kit Kemp was launched. An online store complete with a range of products ready to buy for the home created by Kit Kemp and her design team. Spring 2019 saw Kit Kemp launch an exclusive collaboration with New York department store, Bergdorf Goodman. The Loft on the seventh floor was transformed into The World of Kit Kemp where her collections of furniture, fabrics, fragrance and home accessories were brought together for the first time. In 2019, Kit Kemp launched a blog called Kit Kemp’s Design Thread. This new website showcases her world of colour and design including collaborations, films and an insight into her work and day-to-day experiences in her Design Studio Kit Kemp is a Trustee of Fine Cell Work and the Heritage of London Trust.

After earning a fine arts degree at Pratt and studying traditional block printing in China, John Robshaw journeyed to India to find natural indigo dye for his paintings. Instead, he fell in love with the fabric-making traditions of the local artisans. The hands-on immediacy and vitality of textiles piqued what was to become a lifelong fascination. His signature look was crafted: an updated spin on the traditional, handmade object; a vibrant mix of sophistication and romantic allure. "I want all the colors, techniques and designs from each culture to blend. I redesign them and mix up the processes. I edit them, learn from them, make them my own, but retain their essence. John's forays in Asia have taken him to the villages of Gujarat and Rajasthan; he has made court batiks in Yogakarta, Indonesia; block printed sarongs alongside a family who has been printing for four generations; he has vegetable-dyed ikats in Thailand. In India, John found that he could apply a painterly aesthetic to traditional methods by mixing up patterns and overlapping them in a more formally artistic way.

Born in Indianapolis, Markham Roberts graduated from Brown University and moved to New York to work with the late Mark Hampton, before opening his eponymous firm in 1997. Called “a master of timeless American style” by Vogue, Markham has earned the reputation as one of the top decorators of his generation. He and his work have been featured in Architectural Digest, Cabana, Domino, Elle Decor, Galerie Magazine, House Beautiful, House & Garden, Southern Accents, Town & Country, Veranda, Vogue and The New York Times. Since 2014, Markham has been named to the AD100, Architectural Digest’s prestigious list of the top 100 interior designers and architects in the world, as well as the Elle Decor A-List.  And in the 2018 book Inspired Design, the 100 Most Important Designers of the Past 100 Years, Markham was honored to be included on this historic list with the all-time great decorators.  Markham’s highly respected monograph, Decorating: The Way I See It, published in 2014 by Vendome Press, showcases his thoughtful, tailored, and refreshing approach to decorating and is widely praised as an essential design tome.  His second book, Notes on Decorating, published in 2020 by Vendome Press, further illustrates his refined and singular approach to designing interiors. Known for his creativity and his ability to work in a wide variety of styles, Markham adeptly interprets his clients’ needs and wants to seamlessly reflect their style and not merely his own imprint. Markham’s highly respected monograph, Decorating: The Way I See It, published by The Vendome Press, showcases his thoughtful, tailored, and refreshing approach to decorating and is widely praised as an essential design tome. Whether working on commercial projects or for private clients across the country and abroad, Markham infuses interiors with his sophisticated and personal touch, applying his knowledge and experience individually and specifically to each project. According to Senga Mortimer, the noted editor, “There is a distinct refinement that runs through all of his work and is, indeed, emblematic of his personality … Markham, with his unflinching ease, his assured eye, his natural understanding of how a house should function, and his total lack of pretense, creates rooms that are timeless.” Markham Roberts lectures on decorating across the country. He sits on the board of the Cain Foundation, a philanthropic trust established by his late grandparents to support the arts, education, and to assist those in need.

Following her undergraduate education at Georgia Southern University, where she nurtured an underlying passion for philanthropy, Mrs. Dewberry began her career with the Georgia Institute of Technology’s Alexander-Tharpe Fund in Athletic Development. From there she joined Dewberry Group as Director of The Dewberry Foundation, where she manages charitable requests, contributions and strategic planning. A native of Dalton, Georgia, and the daughter of design and home décor retail business owners, Mrs. Dewberry parlayed her appreciation for art and antiques into her latest role with at the helm of Dewberry Group’s Studio Dewberry. As Principal, she oversees design and procurement along with her husband, John. Dewberry Group founder and CEO John formally started Studio Dewberry in 2014 to handle everything from architecture and interiors to product development and procurement, as well as graphic art and branding, for all of the real estate and hospitality properties within Dewberry Group’s portfolio. Their most distinguished project to date is the opening of the five-star Dewberry hotel in Charleston, South Carolina. Today, Mrs. Dewberry divides her time among the family’s homes in Charleston, Atlanta, and Doonbeg, Ireland.

Acclaimed New York City-based designer, Vicente Wolf is known for his clear, restrained and elegant aesthetic.  A passionate traveler, Vicente’s frequent jaunts to exotic destinations provide him with a global perspective that he weaves into his designs.  His interiors incorporate these authentic, globally-sourced artifacts and furnishings with modern décor in a warm palette capturing a sense of earthy charisma and timelessness.   Wolf’s spaces ‘travel’ through time and remain relevant and meaningful environments for his discerning client roster. For over four decades Vicente Wolf has fostered the global development of his brand through a simplicity-driven principle that intermingle his many creative endeavors: interior design, photography, art collection and international travel.  From the spacious light-filled loft in New York City where his company is headquartered, Wolf and his team at Vicente Wolf Associates build on his passion for design, maintaining an impressive portfolio that spans multinational conglomerates and private homes to hotels and restaurants across the globe. Always on the lookout for new ways in which to inspire the world of design, Wolf’s eye for detail has fostered a reputation for quality appreciated by his discriminating clients and the creative industries alike.  Throughout his illustrious career, Vicente has graced the pages of all the top shelter publications and received many of the industry’s top distinctions.  Prestigious honors include perpetual listings as an AD 100, Elle Décor’s A-List, NY Spaces Top 50 Designer and House Beautiful magazine’s 10 most influential designers, to name a few, and has been inducted into Interior Design magazine’s Hall of Fame. Wolf is an international speaker, book author with five titles to his name, lauded retailer and celebrated visionary.  In 2012, Vicente received his PHD in Design & Architecture from Boston Architectural College and is currently at the helm of two companies: Vicente Wolf Associates and VW Home by Vicente Wolf.

"If it's good, you know it." That says, Alfredo Paredes, is the foundation of his design philosophy, one he's put into practice at his new, multi-disciplinary design studio committed to excellence in projects ranging from residential and hospitality, to special events and product development.  The designer, who's been described as having "visually perfect pitch", is an industry veteran who spent 33 years creating environments, experiences, and products at Ralph Lauren, most recently in the role of Executive Vice President and Chief Creative Office. During his tenure with the company Paredes was in charge of global store design and architecture, and was the creative force behind the Women's and Home Flagship on Madison Avenue, as well as the one on the Boulevard Saint-Germain in Paris. He also oversaw the creation of an array of stores the world over and was responsible for the famed visuals in the windows of the Madison Avenue mansion and other retail stores around the globe, not to mention the conception and design of the now legendary Polo Bar in Manhattan. Those are just the sorts of creative enterprises in which Alfredo Paredes Studio specializes-- the fashioning of spaces, home furnishings, and unique events designed to accelerate the pulse of clients with even the biggest dreams.

A designer, tastemaker, and working mother of two, Aerin Lauder is a modern day style icon. Committed to living life more beautifully, she founded the luxury lifestyle brand AERIN in 2012. With a love for interiors and a talent for creating warm, inviting spaces, Aerin’s elegant, effortless aesthetic is a reflection of her unique upbringing. As she says, “Beauty is my heritage, but home and accessories are my passion. There was an opportunity in the market for a lifestyle brand based on feminine, modern and effortless products with strong heritage. I decided to launch AERIN and make the whole concept of beauty part of the way we live today.” Aerin brings ease and beauty into all aspects of life and, as a dedicated philanthropist, into the lives of others. She is passionate about her work with The Breast Cancer Research Foundation and an active board member of the Education Committee for the Board of Trustees at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, International Council of the Museum of Modern Art, Foundation for Art & Preservation in Embassies, and Gods Love We Deliver. Aerin was presented with the Golden Heart Award for Lifetime Achievement at the 2013 God’s Love We Deliver Golden Heart Awards.

Peter Dunham was raised in France and educated in England at Stowe. He read modern languages at Exeter College, and business administration at the American University in Paris. After graduating he worked in real estate in New York City. Peter moved to Los Angeles in 1998 and immediately started his interior design company. In 2003 he launched his eponymous fabric and wallpaper collection, now sold through 16 showrooms worldwide. To house a growing collection of handcrafted, made-to-order furniture, textiles and vintage finds, Peter opened Hollywood at Home in 2007. Located in the Los Angeles design district, it has become a leading destination for design lovers. In 2020 he established his third product arm, Peter Dunham Home, venturing into stocked, indoor/outdoor furniture. At the firm, Peter and his design team split their time between restoring landmarked houses and collaborating with renowned architects on ground up projects. Current projects include a modernist Marmol Radziner house overlooking the Pacific in Montecito, residences in Los Angeles, the Bay area, Newport Beach, Montana and an iconic 1963 Horace Gifford house on Fire Island. The Wall Street Journal described his style as “Merchant Ivory Moderne” and “restraint with a kick.” His international style embraces color and pattern, mixing bespoke furnishings, vintage finds and modern luxuries. His design work has been featured in Architectural Digest, ELLE Decor, House and Garden, House Beautiful, Coastal Living, WSJ, Veranda, Domino, Hollywood Reporter, Los Angeles Times, and more. Peter is on ELLE Decor’s A-List and included in Vendome Press’s new book, Inspired Design: The 100 Most Important Designers of the Past 100 Years.

Designer, entrepreneur, best-selling author, and mother of five, India Hicks was born in London, England, and comes from both British and design royalty. Her father was famed interior decorator David Hicks, and her mother is Lady Pamela Hicks, whose father was the last Viceroy of India, hence her name. India has always made bold life choices, which have led to a multi-faceted, unexpected life journey. She has authored four design books, modeled for Ralph Lauren, among others, and been an on-air personality for networks ranging from Bravo to the BBC. She has had her hand in the design world for over two decades – from hotels to home collections. In 2015 India launched her eponymous Direct Sales brand. British Heritage and a fresh perspective on island life informed this exclusive lifestyle collection. Despite closing its doors after 5 years of trading thousands of women saw talents and qualities in themselves that had been undiscovered. More recently India launched a Podcast series - a look into the life her extraordinary mother Lady Pamela - recording wonderfully intimate conversations between mother and daughter. With over 100,000 downloads already the Podcast repeatedly sits at the top of many charts. The India Hicks company had a strong focus on Giving Back as has India herself. Having run 3 marathons in aid of Bahamian children’s education and cycling two 100 mile races raising funds for breast cancer in the Bahamas - a cause close to her heart as this disease took the life of her adopted son’s mother. Living in the Bahamas for the past 25 years India is in the position to now partner with Global Empowerment Mission as an on the ground force, bringing awareness to the continuing crisis in the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian.

British-born, pre-eminent interior designer Kathryn M. Ireland is a true citizen of the world. From her legendary “sympathetic restorations” of landmark architectural houses and hotels to extraordinary homes for the Hollywood elite, the star of Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorators brings the best attributes of grand European style and cool California chic to every project. A die-hard fan of bold color, the layering of pattern and texture, and the beauty of imperfection, Ireland’s interiors convey an easy, elegant vibe that is worldly and chic, yet effortless. Kathryn has also established herself as a major force in product manufacturing and has been dedicated to producing her bespoke textile collections, weave collections, and upholstered goods all locally in the United States. Beyond her eponymous lines of textiles and furniture, Kathryn has most recently set out to disrupt the digital design industry with her newest venture, The Perfect Room. Backed by three decades of experience in luxury interior design, Kathryn has – through TPR – introduced the first luxury online concierge design service, providing curated products and unparalleled design expertise in a simple online platform. Kathryn has also authored 6 best-selling books, including her most recent, Kathryn At Home, and has collaborated with several home furnishing brands including Grange, Scalamandre, and C2 Paints. Kathryn has also acted as the North American Brand Ambassador for beloved European appliance brand AGA Rangemaster. Adding to her long list of credits over her multi-hyphenate career, Kathryn has long developed and hosted Design Retreats each summer at her home in the south of France, and regularly hosts design bootcamps in Los Angeles. At each she offers insight on her favorite local resources, professional expertise and storied experiences to help others succeed in the design industry. Kathryn has appeared as an expert on Good Morning America, Access Hollywood Live, Good Day LA, and E! News. A shelter magazine favorite, Kathryn’s design work appears frequently in Elle Decor, World of Interiors, House Beautiful, Veranda, Architectural Digest, Vogue and InStyle. Kathryn is consistently featured on Elle Decor’s A-List and is one of the Top 25 Interior Designers as listed by The Hollywood Reporter. When she’s not designing or entertaining, Ireland divides her time between her home in Santa Monica, CA and her restored farmhouse in southwest France.

BARRIE BENSON is a Charlotte-based interior designer best known for balancing the modern with the traditional in her signature interiors. She transforms residences like her iconic 1950s ranch with traditional pieces to create an interesting blend of periods, rooms, and moods. Barrie is also known for giving architecturally traditional homes a dash of energy and color with her fresh take on European and American 20th-century furniture, art, and collections. In addition to interiors, Barrie designs a signature line of furniture for Highland House and a line of decorative hardware and accessories in collaboration with Addison Weeks. Top publications have featured Barrie’s work including AD, Coastal Living, Domino, Elle Dècor, Garden & Gun, House Beautiful, Southern Living and The Wall Street Journal. A true lover of the arts, Barrie is an active board member of the Mint Museum and the Charlotte Symphony and regularly visits galleries and art fairs around the world.

Nicholas Haslam Ltd was established in 1980 by Nicky Haslam, who owned and operated the company in partnership with Paolo Moschino. Paolo bought the firm in 1995 when Nicky Haslam left to launch NH Design, and Paolo has since grown the company, which he now leads with Philip Vergeylen, into one of the most prominent and respected names in the design world. Though Paolo and Philip are equally passionate about design, neither of them set out to be a designer. Born and raised in Italy, Paolo studied Political Science in Florence. It was at the age of 23, after university, that he came to stay in London for a few months. He ended up running an interiors shop—and never left. Philip, who was born and raised in Belgium, says his parents gave him three choices of profession: doctor, banker or lawyer. However, during his first year at university, he found ten years’ worth of a design magazine in his grandmother’s library and eagerly read every issue cover to cover. (This might have been a clue to his real interests.) After studying Commercial Management Engineering in Brussels, Philip began an accomplished career in marketing in the financial-services sector which took him to far-flung spots across the globe. Philip eventually settled in London, met Paolo and started to help him with some interior design projects. Not long after, Philip’s passion and natural instinct for design began to influence the direction of the firm, and over the past decade, his work has been pivotal to the company’s growth. Now leading the Design Studio, he oversees numerous residential, hospitality and commercial projects around the world. Years ago, whilst Paolo was running the shop, he and Philip renovated and reconfigured a rambling, unconventional apartment, one that has since been photographed and published in countless top design magazines. Customers and friends would visit the apartment and then go to the shop to ask, “Won’t you please do my house?” That’s how the design business launched, expanding organically; today the firm has projects on every continent.

Josh Young is a Chicago-based artist, designer, and tastemaker. A graduate of Italy's renowned Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, Josh's 6 years spent in Milan heavily influenced and crafted his overall artistic style. After returning to the U.S., Josh began working as a designer in the textile industry, in New York City's Flatiron District. Inspired by the fusion of old world elements married with bold, modern-day techniques, he has been experimenting with an avant-garde approach to classical portraits since 2009. Josh has appeared in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, Vogue Italia, GQ Italia, Domino Magazine, MyDomaine, O, The Oprah Magazine, House Beautiful and The Maryn. His collaborations have included work with Nate Berkus Associates, Paloma Contreras, Kate Marker and large-scale commercial projects like the newly built Draper Hotel in New York City and the Bulgari Hotel in London. He has also collaborated with brands such as Williams-Sonoma Home, Circa Lighting and CB2. Josh is scheduled to show at next years renowned Salone del Mobile in Milan.

Michael S. Smith is one of the most sought-after talents in the design industry today. With an international roster of high-profile residential, hospitality, and commercial clients, he is known for an effortless blend of all-American modernism and European classicism—always fresh, always surprising, always evolving. A California native, Smith studied interior architecture at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles, followed by graduate work at the Victoria and Albert Museum Study Centre in London. He has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including being continuously named to the AD100 and Elle Decor’s A-List, and he was honored by the Hispanic Society of America with his partner, James Costos, the former ambassador to Spain and Andorra; they received the organization’s 2016 Sorolla Medal in recognition of their extraordinary support of Spanish art and culture. Smith was also the 2018 recipient of the distinguished Arthur Ross Award for Excellence in the Field of Interior Design from the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art. From 2008 through 2016, Smith worked with President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama on the design of the private quarters of the White House, as well as the refurbishment of some of its State Rooms, and their focus on showcasing works by a diverse group of artists and artisans was both groundbreaking and highly acclaimed. In 2010 Smith was appointed by President Obama to the Committee for the Preservation of the White House and he now serves on the Design Advisory Team for the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago. Smith’s extensive Jasper collection of fabric, wall coverings, furniture, and accessories and his Templeton line of fabrics are available at his showrooms in L.A. and Madrid and in multiline showrooms across America. The designer has published five books with Rizzoli: Elements of Style (2007), Houses (2008), Kitchens and Baths (2011), Building Beauty (2013), and The Curated House: Creating Style, Beauty, and Balance (2015). His latest book, Designing History: The Extraordinary Art & Style of the Obama White House, will be released this September. It documents Smith’s extraordinary collaboration with the Obamas through extensive photography, behind-the-scenes stories, and rich archival material. The book places the Obama White House within the context of the building's storied past and its evolution over the past two centuries, chronicling the process of updating the country's most symbolic residence and revealing how Smith's collaboration on the decoration, showcasing of art, and style of entertaining reflected the youthful spirit of the first family and their vision of a more progressive, inclusive American society.

Tom Scheerer began his decorating career in the mid-1980s, after graduating from Cooper Union with a degree in architecture. He formed his own firm in 1995. His work is characterized by clear and logical architectural solutions combined with beautiful, comfortable furnishings. His work is regularly featured in AD, Town & Country, House Beautiful, and Elle Décor and is named annually to the AD100 list of top interior designers. He divides his time between New York, Paris, and the Bahamas.

Long featured in the pages of Canadian shelter magazines, Nam Dang-Mitchell was named Canadian House & Home's designer of the year in 2019. The interior designer's spaces strike a delicate balance between classic and edgy, merging disparate styles into a seamlessly chic and livable whole. Dang-Mitchell often animates her neutral-toned color palettes with layers of pattern and textures that keep even formal spaces warm and lively. Her keen eye for combining furniture, accessories, and fabrics from different styles and eras is especially evident in her ability to select distinctively modern furniture and lighting pieces that are full of personality but still harmonize with an interior's overall look. Dang-Mitchell lives in Calgary, where she has recently expanded her practice to include a residential townhouse development.

David Jimenez was born and raised in New York City, currently resides in Paris, and recently launched his own design firm David Jimenez LLC. During his career, David has played an important role in developing the visual aesthetic of Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware, Hallmark, Williams-Sonoma and Williams-Sonoma Home and, as a result, has influenced what constitutes style in the American home. His work has been featured in a variety of print media, including Architectural Digest US, AD Italy, AD Russia, House Beautiful, the New York Times and in a variety of home decor books including House Beautiful The Home Book, The Find and Living Retro. You’ll want to check out his Instagram page #davidjimenezstudio. The photos are breathtaking and he shares entertainingly written, usable advice for creating glorious rooms.

Serena Dugan is an artist and textile designer based in Sausalito, California. With an education in both Psychology and Fine Art, Serena has spent the past 20 years developing her imprint as a painter, product designer, and Chief Creative Officer of Serena & Lily, the home and lifestyle brand she launched in 2004. In 2016, Serena stepped away from Serena & Lily to get back to her roots as an artist. While painting, she explored shapes and rhythms in her compositions, which she could not help but envision in pattern form. This is the inspiration for her new line of textiles, wallpapers, paintings, and objects for Serena Dugan Studio. The new collection will debut in select showrooms and online at www.serenadugan.com in early 2020. Serena’s rallying belief is in the power of art to transform an environment into an experience. This can take the form of an energetic painting or a striking pattern that defines and enlivens a space. Her background in both mediums allows her to toggle between the two as she explores the themes of rhythm and form. With pattern, her focus is on creating harmony through repetition, shape and placement. With painting, she creates impact through layering and composition. Each art form sharpens the other by means of opposition — both equally representative of her aesthetic fingerprint. Serena received her BA in Psychology from Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, NC in 1994. She returned to school to pursue a BFA in 1997 and then expanded her design education by studying textile design and printmaking. Starting Art School in Denver, CO, at Metropolitan State College of Denver, she continued to Florence, Italy, to study painting at the Lorenzo de’Medici Art Institute of Florence. She studied textile design in Berkeley, CA at the Institute for Textile Print Design, and printmaking at the San Francisco Art Institute. Serena and her two children reside in Sausalito, CA, close to her sun-filled studio on the waterfront.