Callanwolde is proud to have so many talented ASID Georgia Chapter interior designers working on this year’s Christmas at Callanwolde annual fundraiser, and we want to share their expertise and love of their field through this blog. Every day we will highlight one of the wonderful designers to get a feel for their style, personalities and inspirations.

Loren Audrey Taylor

Company: Anna Abrams Design
Designing: The Great Hall & Porte Cochere Exterior

ABOUT

Loren’s approach embraces the architecture of a space, working inward to define the interior and the people who exist within it.

Q&A

What do you love most about your job?
I enjoy helping clients find their personalities in their own spaces by bringing forth and drawing out their personal style reflective of life experiences, travels, family, art, and more. I feel like I have succeeded when a client sees him/herself in the room, rather than what they see as my firm’s design aesthetic.

What are your favorite websites for inspiration?
I enjoy trolling Pinterest, 1st Dibs, and Etsy. I use these sites to collect virtually the items that I want to use on current projects, as well as inspiration for the future. Then, I love shopping sources like Vivre, Polyvore, Tory Burch, Kelly Wearstler, Gwenth Paltrow, Kate Spade, Mercedes-Benz USA, Bentley Motors, Neiman Marcus, Bergdorf Goodman, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, and Jonathon Adler. Looking on these sites and in the hard copy magazines is almost a full-time job.

What are current trends that you’re seeing in interior design?
Honestly, the current trend that I am seeing in the market place is a tendency for consumers to fall for the quick fix/cheap approach that they see on “design” shows. It is wonderful for a client to have the desire to refresh and renew their spaces, but my firm takes the approach of being authentic and individual. I love color but use it sparingly. Instead, opt to establish a pleasant backdrop with grounded neutrality on the walls and a pop of the unexpected on a pair of pillows, vase, lamps, rug, and so forth. The best advice that I can give about being “current” is to invest in the future with great, quality pieces that will stand the test of time and build upon that strong foundation. Go antique or vintage, but be cautious and seek the guidance of a great designer that can help you navigate through the vast sea of options in the market place.

Callanwolde is a home with a lot of history (i.e., it’s old)—how do you marry the history of the house with your design approach?
I think the key to designing an old home well (or any home for that matter) is to be very purposeful in making design decisions, particularly as it relates to the room’s floor plan. Ground the room with excellent furniture placement that makes sense, and restrain yourself from over-designing and over-accessorizing. Do not attempt to make an old home a museum, suspended in time with what might have been in the room at the time the home was built. Instead, choose furniture that gives the eye some relief with simple lines, but not necessarily “contemporary or modern.”

What’s your favorite paint color right now? What pairs well with it?
I like a number of the Historical Colors from Benjamin Moore Paints in the realm of grey, tan, and crème. If I am looking for classic blues and greens, I have a tendency to look to Pratt and Lambert or Glidden.

Where’s your favorite place to score a great deal (interiors or otherwise)?
I love shopping at many of the showrooms at the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center (ADAC), the Galleries at Peachtree Hills, Miami Circle, Star Provision, and shops near the Buckhead Triangle—Peachtree Road, Roswell Road, and West Paces Ferry Road.

What’s in store for you in 2014?
Look for my designs to be featured at another show house in Atlanta, as well as the American Craft Council’s show at the Cobb Galleria in March 2014. I also have some things in the works regarding product designs and the blog (Innately Bourgeois) that I have been diligently trying to launch for several years. I am now working with a talented web designer and I look forward to sharing my thoughts, design aesthetic, and approach. I want to show how closely interior design, architecture, art, fashion, lifestyle, travel, and food are related. Look for my blog’s Etsy store that will also be called Innately Bourgeois.