Interview with West Elm’s Style Guru, Angel Dormer
I read this terrific interview with West Elm’s Angel Dormer on William Sonoma’s Professional site, and thought I’d share it with you on this very busy Monday. Enjoy!
As West Elm’s “resident design and style guru,” Angel Dormer is always scanning her New York environment for talented local artists, cool patterns and hot trends. Her findings shape west elm’s signature blend of vintage modern and limited edition designs. We caught up with Angel on a shopping and brainstorming spree to ask her where her ideas come from.
As west elm’s “resident design and style guru,” it seems like you might have an eclectic, creative role there that’s hard to pinpoint. How are your vision and sense of color used at west elm?
It is definitely not a cookie-cutter role! My full title is Style Manager for Color and Concept. My job is to pull together key concepts and colors that inspire each season. This includes setting the direction for print and pattern. It also involves collaborating with the design team and getting all of our ideas off the ground. This is fun from beginning to end! It is always interesting to see how one idea can grow into something much bigger. We collaborate with artists, and sometimes a little group of painting’s can become a pillow, rug and dinnerware collection. For instance, one of our favorite textile artists painted the artwork for our Watercolor Flower Duvet Cover and Shams that we also used to create the Boho Flower pillow.
In your own words, how would you describe the west elm aesthetic and design mission?
Our mission is to offer people unique, affordable designs that help them create personal and inspired living spaces. We help artisans earn their livelihoods by collaborating with the global crafts community from near and far. We also strive to get a little greener everyday! What’s really rewarding to me personally is finding new talent and giving them a platform to tell a fun story.
To give us a sense of how a designer-at-work operates, can you tell the story of one of the pieces you designed, from inspiration and conception to final product?
I enjoy going to the Antiques Garage Flea Marketin Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood. A co-worker and I loved one of the sellers there who did these great collages. We started a conversation with him and eventually had him come to our design office to meet about collaborating with us for our Fall 2010 season. We commissioned him to do a group of artwork just for us and printed it on silk pillows, dishes and wall art. That artist is Mike Miller, and he is featured now in the store, catalog and web. It was great to see how a little Saturday visit to the flea-market inspired an entire season!
The rituals of creative people are always fascinating to us. Do you ever get blocked and, if so, what sorts of rituals do you have to re-inspire yourself?
Getting a good night’s sleep for starters! When I have free time I go to galleries. I am always inspired by art. I also love interior design blogs and magazines, and there is nothing like an afternoon at a museum! Inspiration shopping – getting out there and going to stores and wandering in different neighborhoods in the city – always gets the ideas flowing.
Color is confusing for many. As a color expert, what advice do you have for people don’t naturally have a feel for color?
Color can be a big subject, but have no fear! Color is really personal, so it is best to always begin with your favorites. Start by going through a design magazine and tearing out what you like. Just listen to your heart and go with it. You will start to see a common thread. You can also use contrasting colors to your advantage. For instance, if you favor neutrals and earthy colors, it is always fun to pop it with one bright color
How To Shop for and Wash Sheets with SFERRA’s Paul Hooker
Welcome to Part III of my three-part (obviously) interview with SFERRA president, Paul Hooker. This is a man who knows his yarn. You can read Part I, in which we discuss the whole thread-count issue, by following this link.  Read Part II, all about style here.
Paul and I ended out discussion with some dirty talk. How to wash the sheets, that is. He’s got a few tips on shopping as well.
DH: Is it important to wash linens with special detergent?
PH: What you have to watch for in detergent is chlorine bleach.  Chlorine bleach kills cotton fabric.  It not only yellows the fabric, but it breaks down the fibers, causing the sheets to have a shorter life. They pill and rip more easily. There are many good detergents on the market. Just avoid any that contain chlorine bleach. Use an oxygen bleach instead. We have a page on our site dedicated to this subject.
DH: I iron my sheets, which has spoiled me forever. What makes an ironed sheets feel so much better?
PH: It brings out the crispness of the cotton or linen of the sheet.  The same way a nicely pressed piece of clothing becomes the person, the nicely pressed cotton or linen makes one feel “extra special” when crawling into bed.  It could also have something to do with the fact that extra attention was given to get this fabric just right.
Paul’s Tips on How to Buy and Wash Bed Linens
- Educate yourself about the various types of sheets. Do you want percale or sateen?  A specialty store can tell and show you the difference.
- Know and trust the merchant who is selling you the sheets.¬† If it sounds too good to be true, it generally is.¬† Will they stand behind their product?¬† Have they been in business a long time?¬† Will they be there tomorrow?¬† Those who have a long history tend to take the business more seriously, and offer better quality than others.¬† Sometimes price leads the way. If it doesn’t, shop at a specialty store that carries the best quality possible.
More shopping tips and all about washing after the jump. Read More…
My turn! Read All About How My Interior Design Career Began
I guess this is interview week here at Design Hole. Design Style Guide interviewed me about my career, how I got started, and about my thoughts on interior design. You can read all about it by following this link.
You can also see some photos from my portfolio, which I’m finally pulling together. Yay! I’d like to say thanks to Design Style Guide for the opportunity to let me talk about myself. :-)
My interview at Housewears
Jillian, the writer of the design blog, Housewears, interviewed me a few days ago and wrote a lovely post. If you’re interested in reading about my work as a designer, hop on over and read the interview here.
Thanks, Jillian!
Getting to Know the Top: Nathan Thomas Exclusive
Loft Life, the newcomer to the world of shelter magazines, published an interview with this season’s winner of Top Design, Nathan Thomas. Read on!
From the start of this season’s Top Design, one designer stuck out as the obvious front-runner to us. With stints at Alexandra Champalimaud & Associates and Nathan Egan Interiors, New York-based designer Nathan Thomas displayed an approach to design that would enhance any loft. Following a well-deserved win on the Bravo series, he has now launched his own eponymous design firm, Nathan Thomas Studios.
We had the opportunity to ask this season’s Top Design winner a few questions about his artistic sensibility.
LoftLife: First things first: Season One’s finale was a loft challenge and you were tasked with a nondescript townhouse. Which kind of space do you prefer to work with?
Nathan Thomas: In comparing both finale spaces, the loft of Season One and the townhouse of Season Two, I would have to say that the loft speaks to me more in a designer’s vocabulary versus a townhouse. I find the architecture of cast iron or old warehouse with soaring windows to be full of personality and possibility.
The bones of a real loft space are historical, and conjure up ideas of modernity and sophistication. I tend to view architecture of the late 19th century and its prospects of re-purpose as so relevant today. Although I was very happy with outcome of my town home in the finale, I feel I only achieved that by channeling an idea of a more architectural spirit. It was a builder’s home, void of character and personality. This is the true test of a designer/decorator, however. The ability to look beyond what may be a dull and vacant space and transform that into something special and unique.
LL: Your artwork tends to be such a striking focal point. What draws you to a piece? When do you work it into the design process, at the beginning or the end?
NT: When decorating interior spaces, whether they be commercial, residential, private, or public, artwork plays such a crucial role in the outcome and total package. I have always been deeply connected to art and have never felt like a room should be designed around art. Rather, the art is the piece de la resistance, the bonus, the firework!
Read the rest here.
