Tell us a bit about your approach as a designer.
Experience is the biggest driver of my design approach: whether it’s where I’ve traveled, what show I’ve seen, what “new” old designer I've read up on, what museum, estate, or garden tour I’ve done, what book I've gotten my hands on…the list goes on. What I’ve continued to learn the longer I’ve done this is that there is so much inspiration and beauty to be discovered, and staying open to new influences is one of the most important keys to creativity.
What influenced and inspired you throughout the process of designing the Montecito shop?
Katherine and Margaret’s being from Santa Barbara was the significant starting point; the beauty of Santa Barbara seems embedded in them both and how they see the world. I felt inspired to have the new shop speak more directly to the surroundings — the Spanish influences of the local architecture, but also the mid-century nostalgia of the Montecito Country Mart. I liked the idea of these two styles coming together to create something interesting and fresh. I also looked through many of the DÔEN photo shoots across the globe — from haciendas and chateaus to country and seaside settings — and embraced those influences, too, as muses for the design.
From there, finding moments for quiet details that could define the space yet let the clothing stand out was important. The textured plaster walls versus smooth drywall, Rebekah Miles’ hand-painted border, and tiles on the table are all my interpretations of how DÔEN details their collections — unique, timeless with a sense of heirloom, while also feeling right for the modern woman.
Can you share a few of your favorite details in the shop?
The antique tiled top table, the plaster dove sconces, the iron hanging racks, Rebecca’s custom mural…is that too many?
What feelings and experiences were you hoping to evoke through your design? Was there a particular story you were hoping to tell?
All of us — Katherine, Margaret, and I — wanted to capture the same comfortable "embrace" the Brentwood shop has. A feeling of being welcomed just by the space alone as well as a feeling of being slightly transported by the materials and palette, much in the same way that the brand’s many on-location shoots manage to transport all of us to whole other worlds, yet, somehow, make us all feel like we belong there.
Over the last few months you have been in Montecito often — did you discover any new favorites?
Though not a discovery, if you haven’t been to Lotusland it is a must. I did discover a new beach for me — it's no secret — but loved it so much, Loon Point Beach. I always love grabbing lunch at Pierre Lafond's Deli.
