Hitting The Wall: How Can Designers Confront A Blank Wall?

02/05/20 • 42 min

If it’s not vast expanses of glass then it’s large expanses of white wall designers have to contend with. From multi-million dollar artworks to hand-painted wall coverings to hand-rubbed Venetian plaster, how can designers best confront a blank wall? Host Michael Boodro chats with designers Bella Mancini and Elena Frampton, as well as Phillip Jeffries CEO Jeffrey Bershad.

What you can expect from this episode:

The contemporary wallpaper trend
Client hesitation about wallpaper
Tips for selecting artworks for walls
Detailing, balance, and additional finishes
The trends and future of wall design

Get to know our chic guests:

Bella Mancini is known for her charming and astute way of working with patterns and wallcoverings within her designs. She founded her firm, Bella Mancini Design, just two years after making her career shift from fashion PR and marketing to interior design.

Elena Frampton is a talented designer and owner of interior design studio Frampton Co, which includes an art advisory service and locations in the Hamptons and New York City. Her studio uses dynamic, otherworldly palettes while also elevating artists and expanding access to their art.

Jeffrey Bershad is the CEO of Phillip Jeffries, a wallcovering company that was started with just 10 grasscloths over 40 years ago by his father, and is now a preeminent global company. With an elevated focus on design, quality, and efficiency, Phillip Jeffries prides itself on ready-to-ship and custom solutions and has been featured in magazines including Luxe, California Home+Design, and Interior Design.

During the episode, we mention these high-end wallpaper brands:

Phillip Jeffries – a range of high-quality wallcoverings
Fromental – hand-embroidered wallpaper
De Gournay – bold and custom wallpaper
Pierre Frey – commissions artists for wallpapers

Think beyond conventional wallpaper ideas with these sources of inspiration:

Sisters and interior designers Charlotte Harris Lucas and Liz Harris Carroll offer their tips on wallpapers via Chairish
Tour this Dumbo loft from Bella Mancini via Brownstoner
Art advisory via Frampton Co.
The latest, art-inspired wallpaper collection from Phillip Jeffries
Shimmering wallpaper ideas via Chairish

Connect with Chairish and our guests on Instagram:

Chairish: @chairishco
Michael Boodro: @michaelboodro
Bella Mancini: @bellamancinidesign
Frampton Co: @frampton_co
Phillip Jeffries: @phillipjeffriesltd

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What you can expect from this episode:

The contemporary wallpaper trend
Client hesitation about wallpaper
Tips for selecting artworks for walls
Detailing, balance, and additional finishes
The trends and future of wall design

Get to know our chic guests:

During the episode, we mention these high-end wallpaper brands:

Phillip Jeffries – a range of high-quality wallcoverings
Fromental – hand-embroidered wallpaper
De Gournay – bold and custom wallpaper
Pierre Frey – commissions artists for wallpapers

Think beyond conventional wallpaper ideas with these sources of inspiration:

Sisters and interior designers Charlotte Harris Lucas and Liz Harris Carroll offer their tips on wallpapers via Chairish
Tour this Dumbo loft from Bella Mancini via Brownstoner
Art advisory via Frampton Co.
The latest, art-inspired wallpaper collection from Phillip Jeffries
Shimmering wallpaper ideas via Chairish

Connect with Chairish and our guests on Instagram:

Chairish: @chairishco
Michael Boodro: @michaelboodro
Bella Mancini: @bellamancinidesign
Frampton Co: @frampton_co
Phillip Jeffries: @phillipjeffriesltd

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Previous Episode

Showhouses: How Much Will They Cost You and Will They Pay Off?

This episode on The Chairish Podcast we will look at the growing phenomenon of Showhouses. Why are there so many, who do they benefit, and do they really make a difference to a designer’s career? Guests include interior designers Neal Beckstedt and Young Huh, whose rooms at the Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse became hugely popular on social media, and publicist Christina Juarez, who has helped shape the careers of numerous designers and worked with many national brands.

We mention these showhouses in the episode:

Kips Bay Decorator Show House, New York City and Palm Beach
The Hampton’s Showhouse, Hamptons, New York
Holiday House, New York City
Brooklyn Designer Showhouse, Brooklyn, New York
The Atlanta Homes and Lifestyles: Home for the Holidays, Atlanta
Ronald McDonald 2019 Designer Showhouse, Miami

During the episode, we discuss these showhouse designs:

Young Huh – Corridor and Bath, 2014, and Artist Loft, 2019 / Both from the Kips Bay Decorator Show House
Neal Beckstedt: Sitting Room, 2017 / Kips Bay Decorator Show House
Sasha Bikoff’s – Color Me Happy Stairway, 2018 / Kips Bay Decorator Show House
Robert Passal Living Area, 2019 / Kips Bay Decorator Show House

Check out these urther resources:

Design tips from Young Huh via Chairish
Explore Derek Lam’s Manhattan home that was designed by Neal Beckstedt via Architectural Digest
Tour Christina Juarez’s colorful apartment via Elle Decor

Connect with us on Instagram:

Chairish: @chairishco
Michael Boodro: @michaelboodro
Neal Beckstedt: @nealbeckstedt
Young Huh: @younghuh
Christina Juarez: @christinajuarezandco

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Next Episode

Coping with Clients

Today’s clients are ever more savvy and informed, but are they also more demanding, and difficult? What do clients want from designers, and how do you navigate their needs and desires? Host Michael Boodro is joined by renowned designers Sheila Bridges, Richard Mishaan and Josh Greene.

In this episode, we find out how to deal with difficult clients and more:

Challenges of working with clients
What ignited a shift in client behavior
Establishing boundaries and understanding expectations
Paying due diligence
Red flags to watch out for
Photography agreements
Client relation best practices

Get to know our high-profile guests:

Named “America’s Best Interior Designer” by CNN and Time Magazine, Sheila Bridges founded her own interior design firm, Sheila Bridges Design, in 1994. She recently launched her own product line originally based in French toile wallcoverings — called Toile de Jouy — that has expanded to include a variety of good home goods. Toile de Jouy motifs challenge some of the stereotypes about the African-American experience. Her work is embellished with thoughtful pieces and colors, and has landed her on the Architectural Digest 100 and Elle Decor’s A-List from 2011 to 2019.

Owner of Richard Mishaan Design, Richard Mishaan holds more than three decades of experience in design, combining his knowledge of fashion, architecture, and interior design. He has crafted style ranging from urban to beachside in his distinctly layered and luxe, colorful style.

One year ago, Josh Greene founded his own firm, Josh Greene Design, that focuses on creating stylish environments balancing functionality, warmth, and comfort. He has over 15 years of design experience and has been featured on publications such as the New York Times, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful.

Discover the work of our marvelous guests, and find more tips:

Tour Sheila’s colorful home in Reykjavík via The Cut
Inside Richard’s chic space in New York via Architectural Digest
Check out this beach house from Josh and his former partner via Architectural Digest
More tips for handling challenging clients via Kathy Kuo

Connect with us on Instagram: