Sophie Donelson
What are three words to describe your style?
1. Sincere
2. Homey
3. Evolving
Tell us about your childhood bedroom? I grew up in a creative household – lots of color and plenty of hand-painted and decoupage moments on the walls, so when I was rebelling circa age 13 I chose to paint my bedroom cafe au lait. Taupe was as good as a threat.
What’s the first investment piece you ever bought for your house? As a wedding gift from my uncle, my husband and I asked for and received one of those cool old leather footstools made back when Abercromie & Fitch was a safari outfitter. So they say, the animals were brought to life by when the leather craftsmen were toying around with scraps in the workroom — making animals for fun. Our is a hippo — Henry!
In the history of design, if you could hire any designer other than yourself, who would it be?
Vincent Darré, Rose Uniake, Giancarlo Valle… But I can actually picture myself collaborating with Robin Henry; I love her aesthetic and she has a sincere sensitivity for how clients live and what’s meaningful to them; I feel like she’d bring out a great house in me.
No room is complete without, animal, vegetable, or mineral.
People think of me as into style, but really I am much more about how a space feels.
Things you omit from:
A flower arrangement: The filler greens, of course. And lilies, I prefer them on their own.
An hors d’oeuvre platter: Grapes. Serve them to the kids!
A bar cabinet: Coasters. Just why?
A song for:
Dinner at home: Khruangbin or Jimmy Cliff
Working at your desk: It’s my life’s dream to be able to write while listening to music
Going for a run: Fugees’ Ready or Not
Biggest Vice? Frosted Mini Wheats.
If you were on an Ambien high and internet shopping, what would you buy? I love drugs, but I don’t need them for an eBay spree; the most recent was vintage undersea topographic maps for wallpapering my powder room.
Do your clothes reflect your design sensibility, if so, how? Touch is everything to me, so I aim for a mix of “hands” in both fashion and home. Crunchy linen velvets, fluid silks, cashmere, and flannel, of course, because as a Massachusetts girl, I’m predisposed to it.
Who is your star crush? I tend to crush on civilians, not stars.
What is the thing you would never do on a project, but don’t detest when you see others do it? Austerity
If there were a fire, and you could only keep one design book, what would it be? My old, dog-eared Synonym Finder. Words are my shapes.
For posterity, what would you like your work to be known for? Inclusiveness, positivity, honesty. Helping folks who thought decorating was frivolous, a reason to believe that the built environment is one way we create moods, make memories, find solace, and even community.
Your Favorite:
Movie: My Neighbor Totoro
Book: Barkskins by Annie Proulx. The Overstory by Richard Powers. The House Book, by Terence Conran
Scent: Shingled house in the rain; newborn baby head; eucalyptus (fresh or bottled)
The fabric you always come back to: Linen velvet and mohair
Dream project: A book that’s not painful to write
Meal: White anchovies, lemon juice on good toast. Cheap date.
Drink: A classic daiquiri, an Aviation, a spicy marg, champagne, just not all at once.
Hotel: Who needs hotels when you have friends like ours?
Travel Destination: The woods.
Artist: Always: Rembrandt, van Eyck, the Low Countries painters. Lately: Mary Pratt and Alex Colville.
Thing to collect obsessively: Odd and unusual gifts for my present drawer — collect and distribute.
Era in the history of design: 1920s, specifically for apartment design and bathrooms.
Museum: Rijksmuseum. And almost any house museum.
Paint Color that always looks great: You tell me, Alexa!
Favorite person to follow on Instagram: @harrisvintage
Dogs, Cats, or No Pets? Someday, an outdoor cat or two and a Corgi.
