LBW Studio
photo by kip dawkins
If you could have a second home anywhere, where would you live? Martha’s Vineyard, Charleston, or the South of France.
What are three words to describe your style? Inviting, Sophisticated, Timeless
Tell us about your childhood bedroom? At one point, when I was younger, we picked out new wallpaper: a Waverly blue-and-white, with drapery that looked like twirling ribbons waving down the wall. I had a canopy bed with my artwork framed above the headboard. My closet doors were sliding mirrored doors, and I used to practice ballet in front of them. I had a small half bath, which I thought was so cool, and a desk large enough to work on art projects and my homework.
What’s the first investment piece you ever bought for your house? An antique bowfront English chest with an inlay motif of a shell on the top drawer and a Venetian mirror, but it very quickly rolled into antiquing for my storefront, driving cargo vans full of furnishings and accessories back to my shop to unload and sell.
In the history of design, if you could hire any designer other than yourself, who would it be? Can I just name a few? Mark D. Sikes, Furlow Gatewood, and Mark Hampton.
No room is complete without: great lighting.
People think of me as polished and proper, but I am really the one on my hands and knees, sleeves rolled up, willing to do whatever it takes to make things perfect for my clients.
Things you omit from:
A flower arrangement: Any dip-dyed flower.
An hors d’oeuvre platter: Tortilla Pinwheels – haven’t we collectively moved on?
A bar cabinet: Crème de menthe. I’ve never had a Grasshopper, despite Palm Royale trying very hard to convince me otherwise.
A song for:
Dinner at home: Random with two teenagers at home. Sometimes Country.
Working at your desk: The Ina Cooking for Jeffrey or Nancy Meyers Dinner Party playlists on Spotify
Going for a run: 90’s hip hop
Biggest Vice? Diet Coke (currently). And anything with almond paste - especially a really wonderful almond croissant or a French almond cake. I make a tasty one too!
If you were on an Ambien high and internet shopping, what would you buy? Fabulous new luxury makeup or designer clothing courtesy of late-night Instagram scrolling. Or scrolling items I’ve hearted on live auctions, where I’m likely to bid on something I really shouldn’t.
Do your clothes reflect your design sensibility, if so, how? Yes, elegant and statement-making, but comfortable enough to look effortless, much like my approach to design.
Who is your star crush? George Clooney
What is the thing you would never do on a project, but don’t detest when you see others do it? Curse!
What design book do you find yourself going back to again and again? Love Affairs with Houses by Bunny Williams.
For posterity, what would you like your work to be known for? Timeless interiors that feel deeply welcoming — spaces that elevate everyday life, bring joy to those who live in them, and inspire others.
photo by kip dawkins
A Few Favorites:
Movie: Tie between The Thomas Crown Affair and The Devil Wears Prada–for the style, sophistication, and clever storytelling. The soundtrack to The Thomas Crown Affair is also incredible.
Book: Timeless by Patrick Ahearn—a celebration of enduring architecture and design.
Scent: Baccarat Rouge 540
The fabric you always come back to: Pierre Frey’s Toiles de Nantes.
Dream project: Build my own home on the coast.
Meal: A really great Greek salad with a fresh piece of fish.
Drink: Gin, Lime, and Club Soda, or a cold glass of white wine.
Hotel: For the way it made me feel: Cheeca Lodge in the Keys – a very special memory. My husband surprised me for my 40th with a weekend away on a private plane, right during the peak of COVID!
Travel Destination: Paris– always inspiring.
Artist: Monet—specifically his large-scale waterlilies.
A cause near and dear to me: Childhood hunger
Thing to collect obsessively: Chinese export blue and white porcelain, tortoiseshell and inlay boxes, design books, great art.
Era in the history of design: Neoclassical—elegant and enduring.
Museum: Musee d’Orsay—the perfect balance of history and beauty.
Benjamin Moore Paint Color: White Dove
Favorite person to follow on Instagram: Collins Interiors, they always look like they are having a blast and are so creative!
Dogs, Cats, or No Pets? Dogs
