Robert and Cortney Novogratz

Haute Residence hosted its “Designing The Future” webinar, featuring acclaimed designers Cortney and Robert Novogratz, to discuss their creative process and body of work, recent collaboration with Sarah Jessica Parker, influence taken from the geographical locations they’ve visited or which exist around them, and to offer exclusive tips on bringing space, light, and most importantly, life and family into the home.

They were hosted by Haute Living Editor-in-Chief, Laura Schreffler. Watch the full webinar here.

Highlight quotes:

Cortney Novogratz: 

“It’s been a strange year we've all had, it's shown us that we can really go anywhere and even if we’re just there for a brief moment, we can set up a shop and bring our homes and love of houses all over. This is so important, now more than ever. People's homes are their sanctuaries, and their offices too. Everything revolves around our house, especially at this moment.” 

“Show the house as people really live in it, so you know, a bench, a hook with actual coats, the backpacks or a basketball. There's ways to make it feel lived in so that people can really visualize their own family moving, but still making it stylish and really beautiful. Plants are really important, they help to bring life into the house.”

“If you come to us, it's about function and about beauty. Every place we've designed has been created with our family in mind. But we also want to keep falling in love, over and over, and so designs need to reflect that. They need to be sexy; all of those kinds of things are so important.” 

Robert Novogratz:

“When I think about designing, I always reference the restaurant Balthazar in New York City, because, there's probably better restaurants, there's probably better food, but when you walk into that restaurant with your girlfriend, your children, your grandmother, whoever it is, you feel like you’re more in Paris than in New York. It is an atmosphere. That's why with this pandemic, where all of these restaurants are closing down, Balthazar is one who survives. And it will always be around, because of its energy. And that's how a hotel and a home should be designed. When you walk into a home you want to feel happy, relaxed, and warm, and that is achieved through all the little touches.”

To watch more webinars curated by Haute Residence, visit http://dev.hauteresidence.com

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Kim and Kanye paid $20 million for their sprawling Los Angeles home. The 8,000 square-foot house rests on three acres, boasts its own private vineyard, a 1,000 square-foot entertainment pavilion and two pools. The interior of the home includes eight bedrooms, a three-island kitchen, his-and-hers master baths and a walk-in closet that houses fashion's best designs for the iconic, reality show queen and king of hip-hop.

But what makes the Kardashian-West home such a memorable masterpiece? The couple's impeccable interior design style that brags understated sophistication: sexy, classy and contemporary. With high-end tastes and following only a few interior design rules, Kim and Kayne assembled the perfect home. And it's nothing less than what you'd expect from a Kardashian-West collaboration.

Here are the top three interior design rules the power couple followed and you can too.

Monochromatic Chic

First rule. Use one paint color for the interior.

One neutral wall color is all you need in your home, throughout the entire house. And Kim and Kayne selected shades of white. Why? That color brightens and enhances the living space in contrast to any bespoke wood elements, which here, are the ceiling beams. The only drama happening in this house is intentional. Design drama at its best.

Specifically, in the twosome's living room, the unicolor creates an airy and soft atmosphere. Custom shelves holding photographs also match the wood of the beams above for a neutral effect. Kim builds the room around statement pieces like that circular coffee table and black-white rug so that everything works seamlessly together, and a fluidity is then created throughout the room and home.

Comfortable Chic

Second rule is to create a comfortable chic ambience.

Home is where you relax, after all, and comfort is the key to doing so. Never forfeit comfort for style. As Kim and Kanye illustrate, both can -and should- be incorporated.

The mogul couple's interior home is outfitted in a "transitional" style of design, which means an informal version of traditional design with contemporary-cool and cozy elements incorporated throughout. The color palette of the entire interior remains neutral with tones of white and gray. Black accents are used to anchor the spaces and natural wood tones warm up the otherwise blanched color scheme.

Much of the home’s pieces are also vintage, like the reclaimed wood, and others are custom-made. According to Kim, Kanye "literally flew to Belgium to find wood for [the] kitchen, and he flew to Fiji once to get fabric."

Rethinking your wallpapered dining room? Instead, think about implementing a sense of lived-in, casual chicness similar to Kim's. It's quite obvious that Kim wants her guests to feel instantly at ease, but that casualness is not to be confused with a lack of effort or care. From Kim's use of a monochromatic color scheme, that grand chandelier, to the minimal art on the wall and simple flowering plant on the table, her easy-breezy interior look can surely be had.

Comfortable chic is the central theme throughout the KW home.

Contemporary Chic

Third rule is to keep your design style contemporary. Classic, contemporary chic.

Kim's sophisticated interior home design style is as contemporary chic as her personal style. And as she has mentioned, not without Kayne's input.

Kim recently instagrammed a photo of herself: wearing a perfect tone-on-tone palette while seated on an oatmeal-color sofa in a camel dress and pale blue boots. Similar color scheme to her interior home design style, no?

As you know, Kim Kardashian is a reality television personality, model, fashion icon and social media legend. She actually has the second largest Instagram following in the world.

And based upon the elegant extravagance of the KW home, Kim can now add interior designer to her resume. And Kim’s other half, Kanye, can add interior design as his latest obsession.

The exterior of this elegant estate also has the same contemporary, chic vibe as the interior.

Given Kim’s talent and the Kardashian’s business aptitude, extending her brand to include interior home design seems like a grand idea. The time has come for you to go big with less, and to stay home in Kardashian-West design style.

All images: eonline.com

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Blake Lively

Blake Lively has compiled inspiration books full of pictures, color swatches and fabric memos since she was a teenager. Just like a pro, she uses her mood boards as a starting point for her own designs.

I design my friends homes. For free. Of all the bad decisions I’ve made, this may be the most fun... Thank you to my daughters for unknowingly loaning me your clothes for “fabric” inspo, thank you @dmitriyco for the stencils that are way too fun it’s not normal, thank you bathroom for having a lose tile that I could steal for more “fabric” inspo, and thank you mom for the sleeping disorder that keeps me up all night. ?? ??‍???

A post shared by Blake Lively (@blakelively) on Apr 13, 2018 at 10:26pm PDT

After designing her own homes for years, Blake is now getting interior design requests from friends. She loves home decor so much that she doesn't even charge for her services–yet.

Blake used to publish a blog called Preserve that focused on helping people discover the work of local artisans. The blog is no more, but Blake is still spreading the word about the makers she admires, like Dimitriy & Co furniture.

Lauren Conrad

Lauren Conrad left life as an American television personality to become a purveyor of all things lovely and chic.

Her blog and VIP newsletter offers everything from hairstyle trends to drink recipes, but she has also launched a successful home decor line for Kohl's and performed room makeovers on behalf of Pottery Barn.

Lauren has been called "the Martha Stewart for millennials" and it all starts with her own personally-styled home in Pacific Palisades, California.

Cindy Crawford

After retiring as one of the world's most recognizable supermodels, Cindy Crawford got into furniture design in 2005. She has evolved that interest over the years into a philosophy on how to design a home the right way. "I don’t like it when people buy a midcentury house and then try to change it, or buy a Tudor and try to make it modern,” she said in an interview with Elle Decor last year.

Twitter @Silestone

In addition to making things look chic, Cindy offers tips on decorating for all the senses by imagining how someone might experience a home's smells or the feel of certain fabrics.

A mother herself, she learned to use outdoor fabrics whenever possible to ward off messes left by little ones or pets.

Proving that good design is also practical, Cindy suggests designing kitchens that not only look amazing but are also easy to clean.

She tries not to get so caught up in aesthetics that lifestyle doesn't get considered. Having a comfortable place to read or watch a favorite program is an important part of designing a home that's comfortable to live in.

Diane Keaton

Diane Keaton used to own a Frank Lloyd Wright home in L.A. In 2011, she launched a table-top line for Bed Bath and Beyond. Her love of design has culminated in the publishing of three home design coffee table books.

Her latest, The House That Pinterest Built, is described as "a style guide, an inspirational tome, and a how-to volume on creating one’s home."

Diane started publishing design books because she wanted to celebrate the inspiration people get from seeing the design eye of others, "billions of people discover, seize and enlarge their reference pool with the variety of beauty allocated from others," she says in the book's introduction.

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Even when we design a brand-new home for our clients, there always needs to be a connection between the client and the house; probably because they realize they are building their house for their family. The memories and magic moments begin in the designing stage and continue after they move into the house. One of the ways we ensure that our clients connect to the property right from the start is by having our events division, Equilibrium Events & DMC design a house warming party for our clients to which they are happy to invite friends, family, neighbors, and share the milestone moment of beginning another chapter of their life in the new home. Designing various events for our clients in their house, from housewarming parties to birthdays to special holidays to anniversaries, allows our clients to share the special moments with family and friends. That’s when a house becomes their home.

We spend a lot of time with clients at the very early stage of designing a home and we call it the “discovery stage” – it allows our team to hit the nail on the head and come up with ideas and designs our clients love from the start. As we learn more about our clients during the process, we incorporate more and more of who they are.

I recall designing a walk-in master closet for one of our clients who loved to shop and had an extensive collection of unique bags. We designed a closet that put all those items on display and we knew that she will fall in love with that idea – we incorporated the hallway leading to her closet and made it into a showcase of her bags, just like you’d see it in her favorite store.

As the design and building process continues, Equilibrium Interior Design takes note of our client’s reactions to the various things they see, experience, and even taste. Especially important for us is to recognize what they like and what they dislike. That allows us to hone our selections and designs to ensure they love them and take ownership of them. We are simply there to assist and allow their dreams and desires to get expressed through the space.

A great way for us to ensure that a client’s house becomes their home is to incorporate artwork into the space. Nothing brings life to a space and reflects a client’s personality as a great and colorful piece of art does. And most importantly, it only requires a hammer and a nail to install so it can be switched out as a client’s dreams grow. We opt for selecting oversized pieces for maximum impact. Equilibrium Interior Design works with various resources to find artworks that suit our clients’ personalities and their homes. This is a very important part of the design process that not only ties the room together, but also adds a unique glimpse into the homeowner’s soul.

Another way we assist clients in making the house their home is by using accessories and artifacts from their previous home and their travels. We once had a client walk into the new home once it was accessorized and scream out in overwhelming joy “I’m surrounded by the people and things I truly love.” Potential clients often don’t realize that at the first few meetings they are not only interviewing us for the job, but we are also interviewing them to learn as much about them as we can. We know that a successful project must have a client connected and committed to the process and the final goal. The best projects always have clients take ownership of the final result. Some designers may get upset when clients say “I did this,” or “I designed that,” but not us. Knowing that that the client is proud of their home is a reason to celebrate – it is a testament that we’ve done our job very well.

Images courtesy of Equilibrium Interior Design Inc.

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Let me ask you, if you could get your home built in one year, why would you want to wait a year and a half to finish? Understanding and accepting this phenomenon allows us to serve our clients better.

Service and quality are always top priority for us, but time is always of the essence. Our strategy is very simple: “if you don’t know where you’re going, you will never get there.” It applies to projects of any size and any timeframe – proper planning and scheduling are always key priorities at the onset of any project.

To expedite the design and construction process on very tight time-frame projects we recommend pre-ordering materials, while design drawings are still pending city permits. Once blueprints are cleared, all materials are in our hands and ready to go. It is also critical that furniture (which sometimes can take 6-8 months or even longer for custom pieces) is finalized and ordered as early as possible in the process. These two components of our work usually occur simultaneously to speed up the project.

To accelerate a project without compromising its integrity, I always tell my staff – and that is the motto we live by – “put yourself in the client’s position, and then you will know how you need to act.” This is always the best position to make our decisions from as it allows us to grasp our clients’ needs and address them. If you want to know how a project delays affects your client, “put yourself in their shoes. If you want to know how your client feels because prices increased on some products, “put yourself in their shoes.” If a contractor is messy in your client’s almost completed home, “put yourself in their shoes.” In my experience, this is the most unbiased position when making critical decisions affecting our clients and projects – it always keeps our client’s best interest in mind.

If you are doing a full construction project, you may also choose to apply for a foundation permit separately, instead of the full permit. This will allow your contractor to start the process and be ahead of schedule while City is reviewing architectural drawings. Some clients ask us about not obtaining permits for certain renovation jobs, but we never support it. It is just a matter of time before an unpermitted project runs into issues and that only hurts the owner. When that happens, not only projects get stopped nad you are required to submit construction drawing, pay fines, but you will also be required to disclose performing work without permit when you decide to sell the house and your insurance company may refuse coverage.

Keep in mind that the permitting process exists in part to protect the homeowner to ensure that the design drawings are performed to code and minimum standards of construction. Some Cities allow expedited permitting service that will cost you more up front but will save you time and money in the long run.

Having a solid plan and an appropriate team that shares the same goal with matching priorities is the best way to ensure that a design and construction project is as efficient as possible. We also recommend scheduling regular meetings for the duration of the project to keep everyone accountable and address issues that may surface as early as possible. Equilibrium Interior Design assists clients in the management of their project team as well as anticipates problems before they even happen and offers solutions early in the process.

Speaking from experience, there are a few things I would never recommend rushing:

•  the finishing portion of your project (this is the portion of the work you will always see once your home is completed);
• rushing the drying process of millwork and cabinetry (I learned this the hard way when we shipped cabinetry to a project in the Hamptons that didn’t dry properly before packaging only to find out that finishing lacquer got stuck to the packaging materials);
• changing selections to ones you don’t really love in order to save on delivery times (you will regret that you didn’t go for what you loved).

Your home project might be on a tight time frame, but living and enjoying your residence comes with no deadlines. Better create spaces you love.

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An experienced interior designer should be an integral part of any building project. And yet, many homeowners do not realize the need for one until well into the process. As skilled as architects can be, they rarely, if ever, provide detailed interior elevations or address owners’ aesthetic and functional needs in great detail. As a result, general contractors requests heaps of clarifying information in order to complete the project. It is then that many homeowners realize that a great licensed interior designer is just what they have been needing since day one.

Not only is the staff of Equilibrium Interior Design Inc apt at helping clients finish their homes, we possess the ability to quickly and elegantly resolve already existent problems and anticipate any potential complications. We offer numerous valuable solutions that offer choices and options before an issue even arises, so the client can make well informed decisions. Additionally, at Equilibrium, we can source products and services that best fit the owner’s aesthetics, budget, preferences, and goals.

Hiring a licensed interior designer from Equilibrium is an investment. You get an ally with many years of experience, incredible talent, and technical knowledge, all of which ensure a beautifully designed and appointed home. We also know how to masterfully coordinate your project, which is, by far, the most difficult part of the business. There are so many players in the mix working toward a common goal, and their relationships are so tightly intertwined, that if one falls behind, it has a domino effect on everyone else.

The truth is, coordination is the one things no one is aware of, unless a problem presents itself. I would even go as far as saying that if you are working with an interior designer and you are encountering problems in the process, your interior designer is doing a poor job of coordinating. When the process goes smoothly, you wouldn’t think twice about the amount of coordination the project requires. It is all happening behind the scenes to deliver a well-executed project.

Let the interior designers of Equilibrium worry about all the moving pieces in the mosaic of you home, and create living spaces you will not want to leave, all while you enjoy doing the things you love.

Images courtesy of Equilibrium Interior Design Inc.

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Haute Residence: What are some of your favorite design trends you’re seeing now?

Nate Berkus: I don’t believe in trends. They are designed to make people feel bad about what they don’t have. The best interiors are ones where people have taken risks, and chosen to live with what they truly love. You want your home to feel layered, like it’s evolved over time – mix metals, textures and periods. Your home should say something about who you are, and what you care about.

What are some techniques you use in your own home?

One of the best parts of designing today is that there is no shortage of inspiration or access to resources. As the world leans more and more into technology, we’re seeing this appreciation for wellness in the home – and there are so many ways to define that.

For those looking to downsize space, like when moving into a city, how do you recommend keeping design in mind?

You need to be a ruthless editor in your home. Only live with what you truly love. That, and clean your homes. Seriously, sometimes it’s as simple as that.

What are some of your favorite pieces you have in your home?

Everything I have in my home, that I share with my husband Jeremiah Brent, has meaning. Whether it’s a piece of art that a friend created for our daughter, or a piece of pottery from a trip we have taken. I love that everything has a story about our family, and what we care about.

When working with clients, how do you help tailor their personality to the design of their home?

When working with a client, it’s all about understanding who they are and how they like to live. Choosing a wall color is about considering the furniture choices, the textiles, etc. Sometimes white paint is the bold choice.

Who is a furniture or décor designer/maker we should be keeping our eye on and why?

I love the work being created by Dimore Studio in Milan. And my husband, Jeremiah.

How do you find fashion relates to design of a home?

I always take inspiration from someone’s closet. If they gravitate towards color in their fashion choices, that’s a good indication of what will resonate in their home. Likewise, if they only dress in neutrals with gold accessories. It’s a great place to start.

A lot of our readers are travelers. What’s your advice on bringing souvenirs back from trips to include in a home without looking too tacky?

There is a fine line between hoarding and collecting, and finding the marriage between the two is very important. Only include items that you truly love, and find interesting ways to live with them. Whether it’s a framed souvenir, or turning a textile into a wall hanging or pillow. You want to always be mindful of what you let in.

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Crawford Silver is a company well known for their unique designs and craftsmanship, taking silversmithing to the next level with imaginative creations embodying a contemporary look. Founder Alastair Crawford began his career as a silver trader in London and has cultivated a client base stretching from the US to Europe, the Middle East and Australia.

For those seeking a statement piece to shine on a dining room table or draw attention to a curated bookshelf, consider one of these wild pieces as a unique talking point for friends and family. The pair of Sterling Bear Candelabra above (weighing close to eight pounds each) is the perfect compliment to your modern dining table, and other unique handcrafted designs (like the monkey candelabra below) are available on their website.

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I find the inspiration for my designs just about everywhere.  Living and working in a beach environment provides tremendous inspiration. The colors of the water and beach and the way the light reflects them - even in the winter - are amazing. I'm always looking through all types of magazines and the internet. There is inspiration everywhere!

What other designer’s work do you admire?

I admire the work of so many designers. Barclay Butera is one of my favorites, as well Barbara Barry and Kelly Wearstler.

Are you looking forward to following any new designs trends this year?

As far a design trends for the coming year, I am looking forward to the use of color. I still love to use neutrals as a base, but with pops of color everywhere. So many of the new fabrics I have seen incorporate such beautiful combinations of color.  It makes me excited to get working with them!

How do you intend to take your design expertise to the next level?

I intend to take my design expertise to the next level by keeping up with the newest techniques and products available, and also by continuing to branch out into other areas, specifically the city. I also plan to expand my current body of work with more commercial design, i.e. restaurants and retail stores.

Visit Maria Toczylowski's Haute Design Network profile here.

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Marni presents the 2013 edition of the project “100 Chairs;” unveiled in the new space in viale Umbria 42 in Milan, the colors of the collection reflect chic, urban sitting rooms.

Featuring small chairs, chaise-lounges, rocking chairs, and tables, the collection incorporates bright colors and woven patterns that compliment many different living room and lounging area styles. The collection also features a children’s edition that includes even more youthful colors and designs.

The most inspiring part of this functional-yet-fashionable collection is Marni’s dedication to helping Colombian ex-prisoners resettle into new careers; each chair is handmade by an individual aiming to reintegrate into social and working life.

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I often find inspiration in nature patterns, textures and colors I observe.  I love dining out and traveling where I also see great design ideas.  Estate sales and vintage shops often showcase designs that stand up over time.

What should a client expect from you should they choose you as their interior designer?

I am very open to a client's individual tastes and lifestyle needs. I love that challenge of marrying function and style.

What other designer’s work do you admire? 

I love Clodagh, Kelly Wearstler and clothing designer, Erica Tanov.

Are you looking forward to following any new designs trends this year?

I am hoping the color gray that I see everywhere will lead to a softer, warmer color palette this year. I am excited to see an influx of pale pastels mixed with earth neutrals. I am also really into copper, brass and faceted stone (still)!

What characteristics does your dream client have?

My dream client is trusting, happy, open and a good communicator.  Most of my favorite clients are busy people who enjoy the design process and participate but don't mind stepping away to be happily surprised and impressed on installation day!

How do you intend to take your design expertise to the next level?

I will be consulting with more corporate clients and designing custom furnishings and products.

Visit Kimberly Rider's Haute Design Network profile here.

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I find inspiration everywhere. I find it during my travels, walking through New York City, new hotels, restaurants, and museums. Every day is a new day and a canvas for my inspirations.

2. What should a client expect from you should they choose you as their interior designer?

Clients should expect high-end service from conception to completion.

3. What other designer’s work do you admire?

Jamie Drake and Kelly Wearstler.

4. Are you looking forward to following any new designs trends this year?

I’m looking forward to mixing elements that you wouldn't necessarily think to put together, merging them into an unexpected and beautiful piece.

5. What characteristics does your dream client have?

As an interior designer, my dream client will give me the full range of ability to turn their dream home into a reality.

6. How do you intend to take your design expertise to the next level?

My plan is to develop a ready made brand that can be sold to the masses in large chain stores i.e. Target, Home Goods, Bed Bath & Beyond. I hope to develop a furniture line as well. I want to be the next Latina Martha Stewart.

Visit Vanessa DeLeon's Haute Design Network profile here.

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Sophisticated, radiant, and luxurious, Emerald (Pantone’s Color of the Year 2013) makes a statement from runway trends to home accents. A color often associated with growth and prosperity, Emerald has influenced home and furniture design, inspired jewel-tone statement walls and encouraged classic accent pieces.

While Emerald stands strong as a rich, vibrant shade, many other greens (ranging from light greens to blue-greens to olive hues) have also been popular, often paired with light grays, whites, soft blues and muted yellows in interior design for a calming (and chic) environment. Give a new meaning to "going green" by letting this shade inspire your aesthetic.

Photos Courtesy of decoist.com and designyoutrust.com

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In an interview with Dezeen, Woodroffe said; “Since the invention of the city centre apartment, we’ve never really re-invented it. YO! Home is that new invention. Twelve moving parts drawing on the mechanics of stage scenery allow the transformation of an eighty square metre space, the size of a one bedroom apartment, into a much bigger home."

Though it may seem impossible that so many rooms and their accompanying accoutrements could fit into such a reduced square footage, the key to this concept is maximization of the functionality of space and the utilization of hidden compartments. For instance: the breakfast counter slides out from the walls of the kitchen, the dining table folds up from the floor, rooms are created using sliding partitions,  and the master bedroom is lowered over the sunken seating area in the living room.

Photos courtesy Dezeen.com

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Case in point: the Suspension Chandelier. Unlike the conventional fixture, this modern piece is about clean lines and sophisticated hues. Choose from glass or alabaster as well as polished brass, nickel, chrome and beyond.

Continuing the unconventional theme is the Miss Redhead Table Mirror, also available in different finishes including polished brass, chrome or nickel, and light pewter.

All metals are living finishes, so time has no wear on these statement-making home appointments.

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