KELLY WEARSTLER

“My goal is to remain consistent with my core philosophy of creating beauty through thoughtful design. I consider myself a designer of interiors, expander of ideas, creator of experiences.”

1967 - now

Early Influences: Ettore Sottsass, Bauhaus

Notable Clients: Cameron Diaz, Gwen Stefani, Ben Stiller

I love multi-hyphenates; they inspire me, motivate me and remind me that there’s more than one area a person can love and excel in. Kelly Wearstler, ‘the grande dame of interior design’ is one of those inspirational people. Born in 1967 in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina to a designer mother, Wearstler always knew that she wanted to do something creative. She attended the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston to study graphic design, architecture and art history, then moved to West Coast to start her career in interior design. Her first client was a friend of a friend for whom she designed one room in their home and then slowly grew her business via word of mouth. She officially founded her studio, the Kelly Wearstler Studio in 1995 from her Los Angeles apartment, “everything that has happened since has been an organic, intuitive and heart-driven journey ” says Wearstler. Started as a boutique interior design firm, Kelly Wearstler Inc. is now an interdisciplinary global lifestyle brand offering everything from residential and commercial interior design to fine jewellery to fashion to architecture, in addition to product and graphic design. Known for her distinctively ornate and luxurious interiors, Kelly Wearstler has revolutionised the contemporary American design and been named “the presiding grande dame of West Coast interior design” by The New Yorker. Her success has been recognised in the most prestigious publications including AD 100 list, Elle Décor’s A-List, Wallpaper’s Top 20 Designers and TIME Style & Design’s Design 100 group of global creatives. Her A-list clientele ranges from global luxury hotels and resorts to the most prominent figures in art, business and entertainment.

Kelly Wearstler’s elegant interiors are reminiscent of the swanky old-world Hollywood spirit with a touch of modernity. She is a true mixologist contrasting raw with refined, high and low, vintage and modern. “My aesthetic has always been about mixology,” Wearstler says, “the juxtaposition of contemporary and classic, masculine and feminine, raw and refined. Important vintage and soulful historical reference points that lend such spirit to a space.” Her philosophy is “to love colour, take risks and stay curious”. She constantly pushes boundaries by using bold textures, patterns and rich colours alongside lustrous surfaces. Her signature look 'mod baroque’ can be described as one step below the ‘over the top’ . Taking inspiration from travel, nature, fashion, graphic design, literature and art, her luxurious and vibrant interiors carry unexpected references such as traditional Japanese art or the Bauhaus. She delivers unconventional interiors and aims to reflect the personalities of the residents. She is not the one to follow design trends, instead she gets her inspiration from museums, art galleries, street art and most importantly the pieces her clients own. She believes the importance in using pieces that have personal meaning and significance to create a real sense of home and timeless interiors, in the end “real personal style doesn’t date”.

Kelly Wearstler put her stamp on the design industry by creating fresh and original designs and made a name for herself for masterfully combining contemporary and luxury design. She solidified her popularity with her blog My Vibe My Life and successful presence on Instagram. Her luxury-lifestyle brand continues to grow each day but she prefers to limit the number of projects and keep it personal. “I could grow, take on more work,” she admits, “but then I start losing the intimate relationship I have with my projects and my clients.”

Books: Kelly Wearstler: Evocative Style, Rhapsody, Modern Glamour: The Art Of Unexpected Style, Domicilium Decoratus, Hue