Design Lessons From Mom

Behind every great designer is a lady of high style and discerning tastes — their mom. Our favorite designers share how their mothers influenced their style.

By H. Camille Smith
Filed under: Mother's Day, Holiday

Designers Don Raney and Jaymes Richardson use paint to freshen a space.

What are favorite design tips or tricks that you can credit to Mom?

Andreas Charalambous, FORMA Design: "You don't need to spend money to show good taste. It's a matter of being selective and editing what you have to work with to create maximum impact. Not every wall needs to have artwork, for example, as all the pieces would fight for attention for a net-zero effect. Put some in storage; rotate items as needed but let each piece have its moment in the spotlight. Make it memorable!" See how Andreas creates memorable spaces at Designers' Portfolio.

Don Raney and Jaymes Richardson, Civility Design: "As Mom would say, 'Don't be afraid to do it yourself!' Many people are afraid of choosing just the right colors for their walls and the thought of actually doing the painting themselves can paralyze many. It's only paint, people, and it's the easiest and least-expensive material to apply to effect real change in your home. So, if you can do only one thing to change a room completely, paint the walls a fresh, new color. It works wonders for both your spirits and the appearance of the room." See more of Jaymes and Don's style in Designers' Portfolio.

Designer Joseph Pubillones designed this fashionable living room, with couch and chairs with pillows, coffee table with books and decor, side tables, and artwork.

Joseph Pubillones, JP Interiors: "Two design tips that I can credit to my mom are: 1) To always hold onto some pieces from your past decor when redecorating. Inevitably trends in home decor, like fashion, will come back in style and you'll be able to appreciate them once again. 2) In dressing a room, just like dressing oneself, put everything on and then take something away. This is always a great way to avoid being overdone." See more of Joseph's fashion-conscious style in Designers' Portfolio.

Erinn Valencich, Omniarte Design: "My mom was a big proponent of repurposing items, especially old frames or a funky, old chair. I can't tell you how many times I'd come home as a child and she would have recovered something." See how Erinn incorporates repurposed items into her designs at Designers' Portfolio.

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