The Many Talents of Thomas O'Brien
Meet the versatile designer who has worked his magic for industry bigwigs and for the rest of us (think Target).
By Kathy McCleary
Designing a great interior isn't always about how much you can spend. Sure, lots of cash helps, but it's the mix of things—antique, contemporary, expensive, bargain, old, new, elegant, kitschy—that really makes a room inviting, says Thomas O'Brien. O'Brien is a bit of a mix himself, a designer who has created spaces for high-end clients including Ralph Lauren and Donna Karan, and who also has a home furnishings line of more than 500 items for Target. In addition to his New York-based design firm (Aero Studios Ltd.), O'Brien has designed furniture for Hickory Chair, textiles for Groundworks, rugs for Safavieh and luxury bedding for Marshall Fields. So how does the man who designs everything from $14 throw pillows to multi-thousand dollar dining tables create elegant and inviting spaces without breaking the bank? Check out his tips here:
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Casual, comfortable chairs and an ornate cabinet can share the same space with style. Photo courtesy of Hickory Chair.
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Mix It Up
Things look richer if casual items and elegant items are mixed together, O'Brien says. "In everything I do, I'll have some expensive antiques or more expensive upholstery but then I'm just as sure I want a $20 basket in the room. When everything is really, really expensive it's so boring, just as it is when it's all inexpensive. It works both ways. Even if something is dressy, it needs to feel easy. That mix of things is chic. It makes the richer thing look that much richer and the casual thing look wonderful." It's not about scrimping, O'Brien emphasizes, but choosing a well-thought mix of items that will complement each other. "It's like the way I dress," O'Brien says. "I wear new things with vintage and casual things with suit jackets. I like that in a home, like a sisal rug and inexpensive coffee table with richer antiques. That point of view seems more knowing."
Spend More on Comfort
Upholstered items are one of the most important things to spend money on because they're "what you put yourself in; they're what you really use," O'Brien says. These are the tactile items that literally surround you. Whether you're paying a premium for custom upholstery or buying at retail, O'Brien recommends your sofa and chairs be "the first thing you invest in and the best you can afford. Over the years as you build your home those things will gravitate to other rooms in the house as you buy even better ones."
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