It is very gratifying to this new blogger to find today’s top women designers spreading “my” message that great design is grounded in solid knowledge of the decorative arts.  The November 2009 issue of Elle Decor covered several top women designers and their secrets of success. Perhaps Charlotte Moss, winner of Elle Decor’s 2009 Vision Award,  said it best. When Elle Decor asked what advice she would give new designers just starting out in the business, Charlotte said, “Do your homework.  Inform yourself on a daily basis.  Study magazines.  Go to museums.  Attend lectures.  Ignorance isn’t bliss.”  Her colleague, Kelly Wearstler, echoed those sentiments.  She advised new designers to “Train your eye.”  And Michelle Nussbaumer, CEO of the Dallas based shop Ceylon et Cie,  counseled new designers to ” expand your horizons by visiting museums, galleries, important architectural sites–and understand why theses things have influenced design and style. READ (her emphasis).”  That is what we are all about here at Decor Arts Now.

What is especially interesting is that each of these women have their own unique (and completely different from each other) sense of style.  And still they are advocating the same message as a secret to their success.  Let’s look at some of  the work of  Charlotte Moss and Kelly Wearstler.

Charlotte Moss’ work is warmly traditional.  She says in the November 2009 Elle Decor that ” it all comes down… to hospitality.”  I read that as comfort.

Charlotte Moss interiors photos courtesy of the Washington Post (left) and the Kips Bay Showhouse archives (right).

Kelly Wearstler describes herself  in the November 2009 Elle Decor as a modernist, eschewing the label of Hollywood Regency often attributed to her.  She adds that expanding into product design has been one of her smartest business decisions.  Certainly, her new line of linens for Sferra shows her affinity for nature and organic modernism (and they are gorgeous).  There are napkins with a stylized thistle, throws with an abstract wood grain and pillows that celebrate the figuring in marble.  To see it all go to the Sferra website.  Here are the napkins:

With this line, Kelly does for textiles what a very famous organic modernist, George Nakashima, did with wood furniture.

Learning from the Masters, indeed!!