TASTE IN SPADES
TASTE IN SPADES
SUZANNE KASLER Suzanne Kasler is the principal of Atlanta-based Suzanne Kasler Interiors. Her interiors have been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, House Beautiful, House & Garden, Southern Accents, Traditional Home, and Veranda. Her third book with Rizzoli, Sophisticated Interiors, is out this fall. It’s segmented into town, country, and shore, offering unique design ideas for unique living spaces. She also has signature lines with La Cornue, Lee Jofa, Ballard Designs, Hickory Chair, and Visual Comfort. She talks more about her style and how she finds the personal style within each of her clients. You’ve said that a room should be “collected, not decorated.” Can you explain what you mean by that? I think what we see in design today is all about making layers and it’s about making a composition. When you get through the first layer, you don’t get the personal style that I think people are looking for in design today. So when I used the term “collected”—even if it’s the designer helping the client collect things that relate to where they’re living, whether that’s the shore or the city or the country—you want to reflect the personal style of the client. I love the look of collecting more, because it gives a layer of a personal feel, and design today is about helping our clients reflect their own personal style.
Is it difficult to help clients find their own style within themselves? Over the years, I’ve noticed that most people who hire designers really love design. And I think that’s happening even more today because there’s so much social media knowledge; there’s so much sharing of design. We find that clients who come to us want that personal reflection, but they’re not sure how to get there. You get to know the clients well, and you can always find something that they want to share in their interiors, whether that’s personal family photos or traveling to some place that they always return. It’s one of the later layers. It doesn’t always happen at the beginning of the process, but as we get to know each other, we start talking about it and we find what kinds of things they are attracted toward. They’re more excited about the project, too—creating a place that has more of a reflection of them. What is the most important room in the house? Obviously, it’s the kitchen. It’s had a big influence on what has changed in design today; it ends up being one of the first places we start. I work hard with clients on the kitchen and how it connects to other rooms— whether that’s a family room or eating area. People gravitate toward the kitchen, even though they may not be cooking as much.
2018 A NTI QUE S AT THE G A RD ENS
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