Meet 3A: A Chat with Mallory

Today is the last and final installment of our Meet 3A Series.  Let's see what Mallory has to say...

When did you first discover your love of design?

I’ve loved design ever since I was a little girl.  I first redecorated my room when I was in the 2nd grade.  I asked for American Girl doll furniture in lieu of the actual dolls and “playing Barbies” at my neighbor’s house meant setting the dolls to the side and redecorating the Barbie Dream House.  I was constantly rearranging furniture and picking out new paint colors for the house.  When I got my first apartment in college, I was in heaven thinking I’d have a place of my own (with my roommate) to decorate.   When people say that a design eye is something you are born with and have a natural passion for, they are right!

How would you describe your design style?

I think a great influence on my style is the amazing antique pieces that have been passed down in my family.  I have a natural pull toward more classic, modern styles with a hint of Spanish Revival and antique pieces mixed in. I love the juxtaposition of something old with something new.   I also love a neutral room with layers of texture and pattern. 

Your home is your refuge from the world, and it should be a place in which you look around and are proud to call your own. 
 

What is one thing you think every good design needs?

Great lighting! You can have the most beautifully styled room with amazing furnishings and if it has bad lighting, it will ruin the whole thing.  I love a statement ceiling light and varying heights of eye-level lighting to set the mood any time of the day.  When my husband and I first got married he had one lamp in his entire house.  I was completely baffled at how someone could live like that.  Luckily, we’ve come a long way and now have 12 lamps throughout the house :)

What’s your favorite part of the job?

Transforming an incomplete space into a place the clients love.  Your home is your haven so it should make you feel comfortable, inspired and proud.  When I hear how much a client loves their new design, it makes my job so worthwhile.  Many people assume their home can’t look as good as they dream, so when we show them that it can, it’s incredibly rewarding.

When you find yourself uninspired and in a slump, how do you fix it?

I typically step away.  I'll get out of the house or tend to other tasks for a while. I also love scavenging through thrift stores and old design magazines for unexpected inspiration.  Sometimes you get so deep into a project that you lose the big picture and a little time away will bring you back to where you need to be.

 Why is design important to you?

Because it affects your every day life!  Where you wake up, where you spend time with your family and friends, where you make memories…these should all be places in which you ENJOY being.  Your home is your refuge from the world, and it should be a place in which you look around and are proud to call your own.  When you can accomplish that, you’ve enriched your life in one of the most impactful ways. 

That's a wrap.  We hope you've enjoyed getting to know a little more about each of us and our views on design.  Thanks for coming along with us this week!