Get Inspired With Tips From Jay-Z And Beyonce's Interior Designer
Being able to say you've designed a space for Beyoncé and Jay-Z is a huge accomplishment, especially when you're self-taught. This is exactly what Brigette Romanek, who has built quite a career for herself, can claim. Besides her celebrity clients, including Gwyneth Paltrow and Demi Moore, she's also known for being a judge on "Ellen's Next Great Designer" and for appearing on Architectural Digest's "AD100" list multiple times.
When speaking about designing a space, Romanek says, "I draw on my passion from the many genres of design that inspire me, combining them in fresh and unexpected ways. Never trendy, the spaces must be fresh, functional, aesthetically alive, that will continue to inspire for years to come." She continues, "Being self-taught, I tend to work on instinct, and my years of study and work experience have helped me to channel those instincts into successful design solutions," per Romanek Design Studio. Romanek has three tips she follows when working with clients, which could help you design your space in a new and imaginative way.
Mix beauty with comfort
Brigette Romanek often describes her style as "liveable luxe," which means mixing comfort with luxury. In an interview with Whitewall, she says, "I don't think that it has to be beautiful or comfortable. I think that those two components really work well together." Romanek also told The Expert, "Feeling good in your environment is crucial for everyone. There's nothing like walking into your home, closing the door, and feeling like you can exhale." She creates this peaceful feeling by prioritizing form and function equally.
Romanek also points out that luxury isn't synonymous with expensive; instead, the pieces should fit well in the design and contribute to an overall feeling of comfort. The interior designer notes, "Livable luxe is what I call it. Whether that's an item that's $5 or $500, it just needs to translate into a feeling of being cozy, relaxed, and peaceful," per Domino. Therefore, no matter your budget, you can find beautiful pieces that make your space more comfortable.
Get outside your comfort zone
Brigette Romanek also encourages her clients to make bolder choices. She does this by taking the client's interests and expanding upon them. Noting on Romanek Design Studio, the décor expert states, "I listen carefully to my clients most cherished hopes and dreams. I also love introducing new ideas to help them reach their goals with visions they might not have considered." In the interview with Whitewall, Romanek affirms that this is the heart of her career as an interior designer: "It's my job to show them things they haven't seen before. It's my job to work to push a little bit." To do this for yourself, list your goals and research ways to achieve them, even if they feel out of your comfort zone.
For instance, if one of your goals is to create a comfortable space, you could include pieces with curves. According to Living Etc., Romanek says, "it's about using organic shapes, introducing an asymmetry that is unexpected and pleasing to the eye. I really like the curved sofas ... which just take the formality out of a room. Why should a coffee table be rectangular? Curved edges have more heart and soul."
Consider the space as a whole
Finally, it's important to consider the whole space. Speaking to Living Etc., Brigette Romanek says, "you should never design in a vacuum. It goes back to the plotting stage – pay particular attention to where the windows are and where the light comes from ... consider a room's surroundings first." Similarly, let your home's style speak to you and influence your design choices. When designing her own house, Romanek told Domino, "We wanted to elevate our house in many ways, but it had so much soul as it was, and stripping that away would have been just terrible." Instead of removing or covering up imperfections in the plaster and molding, she embraced them: "We highlighted things that were insane and crazy, and we minimized things that could possibly be dangerous. We let it grow into its potential." In the same way, embrace your home's unique architectural elements and let them fuel your design choices.
It's also crucial to think about the overall energy your design creates. Romanek says, "When people leave a room they don't remember every piece of furniture or every object, but they do remember how they felt in that space – that energy lingers with them," per Livingetc. Therefore, think about how people will feel in the space, not just how it appears.