In the BOH series What I Love, we’re asking designers to build us a mood board of what’s inspiring them right now.
For Michelle Gage, every room is a blank canvas ripe with the potential to become a work of art as sumptuous and rich as a Renaissance painting. The creative director and founder of her eponymous Philadelphia-based firm applies an abundance of florals, strokes of pink, a splash of lemony velvet, and even a dash of beading to conjure up a space alive with color and pattern. “Our work can be jewel-toned and moody or bright and cheerful,” she says. “I wanted to reflect that in a flat lay that felt a little spring-forward, given the season!”
She conceived her mood board alongside Michelle Gage Interiors senior designer Nicole Flynn Mullany, assembling samples in vibrant palettes from preferred brands. “We pulled together some of the firm’s go-to materials—items we design into every project,” says Gage. Topping the list are lush yet durable velvets and a mix of motifs. Blossoms bursting out from both a wallcovering with a metallic white background and a deep blue Liberty upholstery fabric may make the first impression, a closer look revealing cheeky details like a leopard-print rug, teal-saturated vellum and fruity-hued tile.
“The theme is truly ‘our favorite things,’” Gage continues. Idiosyncratic and personal accents help make each interior unique to the client, as reflected in this imaginative grouping by such quirky objects as a vintage portrait photograph of a mysterious woman, an ornithological letter opener, and a matchbook from an elegant restaurant on Paris’s Rue Cadet. Underscoring them all, though, are the signature choices that define the designer’s style: “Velvet upholstery, whimsical wallpaper, maybe even a bit of burl!” she says. Discover each of her chic selections below.
1. VINTAGE SHELL DISH WITH ASSORTED BROOCHES
“I love a good vintage find. This shell dish holds some of my favorite bits and bobs.”
2. ELIZABETH TAPE IN BLUEBERRY BY THE VALE LONDON
“I was lucky enough to visit The Vale London’s new showroom in Paris during Déco Off. The beading here gets me every time; it’s like jewelry.”
3. WALNUT VENEER IN LINDSEY BY MADE GOODS
“You’d be hard-pressed to find a project of ours that doesn’t feature a bit of burl. This walnut veneer is bananas in the best way!”
4. LACQUERED TEAL VELLUM BY JULIAN CHICHESTER
“Julian Chichester is one of our favorite showrooms to visit. We’ve used this teal vellum a handful of times before and will likely continue to do so. It’s become a staple material for us.”
5. LADY KRISTINA ROSE VINTAGE VELVET FABRIC IN LAPIS BY LIBERTY OF LONDON AT FABRICUT
“I love a Liberty print. We’re using a printed velvet similar to this style for a living room sofa and are so excited for all that bold pattern.”
6. TALON LETTER OPENER
“I scored this great talon letter opener recently. I had never seen anything like it, so I knew I had to have it!”
7. FLORIANE LINEN IN GOLDEN BY ALICE SERGEANT TEXTILES
“The colors in this fabric pair so beautifully together. We’re making a pillow from it for an upcoming project.”
8. PINK DAHLIA CERAMIC TILE BY ZIA TILE
“You can have so much fun with colored tile. There are a million juicy hues we’re eyeing for our future projects.”
9. DOTTIE RUG IN YELLOWS ON CREAM BY TEMPLE STUDIO
“I love the playfulness of this rug. A chartreuse pop is always a good idea.”
10. MARIA WALLPAPER IN METALLIC WHITE BY VOUTSA
“This is one of my all-time favorite wallpapers. After many attempts, I finally got it into a project!”
11. MATCHBOOK FROM LA FANTAISIE
“I just got back from Paris, where I dined at La Fantaisie. The interiors are to die for.”
12. MUFASA WOVEN WILTON IN BRONZE BY DISTINCTIVE CARPETS & RUGS
“Sometimes a room just needs a little leopard!”
13. BRASS DACHSHUND
“I do a lot of work with local rescue organizations, so anytime I find a great dog item in the wild, I scoop it up.”
14. ANNI STRIPE FABRIC IN ROSE BY IMOGEN HEATH
“This quirky pattern features all of my favorite berry tones.”
15. BRECCIA CAPRAIA MARBLE BY ARTISTIC TILE
“A classic marble makes for a beautiful fireplace mantel.”
16. LOIRE BULLION FRINGE IN MERLOT BY SAMUEL & SONS
“Love a good bullion fringe—especially when it’s in an unexpected color.”
17. BLACK-AND-WHITE PORTRAIT
“When hunting for artwork, I often favor portraits. They can be painted or photographs, but they are always of strangers.”
18. SNAZZY CITRON VELVET BY CR LAINE
“We use a lot of velvet in our designs. It’s so durable and really stands the test of time.”
