In the BOH series What I Love, we’re asking designers to build us a mood board of what’s inspiring them right now.
Ghislaine Viñas has built a business on being a wild card. The New York designer has earned a reputation for thinking outside of the box about bold prints, timeless materials and eye-catching color combinations.
Her current flat lay drives home the point. Inspired by a custom floral wallcovering she designed for Wolf-Gordon, Viñas incorporated everything from a lavender striped fabric to a deep red-orange wood finish to offset the gradient green hues of the paper. “I would describe the mood as soft, kind and nonaggressive,” she explains. “It maintains a softness without being cute, and the combination of tones makes the palette genderless.”
A wide-ranging mix of graphic shapes and scales—including faceted grid-patterned tile and heavily veined polished marble—adds intrigue to the design, while the cool pastel-leaning tones help draw it together. “While the overarching color scheme revolves around soothing greens, creams and purples, the unexpected bursts of sulfur yellow and black disrupt—and add depth to—the palette,” says Viñas.
Here, the designer breaks down the details, from quilted performance upholstery to a dark sage silk rug.
1. MS. QUILTY 2.0 FABRIC IN PURE BY GHISLAINE VIÑAS FOR HBF TEXTILES
“This is my go-to textile when I’m seeking a cream fabric that needs to excel in performance and style. It’s bleach-cleanable and can be used outdoors, yet still looks fun and sophisticated.”
2. BAIRD FABRIC IN 123 BY FABRICUT
“This plum velvet fabric will serve any household well. FibreGuard stain treatment allows you to be messy and have fun while remaining comfortable.”
3. BLOOMA WALLCOVERING IN CUSTOM COLORWAY BY GHISLAINE VIÑAS FOR WOLF-GORDON
“We have been fascinated with floral patterns for the last few years, which led us to craft this fresh and modern take on a classic floral print.”
4. CALYON FABRIC IN IRIS BY JANE CHURCHILL AT COWTAN & TOUT
“I find the texture of this fabric appealing because it has a nice tooth to it. Never underestimate the power of blending textures of similar hues within a space.”
5. CUSTOM MAPLEWOOD FINISH SAMPLE IN BLAZING ORANGE BY SCOTT JAMES FURNITURE & DESIGN
“This deliciously vibrant orange wood sample by [Scott James Furniture] was specially crafted for a custom four-poster bed in our recently published Aspen project. It’s always wonderful to inject a completely unexpected and unrelated color into a room solely for the purpose of introducing a surprising element.”
6. ROSSO LUANA POLISHED MARBLE BY STONE SOURCE
“The allure of this Rosso Luana stone [by Stone Source] is all about its enticing flow. It’s moody and very present in a room. Due to its unforgettable effect, I recommend using this with abandon.”
7. GLAZE SAMPLE IN MATTE BLUE BY ENTLER
“Entler crafts the most beautiful light fixtures that blend organic and otherworldly beauty. I’m extremely drawn to all of their pieces and their rainbowlike color range.”
8. DIVA 14 CERAMIC TILE IN EMERALD BY NEMO TILE + STONE
“This lush deep green tile stands out, and is a color I gravitate toward time and time again.”
9. NURTURE GREEN PAINT BY SHERWIN-WILLIAMS
“Green inherently possesses a calming quality, and this saturated shade offers a refreshing and uplifting feeling thanks to its minty tone.”
10. SOAP TILE IN GREEN GLOSSY BY KAUFMANN KERAMIK
“When installed on a wall, this tile creates a mesmerizing wavelike pattern. It imparts a sense of elegance and provides a bold statement.”
11. FAUCET FINISH SAMPLE IN MOCCA BY VOLA
“Surprisingly, I find myself revisiting chocolate brown, a color I never thought I’d embrace again after the 1980s left me traumatized. Yet it’s making a comeback in my color palette, and I’m genuinely enjoying my renewed admiration. It’s always so fun to be able to play with colors of faucets in Vola’s incredible range.”
12. CUSTOM TILE BY DURAT
“We are suckers for color, and Durat offers an extensive palette that allows us a lot of design freedom and flexibility. We love their options, whether we opt for a terrazzo effect or a matte countertop.”
13. CUSTOM CIGARETTE TILE IN PINK BY BDDW
“I’m enamored by these custom tiles we incorporated into our latest project, and even more so when I learned the incredibly talented Tyler Hays [of BDDW] named them Cigarette Tiles. The whimsical name perfectly captures their resemblance to the bottom of a pink ashtray. The juxtaposition of the delicate and pretty pink hue with a stubbed-out cigarette is amusing, delightful and clever.”
14. TORTOISE 01 PULL IN POLISHED BRASS UNLACQUERED BY NEST STUDIO
“Every palette needs a bit of bling, and Nest Studio’s hardware delivers precisely that. Its uniqueness, distinctiveness and bespoke craftsmanship make it an irresistible addition that I truly adore.”
15. REFLEX FABRIC IN 0639 BY RAF SIMONS FOR KVADRAT
“This is one of my favorite textiles ever. Kvadrat never disappoints with their historically vibrant color palettes, and this fabric is perfect not only for the color combination, but also the seamless textural transition from the natural stripe to the pink.”
16. MOHAIR RUG IN LAVENDER BY MARC PHILLIPS
“The moment this sample came into our studio, I was captivated by its luxurious quality and mesmerizing color. Sure, it has purple undertones, but can easily do double duty as a neutral. It’s an incredible background.”
17. CLAY TILE IN NUD-02 BY CLAYWORKS
“This tile offers a delicately feminine texture. Its color palette exudes a sense of comfort and security, almost like a soothing embrace.”
18. GLAZE ENGINEERED WOOD FLOORING IN LIGHT EUROPEAN OAK BY HAKWOOD
“Creating that perfect Scandinavian feeling in any home is going to start with a beautiful wood floor, like this light European oak by Hakwood.”
19. CUSTOM GREEN SILK RUG BY MARK NELSON DESIGNS
“This custom silk rug by Mark Nelson Designs showcases a natural heathering that gives it a patina, suggesting it’s been around for a century or two. This distinctive quality provides a feeling of authenticity and warmth.”
20. CONCRETE SAMPLES IN MINT AND TEAL BY NOOD CO.
“We’re shining a spotlight on these Nood concrete samples for a reason: their breathtaking spectrum of colors and their exquisite organic concrete sinks.”
21. PRISM MATTE TILE IN EMERALD BY ATLAS CONCORDE
“This matte porcelain tile creates a wonderful texture for any wall. Think of use beyond your typical bathroom and consider this for accent walls in unexpected places, such as behind a bed or for an entryway.”
