While finding a new, unique product is a thrill, everyone has a go-to piece that can fit in any project. We asked seven designers—Rayman Boozer, Katie Davis, Barry Dixon, Ashley Evans, Emily Finch, Ellen Frances and Michelle Lisac—what pieces they find themselves using over and over again.
Light touch
“Off the top of my head, I can think of five different projects where I’ve incorporated the Frankfort floor lamp from Circa Lighting into my designs. I’ve found that the Frankfort serves as the ultimate transitional lighting piece. It plays just as well in a midcentury living room as in a romantic bedroom, or even an office conference room. The aesthetic versatility is easily matched by its functionality, producing a high output of beautifully diffused light. I also love the sculptural, spearlike shape. It connotes a throwback vibe, yet never feels like it’s trying too hard.” —Rayman Boozer, Apartment 48 Interiors, New York
Anytime, anywhere
“A herringbone pattern—no matter if it’s big- or small-scale, bold or quiet—I find myself going back to it over and over. I use it in fabric, tile, rugs—anywhere you might use a solid. I recently did a sample-stash cleanse and realized I have a lot of herringbone samples and still love them all! It adds interest, texture and pattern in a way that can suit pretty much any style or fabric. It feels current and classic at the same time. Herringbone is great for projects that call for a solid color on a large piece, such as a sofa or pair of chairs, but a true solid would be a little boring. The detail of the pattern really makes someone take another look at the whole space for more of these purposeful design features.” —Ashley Evans, Ash Lane Design, Milwaukee
Branching out
“I’ve been using the Branch side table from Rose Tarlow Melrose House for more than 25 years and have probably used it 30 times. I’ve had it finished in 22 karat gold for formal settings and whitewashed for beach houses—when you play with the finishes, it feels so different. I even had them turn it into a dining table for me once. It brings something insouciant and natural into any room, and any way I’ve used it, it ends up being my favorite thing in the room.” —Barry Dixon, Warrenton, Virginia
Shore thing
“We love the Shore bench from Serena & Lily because of the warmth it brings to just about any space. The natural rattan frame gives us a good base while giving us the freedom to lean more traditional or contemporary through custom fabrics and cushions, depending on the clients’ taste.” —Katie Davis, Katie Davis Design, Houston
Pretty penny
“We have used Ann Sacks Savoy Penny Round tiles over and over again in the majority of our projects, mostly in bathrooms. They are whimsical, fun and timeless! We just can’t get enough of those penny rounds.” —Michelle Lisac, Michelle Lisac Interior Design, Scotts Valley, California
High performance
“Fabricut has a lovely poly-linen blend called Newport that I use over and over for window treatments. It comes in dozens of colors and the texture reads like linen, but performs so much better—no sagging or wrinkling. The first time I sent it to my workroom for draperies, they were so impressed by the quality and said they loved working with it. Installed, it drapes beautifully and looks super high-end, but the price is a steal. Everyone who sees it installed asks my clients about it. It’s a winner, for sure!” —Emily Finch, Emily Finch Interior Design, San Francisco
Push and pull
“Putting in large drawers instead of cabinets has become a signature of mine. In drawers, you can see everything that’s in there, [so the items] are used more often, but in cabinets, things in the back are often hard to see and get forgotten. To me, design [shouldn’t] just look good—it has to be functional as well.” —Ellen Frances, Ellen Frances Designs, Philadelphia
Homepage photo: A room by Barry Dixon featuring the Branch side table from Rose Tarlow Melrose House; photo by Edward Addeo
