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designer's guide | Jul 10, 2020 |
Tiffany Skilling crafts a sleek, contemporary lounge

A season of missed industry shows spurred our editors to reimagine Business of Home’s guide to High Point Market, focusing on the inspiration journey that design professionals need now. In addition to revealing the latest product introductions, trade shows are often an essential source of inspiration. We asked eight designers to dream up a room featuring pieces they would have discovered at High Point this spring. Here is the next in the series.


Placing four undulating rattan pendants at varying heights provided Indianapolis-based designer Tiffany Skilling with the inspiration for this living room, which melds natural motifs with a contemporary flair. Bursts of green punctuate the neutral space, while the polished brass branches that form the base of the coffee table lend a high-octane luster. At every turn, organic shapes balance sharp corners and angular pieces. With a mix of expansive spaces and moments for conversation, it’s also a room designed for entertaining, whether for an intimate gathering or a crowd.

Tiffany Skilling crafts a sleek, contemporary lounge
Tiffany SkillingCourtesy of Tiffany Skilling Interiors

What was your starting point for this space?
Because I loved the natural and fluid presence that the Alondra pendant provided for the space, I decided that four installed over the main seating area at varying heights would be an impressive catalyst to drive the warm elements in the room. A palette of soft grays, blacks and creams ground the space, with green accents offering an unexpected twist.

Where are you looking for inspiration these days?
I find inspiration everywhere— from scrolling through my Instagram feed to print magazines like Elle Decor, Architectural Digest and Milieu, along with visiting our vendors’ websites for new product offerings and even the latest residential real estate listings. I also love to page through my collection of design books.

What are the essential elements of any room?
Every room needs a symbiotic relationship between finishes, texture and color, combined with the right placement of furnishings, fixtures, objects and art.

For more from Tiffany Skilling, check out her interview in our 50 States Project, where she tells BOH about her love for old homes, the in-person design activity she misses most right now, and why she’s happy keeping her firm small.

Tiffany Skilling crafts a sleek, contemporary lounge
How she did it: Skilling began by sketching the room using pencil, then washed the drawing with Prismacolor pastels and markers, and accentuated details with charcoal.

1. The iridescent alabaster cabochons on the Pearl mirror from Baker Furniture will make guests do a double-take.

2. The Bloom swivel armchair from Kenneth Cobonpue is a bursting blossom of a seat, handmade and available in eight colorways.

3. Hand-laid pieces of faux horn in the trio of dark green Jozlyn nesting tables by Made Goods provide ample surfaces and subtle pattern play.

4. An entanglement of bronzed branches and miniature birds form the base of the glass-topped Jerrah coffee table from Made Goods.

5. The woven Alondra pendants from Made Goods are incredibly versatile—their warm glow is equally at home in an island getaway, a bohemian bedroom, a rustic living room, or this refreshingly glam pad.

6. A fresh geometric pattern brings an edge to the classic silhouette of the Dauphine daybed from South + English.

7. The curved back of the Fae chair by Four Hands rests on three upholstered legs.

8. With its curved edges, the Theo sectional from Verellen doesn’t shy away from making an ultramodern statement.

9. Burl-wood swirls meet brushed brass hardware in the Beau cabinet from Bungalow 5.

This article originally appeared in Summer 2020 issue of Business of Home. Subscribe or become a BOH Insider for more.

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