Designer shares how to make home your happy place

September 8, 2022 by Eliza

Ask yourself, “What would make me the happiest when I walk into my home?” poses interior designer John McClain in his first book, “The Designer Within: A Professional Guide to a Well-Styled Home,” (Gibbs-Smith, Sept. 6, 2022).

That’s a good question. It might be THE questions. I am reviewing an advance copy.

What would make me the happiest? After coming home to people and pets dear to me, next would be a home that’s clean and orderly. Walking into a dirty home in disarray gives me hives. Prettiness comes next. That is, I want my eyes to sweep across my home’s interior without hitting a sour note. I want to see only objects and vignettes I love, pieces my husband and I have collected over time that tell stories.

“I adore a book topper,” says interior designer and author John McClain, pictured here with a brass octopus he designed that artfully caps off a stack of books.

I’ll say this for McClain’s book. He had gotten me thinking before I was even through the introduction.

“I want readers — whether homeowners about to embark on their first renovation or seasoned design professionals looking for new ideas — to come away feeling confident and inspired,” he writes.

Fair enough, but to be honest, when I finish the book, I feel no more confident, though I’m certainly more inspired. Readers would be hard pressed not to want to give their whole home a makeover after looking through this pretty 114-page tome, illustrated with photos of McClain’s own home, a “Modern Loft Bungalow,” and his other design projects, which range from traditional to contemporary.

“I did not want this to be just another pretty coffee table book,” McClain told me over the phone from his home in Los Angeles. He has a design office there and in Orlando. “What I really want this book to do is to start a conversation, a discussion inside your own household that sparks change.”

My husband hates when that happens. Now I want to renovate our kitchen.

Because his book raised questions beyond what would make me happiest (an updated kitchen), I asked McClain the following questions:

Q. Every designer, including you, says to gather inspirational images from magazines or on a Pinterest board to form the foundation of your design. How do you go from that hodgepodge to a design plan?

A. You’re looking for inspiration. When you find something you respond to positively, whether a photo of a room, a rug or a piece of art or furniture, dig deeper. Analyze why you love it. Is it because it reminds you of a favorite place or makes you feel comfortable and relaxed. What is it? The items in your home need to awaken something in you. They need to be more than just pretty.

Q: You tell readers to “be bold.” That’s loaded advice. Please advise.

A. I am over people copying what they see in Crate & Barrel or Restoration Hardware and the depersonalization of home. Homeowners need to express themselves. My favorite way to be bold is through wallpaper, but it can also be through a statement piece of furniture, maybe an oversized light fixture that acts like a sculpture, or through unexpected color.

Q: Your book features a lot of painted cabinets, but the idea of painting wood cabinets terrifies me. Isn’t that sacrilegious?

A. Now I’m going to raise you a who cares. Wood is just wood. I do not understand why we have put it on this pedestal. People say they cannot change this golden oak, and I say, “Are you kidding me?” Wood cabinets are no more special than painted cabinets. Although, when painting cabinets, do choose colors that will stand the test of time.

Q: Share your secrets for creating a great “shelfie” or tablescape.

A. When styling a bookshelf or coffee table, must-haves include stacks of books with some sort of “book topper,” such as a brass object or any small accent piece on top of the stack to punctuate the table. Then add one to two objects with height and a round object, like a bowl. Mix sizes, shapes, colors and finishes, and try to make the ensemble a microcosm of the room it’s in.

Q: You advocate for a home design that is “comfortably chic.” How do you bridge those opposite ideas?

A. Chic and comfortable is my go-to design aesthetic. You can choose a chic sofa with gorgeous, sophisticated lines, and cover it in fabric so durable that the kids can wipe their dirty hands on it. Overstuff it, so it is more comfortable than you’d expect, while keeping the same sleek silhouette. Bottom line: Family homes can have white sofas.

Q: What are some ways to make a small space look larger?

A. Use chairs and sofas with legs that allow airspace beneath them. None should hit the floor. Clear acrylic chairs take up less visual space, and drapes that start at the ceiling will make rooms feel taller. Don’t be afraid to use large pieces in small rooms. A few larger pieces are better than several smaller ones. A monochromatic color scheme also helps.