Ariel Okin sat down with us to talk about the process of designing her new family home - a layered space where her signature style is on full display. Eclectic furniture, custom elements, and a dreamy color palette come together in harmony with traditional details, like trimmed draperies from our selection of Samuel & Sons trims available through The Shade Store. The result? An inspiring home bursting with life. 

Samuel & Sons: Your new home is stunningly beautiful and expertly layered with color and texture. How did you approach designing a family home for yourself differently than you would for a client?

Ariel Okin: Thank you! Designing for myself was different in the sense that I let the details of the rooms evolve a bit more over time, versus designing a set plan for each room at once. For example, in the formal living room, I found the faux tortoise painted bar at auction even though I wasn't looking for a specific piece there, but I loved it so much I rearranged the room around it. Designing your own home is really liberating in the sense that there's no client to reject any ideas; it's also terrifying because it's entirely your choices!

S&S: You created a beautiful flow from room to room in your home. Do you have a favorite room? If so, what details take it over the edge for you? 

AO: Including passementerie in our designs is essential. Beautiful and classic trims as well as unique and unusual designs add a layer to the palette that shows attention to detail and adds a necessary level of luxury. They can transform a run of the mill hospitality project into a curated residential feeling experience. Samuel & Sons has thousands of options that are rich and traditional to clean and modern and everything in between.

S&S:  We love how you utilized our collection with The Shade Store throughout your home’s window treatments. What is your go-to way of using trim in your projects?

AO: We use trim in every single project, from windows (as a leading edge or trim on both sides) to pillows to trimming out furniture. Trim is the ultimate accent and can tie a color story together so perfectly. No room is complete without it, in my opinion!

S&S: Your signature style is traditional with a twist. What is your advice on blending modern design with more traditional elements like classic passementerie?

AO: I like to keep silhouettes clean lined to avoid spaces feeling too fussy or overly done; if you are starting with a well edited, clean palette, adding in smaller traditional details like passementerie shines as a quirky and unexpected addition…

S&S: And lastly, if you could only use one of our trims for the rest of your career, which one would it be? 

AO: That is the hardest question ever!!! That's like asking me to pick a favorite child. Probably the Rhodes Épinglé Velvet Border in Sky...it's so classic yet crisp, and I love the pale blue (our signature!)

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