We’re thrilled to be partnering with amazing bloggers in the design, DIY, home improvement, culinary, plumbing and family spaces as part of the Friends of Pfister community. This week, we were lucky enough to sit down with design expert Courtney Lake of CourtneyOutLoud.com and get his opinions on the design world, trends, and some fun personal facts about him as well.
Please meet our Featured Blogger of the Week, Courtney!
What do you love about interior design?
As an interior designer, I am invited into a person’s life. Designing a home is more than making a space pretty, it’s creating a setting for which people will experience much of their life. I am setting the backdrop for memories.
Countless times I have heard clients refer to the living room of their youth or a hotel room which was the setting for an important event. I have the privilege of not only gaining intimate access to a client’s now, but also their future and that is an incredibly powerful and amazing place to be. I am humbled that every day I get to do this.
How did you get your start in the industry?
I am actually a late comer to interior design, as I spent a decade working in high-tech marketing and communications for various institutions and media outlets before opening my firm at the end of 2010.
In 2008 my partner and I purchased our home in Oakland, CA and set about decorating it. I documented the process on my blog Courtney Out Loud and the response was overwhelmingly positive. From there, I started assisting friends and family with their homes and the referrals started to pour in. All the while I was still working my 9 to 5 and doing the design after hours and on the weekends. It wasn’t until the middle of 2009 that I took the leap of faith and left my desk job to pursue design full time.
If you could only give one piece of advice when it comes to home renovations (in 140 characters or less), what would it be?
Take the time to fully understand how you “live” in your home. Just because a room is called something, doesn’t mean that is how you should use it.
What’s your favorite design style?
I love design, so choosing one style is hard for me. I tend to mix items from different periods – a mid-century table, Louis XVI chairs and an antique Persian rug with a figurine from Urban Outfitters. Beauty was never defined by one era or style, so I would say my favorite style is modern, global eclectic.
Which look that you’ve designed for yourself or a client has been your favorite to date, and why?
I recently finished a condo project for a couple in San Francisco. They were by all means the perfect clients who let me push them out of their comfort range but had firm ideas on what they did and did not like. The clients challenged me to create a space that was chic but not trendy, incorporated their love of textiles, and was cat friendly.
What we settled on was a space with muted hues, but with tons of pattern. We drew inspiration from a Farrow & Ball wallpaper but ended up reinterpreting it as an oversized metallic stencil. The final space is fun and a perfect interpretation of their style through my design filter.
What’s your favorite Pfister Faucet and why did you choose it?
For the kitchen, I am a huge fan of the Lita. If a faucet could be sexy, this would be it. It is sleek and beckons to be touched. But from a functional standpoint, the brushed finish hides a multitude of fingerprints and water spots, plus the high curve allows you to easily fit a tall stockpot or vase under it.
In the bathroom, the Vega Single Control in brushed is a sculptural piece. The waterfall spout is a decidedly modern approach and the perfect statement in a half bath. I would pair it with travertine countertop and other natural elements to play up the cascading water effect.
What’s your signature recipe?
Not to brag, but I make a pretty amazing Braised Short Rib. I serve it on a bed of blue cheese polenta and a side of stewed kale and tomatoes. It is definitely stick to your ribs eating, but then I have always loved homestyle cooking.
Photo Courtesy of The Pioneer Woman – Click Here for the Recipe
If you were any piece of furniture or home accessory, what would you be?
I would want to be a sconce. Sculptural but useful, I love including sconces in my designs because they are functional pieces of art.
If you could have dinner with any celebrity, living or dead, who would you choose?
As cliché as it sounds, I would want to dine with Oprah Winfrey. We share the same birthday (January 29) and her presence has influenced me in such a profound way that meeting her would be amazing. The simple fact that she was on TV gave me the possibility to dream that someone who looked like me could achieve so much. She is my role model and someone I aspire to be like in many facets of my professional and personal life.
Thank you to Courtney for spending some time with us. We can’t wait to see what future designs you have in store, and try some of those Braised Short Ribs soon!
This design is wicked! You obviously know how to keep a reader entertained. Between your wit and your videos, I was almost moved to start my own blog well, almostHaHa! Wonderful job. I really enjoyed what you had to say, and more than that, how you presented it. Too cool! gdefabdkdaad