In honor of Mother’s Day, we turned to our favorite designers to ask them for the top tips they learn from their beloved mothers and or mother-like people in their lives. “My parents always bought quality furniture that would stand the test of time, and my mother emphasized taking the best care of our furniture. There was no setting a sweating water glass on a wood side table to make a mark in our home. She also regularly had our sofas spot cleaned and treated in order to get the longest life out of our upholstery, as well as wood properly cleaned and dusted. These are tips I convey to my clients today." —Amy Youngblood, Owner & Principal Designer, Amy Youngblood Interiors “White furnishings never goes out of style and navy blue will always be classic.” —Anne Mahoney, Anne Lydia Design “My mom encouraged aesthetic risks—she never shied from color or contrast. Though she had grown up in a home adorned with collectibles, she never hesitated to include her children’s art in her own home decor. Her space planning was always subject to our family’s evolving lifestyle and interests. Because she was a Zoology Major and author of children’s books, her interiors usually included terrariums complete with reptiles and or amphibians.” —James Copeland, Founder, Hudson Design “Growing up, I remember my mom was not afraid to experiment with color on the walls or fabric on our furniture. She liked to be creative in her space. I was obsessed with The Little Mermaid at one point, and she painted an ‘Under the Sea’ mural in the entire bathroom, with painted fish, sea creatures, and real seashells on the walls to create this realistic experience. I learned to experiment and enjoy the creative process while designing a space, to not be shy when mixing colors, and not to be defined by what is ‘in style’ now. She gave me the tools to go with my heart at the moment.” —Sam Tannehill, Sam Tannehill Designs “My mother read to us quite often when we were young, and my all-time favorite insight from her comes directly from her very favorite children’s book, called Simple Pictures Are Best by Nancy Willard with illustrations by Tomie dePaola. It taught me that the simplest of designs can require better and more complex details. They can be harder to execute, but I find they really are always the best. Editing, streamlining, and making strategic design choices set the work up to succeed, allow for more beauty to be noticed, and give everything space to breathe. I believe that little book is out of print, but I can’t recommend it enough. Thanks, mom!” —Mindy O’Connor, Melinda Kelson O’Connor Architecture & Interiors “My mother, and especially my grandmother, taught me that if you’re creative enough, there’s almost always a way to find a solution.” —Lauren Sullivan, Well x Design “Growing up, the pieces I loved were the pieces that were passed down through generations. Family heirlooms were curated throughout the home, expertly mixed with contemporary additions, but the heirlooms are what capture my attention when I enter a room. They are the pieces that tell a story. From those additions, I have learned to curate pieces such as those within my own design and that of my clients. Adding a personal and timeless design element that never goes out of style.” —Christina Manzo, Decorist “I grew up with an appreciation for antiques from my mother who loved design as well as the process of antiquing itself. We lived in Thailand during my childhood, and our home was full of rugs, antiques, and objects my parents collected during their years living and traveling in Southeast Asia. Our home had a layered and collected feel to it that felt very special and personal to me, and has inspired my own style today.” —Davina Ogilvie, Wovn Home “From my mother-in-law, I received the gift of a tapestry woven in the Aubusson technique by the Mambush Galleries in Ein Hod, Israel. My mother-in-law’s gift inspired us to collect artwork that we love, that brings us joy. She taught us that artwork was not about decorating or matching—it was about filling your home with objects that inspire and awe you, that bring magic to your life. It is not about fitting artwork into your space—it’s about making a space that is fitting for your art.” —Nancy Epstein, Artistic Tile “My mother taught me to reimagine items rather than disposing of them and starting with a new piece. If she was tired of our sofa, she would reupholster it. If she wanted a color or pattern change in an area, she would make new window treatments. If she felt the living room needed a refresh, she would rearrange all the furniture. My mother can see potential in pieces and is extremely creative. I definitely benefited from seeing her vision and ability to make something new out of something old.” —Stephanie Lindsey, Etch Design Group “My mother taught me how to properly set a table. It’s a great skill to learn at a young age because then it is ingrained into your memory forever. My daughter is 8 years old now and I am teaching her the same process. Knowing the rules for a properly set table has been useful in not only my personal life but in my professional design work as well.” —Mary Patton, Mary Patton Design “My mom always makes her guests feel special. She creates the most beautiful dinner tables with fine linens and china, silver candlesticks, crystal votives and stemware, decorative accessories, and always spectacular centerpieces fresh cut from her lush garden. She takes pride in creating, it is a meditation for her. Over the years, I’ve watched her immerse herself with such focus and joy. I love my Mom and she has inspired me with all of her magical touches.” —Anne Hepfer, Anne Hepfer Designs “We always had fresh flowers growing up! We would come home from school with little lavender bundles and add a nice scent to the space. It’s a perfect reminder to stop and smell the flowers.” —Tanya Willock, Hidden Gem “As a military child, we spent a lot of our life abroad in government housing. My mom inspired me to be unique growing up and to make those sterile white walls beautiful and homey. As I grow older, my taste has evolved but her advice always reigns true. ‘A pop of color and some new curtains can make any house feel like a home.’” —Tanya Smith-Shiflett, Unique Kitchens and Baths “I grew up in Kansas in a very close-knit family, immediate and extended. My family moved a couple of times, each time giving my mom an opportunity to add style to our new home. I remember tagging along as she sourced flooring, wallpaper, bathroom tile, and more. My parents did much of the work themselves, which allowed me to have more insight into the process.” —Mel Bean, Mel Bean Interiors “Following my mom’s footsteps, I always knew I’d be an interior designer. As a kid, my sick days were spent at her showroom resting on the most comfortable piece of inventory or playing in the sample room. I watched her pull samples and listened to her present to clients. She would always start out by saying, ‘Design is a process and not an event, we want your home to still feel like it belongs in 10 years.’ It was amazing to watch their faces change as they began to see her vision.” —Billie Marie Tharaldson, Julian Design
