My own love for interior design began early. As a five-year-old, my parents gave me carte blanche to choose a paint color for my room, and were surprised when I eschewed bright pinks and purples in favor of a pale pastel hue similar to Benjamin Moore’s Ice Blue. I wanted a color I wouldn’t “get tired of looking at.” My mum will recall the time she returned home shocked to discover a solid leather sofa moved from one side of the room to the other, along with a pair of CR Laine club chairs. At the age of 12, I was so determined that our floor plan could be improved that I moved the furniture—one inch at a time—completely by myself. While an interior design career ultimately was not my path, however, it is still one of my daily passions, and there are few things I enjoy more than a well-appointed house and a talented designer like Christian Ladd.

When I first became acquainted with Christian’s work, I was immediately drawn to her use of traditional elements alongside contemporary pieces, her soothing color palettes, and her eye for an exquisite wallpaper, like Brunschwig & Fils, Quadrille, and Schumacher. I have loved following the Amarillo-based designer’s projects on Instagram, and her innovative emphasis on design education has already helped me improve our living space (who knew that choosing the right lightbulb was so important?). It turns out that we share an affinity for Hermés and Elsie de Wolfe, and we harbor the same guilty pleasure(s). After knowing and admiring Christian’s style for some time now, I am confident that her reputation for exceptional design will only continue to grow, and I was delighted when she agreed to join me in this edition of Playing Favorites.

How did you get started in interior design? Did you always know that you wanted to be a designer?

I realized design was my passion at a very young age. When I was six, we moved into a home that had been decorated by a well-known Houston designer and even at the age of six I was aware that the home was well decorated. Cut to when I was nine visiting an out of town friend whose room was being redesigned and a light bulb went off realizing that interior design could be a career. I later went on to major in Interior Design and minor in Architecture.

I love that you do a lot of design education in your stories and on your blog. I have learned so much that I didn’t even know I didn’t know! What inspired you to begin sharing this kind of content?

The blog is something that I had wanted to create for a while and decided to go for this summer. There are so many fun tricks that I abide by daily that most people wouldn’t even think of, so I thought it would be interesting to share. The feedback has been wonderful and many of the topics that we cover come from questions that we are asked frequently from clients or followers.

You say that “the devil is in the details” when it comes to design. That sounds intimidating! How do you get the details of a room to work together to elevate the overall space?

It is true that the smallest details make the biggest impact in a room. By adding extra touches to a room, it elevates the space and makes it feel more cohesive. This can be achieved by adding custom trim to window treatments or upholstered furniture, swapping out the backing of a chair for a different fabric or doing the same with a lampshade.

What was the first big investment you ever made for your own home? (Mine was 12 years ago living in a tiny apartment in Washington, DC—a hefty antique dry sink that we use as a bar. It is still with me three states and five homes later!)

My first big investment was a pair of framed blue chinoiserie Gracie panels. They are such a classic and I remember being so thrilled with them when I purchased them years and years ago – and still am! They have traveled with me from home to home over the years and currently reside in my master bedroom.

Did you ever have a design disaster that you can laugh about now?

I recently created a design disaster in my own home by hiding outlets (primarily in my office). I despise the appearance of outlets, however in hindsight the lack of outlets in my office is slightly inconvenient.

What advice do you have for someone who is considering hiring an interior designer for the very first time?

A home should be a reflection of your personality. Explaining your vision and hopes for your space, a designer will be able to work with you to tailor it to your personal taste as well as your needs.

Let’s play favorites…

COFFEE TABLE BOOK

Coffee table books are one of my favorite ways to accessorize a room. I have too many favorites to count but I love the Gypset Travel Series and constantly keep up with what books Assouline has published.

INSTAGRAM ACCOUNTS TO FOLLOW RIGHT NOW

I love finding inspiration via Instagram. I follow all different types of accounts but a few that I’m loving right now are Born on Fifth, Ariel Okin, The Potted Boxwood, Paloma Contreras and so many more.

NAIL POLISH COLOR

I’m not a big nail polish person but if I’m wearing polish it is typically a neutral such as Essie’s “Stirring Secrets”

PAINT COLOR

Always always white. One of my go-to’s is “Swiss Coffee” by Benjamin Moore.

COCKTAIL

It depends on the occasion but I love Cipriani’s bellini mix but you can’t go wrong with a glass of red wine.

GUILTY PLEASURE

An evening glass of wine (or two).

GO-TO OUTFIT/UNIFORM

Most days you will find me in a pair of jeans, a button down, and a classic pair of flats (Hermes Oran Sandals are my favorite for summer).

HOLIDAY TO DECORATE FOR

It would have to be Christmas.

IF YOU COULD…

BE AN APPRENTICE TO ANYONE, WHO?

Elsie de Wolfe

RAID SOMEONE’S CLOSET, WHOSE?

Queen Letizia or Lauren Santo Domingo

DESIGN A HOME ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD, WHERE?

Morocco

FIND AN AMAZING PIECE AT AN ANTIQUE/ESTATE SALE, WHAT?

There are so many great things you can find antiquing but a silver tray or a classic piece like Herend will always be a score. If you can find a larger piece of furniture that fits with your home, even better!