For interior designers, their own homes serve as laboratories of creativity—a canvas where they can push boundaries, experiment with bold concepts, and ultimately refine their signature style. These personal spaces are not just places to live but integral to their professional journey, influencing their design philosophy and approach. Robert’s loft, located in an historic cotton mill in Raleigh, is no exception.

Here’s a closer look at why his home is so important to his design journey and how he uses the industrial space to explore daring design ideas:

Creative Freedom Unleashed

Designers often encounter clients with varied tastes and preferences, which can sometimes limit the extent of experimentation in professional projects. However, in their own homes, they have the liberty to explore unconventional color palettes, avant-garde furniture arrangements, and eclectic decor choices without constraints. Rob enjoys mixing vintage finds, contemporary art, and edgy decor into a design that encourages the eye to travel.

*Project: Caraleigh, Photo: Anna Routh Barzin, Styling: Kendra Surface*

Testing Ground for New Trends

Staying ahead of design trends is crucial in the competitive world of interior design. Designers use their personal spaces to test emerging trends and innovative materials before introducing them to clients. This proactive approach ensures they can confidently recommend fresh ideas based on personal experience.

Establishing a Signature Style

Robert’s personal style emerged from modern and vintage influences. Taking bold patterns and colors as a starting point, the design of his home exudes a distinctive look all his own. Robert’s signature 1970s color palette draws from a diversity of sources such as vintage fashion and abstract painting. By experimenting in their own homes, designers can hone their aesthetic preferences, refine their design principles, and ultimately establish a signature style that resonates throughout their professional portfolio. This consistent style becomes their hallmark, attracting clients who appreciate their unique vision.

Living With Their Creations

Rob is constantly changing up his space, rotating the artwork on display and adding to or editing his collection of furniture. Designers understand firsthand how spaces evolve over time and through daily use. By residing in their experimental designs, they gain invaluable insights into functionality, practicality, and comfort—essential elements that inform their design decisions for client projects. This intimate knowledge enhances their ability to create spaces that are not only beautiful but also highly functional.

Showcasing Expertise

Designers’ homes serve as powerful showcases of their expertise and creativity. These spaces often become featured in design publications, social media platforms, and industry events, showcasing their innovative approach and cementing their reputation as trendsetters within the design community. Robert’s loft was recently featured in Architectural Digest

Personal Connection

Robert’s art collection forms the backbone of his home’s design. It was amassed over many years and features a diversity of artists from around the world, many of whom he knows personally. Designers infuse their personal histories, cultural influences, and cherished belongings into their homes, creating spaces that are deeply meaningful and reflective of their identity. This personal connection fosters a sense of authenticity in their designs, resonating with clients who seek spaces that tell a compelling story.

Continuous Evolution

Designers recognize that design is a dynamic process that evolves over time. Their personal spaces evolve alongside their careers, reflecting ongoing exploration, refinement of techniques, and adaptation to changing trends. This evolution ensures they remain relevant and innovative in an ever-evolving industry.

Designers’ homes are more than just places to live—they are laboratories of creativity, where daring design ideas are born, refined, and transformed into signature styles. These personal spaces not only provide creative freedom but also serve as valuable testing grounds for new trends and concepts. By immersing themselves in their designs, designers gain a deeper understanding of their craft, ultimately enriching their professional practice and inspiring clients with innovative solutions.

So, the next time you marvel at a designer’s portfolio, remember that their own home is likely where it all began—the place where daring design ideas take shape and creativity knows no bounds.