A Chat With Amelia Handegan

Molly Pastor: Describe a signature Amelia Handegan room.
Amelia Handegan:Quiet is the first word that comes to mind. A room should look as though it has evolved over time and should be inspired by many styles and periods of furniture and art. Beautiful colors and a multitude of textures are a must. I would say that my "signature" room has one foot in the past and one foot in the future.

MP: What would you consider to be the most important foundation of a room?
AH: My approach is intuitive and often surprises me. Inspiration can come from the most unlikely or simple thing, such as a green leaf that catches my eye before I walk through the door or a beautiful antique that I saw weeks before. Favorite pieces owned by clients have served in the past, as have art exhibitions and, of course, the houses themselves.

MP: Is there anything that we will never see in an Amelia Handegan room?
AH: Bows.

MP: Do you have a favorite color combination right now?
AH: It changes almost daily! But I've always loved brown with almost any other color; especially with shades of pumpkin and green, or with ochre-tinted yellows. I also use brown with blues, pinks, lavender, and gray. Actually, the colors I like best are hard to distinguish and cannot be immediately named. Is it blue or gray, gray or green, orange or red?

MP: What are your five favorite paint colors?
AH: Farrow & Ball's Light Blue and Wall White; Martin Senour's Granary and Pumpkin Seed; and Benjamin Moore's Indian White.

MP: Do you have a favorite off-white for walls?
AH: Having a favorite in this case won't do. White is so reflective that everything else in the room, including the light, needs to be considered. Also, consider whether you want to take it in a warm or cool direction. I recommend (as with all paint colors) first buying a quart and painting a three-foot square on the wall. Visit it several times a day in different light to see how it looks under all conditions. Despite my experience, I still routinely do this.

MP: What is your theory on trim colors?
AH: Bright white should be avoided when used with medium to deep wall colors. It's best to have the trim read as off-white or creamy beige. Of course, with bright white or pastel walls, white is fine, but I still prefer to "knock it down" with pale pinks, blues, or gold. I've never liked high contrast between walls and trim.

MP: What are some key ingredients to a successful bedroom?
AH: A really beautiful bed, great quality linens, and the very best lamp shades. I often use antique beds. I love handsome West Indian and early American four-posters. As far as lamp shades go, my favorites are box-pleated silk. And while expensive linens can make all the difference, I never tire of inexpensive hand-blocked Indian bedspreads.

MP: We've noticed that you sometimes layer Oriental rugs over sea grass. Why?
AH: Because we can control the size of the sea grass, but not the size of the Orientals, and layering creates more texture and warmth. I also like the way the sea grass takes the Oriental rug down a notch in stature, so it's less formal and more inviting.

MP: Do you have a favorite upholstery style?
AH: Tailored, with an exaggerated skirt that drops from the deck of the chair or sofa.

MP: Do you favor a particular style of art?
AH:

MP: Your rooms have a lot of depth but they are never busy. How can one achieve this look?
AH: By a "less is more" approach. Layers of color and texture are carefully crafted, close attention is paid to details, and decorative objects are perfectly placed ... oh no, I used the word "perfect," which reminds me of something someone once said about my design that I liked: She called it "perfect imperfection."

MP: Where do you shop for antiques in Charleston?
AH: Golden & Associates, A. Fairfax Antiques, English Patina, Queen Charlotte Antiques, Alexandra A.D., and George C. Williams American Antiques. For accessories, Jack Patla Co. and Moore House Antiques.

MP: No room should be without:
AH: Well-planned lighting that makes the room look its best.

MP: Do you have a type of flooring that you prefer?
AH: Wide wood planks.

MP: What are five (or more) must-haves for a successful kitchen?
AH: Interesting but functional lighting. Plenty of counter space. Enough cabinet space, but definitely not conventional cabinets. When it's possible I prefer a separate pantry for storage. If there is enough space, a great kitchen island with a sink. Even better, foot pedals instead of faucets for the sink. A floor that's handsome, but easy to keep clean. Wall space for art.

MP: Do you have an all-time favorite printed fabric?
AH: In general, Bennison's tea-stained linens, Indian cottons, and classic chintzes.

MP: What about an all-time favorite solid?
AH: Larsen silk velvets, Rogers & Goffigon Tuckernuck, and Nancy Corzine's Pullman.

MP: You have a knack for marrying different styles. How do you make it work?
AH: I think decorating is much the same as composing a painting. It's all about relationships: If all the elements are properly placed, then they are fully integrated and they "rest." Which brings us back to the beginning -- to that quiet.

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