MEET THE DESIGNER

ANTIQUES, NATURAL ELEMENTS AND TEXTURE TAKE CENTER STAGE IN THIS DESIGNER'S CREATIONS

What did you do before interior design? I studied journalism in college. When I was a junior I worked for the 10 o'clock news and then I worked for Good Morning America after that. So I had a creative background, but I always also liked the business of business. After getting a masters degree in finance I worked for my family's company for 12 years. It gave me incredible training. Interior design is not only about the creative part, it's also about running a business. You recently opened a showroom in Manhattan's East Village as an offshoot of your showroom Lucca & Co. in the Interior Design Building: Lucca Apartment is a lofty residential space where I showcase furniture by my design partner, Catherine Aaron, as well as a collection of antiques and refined contemporary accessories. What's your design philosophy? Chic and comfortable. I prefer to mix modern and the traditional with paired-down backgrounds. I don't do a lot of pattern. I like texture and natural things. Who have you worked with in the past that greatly influenced your vision? Sadly, I never worked for any of the greats. I would have loved that, but when I was in design school I already had work. I like to say that I am like an actress. I feel so lucky to be working and to have been steadily working all of these years. Whose work do you currently admire? Peter Marino is the genius of our time. Have you noticed any design trends of late? I am not really a trendy designer. I like classical things even if they are done in a modern way, they just stand the test of time better. If you need to have the color shocking pink, do it in some pillows so that when you are done with that color, off it goes. What item from your home could you not part with? My art. I have some beautiful paintings. I collect art from the 1980s, and I have a portrait of myself that was done by Francesco Clementi. What is your own Southampton home like? I have had a home in Southampton maybe thirty years. It's a wonderful place to be. I am kind of a casual person. There is just not a lot of guilt in my life. My home is very beachy and spare. It's very open and airy and its very inviting. You can sit on everything in a wet bathing suit. It's not a showroom, it's a home.