Today, Suzanne Kasler, interior designer, furniture designer, lighting designer, author, and utterly gracious person - visited The Skirted Roundtable for an in depth chat. As usual, we were all ears as Suzanne spoke about design and what it means to her. She reveals how she approaches an empty house - it's all about the "sequencing" of color and style that runs throughout a house, according to Suzanne. After talking in general terms, we got down to business and pulled out Suzanne's new book "Inspired Interiors." We all claimed one room we particularly loved (the three of us had initially picked the same room!) and asked Suzanne to talk about the inspiration behind each one. We have printed the pictures here in case your copy of Inspired Interiors hasn't arrived yet.
As usual, the time went by much too quickly, we could have listened to Suzanne talk about each page in the entire book. If you haven't bought it yet - we highly recommend it. For an autographed copy, send an email HERE. Before you listen to the show, be sure to get out a pen and paper - Suzanne shares her favorite white paint colors.
We hope you enjoy this interview as much as we did. We feel like we are getting quite an education listening to the best interior designers in America and we plan to continue offering classes - as long as you'll attend! If you'd like, please help to continue the conversation by leaving a comment, and as always your support is very much appreciated.
Linda's pick (and Megan and Joni) for her favorite room in the book is this dining room - located in Suzanne's former house. The pink taffeta curtains are the focal point - but we all discover new details we hadn't noticed before.
Pages 18-19.
Megan's choice was this wonderful English styled log cabin, also recently featured in Architectural Digest. We all agreed that this proves a log cabin can be dressy and beautiful. This is the great room in the owner's house situated right next to Blackberry Farm, the Relais and Chateau hotel they founded, located in the Smokey Mountains of Tennessee.
Pages 174-175.
Another view of the log cabin. In the summer - all the furniture is covered in white slips.
Megan then picked a 2nd room to discuss - this bunk room.
Joni's pick is this eclectic family room in Suzanne's former house. We dissected the room, piece by piece, to understand how and why it works.
Megan then picked a 2nd room to discuss - this bunk room.
Pages 182-186.
Suzanne discussed the rug - and described how she purchases things just because she likes them, not with a specific client in mind.
Joni's pick is this eclectic family room in Suzanne's former house. We dissected the room, piece by piece, to understand how and why it works.
Pages 20-21.
And finally, we discussed this dining room - because it is so universally well liked by bloggers. Suzanne tells us how the famous pink wall came to be and how everyone was initially against it!
Pages 127-129.
Another view of her most famous room - Suzanne reveals which pink is closest to the real shade - the light pink in this picture or the deeper pink in the former picture.
Edited to add: When we interviewed Suzanne, we had no idea about this part of her background. Having gone through such a trying time in her life only adds to our respect for her and her work. And thank you to Colonel James H. Kasler for your service to our country.
Excerpted from "Tempered Steel: Colonel James A. Kasler" by Perry D. Luckett and Charles L. Byler
As General Hoyt Sanford Vandenberg, Jr., observed in a recent inter-
view, Jim Kasler is a paragon of what the fighting airman is all about. He
didn’t break the sound barrier first or go to the moon and jump up and
down. He was just the best at his trade that anyone could be, and he is a
complex, esoteric individual whose characteristics all came together when
his nation needed him to produce what he did. Indeed, James Kasler is a
genuine American hero, and we all must hope the United States has a few
like him in the future, when we need them.
view, Jim Kasler is a paragon of what the fighting airman is all about. He
didn’t break the sound barrier first or go to the moon and jump up and
down. He was just the best at his trade that anyone could be, and he is a
complex, esoteric individual whose characteristics all came together when
his nation needed him to produce what he did. Indeed, James Kasler is a
genuine American hero, and we all must hope the United States has a few
like him in the future, when we need them.
Comments
xo Lidy
Bette
Being from Atlanta made listening to Suzanne even more fun.
I agree with the comment from another reader, that the pink dining room wall has certainly made me rethink accent walls, which I thought were "out". Now you see why your clients remain confused and indecisive?!
Kristen in Atlanta
(Sorry about the anonymous post. I never can remember my Google info.)
Being from Atlanta made listening to Suzanne even more fun.
I agree with the comment from another reader, that the pink dining room wall has certainly made me rethink accent walls, which I thought were "out". Now you see why your clients remain confused and indecisive?!
Kristen in Atlanta
(Sorry about the anonymous post. I never can remember my Google info.)
ok, the lamps {which are like delectable candy} are christopher SPITZMILLER.
check out his site. It's as dreamy as he is.
I'm with Joni, give her a call.
And Anon (the Nice) On Sequencing - I'll do a quick post on my blog about the rooms I was talking about where the color flowed in "sequence".
Thank you.
Diane
Love all your blogs~!!!
Jan at Rosemary Cottage
((hoping ((hint, hint, hint)) that someone somewhere will do an interview with Dan Carrithers .... a gentleman, a scholar and a genius for decor and design))
but our formula of looking at the book together with the designer is one we will be doing from now on. we started in it with the House Beautiful/Bunny Williams cover and have tried to do it again, but hadn't had the occasion yet. But we think the Kasler was successful because of the interaction with her book - so we def. will be repeating that from here on out. It allows the listener to feel more a part of the experience we think, no? yes?
I just used my color-wheel program on the pictures and I've found exactly what Ms. Kasler said: The colors have the same "value." The "vintage painting" idea is on the money I think.
Here are the 3 whites if I heard correctly:
Benjamin Moore
OC-17 White Dove: (F0EFE6)
912 Linen White (F3ECDB)
OC-29 Floral White (EEECDE)
I started earlier in the day and was distracted by work and life.
What a pleasure to sit down to some quiet and really digest all she had to offer!Great audiocast!
Thanks for that!
-Karen
Can't remember the source of this quote, but someone said that "Taste is the appreciation of beauty and style is the ability to create it". That's eaxctly what comes to mind with this interview - brilliant, artful style.
Thanks, ladies!!!
~Jacci
This was one of the most informative interviews so far. Suzanne Kasler is such true gentle woman, with class, great taste and a more then impressive portfolio to show for herself, I always look out for such an inspiration, guidance and role model.
I highly regard her work, her way with colors and the feel every room exudes. A master at work!
Just the other day I had her book in hand, not knowing that you wizards had her on your program.
Thanks so much, you've got such great outreach!
XX
Victoria
As always you continue to delight me... it was so wonderful to get an inside glimpse into Suzanne Kasler. Interestingly I knew her work, but not her and as a result of you have found my new favorite designer! I've put Inspired Interiors on my Christmas Wish List!
Best,
Toma