“You have to listen to what a home tells you and go with it,” says Kevin Isbell. The designer, who lived and worked in New York for 18 years, recently moved to Los Angeles, where he’s attuning to a new language of architecture, space, and light. “Color is different in California,” he says. “It’s a […]

Chicago-based designer Shelly Handman has an innate sense of balance and beauty. Over many years, his eye has been trained to perceive details that others miss. “I have always had a reverence for age—a respect,” he says. “We are such a transient society, and everything is always being replaced or torn down.” As an antidote […]

With more that 20 years in the industry, and an international roster of clients, interior designer Shelley Johnstone of the eponymous firm Shelley Johnstone Design is one of Chicago’s brightest style stars. Known for creating elegant, modern spaces with a strong European influence, her designs are equal parts luxurious and livable.  “I like to create beautiful, […]

It’s not every day that we chat with a top designer who also happens to play elephant polo competitively. But when the designer is Sara Story, an AD100 (and PAGODA RED) favorite, the larger-than-life hobby makes perfect sense. After all, one look at her beautiful work and it’s clear—this tastemaker is no stranger to risk taking. […]

For many, the word holiday conjures images of family and friends gathered around festive tables. But for Holiday House, the design showcase now in its 11th year, the term has a broader meaning. After battling breast cancer more than 21 years ago, founder Iris Danker says that she considers every day to be a holiday. […]

Interior designer Summer Thornton, of Summer Thornton Design, is known for her fearless use of saturated color, and her affinity for combining bold patterns and textures with seeming abandon. A self described maximalist, Summer is full of cheeky but useful advice like “do one thing your Mother wouldn’t,” and “use pattern and color recklessly.” We love […]

Here at PAGODA RED, we have a deep appreciation for designers who can mix modern and antique objects with aplomb. Julia Buckingham of Buckingham Interiors + Design (BID) is a master of the style—so much, that she coined her own term for it: Modernique. We spoke with Julia and her Design Director Sara Kirshner, to get […]

Donna Garlough is the Style Director for e-commerce giant Joss & Main. The long-time magazine editor, serial renovator and blogger is an expert at understanding how non-designers think about furnishing and decorating their homes. Her new book, Your Home, Your Style: How to Find Your Look & Create Rooms You Love, was born of these professional and […]

Interior designer Grant K. Gibson is known for creating well-edited spaces that manage to feel both personal and unique. We love the way he mixes pieces from disparate eras, to create thoroughly modern rooms. His first book, “The Curated Home, A Fresh Take on Tradition,” goes beyond the standard portfolio of beautiful images—pairing exquisite spaces […]