Read What Danielle Colding Has to Say:
From the Pierre Frey showroom at the Decoration & Design (D&D) Building in New York City, Danielle Colding, principal of Danielle Colding Design, shares her insights on how to breathe personality into interior design.
Culture & Personal History: Key Influencers
“One of my biggest influences was my childhood home. And my mom had this really eclectic mix of African art and European furnishings that now is really commonplace, but at the time was actually unique,” says Colding.
“Most design we see now is a mix. It's really important to bring a cultural element in, whether that's geographically where you're from, where you've traveled, objects you've acquired…bringing that personal story into interiors is something that I think is more and more common.”
When it comes to Colding’s approach to designing spaces for her clients, she adds, “It’s not about just adding cultural artifacts for that sake. It's really about identifying for the client what's important to them. What is their personal history? It can really be brought about through color, the kinds of fabrics you use,” says Colding.
“Increasingly, there are such interesting fabrics. It used to be that everything was very European, and now we're getting really global influences,” muses Colding, as she explores a selection of woven fabrics. “These fabrics are great, and one of the reasons I love coming to Pierre Frey is because this can be your showstopper fabric. This can be where your palette begins.”
When working with clients, she says, “part of my job is to be a bit of a detective, so I really pay attention to what they've kept. In New York City, if you've moved 10 times and you've brought this thing with you, it's important. There's something about it that holds meaning. How do I infuse that in a way that really makes sense in the space?”
The Power of Art and the Interior Design Journey
Colding loves to infuse personality into a space by working around a client’s art collection. “I can build a color story from there. I can build a furniture plan from there. I can choose accessories from that art piece, because the art is always the highlight in the room and the finishing touch. When you start with that finishing touch, you automatically have a home run.”
“I feel like the future of design is really all about finding this mix, and that's what we're doing as designers,” says Colding. “We're figuring out new ways for our world, which is increasingly small, increasingly connected, to create new combinations. That's what makes it interesting, and that's also what tells the story of our client.”