Interior designer Lauren Geddes Duff is all about personality. Her work is unfussy and at times, perfectly frank. And because of this smart, laid-back style, her latest client, Jill Kargman—star, writer, and executive producer of the hit Bravo showOdd Mom Out—was quite literally her perfect match. Kargman and Geddes Duff worked together very closely on Kargman’s Upper East Side home, and the result is a living space that is as brilliantly multifarious and family-oriented as Kargman herself. The mixture of traditional with modern and of slightly gothic details with an impressive contemporary art collection makes Kargman’s home one we want to live in and Geddes Duff’s interior design rules, ones we want to live by.
Below, the designer who brought the Odd Mom Out home together shares some of her inside tips and tricks for making your space feel just as singular.
1. Your home should feel like you.
“I really wanted the aesthetic of the house to reflect the highest octave of her taste. I wanted people to walk in and feel like it was all Jill. I did not want it to feel ‘decorated,’ and, in my opinion, your home never should.”
2. Invest in your favorites.
“I really believe that you should buy what you absolutely love. You will always find a place for it. For example, Jill has been collecting artwork and prints for years. The art in her home is an eclectic mix but it hangs together seamlessly on the gallery wall. Whether choosing fabrics or art, the first question you ask yourself should always be: ‘Do I like it?’ If it matches, but you’re not in love with it, take a pass.”
3. Play with colors.
“We chose a neutral color for the living room walls (in this case it was gray), which freed us up to do something more dramatic in the hall and powder room. The graphic red and black velvet wallpaper in the front hall plays off of the black-and-white Farrow & Ball striped paper in the powder room, which was hung horizontally. The colors are not complex, but they are carried throughout the first floor and even into the kitchen to give the home a great flow.”
4. Building texture is key.
“The black leather trim on her dining room chairs coexists with the velvet pillows in a tufted couch. We have club chairs upholstered in Robert Kime fabric next to a Jonathan Adler coffee table. All of these things add layers to any room and in Jill’s case they reflect different sides of her personality. I think balance is achieved between the more modern and traditional elements because as long as each piece has integrity, it’s going to work.”
5. Go ahead, hoard a little.
“I always suggest collecting things in groups because there is real power in numbers when it comes to decorating a home that feels a bit more lived-in. Jill happens to love typography and silhouettes. As a more general example, you should buy a neutral-color couch so that you have the flexibility to experiment with a bunch of different pillows. It’s a great way to change the look of a room without much expense.”