Elle Decor's A-Team (Part VI)

Only nine more to go in this Elle Decor's top 25 interior designers feature. We were quite fond of the three we covered last week (even the one that was the least in line with our own design style). Here is what we think of the next three...

(If you're new to this, you can catch up with: Part I, Part II, Part III, Part IV and Part V.)

Michael S. Smith

ED (Elle Decor) describes Smith as "The tastemaker for the private quarters of the Obama White House...his posh-trad vocabulary of contemporary art, deluxe antiques, cozy upholstery, and romantic fabrics inspired by English chintzes and Indian cottons. His style is knockout but never over-the-top."







It's clear that Smith puts a lot of thought into keeping a consistent look throughout each house and expressing the subtle personality of each client. We love the luxurious bathrooms featured in the his portfolio. Another feature to his work, much in line with our own, is his use of accessories to add depth and interest to each room.

Matthew Patrick Smyth

ED describes Smyth as having "quiet style with legs, a classically inspired but always lively mix of traditional furniture, up-to-the-minute upholstery, and luxe fabrics that run the gamut from graphic ethnic prints to Savile Row-style wools and cashmeres."






Again - we love this designer's use of accessories to personalize spaces. The images above reflect this best, but they also provide a good representation of how Smyth's designs provide a fresh perspective on traditional style.

William Sofield

ED (Elle Decor) describes Sofield as "crafting spaces that are almost decadent in their interplay of materials, history, and mood. [Sofield] has a luxurious, worldly aesthetic that spans from rigorous haute-industrial allure to theatrical pan-Asian refinement. Though he considers himself a modernist, his work often nods to 1930s Hollywood glamour and features hand-wrought finishes and custom pieces that celebrate the artisan."

When I linked to Sofield's website, Studio Sofield, it was only a landing page with address and phone number. So I had to find images online - a task that proved rather difficult since there aren't many of them. Here are the ones I liked best:





It's hard to get a real feel for this designer since there are so few images to view at the moment, but the glamorous style is undeniable. I personally, respond quite positively to a little ornate gold leafing upon occasion (my mother says it's the Italian in me) and I love the retro ambiance of these images. I looked at the pictures before reading ED's description, so I found the 1930s reference to be dead on. I could easily see Bette Davis or Joan Crawford sashaying through any of these rooms. Quick! Someone put out some ashtrays!

*images from: Material Girls, Habitually Chic, Architect Design, vitruvius

So what do you think? Any opinions so far on Elle Decor's selected designers?




*Unless otherwise specified, all images procured directly from the designers' websites.