Sitting Pretty

articles by MEREDITH MCKINNIE
photograph by KELLY MOORE CLARK

We’ve asked three local business owners to be photographed in their favorite chairs, and tell us how those chairs reflect their personal style.

Margaret Moses
As owner of Palette House and Plume, interior decorator Margaret Moses thrives on exploring diverse blends in her designs. Merging the old and the new manifests in combinations of antique chests with modern bedside tables, or traditional wallpaper featuring a modern mirror. Margaret is not afraid to blend time periods, staying in tune with the preferences of her clients and imparting her professional advice. Margaret prioritizes comfort while staying focused on what is sensible for the function of a space. In her own home, Margaret uses a lot of neutral upholstery and rugs while bringing in color with abstract art and pillows. The featured chair available at Palette House and Plume and made by Lee Industries has a washable white slipcover and Cloud Nine seat cushions – a mid-level firmness in the seat cushion with a down wrap around the center core fill, a customer favorite. Palette House and Plume has carried Lee Industries products since the store opened in 2017. Lee Industries creates eco-friendly products and concentrates on environmentally-focused philanthropic initiatives. The chair shows the accessibility of light-colored fabric in a frequently-used space. Margaret encourages her clients to lean into their design impulses, whether that means bold designs or reserved decor. The chair allows for both, a standard, neutral piece that can be accented with a print or a surprising color choice. It encapsulates Margaret’s aesthetic of simplicity and sensibility. 

Jan Strickland
As an interior decorator, Jan Strickland caters to her clients, manifesting their design dreams in home spaces. Jan’s personal style exudes relaxed elegance and sophistication. In her home, Jan fully relaxes in her formal spaces. She invests in large, permanent pieces and will sometimes change out more economical accessories, particularly when it comes to art. Jan mixes and matches her home decor much like she does her wardrobe. In the featured chair from Walsworth & Co. that represents her aesthetic, Jan highlights the different textures, the marriage of neutral colors and contrasting materials that give the chair its depth. The dramatic curve of the chair legs is softened by the rattan backing letting in air and light. The chair’s versatility is most appealing, as it could easily stand alone or be featured in a pair. In a space, Jan would likely balance the chair alongside a heavier piece of furniture like a large sofa. It could also be featured in the corner of a dining room or even a larger bathroom. The beauty of an accent chair is that it can accentuate virtually any space. When Jan works with clients, she begins by walking through the entire home, searching for the vibe of the space to connect to the client’s personal style. Jan works to bring her design knowledge to those projects, taking her clients’ desires in a direction that enriches the physical environment. 

Joyce Sims
As owner of Material Things since 2009, Joyce Sims appreciates all styles, often incorporating an eclectic mix into her designs. She prefers combining contemporary pieces with vintage antiques and layering luxury items alongside more affordable decor. Pops of color are reserved for accessories, as pillows and drapes are easy to rotate. When envisioning a space, Joyce suggests beginning with a rug – finding an aesthetic you like and building from there. We often don’t think of design from the floor up, but rugs can inform a color scheme and a room’s style of design. The featured Billy Baldwin chairs currently reside in Joyce’s living room alongside a metal English trunk she acquired in junior high. Joyce spotted the chairs at the estate sale of Victor and Marie Cascio. She was drawn to the chairs for their petite size (only 30 inches tall), as they can be moved to virtually any space. Joyce thinks of designing her living spaces as opportunities to gather some of her favorite things. Whether pieces hold memories or just articulate a unique point of view, a space can be transformed by the language communicated by their placement. It was Billy Baldwin himself who said, “Stick to the things you really love. An honest room is always up to date.” Styles come and go, beloved color schemes evolve like the seasons, but telling a story via design will always enrich a space when it comes from inside.