In my last Design Soulmate post on Rita Konig, I shared this image that has inspired me for years. Writing about Rita’s propensity for using personal photos and mementos throughout her interiors made me think of LA designer Schuyler Samperton's touching fairwell to her powder bathroom — due to water damage, she had to dismantle the memories plastered all over the wall, and shared this about the intriguing little space:

“A few years ago, I started creating a ‘wallpaper collage’ in my bathroom of some of my favorite images. It was a giant patchwork of photos of friends and family, postcards from museums and cities I’d visited, watercolors from my godchildren, bits of leaves from Central Park - you get it. Everyday I loved looking at all these things that meant so much to me and on occasion the walls provided a pretty vibrant backdrop for some hilarious selfies. I now have to dismantle this special place - I’m heartbroken to see it go, but I hope to replace it with something just as inspiring.” - Schuyler

Source: Schuyler Samperton — *Source:* *Schuyler Samperton*

As someone who has always been captivated by nostalgia and memories, I found the entire tribute incredibly moving. Moreover, the whole design concept just blew me away. That might sound strange, but I'm so used to studying "perfect" designers as well as producing "perfect" spaces for clients, that I nearly forgot that it's okay to completely break the rules in favor of creating a deeply personal, special place. If the bowl of Polaroids next to Rita's oven made me swoon, you can only imagine how much Schuyler's ode to her powder bathroom touched my soul.

Schuyler is the daughter of an award-winning architect, and later studied art history (does that make us Design Soulmates??). Schuyler describes her work as "modern-classic — an imaginative blend of low-key and elegant pieces with a youthful, West coast flair." She's been featured in Vogue, Architectural Digest, and Elle Decor, to name a few. She and her precious pup Tricky (above) were also featured in one of my favorite design books of all time, At Home with Dogs and Their Designers.

I kind of feel like Schuyler is the cool, laid-back American cousin of Rita — the Los Angeles counterpart. Her work is similarly classic but playful. They are both clearly drawn to pattern and color and a thoughtful touch of ‘clutter.’ I'm inspired by her fearlessness in being so effortlessly casual and fun. Voila, a wall of framed Simpsons screenshots:

What a vibrant little vignette below. I spy some Paule Marrot! (I wrote about Paule’s colorful textile art here.) Schuyler’s clearly not afraid of pops of fuschia and lime green, which you’ll see throughout her work. Below, a selection of some of my favorite Schuyler spaces.

Wallpaper from Schuyler’s textiles line. Source: Architectural Digest — *Wallpaper from Schuyler’s textiles line. Source:* *Architectural Digest*

Okay, I need this art studio. Source: Schuyler Samperton — *Okay, I need this art studio. Source:* *Schuyler Samperton*

Schuyler launched her textile line last year, which you can see here.

““Ever since I was young, I’ve loved pattern and have gravitated toward things that are colorful and have a sort of exotic element to them.””

— Schuyler Samperton

I have recently been on a British designer kick. The traditional, classical, elegant foundations of architecture and furniture you so often see in London townhouses — mixed with fresh, colorful, playful textiles, rugs, lampshades and accessories. To me, it’s the perfect marriage.

Rita in one of her first NYC rentals / Source: The Selby — *Rita in one of her first NYC rentals / Source:* *The Selby*

One British designer who I really admire is Rita Konig. Her interiors are elegant but oh so fun. She doesn’t play by the rules, and I find it incredibly inspiring.

Rita’s old NYC rental / Source: The Selby — *Rita’s old NYC rental / Source:* *The Selby*

I have adored the above image on Pinterest for almost ten years. The display of personal notes and photos up the wall, and a bowl full of photos right there next to the stove. (Fire hazard??) I love this so much I have replicated it in my own apartments over the years — antique teacup full of photobooth strips over here, platter full of Polaroids there. I’m as nostalgic as they come, and I feel strongly interiors should be too. If not nostalgic, meaningful. Personal. Your home is an intimate projection of who you are. To see someone’s home is to see them naked. You can quote me on that.

One of Rita’s NYC rental / Source: Rita Konig — *One of Rita’s NYC rental / Source:* *Rita Konig*

Another one of Rita’s NYC apartments / Source: Rita Konig — *Another one of Rita’s NYC apartments / Source:* *Rita Konig*

Here she goes again, breaking all the rules! I’ve never seen a designer plaster hundreds of photos above a fireplace, and I love it. I think that’s what it is though. Rita doesn’t scream “designer.” She screams “friend with insanely, insanely good taste and style and confidence.” Unlike most designers, she’s not concerned with perfection or rules. She’s just living her fabulous life, and you’re getting a little sneak peak.

One of Rita’s NYC apartments / Source: Rita Konig — *One of Rita’s NYC apartments / Source:* *Rita Konig*

For example, I love that the gallery to the left of the fireplace doesn’t make any sense, but totally works. No one would get out a measuring tape and lay that all out and say, “Yep! Perfecto.” And that’s the point. It probably started as just the big piece, and spilled over with time. It’s collected. Gathered. Perfectly imperfect.

Source: Rita Konig — *Source:* *Rita Konig*

I think why I respect Rita and admire her is because she does know the rules. She can pull together a beautiful, tailored space — with careful attention to scale and spacing and a restrained use of accessories. She just chooses not to in her personal home, because it’s not what makes her happy. It’s why Hemingway could get away with incomplete sentences (but you could not in your 9th grade English class). Everyone knew that he knew how to write. Once you’ve proven that, you can break the rules a bit.

Clean, tailored, restrained……

Rita’s London flat / Source: Rita Konig — *Rita’s London flat / Source:* *Rita Konig*

WHAM. GALLERY WALL OUT OF CONTROL. FUSCHIA. TRINKETS ALL OVER FIREPLACE MANTLE:

I’ve also always loved the below desk image on Pinterest for as long as I can remember. The dark moody walls, the simplicity of the little writing desk. (Isn’t it fun to discover the designer behind images you’ve always loved? I was blown away when I realized how many of my much-loved inspiration images were the work of Rita Konig.)

Oh, there they are again! The photos are spilling everywhere. I love this extremely down to earth kitchen niche. It’s not desperately waving at Elle Decor, it’s just hanging out and doing its thing, 3 worldwide clocks, butcher block counter and all.

“A home should suggest a life being lived.”

—Everything I learned from a day with Rita Konig, British interior designer

Rita has a shop on her website, and also has a beautiful collection with The Lacquer Company. Below, a few of my favorite (soooort of reasonably priced) items:

1. Rita’s Book 2. Scallop Tray 3. Daisy Glass Tumbler 4. Brass Corner Tray 5. Horn Serving Spoons

The Architect’s Daughter

Featured posts:

Schuyler Samperton Pays Tribute to Her Late Powder Bath

Design Soulmate: Rita Konig

“A home should suggest a life being lived.”