House Beautiful: What inspired your design?
Nadia Watts: Flora and fauna! Biophilia was top of mind for this project as I was in the midst of joining the committee for Luncheon By Design in Denver, featuring this amazing biophilia exhibit at the Denver Art Museum. I live in Colorado and nature has always been an inspiration. The idea of being intertwined with the natural world speaks to me. It’s the perfect starting point for design inspiration.
HB: Which pattern did you start with?
NW: The Porter Teleo wallcovering and the window coverings in The Gem Collection, which I created with Kravet, are where it all began. I fell in love with the large-scale pattern on the paper and then went with contrasting stripes on the ceiling by Sanderson and zig-zags on the draperies by Kravet. The biophilia shines in the paper. The geometric stripes and zig-zags perfectly complement the nature-inspired wallcovering.
HB: Describe the room you designed in three words.
NW: Whimsical, comfortable, and unique.
HB: What do you like most about the pattern-on-pattern trend?
NW: Pattern-on pattern forces you out of your comfort zone, and the results are always unique. It’s such an active and curious way to design a room. The “let’s try it and see” approach is so much fun. The pattern-on-pattern trend opens up so many possibilities. It broadens the creative process, which is always a treat.
HB: Can you share any tips for designing around this trend and choosing complementary patterns/colors?
NW: This trend thrives under an analogous color scheme. Choosing colors from the same family will help your patterns feel purposeful and curated. So choose a palette and stick to it. Your room will thank you for it. I like to use a mix of natural, free-flowing patterns with more structured geometric patterns. Also, keep scale in mind. You want to vary your scale with an assortment of small, medium, and large-scale prints.
HB: What role do you think technology like this will play in the future of design?
NW: This has been a huge year for technology in the design world. Having a tool that allows you to show your design concepts in such a tangible way is a game changer. Technology is making design more accessible for people, allowing them to see a space as the creative vision comes together.
