Suzanne Kasler is inspired. As the principal of Atlanta-based Suzanne Kasler Interiors, she often asserts that "a room should be collected, not decorated." Incorporating the personal collections of her clients with fine art and antiques, contemporary pieces and custom-designed furniture, Suzanne's meaningful interiors straddle that rare middle ground between sophisticate and ingénue. Suzanne's classic interiors have been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Décor, House Beautiful, House & Garden, Southern Accents, Traditional Home and Veranda. Her widely published work has won numerous awards, placing Suzanne among the elite of America's top designers. In 2008, Suzanne launched a line of furniture for Hickory Chair, along with a collection of lighting for Visual Comfort. Her signature style of casual elegance has since been interpreted into a line of rugs with Safavieh, fine art with Soicher-Marin, accessories with Ballard Designs and a fabric line with Lee Jofa.
Q: WHAT’S TOPPING YOUR INSPIRATION BOARDS?
KASLER: A mix of modern and classic, not only in furniture, but in fabrics and accessories. Every day I am looking for beautiful things to inspire my design work. Whether it’s a mix of lacquered accessories or more rustic ceramic pieces, a mix of texture, both smooth and rough is resonating with me right now.
Q: DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE SPACE YOU’VE DESIGNED?
KASLER: I have loved designing my own home because it is a canvas that I can really experiment with any of my creative ideas. In my own house, I’m able to try new things that I can then share with my clients. My own home is a collection of all sorts of things that I’ve been drawn to, a chance to use things new and old – a unique chance to put them together in an unexpected way.
Q: HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR MIX OF DIVERSE ELEMENTS AND STYLES? HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR POINT OF VIEW REGARDING USE OF COLOR?
KASLER: Often, people speak of my work and color in the same sentence. I use color very strategically. It might appear on just one wall, or in a fabric or the accessories. It is more interesting and color has a stronger impact that way.
Q: WHERE DO YOU SHOP FOR INSPIRATION?
KASLER: I love to go to Paris, but I also love to shop at stores that are all about fashion. That always inspires me.
Q: DESIGN MUSE?
KASLER: Architecture and space is my inspiration. When clients are building a new home, I always walk through the floor plan first to make sure I understand the flow of the rooms and their spacial detail. It is important to have a great architectural envelope and at least one architectural feature. When the architecture is right the room needs less decorating.
Q: DO YOU HAVE FAMILY ROOTS IN DESIGN OR ART?
KASLER: My grandmother loved antiques and made beautiful quilts, and I always related to her passion.
Q: WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST DESIGN JOB?
KASLER: After graduating from the University of Cincinnati, I began my career in commercial design. But my love of art and antiques inspired me to specialize in high-end residential design when I moved to Atlanta 18 years ago.
Q: CURRENT PROJECT?
KASLER: A historic William Bottomley home in Richmond, VA. We worked with the architects to restore the house and bring it up to today’s standard of living. The client wanted a foundation of tradition, but a fresh approach to create a livable house for their young family.
Q: TREASURED KEEPSAKE?
KASLER: My Eiffel Tower collection, which gives me so many memories of where I was each time I found one. I bought my first one at a small store on the Left Bank. I love my white Eiffel Tower, but what I love most is the mixture of them all together.
Q: FAVORITE TRAVEL DESTINATION, AND A FEW SPECIAL SPOTS YOU ENJOY DURING YOUR STAYS?
KASLER: Paris. The Ritz in Paris, Laduree, Vaux Chateau, Clignancourt (the Paris Flea Market).
For more information visit: www.suzannekasler.com
