Known for layering throws on deep sofas, featuring collected objects on tabletops, holding a high standard for comfort, and adding personal touches to every room, Bunny Williams creates welcoming spaces that truly reflect the owner’s personality. As she encourages her clients: Know what you value, and have conviction about what you like and how you want to live.
Who are your favorite designers, living or not?
My favorite designers are: Madeleine Castaing, Nancy Lancaster, Jacques Grange,
Albert Hadley.
When did you have your “aha” moment that you were destined for a career in design?
When I accompanied my parents to a country auction in Virginia and they bought a wonderful old pine table to put in the bay window of our house.
What inspires you?
I find inspirations for my designs everywhere but travel has inspired me beyond anything else. As far back as I can remember, I was taken to museums, historic houses, gardens, and antique shops. I got the bug to explore, and I have never stopped. Soaking up another culture and seeing the craftspeople in another country opens one’s eyes to countless possibilities.
What are your secrets for developing a skilled design shopping sense?
I am a very fast shopper—sometimes it’s a competition to find the best thing before somebody else does (like at a flea market or antique fair). My secrets when doing a quick scan are: only look at what’s good; only look closely at what catches your eye, and practice —train your eye to see the best.
How can you have a glamorous design that is still pet-friendly?
Pets are part of my life so I always make my rooms pet-friendly. To keep your rooms attractive, the number-one rule is to keep your pets clean. If you allow dogs on the furniture, have quilts and fake fur throws that can be easily cleaned and tossed over the seats and back cushions so dogs are always welcome. Find good-looking dog beds —I love fake-fur ones—they look good in any room. Find interesting flat-bottomed heavy bowls for water (we use a blue-and-white Chinese one). Keep dog toys in a large basket. Have a hook for leashes near the door or a basket to roll them up in.
What tips do you have for organizing accessories artfully?
Arranging accessories is easy and fun—think about scale, shape, and either contrast or similarity. You want your arrangement to look thought-out but not tortured. I like odd numbers of objects on a surface, but then again, I adore pairs of things. Study the great British designer David Hicks; he was a master of tabletop arrangements.
How do you balance grandeur with a sense of coziness?
I balance grandeur with coziness by mixing something over the top with something simple-
How do you create a sense of cohesiveness throughout a home, without each room looking too similar?
You can create cohesiveness throughout a home by having a thread of color that repeats throughout the spaces. The rooms should not match, but the eye should pick up on the color so there is a visual link from room to room. Mixing periods and styles of furniture also helps connect rooms—you avoid abruptly changing styles between rooms.
How should someone begin when designing a room?
The best place to start when creating a room is to know how the room will be used and then to create a good furniture plan based on the function of the space.
What do you value in a home?
The best houses are gathering places. Creating beautiful spaces doesn’t mean anything unless they are welcoming. What I value most are my friendships.
To learn more about Bunny, click here www.bunnywilliams.com.
