Meet The Designer: Elizabeth Martin

Image from Elizabeth Martin Design

I was recently introduced via email to the new Elle Décor "cover girl" – Elizabeth Martin. The work of the San Francisco-based designer is featured in Elle Décor's May cover story. The project: a 1907 Georgian Revival that Beth decorated for her friend, Ali Wentworth and her husband, George Stephanopoulos, in Washington DC.

Beth turns out to be bright, thoughtful, and talented – just the kind of woman you'd want to have for a best friend – or perhaps an interior designer. I was impressed, and thought you might like to meet her too.

Beth was gracious enough to chat with us about the project – and about design in general:

TT: Tell me about that hand-painted rug in the living room.
BETH: Originally when I conceived the design for the living room, I spec-ed a Zoë Luyendijk rug for the space. However, as we got into the project, we made the decision that we would forgo an expensive rug based on kids and dogs, and go with a simple bound-wool rug. As life happens – let's just say there were some accidents on the rug. After a proper cleaning, the stains in the rug were still visible. True to Ali, she does not throw out anything and she takes chances in experimenting (one of the many things I love about her.) She decided that she would create a pattern on the rug to disguise the stains … and this is where we arrived. (Pretty great.)

TT: This home is decorated in a style that I would call casual elegance. Is it family-friendly throughout?
BETH: Ali is one of the most unfussy people I know, as is George. Ali loves beautiful and interesting things, but she is not one for an overly designed home – that simply is not her. When I try to make something too specific within her homes, chances are she wants to deconstruct it. As example of this point, the shell book shelves seen in the living room: Originally I wanted to find a case to contain all her shells, only we could not find the right piece. She wanted to get her shells displayed immediately so I recommended what materials to use, how to put up shelves etc. Ultimately, when I saw the shelves, they were not entirely as I had specified. But the beauty is that they are perfect as they are – and are totally her and add to the “casual elegance” of the home.

The family-friendly part comes into play in that kids and dogs are allowed into every room in the house.

Save the living room rug, most of the carpets in the home are either textured or darker in color to hide dirt and stains. All the furniture is comfortable and livable for everyone as are the fabrics. You are not going to find a chair, say, that is so delicate or rare that if someone jumped on it, the concern would be damage.

The family room.

TT: Is this style similar to your own personal style?
BETH: Yes and no. There is not a job that I do that I don’t impart an aspect of my personal style or myself into the work.

Where my style and this design merge is in the refinement of some details, the funkier pieces, bold accents and use of color and pattern.

Personally, I am probably a bit more spare in the placement of objects, a bit more whimsical, and on the whole, this home is more traditional than my own style.

The master bedroom.

TT: The owner, Ali, is a friend of yours. How did that affect the design process?
BETH: Ali is a friend, and in the case of working with she and George, the process was/is easy. Understanding one's clients is probably the single most important aspect of any design job. I say this often: designing homes for people is about being in a relationship with them ... it is about knowing that you have listened to their wants and needs and in the end created a home that is inspired and that they hopefully love.

Once you understand your clients and how they move through life, the rest becomes easy and fun. Knowing someone well before working with them gives the entire process a jump-start.

Foyer, with table from Gregorius Pineo. Image from Elizabeth Martin Design

TT: Ali, said that the color scheme was chosen based upon the favorite color (fuchsia) of her two daughters. Is this a first, in your experience - using a child's color choice as the basis for the decoration of a home?
BETH: I suppose so. Sure … but why not? I love it. Again this comes back to knowing your clients. Ali and George let their girls have a voice within their home, however young. Incorporating the wishes of the girls makes for an integrated happy place for everyone to live. The house has a balanced feeling throughout. There is not that delineation that happens sometimes in homes with young children ... of adult rooms vs. young persons' rooms. The pink – and color in general – is the thread that pulls one through the entire house.

I love when inspiration happens from the most unlikely of places … why not from a child? Pink is a beautiful color – and to make it work in a home where adults interact with children was great fun.

To be fair though, these photos do not show the whole color story throughout this house, in part because of the limited natural light at the time of shooting (one of the two days was particularly rainy and grey outside) and in part, the vignettes don’t show all the color in the rooms.) (Though I do love the photos.)

The office.

TT: Was it difficult to shift from CA-style to DC-style?
BETH: Not at all. Ali and George are young and fun and have two creative, energetic girls. They wanted that vibe reflected in their home in DC. The last thing they envisioned was the “typical, Washington DC- style” home.

TT: I'm reminded that the Obamas' choice for White House designer, Michael S. Smith, is also Calif.-based. Perhaps west-coast design is a new trend in DC. Do you think you'll take on more work there?
BETH: I hope so. I love DC and the surrounding areas. I love working outside of California, as much as being here in California – it's always about the challenge and the difference. Other than Ali and George, I have two other clients in DC.

The dining room.

TT: Tell me a little about a few of my favorite pieces in the house, such as ...

That table in the foyer:
BETH: I wanted a table that could withstand the wear and tear of backpacks, keys, mail, leashes, etc. I like the wrought iron base with the warmth of the walnut hand planking. It has a beautiful simplicity while being durable and has the high-style factor that Ali and I love. I wanted a round for traffic flow in that this is the heart of the home.

The vintage army cot topped with glass to make a table:
BETH: Ali and I share a passion for flea markets and antiques. When we decorate her homes together, we are forever on the prowl for interesting furniture and objects. This cot was found at a local antique store in Washington. I was looking for a long silhouette for the living room coffee table and saw this great piece. The cot fit the requirements and it had so much character and interest. I had glass cut to fit – and presto – coffee table.

The charming chandelier in the master bedroom:
BETH: That is a chandelier that Ali found herself and brought from LA.

The family room.

TT: I’m always interested in art, and how the right pieces can take an interior from so-so to exceptional – or the reverse. How do you choose the art for the homes you design?
BETH: It varies from project to project. In the case of Ali and George, they are avid art collectors and George has an unbelievable black and white photography collection, so working with their art was a pleasure and a definite starting point in designing each room.

However, when a client does not have great art, then I see it as my job to educate or “lift” a client’s understanding of how art can impact a space.

Specifically in choosing art for projects – I first show art that I know the client will like that is perhaps more on the “safe” side. Once I fulfill that requirement, then I show them the more interesting, daring pieces that as you say would take the room to being “exceptional.”

What is fortunate with my clients is that the art is generally bought toward the end of a project when the trust between the client and me is probably strongest. At this point my clients are much more brave, if you will, in their choices. Recently, in fact, a client said to me that a piece of art that she was originally pushing back against is now the most treasured item in the house. I love hearing this because it confirms that I am doing my job.

Image from Elizabeth Martin Design

TT: What or who has most influenced your own design aesthetic?
BETH: My mother, hands down. She is one of the most chic women I know – from her personal style, to the way she touches most anything. She has such a natural ease that I so admire in people and keep top of mind in most things I do, especially with design. When things start feeling too labored, I know I am in trouble.

She also taught me to find the beauty in everything … whether it is seemly something broken or tattered to something pristine and sparking.

TT: What designers do you most admire?
BETH: Here is a smattering: Paul Rand, Tony Duquette, Lulu de Kwiatkowski, Orlando Diaz-Azcuy, Alberta Ferretti.

Breakfast room. Image from Elizabeth Martin Design

TT: Can you tell us about your goals or any projects in the works that you are excited about?
BETH: Well I do want to grow my business so that I am able to work abroad and travel internationally. I love all the variables that come from working in a different place and I love differences of culture. Working abroad would tie both of those things together and hopefully expand my vocabulary (literally and visually.)

I would also love to get into some sort of product design (eventually) ... though it will have to be the right thing. I don’t want to create more stuff just for the sake of creating more stuff.

And finally I want to create a non-profit organization to do with interiors and our elderly … it is an idea I have been tossing around for some time.

I have an exciting project in the works right now ... lets just say that it will be something that will help people in the planning of their homes and interiors and will de-mystify how interior design is done.

TT: What would be your dream project?
BETH: Designing George Clooney’s bedroom.

Whether or not she ever gets to decorate George Clooney's bedroom, I'd say we'll be hearing a lot more from Beth in the future. I do hope George is listening, however, and gives her a call ... she promised I could be her assistant for the job!
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Unless indicated otherwise, all images by Simon Upton for Elle Décor, 05/09.
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