1. Keep things authentic
When I asked interior designer and gallerist James Yarosh what advice he inherited from his mother, he said he was given a deep appreciation for fine craftsmanship and curation.
He told me, ‘Many of the qualities I’m most proud of come from my mother, Regina Yarosh. She had a natural sophistication, an intuitive sense for design, and she showed me how to turn a house into a home. As a young artist, I learned by watching her.’
James added, ‘Reflecting on all that she instilled in me, I realize she gave me a deep appreciation for quality over quantity, a respect for craftsmanship, and a belief in keeping things authentic. Her guidance informed my approach to creating spaces that are free of pretension.’
Emphasizing the importance of soothing decorating ideas, he says, ‘One of the most powerful things she taught me was how to create a sense of stillness in a space. No matter how full a room became, it always felt peaceful. That calm made space for reflection, rest, and inspiration.’
2. Collect what you love
Proving that collections of antique and vintage treasures will always stand the test of time, one interior designer said that their grandmother taught them to be true to what they love and to honor their tastes as much as possible by collecting meaningful pieces.
Interior designer Tara Shaw said, ‘My grandmother had a PhD in shopping and I was her star pupil. What she taught me was value, classic, timeless elegance, and encouraged me to color outside the lines.’ Much like today’s ever-popular dopamine decor ideas, Tara’s grandmothers encouraged her to decorate with joy and love. This advice was passed down, and collecting pieces that held meaning and sentimentality became an important part of decorating in Tara’s family. You can see this in the space (pictured above). Tara said, ‘My mom started my collecting, such as the prehistoric bones that now grace my library.’
No matter what your obsession is, incorporating your favorite objects and trinkets in your scheme is a way to ensure your space will continue to inspire and uplift you. If you’re new to pre-loved shopping, consider how to start an antiques collection to create your own curated display of pieces.
3. Nothing beats a classic wallpaper
While the advice the designers were given from their mothers and grandmothers is varied, it was interesting to see that every tip had elegance and tastefulness at its core. This is no different with designer Betsy Burnham, whose mother taught her that nothing beats a classic wallpaper idea to transform a space and represent your style for years to come.
Besty said, ‘My mother came from a humble background – and also, somehow, had very refined taste. I grew up in a beautiful, traditional house in Connecticut, and I remember a couple of things about it. One was the wallpaper that took you from the entry up the staircase to the second floor. It was a thin, tailored blue stripe on an off-white ground. Subtle, classic, welcoming.’
Betsy continues to use her mother’s decorating ideas in her designs, proving that mothers truly know best. She added, ‘I thought about that paper when we worked on a traditional home in Beverly Hills a couple of years ago, I wanted the same effect with the G P & J Baker wallpaper I sourced for that project.’