How has your personal concept of luxury changed over the years?

The word "luxury" is often used interchangeably with the word "expensive"—you own a luxury watch or drive a luxury car, for example. But the real definition of luxury is something that you treasure. I think there are treasures at every price point including the $1.00 chocolate truffle I ate earlier today. In my design work I try and focus on what people treasure to make their life more luxurious.

What do your clients consider modern luxuries?

A variety of things. For example, I'm working with a young family that lives in a small apartment here in the city. They wanted the living room to work both as a family gathering place to watch a movie as well as a formal entertaining center when necessary. For them the luxury was having a design that emphasized flexibility. The room needed to look sophisticated but include materials and fabrics that were hardwearing and stain resistant. For another young client who had just started a new job with a demanding workload, time was a luxury. Hiring our firm to create a comprehensive interior quickly so that he could invest his full energy in his career was a luxury.

Another client hoped to have a picture perfect interior like the ones he saw in magazines but didn't have the budget to execute it all at once. He engaged Mr Call Designs to create a two-year plan for him - starting off with just paint colors and a new sofa. Recently, we wrapped up the designs, bringing in the finishing touches. For him, the luxury was doing things slowly, at his own pace.

Why do you think it's important to include luxurious components no matter the size of the budget?

I want to help my clients determine what it means to be "home." Getting back to my definition of luxury, I think your home should be filled with things you identify with; things you treasure. The more of these things you can include, the more personal the space becomes and the more clients will be proud of the space and want to share it with others. They should be so proud of the space they just glow when they share it or talk about it.

How do you incorporate luxury elements in a design that spans price points?

This may seem counterintuitive, but I think that you can opt for more affordable basics—a sofa, occasional chairs, end tables, etc.—in order to spend more on the accessories.  Conventional wisdom was to put your money in the upholstered pieces, but you don't have to spend a fortune to get a decent sofa that will last twenty years—by which time you'll probably want a different look anyway.

Basic furniture pieces are like a woman's little black dress—they come in all price points. Accessories like authentic art, vintage lamps, and antiques really make a difference. These pieces, when chosen well, can be reincorporated in other venues over and over again.

Speaking of accessories, I’m really impressed with the accessories at west elm. I think the limited collections designed by top-notch designers around the world are going to be tomorrow's collectibles. Much like the Eames work at Herman Miller, when art meets commerce, you can create iconic products.

Photo images courtesy of Mr Call Designs.

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Jon Call founded Mr Call Designs in 2009 and is located in downtown New York City. Mr Call Designs is an Interior Design firm built around the architectural details of the home. With a palette based on scale and symmetry, Mr Call achieves the tailored American home through a melting pot of styles. Whether it be incorporating French and Asian styles, or midcentury with English designs, Mr Call addresses all angles of composition.