Interview with Joe Nye

Los Angeles-based decorator Joe Nye shared his thoughts recently on How To Accessorize A Space as part of Williams-Sonoma Home's Designer Series.  Designer Marketplace caught up with Joe to see how he got started in the industry and what advice he has for fellow designers.

Designer Marketplace (DM): What advice would you give to up-and-coming designers?

Joe Nye (JN): I would work for a person whose style you love and who you’re very passionate about. I would also read as many magazines and books on decorating and antiques as you can. I’m basically self-taught. Decorating has been a passion of mine since I was 10 years old. As a kid, my mother’s decorator would attempt to assist her but would basically work with me. I was always polishing the silver and arranging the flowers.

DM: What should designers focus on in this challenging economy?

JN: You have to get really resourceful. That comes in the form of buying less expensive fabrics, less expensive everything. We’ve been faced with challenges this year. We’ve had to do major league decorating with no money. We did a beautiful house in Bel Air for a client where the whole house was furnished from mass retailers. As a general rule, you have to dig deeper. Be inventive. We never duplicate something we’ve already done, that takes more work but it’s all about the mix. Mixing high and low which is almost a cliché when you talk about fashion but it’s the same with decorating. You put one signature piece in a room and let everything else evolve around that, mix it up with things from the junk shop or the flea market.

For more on Joe Nye, visit his website.