Lindsey Herod has never met a floral that she didn’t like. In fact, the interior designer and self-described “fabric addict” cannot think of a room scheme that didn’t sprout from a chintz, cabbage rose, or other botanical motif—or all three, for that matter. “I’d rather be in the garden than anywhere else so I’m constantly drawn to natural colors, materials, and textures that convey an alfresco feeling,” Lindsey says. “Leafy greens and sky blues, wickers and rattans, and crisp cottons and linens are my go-tos—and, of course, tons of floral prints. As I see it, there is no such thing as too many flowers in a garden, so there is no such thing as too many floral prints in a home.”
The 30-something-year-old design virtuoso learned to master mix from one of the best in the business, interior designer Celerie Kemble. After spending seven years in Celerie’s New York office, Lindsey returned to her hometown of Houston in 2012 where she has since made a name for herself creating spaces that are maximal yet decidedly modern. Like her, Lindsey’s clients are among a new generation of traditionalists who embrace elegance and formality as long as it’s practical, authentic, and conducive to contemporary living. “There is no correlation between age and architectural style,” says the designer. “I have several young clients who appreciate classic features like paneling, molding, and ceiling medallions because of the character they bring to a home. Many of them grew up in older houses and find comfort in their familiarity, so I strive to re-create that in a way that is more current.”
That was the case for one such client, an active family of five who was building in the city’s Memorial neighborhood. Early in the process, the homeowners called on Lindsey to deliver rich architectural details that would set the framework for rooms with a timeless yet fresh aesthetic. Enlisting her “fabric first” strategy, the designer sourced piles of prints, mainly floral, as the inspirations for design schemes that provide a cohesive, thoughtful flow throughout the interiors.
In the living room, plush linen pillows with a wide repeat of big blooms balance the smaller scale prints and solids on the seating and windows. The blues, greens, and taupes in the pillows permeate throughout the space and into the adjacent kitchen that features custom pleated pendant shades made from an imported hand-blocked floral textile. Just off the kitchen, the mudroom, office, and laundry room are all wrapped in a statement-making treetop print, while the dining room features a delicate floral wallcovering that speaks in more of a whisper.
In addition to mixing prints and colors, Lindsey mingled styles and provenances for intrigue. She placed casual cane shades on the scrolly bronze arms of a vintage chandelier in the breakfast room and paired a sleek acrylic game table with a set of patinaed antique French chairs in the music room. In the primary bedroom, timeworn pieces of Chinese export porcelain are displayed on sleek Lucite corbels.
“My clients plan to be in this home for a while, so we took our time choosing furniture and décor that would age gracefully,” Lindsey says. “They didn’t want everything to look too perfect or like it was straight off the showroom floor. By marrying elements that are high and low, dainty and daring, and polished and patinaed, we created a design that is truly unique. To put it in gardening terms, it feels very organic.”
LESSONS in LAYERING
For Lindsey Herod, good design starts with great fabrics. The interior designer explains that mastering the mix is as easy as one, two, three.
DON’T LET “TASTEFUL” BECOME “TOO MUCH.”
If starting with a complex, multi-colored primary pattern, source complimentary solids, textures, or simple two-tone fabrics featuring a color or two extracted from the primary pattern.
FEEL THINGS OUT.
Take the touch test to score fabrics that not only look luxe but also feel luxe. A blend of nubby linens, fuzzy velvets, waxed cottons, and smooth silks can really up the ante on style when working with solids.
WEIGH YOUR OPTIONS.
When piling on the prints, be mindful of scale. Large prints read best when they are offset by smaller ones and vice versa. For instance, pair big blooms with thin pinstripes, dainty polka dots, or tiny ginghams or geometrics. Empower baby buds by presenting them with wide cabana stripes, boxy buffalo checks, or an oversized block print.
