Published Work

Always Follow Your Instinct: A Conversation with Designer Peter Som

As a world-renowned fashion designer, CFDA nominee and member Peter Som has long been known for his contributions to the world of fashion, first as a designer for icon Bill Blass and later under his own name. His stunning pieces have graced the pages of Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and Elle Magazine and have been famously worn by Michelle Obama. Bursting with creativity and an incomparable joie de vivre, he has recently turned his attention to the world of interiors, food and lifestyle, sharing his tips for living the good life on his website and through his very popular newsletter.

Off The Cuff: A Conversation on Design with 1stdibs’ Founder Michael Bruno

Design aficionado, entrepreneur, and a leader in tech, Michael Bruno is a man of many talents. Known for blending his expertise in tech with his knowledge of design, he has founded a number of successful businesses including the luxury online marketplace, 1stdibs.

Current, Classic and Romantic: The life and work of designer Jonathan Rachman

A life well lived will almost certainly include a bit of elegance, culture, and romance. Designer Jonathan Rachman’s work blends all three and invites those who are fortunate enough to enjoy his designs to relish in the diverse beauty that life has to offer. From his beginnings as a floral designer to his current focus as a celebrated interior designer, his work is rich with influences from around the globe and yet close to his heart. His designs can be seen in the pages of Elle Décor, Vogue, and House Beautiful (to name only a few) and he has recently been named as a top American Designer.

TLV How To: Create a Stylish Coffee Table

When decorating our homes, we choose furniture and artwork with care but it can be easy to overlook an import design detail, one that makes a room feel truly complete: the styling. A coffee table is, of course, a functional item but it is also a perfect opportunity to showcase your personality. Dedicating the space to display items that bring you joy can make a home feel like a true reflection of you. Another thing to love about this process is that it is easy to mix up and change depending on your mood or the season. It is a nice way to keep a room fresh and interesting.

Making Room for Magic: An Interview with Designer Lori Deeds

When interior designer Lori Deeds described the turning point in her life when she made the decision to pivot from her pre-med studies to that of design, her enthusiasm was contagious. It is also a wonderful reminder to listen to our inner voices telling us what we truly want, be it in life or design. She describes it this way: “I think deep down I always knew [I wanted to be a designer], but in the beginning, there was an initial dream of becoming a pediatrician, and I completed almost two years of pre-med.

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Cece Barfield on Designing Joyfully

For Cece Barfield, perfection is not the goal. Her designs combine vintage with modern, mixing in personal elements and pieces that bring joy and unique sophistication to a space. The designer learned early on from her mother that creating a space to gather, enjoy life and make memories in was more important than any single object in a home.

Irving & Timothy’s Oasis in Union Square

While they now live upstate, Irving and Timothy were kind enough to share images of their previous home in Downtown New York, overlooking Union Square. In this soothing space high above the hustle and bustle of one of the busier parts of the city, the couple and their pup Matias enjoyed an enviably bright and well decorated home.

What to Consider When Making Limited Edition Prints

Deciding to sell your work in limited edition prints can be a great way to generate interest among collectors and create a sense of urgency around the buying process. However, understanding what art collectors expect when purchasing limited editions is an important part of your job as an artist. There are a variety of factors to keep in mind – from deciding on the size of the edition to how to sign and date your prints properly. How can you keep your buyers happy and coming back again and again for professionally done limited editions? We tackle the questions to ask yourself and share tips for creating a successful limited edition run.

Image Courtesy of The Local Vault and Designer Stephanie Woodmansee

Image Courtesy of The Local Vault and Maiden Home

Image Courtesy of The Local Vault and Designer Liz Caan

Image Courtesy of The Local Vault and Designer Jenny Wolf

The Glass House 15th Anniversary Summer Party

After two years of pandemic related postponement, The Glass House built by Philip Johnson is once again hosting its annual summer party, an important fundraiser which aids in the preservation of this architecturally significant gem situated amid a forested splendor in New Canaan, CT. The Local Vault visited the stunning grounds of the late architect’s own home turned museum for a gorgeous afternoon featuring a live performance by award-winning tap dancer and choreographer Ayodele Casel with DJ Paul Sevigny to support this worthy cause.

Playful, Layered and Personal: Meet Designer Stephanie Woodmansee

Interior designer Stephanie Woodmansee may have technically started her career working with Ashley Whittaker Design in NYC before going on to open her own firm, Henry & Co. (endearingly named after her family’s beloved dog), but her creative sparks began flying long before that. Stephanie recalls: “I grew up “flipping houses” with my mom and dad before it was a show :). We lived in multiple homes in upstate New York and Vermont… I think 10 houses and maybe two stints in inns when we were in-between homes. My parents really did most of the work and I loved tagging along to the hardware store, garage sale, etc…. My mom worked for a moment in estate sales, had a pop-up antique shop, worked at a paint and paper store to learn the trade… I had a lot of freedom with each new bedroom. My favorite was the small rose petal collection from Laura Ashley. Everything was covered in it and I begged for a balloon shade.”

Creating Joy in Every Room: An Interview with Nidhi Kapur of Maiden Home

Nidhi Kapur is not one to let a challenge stand in her way. As a young person, she began her lifelong love of beautifully crafted, timeless furnishings and continued to hone her eye for design through the years, though at the time, she had no idea that her career and passion in life would turn out to be designing and manufacturing.

Designer Liz Caan: Perfectly Imperfect

Based in Newtown, Massachusetts, Liz Caan has been transforming the homes of her clients into spaces that reflect her namesake firm’s signature aesthetic of a “relaxed luxury and new traditional” style since the firm was established in 2005. While her work has been nationally recognized in highly regarded publications such as Elle Décor and The New York Times, she remains focused on bringing “engaging, charismatic and beautiful homes” to her clients along with her dedicated team. In fact, each project she works on is very much a team effort. As Liz puts it “Low in ego, high in support, we’re constantly turning to each other and asking, “How can we accomplish it all?” The response never changes: Together.”

Every piece has a story: Designer Jenny Wolf

Known for her organic approach to design, designer Jenny Wolf is expertly skilled at helping a client to focus in on and define their own style, often making use of pieces that they already have in their collection as a starting point for a project. Her efforts result in a home that not only functions beautifully for her client’s individual needs but is also a true reflection of their unique point of view. The homes she works on are elegant, layered and filled with charm. Since opening her own firm in 2011, she has enjoyed praise from Vogue, Architectural Digest, and House Beautiful (to name only a few), has been added to Luxe Magazine “Gold List” and was named one of Traditional Home’s “Top 10 New Traditionals.”

TLV Visits the Flower Magazine Designer Showhouse

Recently, The Local Vault had the great pleasure of visiting Flower Magazine’s first ever designer showhouse which was brimming with gorgeous and inspiring designs. It is no surprise that the showhouse, a nod to classic Regency style located in the historic area of Buckhead in Atlanta, is a stunner. As the nation’s only floral lifestyle publication, Flower Magazine is something of an authority on elegant homes and gardens, and as such, their first foray into designer showhouses reflects their expertise.