top new york interiors advise

November 11, 2026

One of the most interesting decorating lessons I have ever learnt came from a highly experienced New York interior designer. She has just five clients, who send her around the world to decorate their properties. Often, she arrives ina new location knowing very little about the local interior industry, furniture suppliers or where to source products.

So what is her secret?

She always starts with the rug. Over 20 years ago, she arrived at our showroom with her USA client who was building a home in Eagle Bay. She had just five days to choose the decorations for the entire house. She asked her client to choose six rugs, one for each room. Not based on what was fashionable or what she, the designer, liked, but on what genuinely spoke to the client.

Something that sang to them, much like choosing a piece of artwork. From there, she built the entire home around those rugs. The colours, paint, furniture, fabrics, artwork and accessories all followed. When she returned on Friday with the completed plan, to order in the right sizes. I asked how she had managed it so quickly. Her answer was simple: “It was easy. I knew exactly where I was going because I started with the rugs.”

I have never forgotten that lesson. Every home she creates is different because every client chooses something different.
The rug becomes the foundation, the fifth wall, and sets the boundaries for everything that follows. This is what makes the result so successful. The designer brings her expertise, but the personality and expression come from the client. They have chosen the piece they love, and the entire room grows from that personal connection. For this newsletter, I wanted to demonstrate just how easy this can be. I have selected five rugs and explored different furniture and accessories available in Australia to show how each rug can inspire a completely different interior.

Start with something you love. Let the rug guide you, and create a room that is unmistakably yours.

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