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by Marni Elyse Katz |
April 20, 2009
Kara Butterfield, 36, is an interior stylist from Sydney who owns MakeReady, an interior redesign and staging business that she runs out of her tiny but perfectly turned out South End apartment. She also holds style clinics at area shops on topics like “Shop Your Home,” “Bookshelf and Mantle Display,” and “Dinnerware and Décor.” We recently caught up with this uber-stylish transplant to learn more about her biz and get tips on how us design dilettantes can update the décor in our own homes.
How did you end up in Boston? The decision came down to Boston or San Francisco. People said San Francisco was similar to Sydney; I thought, if I’m going to live on the other side of the world, I should do something different.
How did you get into styling? I studied theater and film production design. It was a natural progression to go from designing sets to styling rooms for magazines. And then people started asking me to help decorate their homes.
What’s your design style? I like simple designs that leave space to breathe — I tend to edit spaces rather than add to them. I find beauty in the individual piece. The eye needs time to rest in order to appreciate that, and it can’t do that when
there’s too much stuff around.
Are you on the hunt for anything special? I’ve been scouring shops and auctions for old English bus destination blinds, the kind the conductor would roll down to tell you the stop. It would make a wonderful focal point in a loft.
Where do you look locally for one-of-a-kind pieces? Machine Age in South Boston for mid-century classics. I got a Danish chest of drawers and my Corbusier chaise. Acquire in the North End is like going to Brimfield without having to go through everything yourself. There’s a lovely bird cage in there I’ve had my eye on. And I love Mohr & McPherson — walking through is like taking an Asian vacation without leaving the country.
Any secret sources? I shop Super 88 quite a bit. They have modern ceramic pieces there that look great mixed with classic white dinnerware. I also love their tea tins that I reuse as planters.
Any advice on buying from mainstream stores? When I buy from chains, I try to adapt the pieces in a new way. With mirrors, for example, I might buy three to hang in a row. Immediately, they personalize the space.
Is there a piece you’ve been coveting? Anything by Italian lighting designer Castiglioni. Neena’s Lighting is like a jewelry store for me. I have many more lights than I need. I think it’s because I had fluorescent lights in my room as a kid. I never turned them on.
What’s a common mistake people make with their décor? Scattering photos all over their home. Photos should be displayed in groupings and be framed consistently. Another is having too much stuff. Make a conscious effort to unclutter so you can uncover the gems and discover that “aha” piece.
Who are your favorite designers? Orla Kiely, Nate Berkus, and Celerie Kemble. I think they’ve hit the mark of how people like to live. They have a very comfortable, relaxed style of home design.
Can you share an inspired budget-conscious decorating tip? If you put anything in a glass, or behind glass, it celebrates it. Just as you elevate the significance of a picture by putting it in a frame, you can put rocks in a glass or twigs in a vase.
Finally, tell us what you don’t like. Neon. I didn’t like it in the ’80s, and I don’t like it now. Interiors mirror fashion, so you’ll be noticing it soon. I’ve seen it in small pieces in stores, but you won’t see it in any of the rooms I design.
Marni Elyse Katz blogs on design at www.stylecarrot.com
WHERE TO SHOP
Acquire, 61 Salem Street, Boston, 857.362.7380, www.acquireboutique.com
Machine Age, 645 Summer Street, South Boston, 617.464.0099, www.machine-age.com
MakeReady, 617.721.2677, www.makeready.us
Mohr & McPherson, 460 Harrison Avenue, Boston, 617.210.7900, www.mohr-mcpherson.com
Neena’s Lighting, 380 Boylston Street, Boston, 617.859.1700, www.neenaslighting.com
Super 88, 1095 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, 617.787.2288 ...
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