In honor of Mother’s Day, we asked some of our favorite Southern design dynasties to recount what makes interior design not only a shared passion and profession but also a family affair.
Produced by Margaret Zainey Roux
Lola & Bess
Charleston, SC
Martha Halstead (mother) and Bess Halstead Lee (daughter)
Martha
Q: How long have you been in the design field?
A: I have been interested in design my whole life and have been
doing it professionally for five years due to the partnership with
my daughter, Bess.
Q: Tell us about your daughter’s nursery and how it was decorated.
A: A friend of ours painted an amazing Beatrix Potter mural on the walls with rabbits jumping into poppy fields, peeking out from behind flowers, hanging from parachutes, and dancing in tutus. The crib was centered in the room and had beautiful linens and a custom crib skirt that I had made from vintage European lace. Everything was so soft and light—even I wanted to sleep there!
Q: When did you realize that your daughter was destined for a
career in interior design?
A: Bess’s interest in interior design stemmed from the education and exposure she gained while studying art history in Florence and travelling throughout Europe during college. Her time abroad allowed her to become immersed in all facets of the art world—from decorative arts to architecture. After Bess graduated, she worked for Charlotte Moss in New York City, and that experience was pivotal to her career.
Q: How would you define your daughter’s design aesthetic?
A: She has a fresh, elegant style and a fantastic sense of color and texture.
Q: How does your daughter’s style influence your work?
A: For Bess, comfort is key. She believes people should enjoy living in their rooms, not just looking at them.
Q: What have you learned from your daughter about design?
A: Good proportion is instinctual for Bess. I have learned so much from her keen understanding of balance and the way spaces should work and flow.
Bess
Q: How long have you been in the interior design business?
A: 10 years
Q: What was your favorite room in your house growing up, and what made it so special and memorable?
A: I’d have to say the library. It was very English with an intimate and inviting feeling. The walls featured dark oak paneling with built-in bookshelves stocked with leather-bound books, artwork, and trinkets that my parents acquired over the years. Soft red drapes and a carved wooden mantel added to the appeal.
Q: What is the best design advice your mother gave you?
A: Take more risks. There are so many great decorators in this world, and the most remarkable and innovative ones are those that break the “rules.”
Q: If you could teach your mom one thing, it would be …
A: How to manage our website! Between our retail shop and design studio, we wear a lot of hats, but the one hat she refuses to wear is webmaster. But I don’t blame her!
Q: How would you describe your mother’s design aesthetic?
A: Sophisticated and elegant yet comfortable and familiar—all at once.
Q: How does your mother’s style influence your work?
A: Her style has influenced me in so many ways, both intentionally and unintentionally, but her attention to detail has been most enlightening for me. Her eye for contrast and scale is also beyond compare.
