(SH): So if you had to sum up your philosophy about the secret to living and decorating well, what would that be?
(CK): Celebrate beauty when you find it, and allow yourself to design emotionally. It’s a little bit like Marie Kondo’s book about paring down and keeping tidy (although, sometimes what I do is the opposite of paring down). Go through your house, and unless you feel a spark for something or have used it recently, let it go. So many people get caught up in what they think they’re supposed to do or in making it all match. But I believe there’s a very important truth about how you feel about things—a delight or lack of delight—and that should be where you start.
(SH): What is it about a room that makes you feel happiest?
(CK): It’s the management of light—a balance of windows, mirrors, and light at many heights. I could be sitting in an empty room on a beanbag, and if there were good windows and mirrors and the right amount of light, I’d be happy. Beyond that, it would be when I’m surrounded by things that are unique. I like pieces from different time periods that have their own story lines. If I bought everything at once from the same place, it would feel like a model apartment instead of home.
