Southern Home (SH): I am sure a lot of people would like to hear about how being the son of Phoebe and Jim Howard, both legendary designers, influenced you and continues to influence you.
Andrew Howard (AH): I’ve been fortunate enough to witness two pros at the top of their games put together beautiful rooms over the years. So you certainly pick up things along the way, like my father’s architectural sensibility and my mother’s way with color. With that said, I really leaned into finding my own style and look that was hopefully new and fresh in the marketplace.
SH: I understand you designed and built your own house in Jacksonville, Florida. What was that experience like?
AH: Well, after it was built, we lived in it for six months with no furniture, which I don’t recommend. But when I began the design process, I started with the fabrics. I had many samples I’d originally chosen for clients but hadn’t used because they weren’t a fit. I’d saved all my favorites and broke them out for my house. A breakfast nook wrapped in an oversize gingham check? Yes, please. A wildly colorful botanical print for both the walls and the curtains in the living room? Of course. A statement fabric can really jump-start the whole project.
SH: You clearly have a way with color. In your new book, Comforts of Home, you showcase houses with bold patterns and complex color palettes. How do you convince clients to embrace color?
AH: Sometimes I get lucky and don’t have much convincing to do. Recently I became obsessed with the idea of a granny-chic project, with lots of bold, bright patterns and color, plus chinoiserie and other classic motifs that we could rework in new, unfussy ways. One day, I received a call to redo a vacation home on St. Simons Island in exactly that style, and at first I thought it was one of my coworkers pranking me. To get the job done, they wanted it all: all the patterns, all the prints, all the colors, with every room getting a different palette than the one before. There was never enough color for these two.
SH: You take on a range of projects. What are some constants that appear in all your work?
AH: I hate to say this, but hopefully none. I am obsessed with everything design, no matter the style or color palette. Good design is good design whether super traditional, super modern, and everywhere in between. I always want to be evolving and changing and not relying on one-two tricks every time.
SH: Are there any trends that you see gaining steam?
AH: One that I wish would gain steam is the idea that your home is not going to be perfect forever. Eventually it is going to feel lived in. Embrace this. This is what makes your house a home. And mark your kids’ height on a jamb as they grow. We have done this in our house, and it is one of my favorite things to come back to.
SH: With the proliferation of performance fabrics, where do you think the role of luxury fabrics stands at this moment?
AH: I love performance fabrics and where they are headed. I use them as often as I can. But luxury fabrics will always have a place, and I don’t see that changing anytime soon.
SH: Often clients can’t really articulate what they want beyond that they want a beautiful room. Are there some questions that help you elicit helpful information?
AH: It is easy to say you want a beautiful room. It becomes harder when you ask a client why a certain room is beautiful, or what makes a room beautiful. I always ask that because sometimes you think it is all about the fabrics, and what they really love is a great ceiling or a gorgeous view.
SH: How do you deal with a room that has no view at all?
AH: I like to use a botanical wallpaper in a space without a view, because it gives people something to look at. An interesting wall mural can also gratify the eye while serving up a view.
SH: You manage to bring fun to formal rooms. How do you achieve that balance?
AH: The old-new, formal-fun mix is what makes that the case, I think. You can use a grand but graphic wallpaper, a traditional candelabra-style chandelier but in a vivid teal, and you can mix antique and contemporary furniture—including big, gracious, comfortable sofas—that wouldn’t be out of place in an English country house. You can upholster them in bright fabrics and contrasting patterns. Sometimes limiting the color in a room to just two colors, such as blue and white, can make it feel fresh but also familiar.
SH: You advocate for letting children have a say in the decoration of their bedrooms. How does that work?
AH: I advise giving the child a few choices for the main fabric or wallpaper or the rug that will guide the overall design and color choices. Or start by talking about the color or colors your kiddo wants in their space. I had a project where one daughter loved aqua and lavender and the other two loved pink. To keep the pink rooms from looking too similar, we went with a punchy version of the hue in one and a more subtle one in the other, matching the girls’ personalities. For all three, we taped a bunch of different wallpapers up and made sure the children had a chance to weigh in on which they preferred. Then, by using the lead color in each room in different patterns and textures, we managed to work in the formality found in the rest of the house. That monochromatic mix gave the rooms a maturity that the girls could grow into, which was just as important.
SH: I’m sure your clients entertain a lot, either for book clubs or fundraisers. How do you design a house that has a strong mandate for entertaining?
AH: I used to dislike big islands until I had one, and now I love them. Also, I use outdoor fabrics in common areas where guests might sit. I don’t ever want to tell a guest they cannot eat on a certain chair. And not everyone loves them, but I do love a counter you can put down a drink with no coaster and no one stresses.
SH: Is there a part of your job that you detest?
AH: I have to admit, I don’t enjoy forcing pieces someone inherited from a relative into a room they clearly do not belong in.
SH: What’s the best part?
AH: I pick out fabrics and paint colors for a living and get paid for it.
Clearly, all of it is the best part!
Lightning Round
Favorite scent?
Home
Favorite hotel?
Nimmo Bay
Ideal morning ritual?
A 30-minute jog … (yes, I jog)
Dog or cat?
Dog
Coffee or tea?
Tea, but I have a ton of energy naturally, so I don’t need either.
Fashion designer you love?
Ralph Lauren
What shoes are you wearing?
I almost always wear custom Nikes with “AJH” on the back.
Favorite flower?
Dahlias
Most appealing quality in a man?
He treats others as he would like to be treated.
Go-to paint brand?
Whatever works best with the fabrics.
Every Southern home should have?
A family that welcomes others in and throws the best parties.
