9 MyDomaine-Approved Designers On the Spaces That Inspire Them

If you’re reading this, interior design and home decor are probably on your list of things that inspire you. Details we see our favorite designers use such as color, texture, and shape are aspects we draw upon to make our own spaces feel like home.

But do you ever wonder where they get their inspiration, or what ingredients they use in their decor recipes to achieve the designs that we love? If so, we’ve got answers.

We asked 9 MyDomaine-approved designers about the projects inspire them and why, giving us a glimpse into their expert minds.

01 of 09

Forbes + Masters on Tara Kantor

Design duo Tavia Forbes and Monet Masters of Forbes + Masters are drawn to the tonal approach in this apartment design by Tara Kantor.

“We love the way Tara Kantor marries a myriad of different natural tones and textures to create a space that is rich in texture and design,” they explain.

02 of 09

AE Designs on LeClair Decor

A story of mixed materials that create balance is something that designer Amy Elbaum of AE Designs finds captivating, and strives to strike in her own designs.

“I love the warm yet modern vibe from this house. The mix of wood tones with cooler elements like concrete and black fixtures creates such an appealing balance,” she says about this LeClair Decor design.

03 of 09

Beauty is Abundant on Forbes + Masters

Color has always been a main character in interior design. Leah Alexander of Beauty is Abundant loves the way it’s utilized in this nursery by Forbes + Masters.

“They elegantly used color to draw your eye up, blurring where the wall ends and ceiling begins, with two-toned drapes to continue the color-blocking,” she says.

04 of 09

Lemon Leaf Home Interiors on Mindy Gayer

For Kimberly Holdway of Lemon Leaf Home Interiors, two of the most important aspects of design are making sure a home feels inviting and lived in. She finds that and more in this home design by Mindy Gayer.

“The spaces are light and bright but Mindy adds warm woods, greenery, and texture to help the design feel current and livable,” Holdway explains.

05 of 09

Louis Duncan-He on Whittney Parkinson

Subtle elegance makes a room sparkle for designer Louis Duncan-He, who admires the details that Whittney Parkinson used to achieve that ambiance in this kitchen.

“I love how she added dimensionality with a tone on tone execution. The three dimensional peaked detailing on the upper cabinets is so elegant and beautiful. It adds so much sophistication,” he says.

06 of 09

Diana Rose Design on Gail Davis Designs

Diana Rose of Diana Rose Design loves designs that feel like an intentional experience, while choosing details based on what purpose the room serves.

"Every detail your eyes are drawn to invites to be touched and explored, even the art above the bed is so soft," she says about this room by Gail Davis Designs. "This is so appropriate for a bedroom because we are most vulnerable in this space and need that extra comfort. The sculptural furniture and tribal wallpaper adds playfulness to the room, which I absolutely love. Overall, this room has a soul that you cannot see but feel, as Gail brought the experience into the room besides beautiful aesthetics.”

07 of 09

Meg Lavalette on Alyssa Kapito

A mastery of balance is what sweeps away Meg Lavalette of Lava Interiors. The attention to detail in this family apartment by Alyssa Kapito is the perfect representation of that.

“I am always swept away with the meticulous attention to detail Alyssa Kapito captures in every project through her use of forms and materials. Juxtapositions like mixing woods while showing restraint with the overall palette results in elegant spaces”

08 of 09

Laura Genevieve on Michelle Boudreau Design

While color is non-negotiable for some designers, Laura Genevieve of Turquoise and Tobacco tends to stray away from them, perfecting the neutral boho-scandi style. However, in Michelle Boudreau’s Indian Canyons casita, she found excitement and was drawn to the bold + bright hues.

"It was loud and fun but calm at the same time. The perforated walls and cabinets were to die for, they totally reminded me of my 90’s trapper keeper! The space was very fun, but at the same time felt elevated and sophisticated. I loved the touch of bohemian while also keeping it modern.”

09 of 09

David Quarles IV on Candace Mary Interiors

open living room dining room — Candace Mary Interiors

The main goal of design is to make a house, a home. David Quarles IV found inspiration in the way Candace Mary achieved that, alongside the way she herself drew inspiration from the space's exterior surroundings.

“I appreciate Candace's keen eye for incorporating the culture of a home's surroundings and that of the homeowner into how she designs each space. The Hayes Valley project features the perfect layers of midcentury modern furniture, delicate touches of plant life that echo the landscape that peers through those gorgeous floor-to-ceiling windows. And not that space is an issue in this home, but the placement of the mirrors in the dining area expands the visual space even more! The Hayes Valley project has the collected-over-time feel of design that really makes a house a true home.”