We’re thrilled to feature another fabulous designer, and dear friend, Kerry Howard, of KMH Interiors, to continue our “Tastemaker Tuesday” blog series! We’ve been working with Kerry for years – in fact, he worked to curate our own home, which has since been featured in Traditional Home. In addition to being an all-around wonderful person, Kerry’s fresh perspective on design is second to none. Lucky for us, he agreed to participate in our Tastemaker Tuesday blog series, where he answered a number of questions we think you’ll be interested to learn his responses to. Here’s to Tastemaker, Kerry Howard:

A true Southern boy, raised in South Carolina, Kerry’s design style is clean, eccentric, and transitional. You may recognize Kerry from Bravo TV’s Top Design, season 2, where he was one of 14 hot designers selected to compete for the title of the nation’s Top Designer. Kerry believes the key to good design is to design a space around things you love; things that inspire you. He loves to shop at thrift stores where he can find old, ordinary pieces and transform them into works of art. Kerry is a master at combining high quality, timeless pieces with more trendy decorative items to create spaces that WOW! Learn more about Kerry here.

1. What are three words that describe your aesthetic?

My aesthetic can be described very simply.  Clean, Classic, and Casual.

2. Would you please share a little about your favorite space/project to date?

I would have to say my condo, that I just sold In October, was my favorite project to date.  I know it’s my personal home, but it just felt so easy to design for myself.  I didn’t have involve anyone except me, myself and I.  It was the perfect definition of who I am as designer. A combination of old and new, that felt like home!

3. What’s the source of your inspiration?

I draw a lot of inspiration from lighting. When I walk into a room I envision what the lighting would be and design the room around that.  It’s like finding the perfect piece of jewelry to complement that beautiful gown.

4. Name three people (alive or dead) you’d invite to your dream dinner party…

If I were to throw my dream party I would want to be surrounded by my family and friends. I draw so much inspiration from them. After all they are the ones that have made me part of the man I am today.

5. What’s a piece of/type of furniture you couldn’t live without?

I have 3 very large over scaled church windows that I had mirrored years ago. They are my most prized possession. When I see them they are my past, present and my future. I’ve designed every home I’ve had around them.

6. Do you follow a particular set of rules when mixing textures, finishes, etc. – how do they work for you?

I don’t have  a particular set of rules when mixing textures, etc.  It’s visually something that just feels good to me when I put it all together.  I really go with my gut feeling when something doesn’t feel right, I change around until I get that perfect balance. It doesn’t mean I always get it right, but I always learn from my mistakes.

7. Trending… What is something you are currently “into” and something you are “over?”

-Presently, I am “over” the lime washed and reclaimed look. Every big box store in town has a field day trying to knock each other off.

-I’ve never been really into anything floral, but my new obsession is a large over scaled floral prints in a very bright modern colors.

8. How does artwork fit into your designs?

I think artwork is really important and personnel to a design. Sometimes you get lucky and a client has a collection of amazing artwork, and on the extreme end you start a design from ground zero. This can also be beneficial in educating the client on the importance of the artwork completing the design of a space.  “There’s always a special place for artwork in a home”

9. Please share a piece of advice you’d offer to someone looking to break into the interior design industry…

For anyone wanting to break into the ID industry, I would suggest hiring a great accountant, bookkeeper, and learning as much on the business end of design.  I have learned from the school of hard knocks how to run a business, and wish I would have taken more business classes.