Long before Britany Simon specified countertops and cabinetry, she mixed fabrics, played with silhouette and paired found pieces with current trends. Fashion gave her a fast place to test ideas. For the founder of Britany Simon Design House in Scottsdale, Ariz., that instinct never left. It simply moved into the home. On our most recent From the Tap podcast, we discuss how to apply fashion principles to interior design.
Silhouette, Texture & the Art of Tailoring
Treat a room like a silhouette. View the shape of a range hood against its surroundings just like a stylist reads an outfit. Tailoring becomes scale and proportion in your hands. A space that fits its room feels right for the same reason a well-cut suit does. Simon favors mixing high and low or classic and current, and she isn’t afraid to bend a rule when balance calls for it.
When the Runway Reaches the Home
Catch trends before they fade. The lag between a runway palette and its arrival in interiors has all but disappeared. Simon sees today’s 70s-influenced moment everywhere: muddier tones, mustards, deep greens and browns, alongside cornflower blue and citron yellow. Study color-driven collections for unexpected palettes, then let them inform texture, pattern and layered detail in your projects.
Trend-Forward, Without the Regret
Stay current without committing forever. Rather than painting a client’s cabinetry a fleeting coral, Simon reaches for Roman clay walls, performance fabrics and finishes that can shift in five years without heartbreak. Color and texture carry the trend. The bones stay timeless.
Reading the Closet
Use your client’s wardrobe as your most revealing tool. Sequins, bold patterns or a lone hot-pink dress tell you how far you can push. A closet of neutrals sets a different course. It’s design psychology translated through a language most people already speak. Find fashion-inspired luxury in tailoring, proportion, layering and deeply personal touches: the skirt on a sofa or the fringe of an ottoman. Create rooms that look collected over time, effortless and considered all at once.
To hear the full conversation with Britany Simon, listen to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Pandora and other outlets.
