Trends promise a fresh look, but they rarely promise a long one. Atlanta interior designer André Hilton of Jordan Hilton Interiors would rather you love a room ten years from now than have it look current for one season.
TheHome.com’s Ellen Gefen caught up with André in a room he designed around an unexpected brief: nautical, but glamorous. He talked about where his ideas come from, why he starts every project by listening (and by looking through his clients’ closets), and how he found his way into interior design after training as an architect.
Key Takeaways
- André designs for the long term. He wants clients to be proud of a purchase five and ten years later.
- He works “from the inside out,” starting with an inspiration and one piece of furniture, typically the sofa.
- He estimates that 80% of his job is listening to his clients.
- A client’s closet tells him a great deal about the finishes, fabrics and materials they will love at home.
- His own style is eclectic, mixing a little old with a little new.
Timeless Design vs. Trends
Asked about bringing the latest trend into a home, André is direct: “I’m not really a trendy person.” He aims for timeless, classic pieces in the spaces he designs.
His test is how a choice will feel years later. “I like to go for something that’s going to last past five years from now, ten years from now,” he says. He wants people to look back and say, “I am so glad and proud of myself for purchasing that.”
The reason is simple. “Trends always come and they always go.”
For pieces with staying power, see Classic Pieces Every Room in Your Home Needs and Classic Pieces Every Home Should Have with Interior Designer Andrea Schumacher.
Where to Start a Room: From the Inside Out
André begins with inspiration, then builds outward. “I work from the inside out,” he says. He finds an inspiration, starts with one piece of furniture, which is typically the sofa, and builds off of that.
His favorite room to design is the formal living space. It is the first room guests see, and he loves the formality and richness of a room made for sitting down and admiring your surroundings.
Starting with an empty room? Read Five Rules for Decorating from Scratch.
What Your Closet Says About Your Style
André describes his own aesthetic as eclectic and clean, with an appreciation for many different genres of furniture. But a client’s style is not always his style, and he is clear about whose home it is: “They are the ones that dwell there, so they should be most comfortable in those spaces, and it should reflect them.”
That is why, in his words, “80% of my job is to listen to my clients.” It is also why he asks to see their closets during consultations, however messy they may be. He finds a great deal of a client’s personality there:
- Fabrics: he feels the fabrics they choose to wear.
- Jewelry: it helps him choose chandeliers, and tells him whether a client leans toward gleam and glamour or something harder-edged.
- Shoes and leathers: they hint at whether a client will be drawn to hides and leather furniture.
The goal is a room that is a reflection of the client, not just of the designer.
The Idea Behind a Glamorous Nautical Room
The room André is standing in during the interview started with a challenge: create a sophisticated nautical space with modern glamour. Nautical, to him, had always meant beachy. So he asked himself what the most glamorous part of nautical is, and landed on luxury cruise ships and yachts.
True to his eclectic style, he merged modern-day yachts with what he calls “old-school traditional Titanic.” The question that shaped the room: “If the Titanic were to be here today, what would it look like?”
From Architecture to Interior Design
André did not set out to be an interior designer. He earned a degree in architecture, but after the economy crashed in 2008 there were no architecture jobs to be found. He worked as a teacher and then as a property manager.
At 26, feeling unsure of his path, he had a visit from a friend in property management who was struck by his home and asked whether he had ever thought about being an interior designer. He had collected design magazines for years and drew inspiration from them, but it had not occurred to him that those were real homes created by designers hired to do exactly that. In his words, the light bulb went off.
Another friend introduced him to an established interior designer who became his mentor. After a short internship, he knew this was what he was supposed to do, and he started his own business.
André is also featured in our roundup of interior designers’ favorite black and white paint shades.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is timeless interior design?
In André Hilton’s approach, it means choosing classic pieces you will still be glad you bought five or ten years from now, instead of following trends that come and go.
Where should you start when designing a room?
André starts with an inspiration and one piece of furniture, typically the sofa, and builds the rest of the room from there.
How does an interior designer figure out a client’s style?
André says most of his job is listening. He also looks through clients’ closets, where fabrics, jewelry and shoes give him clues about the materials and finishes they will like.
