To coincide with this issue’s At Home Section, our Q&A is with Garrett Cheyne, who recently opened a stunning design studio in an old brick building in downtown Delavan. Cheyne started Curate Interior Design LLC to pursue his dream of creating his own business for residential and hospitality design.
With 18 years of interior design experience under his belt, Garrett’s portfolio encompasses local projects as well as those spread across the country. His work ranges from small and large lake homes, modern mountain retreats and new builds to boutique hotels and restaurants.
WHAT ARE THE PRIMARY SERVICES CURATE INTERIOR DESIGN OFFERS?
Curate is a full-service interior design studio and showroom, offering design and procurement services for all your hard and soft finish needs. We can help you select everything from flooring and cabinetry to fixtures and paint colors, etc. We also specialize in soft goods — upholstery, leather, case goods, lighting, artwork, window treatments, one of a kind items and more. We scour the country and beyond for the best of the best!
WHAT DOES YOUR WEBSITE TAG LINE, “LIVE LIFE BOLDLY,” MEAN?
I am a bold person, so when we were deciding on our tag line I knew it needed to make a statement! I live for the abstract, the loud, the bold, the one of a kind. Why not live life boldly? I don’t like to settle, why should you?
DO YOU GRAVITATE TOWARD RESIDENTIAL OR COMMERCIAL DESIGN PROJECTS?
My passion is interior design in any capacity. I have worked in countless homes — from a small, simple project to new builds. With residential work, it is always personal to me. You really get to know the family that you are working with. We have a designer dedicated to residential design, and as for contract work, that’s where I have been focused the past handful of years. I have had the chance to work with an amazing designer, Susan Griffin, with Hendricks Commercial Properties in Beloit, Wisconsin. Sue and her team have pushed me to become the designer that I am today. With hotels and restaurants moving to more of a boutique vibe, the designs can be simple to over- the-top. Don’t get me wrong, I still love working in residential, but I would prefer to design a space that all walks of life can share in.
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOUR DESIGN PHILOSOPHY?
Live life boldly! I say the bigger, the better when it comes to a lot of pieces you are putting in your home or business. A monster piece of artwork in your entryway will come off as a “WOW” moment. Not every single piece needs to be overly large … just a handful of pieces. These statement pieces set my work apart from others.
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE LATEST DESIGN TRENDS FOR HOMES?
One of this year’s biggest trends is Modern Mountain. It has elements of modern, rustic and a touch of industrial vibe. All of these styles have been around for a long time, but when we meld them together we get a casualness I think a lot of people will relate to. Another trend is the continuation of neutral spaces with texture on top of texture on top of more texture! The layering process of the neutral interior is a balancing act of tone, texture and scale, with the occasional pop of color. This style lends itself to be easily refreshed. I always tell my clients when they want a pop of color, use it in a pillow or a piece of artwork.
ANY SIMPLE DESIGN TIPS YOU CAN OFFER?
One of the easiest things you can do in your space is to repaint. Try sticking with one color for all over. Accent walls are a thing of the past. Consider painting older, built-in cabinetry the same color as the walls. This creates an updated space almost instantly. Another simple thing you can do is to rearrange your space. Empty out your room of literally everything and then bring it back in piece by piece. If your room is large enough, float your furniture. There is no reason to push it all up against the walls. By floating your furniture, you create a sense of intimacy. My last tip would be ….if you love it, just do it! You are the one who lives there, why not smile when you walk into a room?
