As EIC at Dwell, you might think Amanda Dameron’s home would be filled exclusively with sleek, high-design trophy pieces. And while it’s true that she has some covetable items in her collection, like her Dieter Rams-designed Vitsoe shelving, she has a surprisingly down-to-earth take on decorating that prizes function as much as form. To go along with the curated selection of home decor and art she curated on the site, we asked her how to make your home cozy for fall, the biggest design mistake to avoid, and the one thing she would splurge on if money were no object.
You’re a proponent of spaces that aren’t just beautiful and well designed, but livable and compatible with your lifestyle. What are your tips on balancing those two aims? Number one, it has to have a purpose. I love beautiful items as much as the next person, but when I purchase furniture or accessories for my home, it needs to perform a function for me to use my resources! I live in New York, so space is a premium.
Hermès Avalon Throw
What are your tips for making your home feel cozy for fall? This is going to sound pat, but a cozy throw and some well-placed candle holders go a long way for establishing what the Danes call “hygge”— which loosely translates to “coziness at home with good people, good food, and a life well lived”. When it gets dark and cold out there, use light and materials inside your house to feel warm and encapsulated. Speaking of throws, I firmly believe investing in a cashmere throw is worth the spend, and if you’re going to go for it, go for the biggest one you can find. You won’t be sorry.
What’s your favorite room in your house and why? I love my living room, because thanks to a Murphy bed system from Resource Furniture, it doubles as my bedroom at night! The living room is where I have all my books and magazines displayed, where I play with my children, where I entertain friends, and where I rest when the day is done. It’s the most hard-working room in the house!
What’s a design mistake you have made or that people often make? Buying something in the moment that’s cheap and convenient, rather than doing your proper research. This can mean anything from neglecting to take proper measurements in your space, to buying something that is shoddily constructed but looks passable. Quality is worth the spend, because if you buy something that is well-made of good materials, you will have it far longer than something that just seems like it will fit “for right now.”
If you can only splurge on one piece for your home, what should it be? If I were living in a dream world in which money was no object, I would splurge on a white cashmere Groundpiece sofa from Flexform. I cannot imagine a more luxurious, ridiculous, item to have — I have two toddler sons and two dogs, as well as a propensity for clumsiness. A white cashmere sofa would last about 5 seconds in my house. But I still want one. Badly.
What influences your home design? Where do you find aesthetic inspiration? People often expect me to have a modernist home, but I would have to say my personal style is way more eclectic. I enjoy layering time periods and I favor comfort and utility over strict aesthetics. I like warm materials like wood and fabric, but I also enjoy matte metal finishes for my artwork framing and my Vitsoe shelving. I am very inspired by the images I see on Instagram—I follow tons of designers from all over the world, and as one might imagine, I do see a fair amount of beautiful homes in my line of work, as well 😉
Alvar Aalto Lounge Chair
Who are your favorite furniture designers? Oh, this is a very VERY long list, but I will list my top five: Kaare Klint, Alvar Aalto, Patricia Urquiola, Jaime Hayon, and Charlotte Perriand.
Who are your favorite artists? Margot Lovejoy, Ikke Matsumoto, Hiroko Takeda, Egon Schiele
How often do you switch up your decor? What is your advice for editing? As often as necessary! My decor changes come from necessity rather than aesthetic whim. As my needs change, and the needs of my family, I change the layout and pieces that figure into our home. My best advice for editing is to really ask yourself why you are holding onto something. If you don’t use it, or admire it, on a regular basis, you shouldn’t keep it.
Do you consign/resell your pieces? Can you tell us about something you recently consigned and why? I have! I recently sold a set of vintage Thonet dining chairs. I loved them, but they didn’t fit with our needs any longer—I need chairs that can stack, or can be displayed flat against the wall. New York = small spaces, like it or not!
