Tammy’s not afraid of sharing her love of white with her daughter, Tori. “I was told by so many mothers that my silk blouse, or living with my white carpet or glass table—that was all going to have to go. But I’m stubborn. I stayed true to myself and didn’t change one thing. My style was so much a part of me that I figured that my daughter was going to have to adapt to it. I still have my white rugs and chair. She just knows that we don’t touch them with dirty fingers,” she says.
Interior decorator Tammy Palmer is no stranger to making things look pretty. After years spent helping women look good as a fashion stylist (she’s also showcased her style savvy on the pages of fashion and beauty mags, FLARE and Glow), over 2 years ago she gave in to her passion for interiors and has since lent her modern, classic and enviable touch to both residential and commercial designs. She’s a firm believer that your wardrobe can inspire your home and here she shares how.
The two—fashion and décor are so closely tied together. It’s important to express that type of personal style into your décor because it’s still an expression of yourself—your point of view. Everything that you put on tells a story and your home should be a reflection of that as well and to have a narrative.
HOW YOUR WARDROBE CAN INSPIRE YOUR HOME DÉCOR
1. Find your palette. Take your favourite pieces of clothes and accessories and lay them out on your bed. The colours that jump out at you will likely be shades that you love and will be the most comfortable living with. For example, when I open my closet it’s mainly blue, grey, taupe, cream and white. When I walk into my living room, these are the same shades I see. My jewellery even inspires how I furnish a room. I love how gold looks on my skin tone, and it goes really well with all the neutrals I wear, so I have gold accents like my lamp and coffee table peppered throughout my house. If you tend to be drawn towards soft colours like me, infuse these in your home and you’ll always be relaxed in that space.
A fave outfit (in this case, a Helmut Lang sweater, and Isabel Marant Etoile shorts), are the perfect decor inspo for a textured throw for the living room.
Some of Tammy’s treasured jewelry: Hermes, David Yurman, Tiffany, and Alexis Bittar bracelets housed in an AERIN box.
2. Decorate how you dress. Believe it or not, the same rules apply when shopping for clothes and décor. Do you like to accessorize? Do you like to layer? Do you love loud prints? This will all help you figure out how you will personalize your home. Fashion and décor are so closely intertwined. Just like how a beautifully tailored jacket will tie your look together, the same can be said about a beautifully crafted table. If you love to shop vintage clothes, you’ll probably lean towards vintage furniture. If you’re a minimal dresser, but like one statement piece like a designer bag or bold shoes, your living room can express your style by pairing an unfussy couch with an oversized piece of art or show-stopping Lucite table.
3. Be thoughtful while you shop. Both your clothes and decor is a reflection of your style and point of view. Try to avoid going with a style, colour or piece of furniture that someone else likes if you’re not sold on it. It’s not their home it’s yours, and you will have to be happy living with it every day. I always say to be mindful of your home purchases. Don’t buy something just because it’s on sale. Items for your home aren’t as disposable as your clothes.
Tammy loves to accessorize her wardrobe and her home with touches of gold. Tory Burch sandals
A grey coral table from Pottery Barn that she purchased over 10 years ago echoes a similar hue from a detail in a Rae Feather clutch.
4. Get inspired before you buy. I’m always looking at décor magazines or websites, especially from other designers. Lately I’m in love with British designer Sophie Peterson’s IG feed, and Lorenzo Castillofe, a designer from Spain. They both have a classically, modern approach. I also love luxdeco.com and mydomain.com. Since décor is a bigger commitment than a dress, making a decision may be harder and take longer so it’s best to go in with idea of what you want. The key is to be inspired but never copy. Be confident enough that your choices are going to fit into your home. This way it will be more individual.
5. Don’t be afraid to mix it up. You wouldn’t buy your entire outfit from one store. And with décor, your home may end up looking like a showroom if you do. It’s best to layer in different styles and shop at different places. If you love vintage, mix in some modern pieces to balance it out. I always recommend mixing high and low pieces to help add depth and personality and avoiding trends and investing in pieces with longevity. Again, think about cost per wear: that chaise lounge might cost more, but it can frame your entire room and be a building block for other inexpensive pieces.