DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: THE STACY GARCIA LIFESTYLE

I had the pleasure to personally meet Stacy Garcia, hospitality designer and rock star in the textile world at the 2015 Architectural Digest DIFFA Dining by Design show. She is just a delight to chat with! She is all smiles and very passionate about what she does. She took me into her optical and multi- layered wonderland of shimmer, stripes, and gorgeous flowers -  a part of her Paper Muse for York Wallcoverings collection. The explosion of dimension showcases her inventive use of color and pattern. Really powerful presentation.

Besides beautiful textiles, her talents are very diversified;  She also applies serious style to furniture. With Bernhardt Hospitality, Stacy has collaborated a "rugged luxe" line of furniture called The Foundry. Pairing rough torched woods with acrylic, polished chrome and gold details underlines Bernhardt's brand of chic with expertly crafted pieces. Love it!   Her inviting designs feature product with personality and aim to the sense of well-being to all who enter a hotel or home. 

Learn more about Stacy Garcia. I'm so excited to share an interview with her today!

YOUR SIGNATURE STYLE?

Our brand produces designs that all have an eclectic, well-traveled, high-art appeal. My personal style is reflected in many of my interiors, as well as, my wardrobe with thoughtfully collected pieces and a playful mixing of vintage and new.

WHAT IN DESIGN FIRES YOU UP?

My design aesthetic is inspired by couture fashion. In particular, how fashion designers create their collections. I’m lured by the idea that classic design can feel timeless, but at the same time I’m fascinated by how their designs evolve each season. It’s incredible to see the detail and level of craftsmanship that is involved.

HOW DO YOU FORECAST TRENDS?

My team and I meet once a year and we’re typically forecasting trends at least two years out. We start by taking a look at society’s drivers in art, media, and fashion. We’ll even examine mediums like politics and the environment, as many factors can have an impact on trends. We start on this more macro level and progress to a more micro level, looking at how these factors impact specific product categories within our industry. At this level, we’re really looking at the details, such as color, pattern, material and scale, and how they can be used together. When dealing with the interior world, we really want to capture the essence of evolution rather than revolution within the marketplace.

WHAT IS YOUR STUDIO VIBE LIKE?

Contained chaos?! Just kidding...kind of. Joking aside, we work in a highly creative environment with materials and prototypes scattered everywhere. We get to have fun together, even though we’re running a business.

ANY LESSONS LEARNED WHILE PREPARING/INSTALLING FOR DIFFA DINING BY DESIGN?

There was definitely an initial panic over all the moving parts when we started. The biggest lesson I learned is that I am capable of doing things outside of my comfort zone. There are a lot of considerations involved in this event. There is a lot of documentation that needs to be submitted in the early stages including a technical rider, fire certificate, inventory list and table renderings. I had to find the right vendors and partners for my installation and relied on them to guide us, as we hadn’t done this kind of install before.

ANY CHALLENGES WHILE DEVELOPING YOUR LATEST PAPER MUSE COLLECTION FOR YORK WALLCOVERINGS?

The hardest aspect for me is editing, because there is never a lack of creative ideas. This is the most selective collection that I’ve designed for York Wallcoverings. I have a very eclectic design aesthetic and that can be challenging at times. With this collection, I really wanted to merchandise beautiful textures that have global appeal, and make sure that the editing work was done for the interior designers.

SHARE YOUR EXPERIENCE PARTNERING WITH BERNHARDT HOSPITALITY TO PRODUCE THE NEW FOUNDRY COLLECTION?

Bernhardt Hospitality is absolutely terrific to partner with. I look to Bernhardt as a leader in the industry–the very best in class within the scope of manufacturing companies involved in hospitality and residential design.

They were receptive to our ideas and willing to take a departure from the look they were previously offering to the hospitality market. We encouraged them to incorporate unique materials, details and finishes into our collection, such as, raw and torched wood finishes and rose gold details.

BIGGEST DESIGN IMPACT ON YOUR WORK?

I would say that the biggest design impact on my work is the appetite today for good design. People have become increasingly more design-savvy. They have traveled more extensively and are looking for ways to incorporate features of hotel living into their own homes. This trend in consumerism has ignited another spark in what we do. The design-centric individual pushes us to keep innovating. It has become our mission to transcend ordinary design.

MOST IMPACTFUL TRAVEL EXPERIENCE THAT INSPIRES YOU?

My most impactful travel experience started with seventeen months filling out paperwork and planning with anticipation of adopting our daughter from Russia. I've been very blessed with three biological sons and we were called to complete our family with a little girl. The process proved quite an adventure with three trips to Moscow and Samara. The biggest inspiration of all was our new daughter.

BEST DESIGN ADVICE YOU FOLLOW WHEN YOU ARE UNDER THE GUN?

When we are up against tight design deadlines, it is always tempting to make concessions. When it comes to design and product, we have to love it!  “Meh” never makes the cut.

WHAT MANTRA HAVE YOU BEEN LIVING BY LATELY?

Stay Inspired. What else would it be?!

To connect with Stacy Garcia, 

check out her WEBSITE, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, PINTEREST


image credits: Courtesy of Stacy Garcia, Inc.

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