Q&A with Emilio Pimentel-Reid 

1. How did you get started in your career and how have you kept it moving forward?

Growing up in the Dominican Republic my mother subscribed to a great number of international fashion and home magazines. Although she would say ‘don’t blame me’, her interest in design ignited a curiosity in me that eventually developed into a passion for interiors.

I first studied Fashion Design at Parsons School of Design in New York. My love of colour and pattern developed early on at Oscar de la Renta, watching the designer mix seemingly unrelated fabrics and bold accessories, which combined to create the house’s signature comme il faut looks.

An understanding of clearly distilled modern visual concepts came from my time at Calvin Klein where I was introduced to textiles, trims and the procurement of subtle finishing details to enhance garments. An appreciation of both the contemporary and traditional later informed my move into the interiors field following an MA and training in Fine and Decorative Art at Sotheby’s London and the cult American interiors magazine, Nest. Known for celebrating exceptional spaces and its bravery in valuing everything from igloos and prison cells to palaces, I left fashion and joined the title after its launch issue and learned to appreciate a personal and compelling home regardless of budget.

I launched my own multidisciplinary studio in 2012 following many years as the Decorating Editor at British ELLE Decoration. As a connector of people and ideas, my broad range of commissions blend my interest in contemporary design and historic interiors with a sense of playfulness, rigour and a colourful aesthetic.

I keep moving forward propelled by curiosity, great energy and an openness to go on exciting journeys that my clients or unexpected opportunities provide.

2. What do you enjoy most about your job?

As an Author and Creative Strategist, I wear several hats- whether writing, styling or partnering with my interior designer, architects and commercial clients in shaping their image, as well as their creative and often their business strategies.

Succinctly I like connecting people, sharing in the excitement of new ideas and design, as well as making the beautiful commercially viable.

3. Please tell us about your new book and what was the inspiration behind it?

In my professional and personal life, I come into contact with top designers across the world. The idea for this book came from my regular conversations with them, and from my desire to reveal how these international creatives are fashioning highly personal interiors for themselves, as well as to explore the relationship we all have with our homes.

 ‘All Things Considered’ highlights distinctive spaces: some historically influenced and others at the cutting edge of contemporary design, some serene and several provocative, but all uplifting and created with great thought, confidence and flair. In the mix of moods, colours, patterns, elements, limitations and possibilities that can be seen in the inspiring interiors across these pages, all things have been very thoughtfully considered – leaving room for style, surprise, joy and personality.

The main idea is to inspire you!

4. How did you go about choosing homes for the book - what were the criteria for inclusion? 

In the book I sought to include a range of interesting people with great personal style at the top of their field creating welcoming, highly personal interiors with flair and confidence.

In Bath where I live most of the time, I regularly reference my interiors books from the 70s, 80s or older. Some feature the homes of designers that are now very well-known, but were then at the beginning of their careers. Many of these homes have stood the test of time and are still inspiring today.

In my own way, I wanted to achieve something similar with interiors relevant now that will be interesting to revisit later- a style time capsule to be opened in the future!

5. What do you find appealing about a creative’s own interiors? 

As someone passionate about homes, still filled with curiosity after over twenty years exploring and promoting design, I have found that often the most alluring and successful interiors are those that designers conceive for themselves.

 Perhaps this is because they experiment at home before deploying their ideas on clients, or because they take risks that they might not in professional projects.

At home, also, they often tackle challenges that are not faced by their clients: budget or size of space, maybe, or the even tougher challenge of committing to design choices for oneself. Each designer has approached their interior differently – just as you should.

6. What is the message you want people to take from the book?

Learn from others, ask questions, take risks, find your niche, collect/hoard what you like even if others don’t get it and enjoy your home. Celebrate your individuality and create interiors that are very you - All Things Considered.

7. What can Decorex visitors expect from the panel session you're hosting? 

Spend a fun hour with top designers and creatives as they reveal how they have fashioned highly personal interiors for themselves and share insight, key considerations and inspiration on how they have crafted their beautiful and considered homes. There will be lots of visual stimulation and images from the book.

Our conversation will highlight the panellists’ own distinctive spaces filled with surprise, joy and personality and offer tips to encourage you to celebrate your individuality!

8. What makes a home inspiring ? 

The person makes a home inspiring.

This is not about good or bad taste, it’s about making your home yours. In the book I captured some of the ingredients that make each interior special in the book’s ‘All Things Considered’ page: Balance, Surprise, Colour, Pattern, Possibilities etc but ultimately, you’re the magic.

9. What are you most looking forward to at this year's Decorex?

Discovering new creatives, being inspired by the new collections, connecting with new talent and bumping into industry colleagues- as well as moderating an exciting panel discussion followed by a book signing. Lots to look forward to!

‘All Things Considered: Thoughtful Interior Design that Mixes Pattern, Colour and Style’ by Emilio Pimentel-Reid (Quadrille). Photography:  Edvinas Bruzas

All Photos courtesy of Quadrille

For a signed copy, buy the book at Decorex or Pre-Order book here: https://geni.us/allthingsconsidered

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