Last year, when Susan Hutchinson’s West Chester home was featured on the internationally acclaimed design blog Design*Sponge, glowing praise for her “warm and inviting” aesthetic poured in. Hutchinson’s own 1940s-era cottage is one of her most cherished projects, but she also has countless other favorites. While her niche at Nesting is baby and children’s rooms, her talents transfer to any room in the home. The voice behind the popular lifestyle blog Fleurishing, Hutchinson is currently working on a nursery in Paris through her e-design service. “It’s a way to bring design to the masses,” she says. “People appreciate having accessible design tailored to what they need.”
Design style: “A mix of classic and modern, with French flair.”
Definition of good taste: “Subtlety, plus editing.”
Favorite room in her house: “The living room, which is quite spacious for a home of the 1940s. I love it most in winter, with a wood-burning fire and a good book.”
Most prized possessions: “My grandfather’s dresser, artwork purchased in Paris, an oil painting of my mother, and a card catalog from my husband’s family.”
Designer who inspires her: “Anyone who interprets the classics with a twist.”
Favorite rooms to design: “Ones with history, good bones and stories to tell. I love reviving an older space and making it relevant for today.”
Color she couldn’t design without: “White—any and all shades of it. It’s a blank slate that’s the perfect accompaniment to everything around it.”
Design advice: “Invest in timeless pieces, and accent with trends.”
Favorite design element: “A monochromatic color scheme is always so elegant and soothing. It can be a bold color, just varying tones of it.”
Biggest decorating faux pas: “Using themes—especially in nurseries and kids’ rooms. These areas should be extensions of your own personal style. I want people to realize that these rooms can and should be as stylish as the rest of your home.”
» Design Trends for the Home
» Main Line Homes for Sale
» Tips From Design Gurus
