HABITAT: Designing Mind

Cratin Design and Staging’s Amy Cratin

Best in Show

For Amy K. Cratin, president of Cratin Design and Staging, it’s the details that make the design. Throughout her 14-year career, Cratin’s attention to detail has served her well both in both her interior design and staging businesses.

My personal decorating style is … eclectic. Creating your own style is about surrounding yourself with things you enjoy so your space, no matter how big or small, reflects you and not a specific style.

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My favorite room in my house is … my lower family room. I designed it for my husband to share with his friends and filled it with sports memorabilia. It has a rich, club-like feel. It’s just for him.

My most prized possession is … my grandfather clock. It was the piece of furniture my husband and I chose to mark the purchase of our first home. I hope to pass it down to one of my own children someday when they purchase their first home.

Designers who inspire me are … Floss Barber and Ron Dayan.

Design advice I love to give is … color does not necessarily make a room feel smaller or larger, it makes the space feel warmer or cooler. This creates a feeling in the space that defies definition by mere measurements.

Colors I couldn’t design without are … red and all of its many shades. A splash of red—whether it’s in paint, fabric, wall covering or accessories—can bring life and spirit to a room.

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My definition of good taste is … the ability of a designer to identify the underlying needs of the individual client and express them in a way that will reflect the client and not the designer.

The biggest decorating faux pas I’ve seen is… lots of small accessories, too many neutrals and an adherence to a marketed style. Experiment and find your own style among the rest.

The three words that best sum up my design style are … stimulating, comfortable and challenging.

Our Best of the Main Line Elimination Ballot is open through February 22!