Photo courtesy of Mark Cunningham
Photo courtesy of Mark Cunningham
Three Can’t Live Without Products
- Kassatex: How did you start designing?
- Mark Cunningham: I was one of those kids who always rearranged the furniture in my mother’s house. Early in my career, I was a visual merchandiser, and my first interiors projects were for clients I met through merchandising.
- K: 3 designers who inspire you:
- MC: John Dickinson, Jean-Michel Frank, Ward Bennett.
- K: Favorite moment during the design process:
- MC:Putting everything in place and styling at the end.
Photo courtesy of Mark Cunningham
- K: Favorite room to design?
- MC: Living Rooms. You can experiment the most with the space, layers and scale.
- K: Most memorable project?
- MC: Martha’s Vineyard
Photo courtesy of Mark Cunningham
- K: Do you ever pull inspiration from fashion, or everyday life?
- MC: Of course. I love Dries Van Noten, and I love Irving Penn. I’m also very inspired by the culture and landscape of the West, especially Arizona.
- K: How important is it to fully design a room, accent pieces to major elements, or do you allow room to grow with evolving tastes and items?
- MC: I think a room comes together in the layering of it – from finishes to furniture to lighting and accessories, but it’s most important that the items have integrity and speak to the energy and tastes of the client.
- K: Three decor trends you wish would fade away:
- MC: Lacquered Brass, karate chopping pillows, mismatched mixing.
Photo courtesy of Mark Cunningham
- K: Repro or Authentic? When is it ok to use a reproduction of a popular item?
- MC: It really comes down to budget. I always prefer to use the real thing, but if we can’t find one in good condition or if the price is prohibitive, then a reproduction is very welcome. Reproductions are also the perfect option in a kid’s bedroom or other secondary spaces that will get a lot of use where you don’t want to worry about damaging a valuable authentic piece.
- K: Favorite cost efficient brand you love to use when mixing high/low:
- MC:CB2, Serena and Lily & Crate & Barrel for inexpensive tabletop.
- K: Three websites for design inspiration:
- MC: I’m old fashioned, I’m still obsessed with magazines. But I do love the blogs from Mark Sikes and Form. And of course I find a ton of inspiration on Pinterest and Instagram.
- K: Three favorite colors for walls:
- MC:
1. Benjamin Moore – AF-15 Steam
2. Farrow & Ball – Cornforth White no.228
3. Benjamin Moore – HC-168 Chelsea Grey
Benjamin Moore – AF-15 Steam
Farrow & Ball – Cornforth White no.228
Benjamin Moore – HC-168 Chelsea Grey