17 Designers on the Ladies Who Inspire Them

17 Designers on the Ladies Who Inspire Them

At A D PRO, we are pleased to indicate the job of proficient imaginative women every day. According to International Women's Day, a day specializing in celebrating women, we decided to go on it 1 step farther and have the designers we spotlight, highlight women. After all, what greater way to observe influential females compared to listen by the people they will have affected? When we reached out to some of our favourite creatives to find out a lady whom they respect, the responses were much better than we ever could have envisioned. From architecture pioneers to creative grandmothers to previous supervisors, the titles run the gamut. 1 thing is for certain, even though: Though women may possibly not will have now gotten their credit score, they may be quietly influencing future generations for ages.

Cece Barfield on Bunny Williams

"She is incredibly talented and incredibly humble," claims Barfield of all Williams, '' for whom she functioned before beginning her very own firm. Many people in her place would be slowing down, but Bunny is always taking on new challenges and exciting projects.

Nina Magon on Zaha Hadid

"As a woman, a minority, and an interior designer, it is implausible not to be inspired by Zaha Hadid's forward-thinking vision and bravado," states Magon, creator of Houston-based Contour Interior Design. Zaha was a mold-breaker, which is a quality that I admire and aspire to have.

Sasha Bikoff on her grandma

"I would say my Nana," Bikoff says. Whether it be her flower gardens and arrangements all over the house, or the way she would dress up just for family dinners at home, or the way she set the table and decorate her home with lush fabrics and Persian carpets, mixing European and Middle Eastern designs. I like to think she lives inside of me and we do this work we love together."

Roger Higgins on his Very First mentor

"There are so many women I admire," says the founder of Nashville's R. Higgins Interiors. She was a kind and patient teacher who taught me the importance of hard work, a caring ear, and holding yourself to the highest standard in whatever you do. I was 19 years old the first day I met her, and now, nearly 30 years later, we remain the best of friends. She encouraged me to finish my degree and offered to come work for me on a part-time basis so that I could continue with my schooling. It wasn't easy, and looking back on those times I wonder how she and I made it work. Without the selfless love and ceaseless encouragement she showed me in my early years in business, I often wonder where I might have landed, and I strive to show the same devotion to offering as many women as I can that same opportunity."

Sandra Espinet on Florence Knoll

"Florence Knoll has always been one of my most admired interior designers because she succeeded in a time when this profession was not yet widely understood and was highly dominated by male architects," claims Cabo-based Espinet. Florence's work has become timeless and representative of an entire design period, and she managed to do all this while still living a wonderful and very inspiring, and creative life. She worked with giants of the industry such as Saarinen and Mies van der Rohe, and all of their furniture designers were sold via the Knoll showrooms. As a young interior design student attending the American College of Art in Atlanta, I was so taken by her work that I interned at the Atlanta Knoll Studio for almost a year. When clients were not in the showroom, I remember sitting on all of the furniture and touching and feeling and loving it all. And to this day, I'll never forget my first personal Knoll purchase of two Barcelona chairs and ottomans 15 years ago!"

Stephanie Woodmansee on Dorothy Draper

"In regards to historical figures in the design world, Dorothy Draper is definitely my girl," says Woodmansee founder of nyc's Henry & Co layout. "I take her saying, 'If it looks appropriate, it's proper' with me throughout every project I do. I so admire her use of color, play with print, and the sassy edge that she brought to every project."

MA Allen on her grandmother

"In today's world, narrowing down a list to the one woman I most admire is a daunting task," acknowledges the Raleigh, vermont, designer. "If I take the most personal approach an easy answer is my grandmother. An artist who attended Pratt Institute, she shaped me as a creative starting at a very early age. We spent weekends together switching from one project to the next. Blind contour drawing to hone my skills, designing and sewing doll clothes from scratch, making fashionable handbags from fabric-wrapped cylinder oatmeal containers, painting, you name it! I admired the quality in her that she could do just about anything, a similar quality my own mother also had. I will be forever grateful to my grandmother for helping me to find my true passion at such a young age and to foster and encourage my creative spirit."

Tamara Eaton on Patricia Urquiola

"One of my favorite designers is the Spanish-born interior designer and product designer Patricia Urquiola," says Eaton. "Her incredible training under several powerhouse designers gives her a strong background; however, her quirky personality comes through in so many of her projects, especially her products. I've always found incredible humor and whimsy in Patricia's designs, and I love her sophisticated yet thoughtful approach. There are many designers who have impeccable taste and would probably be the pinnacle of an Emily Post--style dinner party; however, I think having dinner with such a boldly imaginative thinker would be far more interesting for me."

Nicole Fuller on Elsie de Wolfe

"I am going to make everything around me beautiful--that will be my life"--Elsie de Wolfe

"On International Women's day, I always think back to some of the inspirational women that have moved me and my career," states Fullersaid "Other than my mother (who was an artist and Renaissance woman), I am incredibly inspired by the formidable and iconic Elsie de Wolfe. Revered as the first interior designer, Elsie was a woman ahead of her time. She embraced possibilities and was a progressive feminist who revolutionized Victorian aesthetic as we know it. I see my designs as parallel with Elsie's work, as she was the mother of taking traditional aesthetic and turning it into a mixed, eclectic, and whimsical feel. I love Elsie's spirit--she embodies the ideal woman to honor on this special day."

Charlie Akwa on Elsie de Wolfe

Akwa, founder of The Silver Peacock, also credits p Wolfe--alongside a few different non-designing ladies. "I've always admired women who build their businesses around a sense of community, who embrace craftsmanship and story above budgets and branding," she states. "In the design world, Elsie de Wolfe stands out as someone who was constantly celebrating the power of gracious living and surrounding yourself with beautiful things and great people. Before founding the Silver Peacock, my background was in the food industry, and so I also really admire the likes of Julia Child and Alice Waters, two women who emphasize the power of good food and even better relationships. Both chefs were and are sure to celebrate their growers, suppliers, and producers--everyone from the cheesemaker to the fishmonger--because they knew that it's these people who make their work worthwhile. In my own business, I try to emulate this approach by celebrating the craftspeople and artists that I work with (mostly women themselves!) and focus on championing their preservation and advancement of old world craftsmanship."

Libby Langdon on her mum

"Thinking about the one woman who has inspired my interior design career is an easy choice: my mom! She's an interior designer, and I'm so grateful for all of the guidance, support, confidence, and insight she's given me throughout the years, especially when I was just starting out," Langdon says. "She taught me how to create warm, comfortable, inviting rooms that people can really live in. My design philosophy is 'effortless, elegant, everyday style,' which I crafted based on everything I learned from her. Thanks to her, I design personal spaces that speak to the person who will be living there and aim to help my clients find ways to announce their own personal style."

Bernie de Le Cuona on Coco Chanel

"It has to be Coco Chanel," claims textile maven p Le Cuona. "She broke all the rules and, against all odds, was fearless in her quest to produce what she believed were fabulous clothes for women."

Katie Lydon on Faye Toogood

"A favorite female designer is Faye Toogood," states Lydon of this British imaginative. "Her last name says it all. She is too good, absolutely killing it. Truly clever, smart, design-savvy, beautiful, and creative. Right now, I'm also so inspired by the incredible group of female comedians and performers, like Amy Schumer, Maya Rudolph, and Dawn French, who are shining a light on what it means to be a woman in this crazy time. They are so clever and so brilliant. In our female-centric home, we are obsessed."

Mary Miller on Suzie Frankfurt

"The job description read: 'Seeking Renaissance lady to make use of the office of dominant New York interior designer,'" remembers Miller, founder of Abode house style at Charlotte, North Carolina. "The director of the New York School of Interior Design suggested that I (a 23-year-old South Carolinian who was new to the city) go for an interview. Suzie Frankfurt lived and worked out of a five-story brownstone on 73rd Street, between Lexington and Park. My office was on the third floor and Suzie worked out of her handsome library on the second floor. Her personality was a little quirky; for example, she spoke in a sort of third person way. You had to listen intently to understand her, and it was sometimes unclear which part of the rambling applied to you, but crystal clear when your time with her was up. She was a taskmaster, but I learned so much about the business of interior design from her. Suzie would later be known as a celebrity decorator. In fact, Gianni Versace credits her with introducing him to America. Her clients included Robert Redford, Phyllis Diller, and John Houseman, as well as the daughter of 20th Century Fox owner Jessica Stanfill. But, in hindsight, it was her friendship with Andy Warhol that is the most amazing thing about Suzie. Apparently they met and became fast friends at the Plaza after a show of Andy's work featured at Serendipity. I have been thinking about Suzie a lot recently (maybe because I am currently obsessed with all things Andy Warhol). I recently purchased two of the pages of the tongue-in-cheek cookbook that Suzie and Andy wrote together entitled Wild Raspberries."

Marie Flanigan on Aerin Lauder

"As a child, I was surrounded by hardworking women who were models of living with passion and purpose," says Houston-based Flanigan. "As my family and business continue to grow, I remain drawn to those traits and find myself turning to influential women like Aerin Lauder for inspiration. A gifted entrepreneur and loving mother, Aerin has not only grown her grandmother's namesake company but also built a powerful personal brand that boasts a steadfast focus on quality, meaningful customer relationships, and attention to detail. Those are the very same elements I weave into the fabric of my business, and I admire Aerin for enhancing the lives of people worldwide by doing what she loves and doing it oh so well!"

Kim Radovich on her grandmother

"My grandmother's name was Catherine, but I, the first-born grandchild, called her Mimi," recalls nyc designer Kim Radovich. "Her friends all called her Dolly. As a single parent during the depression, she raised four girls in New York City and spent all the money she earned as a dime-a-dance girl to support them. By the time I was born, she had taught herself to type and secured a job as a clerk in the courts in Lower Manhattan. She bought me my first pair of bell bottoms, taught me how to dance, and reminded me that a furrowed brow would make me look old and wrinkled before my time. She wore large rimmed hats, full-length white gloves, tennis shoes, and her noisy gold charm bracelet on our regular excursions to Rockaway Beach, the Empire State Building, and Lady Liberty. Today, I wear her charm bracelet every day, and when I hear the jingle of the charms, I'm reminded that a dance and a smile can make any day better."

Chad James on a mommy, a teacher, a design celebrity, and Oprah

"I can never really underestimate the strong influence that my mother's creative ability had on me as a young child," says Nashville-based James. The designer found it challenging to stick to only 1 girl, though: "My mother's influence led me to my first true mentor-teacher, Sherrie Perkins. Her encouragement and ability to keep a young excited Chad focused still to this day blows my mind (I was/am a handful!) . In my adult years, I've found great guidance and inspiration from style icon Jamie Stream. She's always pushed me to think outside the box. On a famous note? Oprah ... I mean, duh!"