Collecting is life’s great treasure hunt, whether you’re on the lookout for fashionable French modernism or scouring the byways of Qing dynasty ceramics. For Madeline Stuart, designing with collectible objects is a consuming passion — and a varied one. “It’s about texture, visual interest and uniqueness,” she says of her approach, which is beautifully illustrated by this Jackson, Wyoming, living room, composed of two distinct seating areas. The T.H. Robsjohn-Gibbings chairs are chic finds, but the one-off vintage lamps and custom ceiling fixtures by Tuell & Reynolds provide the soul. “Honestly, I hope nothing about this room feels current — that’s not how I design and decorate,” says Stuart. “My goal is that my interiors can’t be carbon-dated to a specific time or period.”
“The Philip and Kelvin Laverne coffee table in the inglenook is an exquisite example of their work — the pattern is titled Eternal Forest. The name could not be more appropriate for a room that overlooks the Snake River Valley. It was the first piece I purchased for the house, and it set the tone for everything else that followed.”
Design philosophy?
“My philosophy has always been predicated on the notion of timeless design, be it modernist or traditional. I stress, above all else, the fundamental marriage of authenticity, beauty and comfort. There needs to be a collaborative relationship between architecture and furniture, function and form, client and designer. Throughout my career, I’ve sought to create an atmosphere that expresses harmony, style and comfort without pretense. The homes we design are just that — not showplaces.”
