ELLE Decor Magazine recently released the 2012 A-List: Their third-annual compilation of the country's most talented designers that we should be sure to keep our eye on! 10 new names were added: Brockschmidt & Coleman, B Five Studio, Aman & Meeks, Emma Jane Pilkington, Fisher Weisman, Steven Harris Architects Rees Roberts and Partners, Haynes-Roberts, Paul Fortune, J. Randall Powers, and Celerie Kemble. We were lucky enough to chat with ELLE Decor's editor-in-chief, Michael Boodro, to share with you what goes into putting the A-List together.
The decision as to which designers to add was tough! In addition to Boodro, a team including Anita Sarsidi, ELLE Decor's Design Director and Florentino Pamintuan, ELLE Decor's Creative Director weighed in by looking at the projects they had published over the year for the ones that were the most memorable -- and had also particularly excited and pleased their readers.
We asked Michael if he noticed any themes among these designers' work. Although the publication features eclectic projects with many different styles, two distinct directions have emerged. Refined modernism with a paired down aesthetic, mastered by designers such as BG studio and Steven Harris is one. Boodro says this approach is more difficult to pull off than the layered look, which can be more forgiving. Also trending? Traditional design (the kind that uses old-world techniques), with a youthful twist. Celerie Kemble is a designer that carries this out beautifully. Of course he can't play favorites, but Boodro says Brockshmidt and Coleman have particularly caught his eye as important designers moving forward. The home of Lynn Nesbit, published last year, exemplifies these contemporary designers' skill and grace.
These exciting projects and hundreds more can be viewed in ELLE Decor's New LookBook App that launched just last week. With this app, you can see interiors photos organized by either style or room type making it very handy for decorating on the go! We love that you can easily create files, email images to friends for feedback, and bring it on shopping trips for inspiration at a glance.
To read more about ELLE Decor Magazine 2012 A-List or their new LookBook App click here and don't forget to view our slideshow of work by these fabulous designers below.
