Ep. 488: Elizabeth Lawrence | Bunny Williams

Elizabeth Lawrence, partner at the interior design firm Williams Lawrence, joins the podcast to discuss her first book, Decoration, co-authored with her partner Bunny Williams. The book functions as a collection of essays that groups rooms by stylistic similarities rather than presenting individual projects, drawing inspiration from vintage French design books. To encourage readers to slow down and step away from screens, the physical book features a photo-free, linen-textured cover and pages that alternate between matte cardstock and gloss finishes. Rules of Scale and Floor Plans: While Lawrence believes most interior design rules can be broken, scale and a solid floor plan are the two non-negotiable exceptions. A strong floor plan serves as a roadmap that dictates the proper scale of the room's pieces, allowing you to confidently mix heavily carved antiques with clean, modern lines. Shopping for Antiques: When out shopping, it is best to take a photo or a tear sheet of an item you love, even if it does not fit your current project, because you will likely find a place for it in the future. Approaching Art: Art should be chosen for its personal meaning rather than simply to match a room's color palette. Artwork must be placed thoughtfully based on scale and medium, such as keeping delicate works on paper out of brightly lit spaces. Additionally, swapping out a heavy or dark frame for something simpler can completely transform a piece you thought you disliked. Wall Brackets: Adding wall brackets to a gallery wall provides three-dimensional interest and breaks up the flatness of frames. Brackets can hold jars, plates, or sculptures, and they often add grounding symmetry to an otherwise asymmetrical layout. Slipper Chairs: Small slipper chairs are versatile pieces that transition easily from a first apartment to a forever home. They can be placed in bedrooms for stacking books, covered in terry cloth for a bathroom, or used as supplemental seating in living rooms. Chair and Ottoman Pairings: Pairing an upright chair with an ottoman creates a dedicated reading spot. This combination also provides a practical alternative seating option for guests who might struggle to get out of a deep sofa. Hurricanes: A signature of Bunny Williams and John Rosselli, large hurricanes add necessary height and scale to coffee tables and dining tables. They also provide atmospheric candlelight, which can easily be achieved with modern remote-controlled, battery-operated candles. Dining Chair Details: Because the outside back of a dining chair is the first thing you see when entering a room, Lawrence recommends embellishing it with custom embroidery, a ticking stripe, or a small check pattern. Celebrating Artisans: Decoration features photography highlighting the chaotic, dusty workspaces of the craftspeople, painters, and upholsterers who make the designs possible. Lawrence notes that clear communication and pushing for custom samples lead to the best collaborations, citing one instance where a trusted artisan seamlessly reconstructed a three-foot lacquered jar that had shattered on a limestone floor. You can purchase Decoration by Bunny Williams and Elizabeth Lawrence on Amazon via Rizzoli, and you can keep up with Lawrence's work on Instagram at @elizabethmlawrence and @williamslawrence. What is one unusual antique or piece of art you have kept an eye on, even if you do not currently have the perfect spot for it? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices