Willey Design

Imagine standing in front of a 25,000-square-foot house that will be occupied by five distinct personalities. Then imagine being asked to design interior décor that features clean-line modernism at the same time that it is comfortable, relaxed, family friendly and durable.

That was exactly the challenge faced by Salisbury designer John Willey when he undertook his largest project to date. “It was three years of work,” said Willey, who recently transplanted his business from Park Avenue in Manhattan to picturesque Salisbury. “It was one of the most incredible things I’ve worked on and for a wonderful client. He is a self-made man and he wanted a big, beautiful Georgian building, while at the same time he wanted it very livable. There are some grand hallways but there are also lots of moments of intimacy.”

Willey launched his namesake firm in 2006, and has devloped projects from New York City to Los Angeles. Prior to branching out on his own, he worked for a number of “blue chip” designers, overseeing renovations in London, Miami, the Caribbean, and the Bahamas.

“I have been in New York for twenty-one years and have had a home in Millerton for the past five years,” he said. “We loved it up here but my office was in Manhattan. Then the building I was in kicked out about 15 design firms.”

Faced with the need to relocate, he was running around the city when he saw a sign that changed his direction. It advised the reader to “Just pivot.”

“I thought, ‘Let’s do it.’ So we got rid of the apartment and moved here full-time. Now, we are buying a place in Lakeville because we just had a daughter and we want to be in the Salisbury school district.”

Willey has found new office space at 340 Main Street in Lakeville and has already developed a new staff of two designers and an architect he employs on a freelance basis. “If I need additional people, I have a whole community of colleagues in the city that I can tap into.”

He said he didn’t want the relocation to diminish design opportunities, so he is still connected to the New York marke but is now developing more projects in Litchfield.

“I always wanted to be here fulltime, but the question was, can one survive in one’s chosen career. But I already have my firm and the wherewithal is there. It’s all been working out. And we have met so many friends, it’s been fantastic.”

When conceptualizing a project, Willey says he brings his own stamp to his clients. His work is smart, polished, graceful and relaxed.

“But it is always very much of a collaboration,” he added. “Design is not a linear process. Before every project, there is a lot of conversation. I listen to what my clients say and what they don’t say—I listen for things they might not be articulating.”

“My job, firstly, is problem solving,” he continued. “Maybe there is a confusing layout or something that is unsightly. Or I might see them ripping out something that could be salvaged. I do a lot of interior architecture. You have to get the shell of the house sorted out first before you look at beautiful wallpapers, draperies and the like. I help the homeowner avoid expensive mistakes. My job is to guide—not just be a furniture purchaser.”

When listing the top things clients are interested in, he said they want comfort, a relaxed feel, and that the rooms be family friendly and durable.

“You want things to look good five years from now because a renovation is not like changing a sweater. Especially in the city where every bit of space has to be utilized, my job is to make every room draw you in to kick back. You want things that will be used and appreciated.”

“Interior design shouldn’t be considered a luxury service,” he continued. “For me, great design is a mix of smart investment items and unique selections. It’s not just about most what is most expensive–it’s how you blend it together.”

When he started his business, he favored a bolder palette. “I’ve toned down my color over the years,” he said. “I like to see the shapes of things rather than a pattern.”

When it comes to finding items to put in the envelop of a room, he can draw on his own inventory of things he has purchased over years or shop online.

“Retail across the board is not what it was, so a lot of brick and mortar stores I used to run to are gone. Here in Litchfield I have been scouting out incredible things at antiques stores and tag sales. You can get these wonderful items with great patina. There is nothing worse than having everything that is brand new—you need a little history.”

Sometimes inspiration comes from a single item. He will see “something that kicks off a design. Or maybe it is something that the client wants to keep—a painting or a collection of pottery they have built up over years. One client had her mother’s 11-foot-long paneled Chinese screen so the proportions of the room are designed around that. That drew in the colors of the room. It is nice to have a kick-off piece. What is so joyful, is to scan across the home and see things that are meaningful.”

Although it is not usual, sometimes a client will leave selection of items entirely up to the designer. “Often these are second homes,” he said. “They may say, ‘we’re busy people,’ and tell me to pull together the entire look. But they always sign off on everything.

I have had clients—one lived in France—where I furnished literally everything from the books in their library, to the music collection, to the napkin rings and sheets. It’s not that they don’t care—it’s a matter of trust. Once you get started and the concept is marinating, the trust builds. It’s a full vision. But I still want them to care about everything and I think we have a good success rate of hitting it out of the park.”

Before he begins, Willey tries “to have a very frank discussion about budget. It’s a waste of time to overdesign a kitchen or bath. I like to start off very pragmatically and then design it as if I was going to live there.”

While many houses he designs are “of a certain scale” he does not turn down projects by size. “I turn a project down if I can’t give it the attention it deserves,” he said. “Normally, I do five to 10 projects per year—sometimes two, sometimes more. Sometimes the big ones go on forever and it is fun to do smaller things. It’s fun to come in, do your magic and walk away.”

His work has appeared both nationally and internationally, in Elle Decor, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest, The New York Times, Veranda, Luxe Interiors + Design, Forbes and Better Homes & Gardens, to name a few, as well as in multiple hardcover design books. He has also been a guest speaker on Martha Stewart Living’s Home Design segments, has led interior design speaking engagements nationwide, and in 2009 was awarded the International Furnishings & Design Association (IFDA) Rising Star of Interior Design award.