Table Talk With Kevin O'Gara

Blonde man wearing all white sitting on the corner of a white bed with one hand on a brown dog next to a dresser

Meet Kevin! The Atlanta-based designer created a chic bedroom pillowscape using Walnut Velvet and Emma Chartreuse. Keep reading for more on Kevin, his style and his custom pillow choices featuring our new fringe piping.

 

First off, tell us a little bit about yourself!

I’m an Atlanta-based interiors and product designer, artist, and influencer. I started a design blog in high school and later launched my design studio and first collection of luxury maze-inspired area rugs in college. I’ve since expanded by collection and worked with dozens of home decor brands and private clients on residential interiors around the Southeast!

 

How would you describe your style? Where do you find inspiration?

My style is primarily inspired by the collected interiors so often found in Southern homes, so I love to incorporate my signature blend of old and new with subtle juxtapositions of contemporary design. I coined the phrase New Regency style to describe the youthful, refreshing mix of periods that I gravitate towards in my design work and inspiration. I’m always inspired by nature and often use color palettes with sky blue and shades of green, and I also love looking through European home tours for great lessons in chic, lived-in style.

Bed close-up styled with two brown velvet custom pillows and one Yellow Stripe Chartreuse custom bolster pillow

  

What does your home say about you?

My home is grounded in some really special older pieces I’ve inherited from family members, but has a very approachable quality that I strive for – to make sure it feels very livable and inviting for guests. I love throwing dinner parties and entertaining, so I never want to design spaces that feel too precious to relax in and enjoy with friends!

 

Walk us through how you styled the pillows! How did you choose which patterns and piping to use?

I tend to gravitate towards flora in patterns and I love the feathered fronds in the Emma fabric. The combination of energetic chartreuse with the more muted Sage green fringe felt very fashionable, and a good dark brown Walnut velvet makes a very classic pairing for almost any color. I loved referencing the wall color in the square pillows while introducing green into the room’s palette to create a focal point on the bed.

Close-up of two brown velvet custom pillows and one yellow tripe chartreuse custom bolster pillow

 

How do you approach styling with different sizes? What's your rule of thumb for how many pillows go on a sofa or bed? 

When choosing between two pillow sizes, I always recommend going with the larger size. Throw pillows often get dwarfed by the furniture they’re sitting on! That being said, I think it’s key to limit the number of pillows – around three for queen beds and standard sofas, five to seven for king beds and sectionals. You don’t want to make it hard to sit or sleep without going through a lot of pillow-logistics!

 

Do you stick to any design "rules" when mixing and matching patterns and colors?

It takes some design chops to go full-on with your pattern mixing, but my recommendation is to study some pillow combinations you like and identify the traits of each pattern (scale, style, material) to start noticing the formulas designers often use. I tend to choose one or two colors to work around, and begin with a foundation of solid or textured fabric before incorporating both a larger-scale pattern and a smaller-scale pattern to complement one another.

Bed close-up styled with two brown velvet custom pillows and one Yellow Stripe Chartreuse custom bolster pillow

 

One of our mottos is "a little goes a long way". What are a few ways to elevate your living room/bedroom that don't require a full renovation or splurging on new furniture?

I think drapery is the greatest upgrade you can give a room without renovating – it’s not only the mark of a well-designed space but it also can be used to cheat or hide bad architecture. I often use drapery to trick the eye into making a window appear larger or centered on a wall, emphasize the ceiling height, or soften a room that needs more intimacy. 

Blonde man standing next to white bed styled with two brown velvet custom pillows and one Yellow Stripe Chartreuse custom bolster pillow

 

Favorite design book?

Currently, Wonderland by Summer Thornton

 

Color crush of the moment?

Shades of yellow are growing on me

 

Wallpaper or paint? 

Wallpaper

 

Favorite project you’ve worked on?

A carriage house tiki bar 

 

Love Kevin's picks? Shop his pillow bundle!

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