Lisa Sherry, of the eponymous Lisa Sherry Interieurs interior design company, is based in High Point, but, along with her “creative and amazing” team, she travels all over the country along installing residential projects that embody her detailed aesthetic.
She started her business here because, she says, she found her true home in North Carolina. I love it here. Lisa Sherry Interieurs began in the mid 90’s, born completely organic out of passion. “Interior design is my true calling, but my path was a bit round-about,” Lisa explains. “I love it and never looked back. I find inspiration everywhere. It’s not about keeping an eye on a designer or trend. It’s about having eyes open in everyday experience.”
Describe your personal design aesthetic.
That’s a tough one because it’s always evolving. But at the core, my aesthetic combines two opposites: casual luxe. I think interiors should be relaxed and livable, without starch or pretense, and at the same time be luxurious and sensual.
What do you like in a home?
I like a home that welcomes, surprises and reveals the essence of its inhabitants. The walls should talk! I live in a very stately Georgian Home built in the 1930s. I juxtaposed the gorgeous traditional bones with an eclectic mix of furniture against a neutral but highly textured color and textile palette. The house is in High Point, but would be a natural fit for Charlotte. It’s designed for beautiful everyday living.
How does Charlotte/the South influence your design?
What can I say, je suis Charlotte! Charlotte is steeped in tradition and history, but also has its arms wide open to new thinking and new ideas – even in the world of design. My aesthetic of marrying opposites – traditional and modern, casual and luxe – really resonates here.
If you were to give some simple design tips that anyone can integrate, what would they be?
First, before springing into action, understand what you want to accomplish in the design project, large or small. Second, consider what’s needed to make your plans real – is it a can of paint or a bulldozer?! Next, set yourself free creatively with magazine tearsheets and Pinterest boards. Dream. Finally, partner with a professional interior designer. You’ll find a good designer will elevate your ideas, and you’ll likely avoid costly decorating missteps.
What’s your favorite part about your work and what’s the biggest challenge?
I love coming to work every day. Creative challenges are my favorite. Mixing styles is a signature of my work. It can be challenging to balance that just-right eclectic mix. What’s the right design mix, the right fabric, lamp, wood finish, silhouette? How do singularly great items work together? Is this interesting and new? Is the mix a perfect fit for the client? This is the creative process. Honestly, I also love the behind-the-scenes production process. It’s another a creative balancing act, minding all the detail, ensuring everything is properly ordered, received and ready for installation day.
Okay Lisa, now for some fun stuff…
1. What’s on your coffee table?
Typically, catnip toys and two glasses of wine. A little pop for all of us – me, my husband and felines Henry and Scout. Design magazines too!
2. What’s your favorite room in your house and why?
The kitchen. It is open, inviting, flooded in white light, and a high functioning workspace too. I love to cook (my other creative love) – from a simple family meal to impromptu party. Our neighbors know they may always pop in.
3. What is a favorite designed space you’ve been in?
Wanderlust recently took me to Ho Chi Min City, Viet Nam, where I happened upon a beautiful old temple. It was both faded and vivid, distressed yet preserved. The perimeter of the building was covered in beautiful carvings of the ancient city and its inhabitants. Every color had faded to a palette I love – muted.
4. What’s your favorite color?
White, off white, grey
5. What’s an element of southern style you love?
There is an innate, outward-bound sense of genuine hospitality in the South. It’s a part of my personal aesthetic that’s been cultivated by living here. Our doors are open. We welcome visitors and want to create a memorable experience when they cross the threshold. And by the way, that might be a garden threshold. Southern style also melds indoors and outdoors.
www.lisasherryinterieurs.com
