Talk Shop: Emma Kemper // Emma Beryl
Photo by Nick Glimenakis
ABOUT EMMA
We are so thrilled to feature one of AO’s design buddies, Emma Beryl Kemper, on Fenimore Lane. Inspired by her travels, family, friends, and fashion, Emma always knew she wanted to be an interior designer. After training at the New York School of Interior Design, Emma has worked on a wide array of projects all over the world. In 2015, she started her eponymous design firm, Emma Beryl. Emma has designed for brands like Bumble and Saks Fifth Avenue as well as residential clients all over the country. Emma was also recently named as a top new designer to watch by Lonny Mag! We sat down with our pal below to chat all things design.
Describe your style in three words or less:
Evolving, and clean but warm.
What have been the three biggest influences on your aesthetic in your life:
Traveling has been the biggest influence on my aesthetic. I feel most inspired when I’m in a new place and am exposed to new styles and design concepts. I specifically love and seek inspiration from beautifully designed boutique hotels, restaurants, and shops and often come back to home-related purchases that I’ve made while traveling when looking for inspiration.
How did you start your company, and/or what is your favorite thing about what you do:
I worked in fashion after college (RIP Lucky Magazine and The Jones Group) and really liked certain elements of it but didn’t feel totally fulfilled. I had always been obsessed with interiors for as long as I can remember but never thought of it as a career for some reason. After working in fashion for a couple of years and feeling burnt out I took a trip around the world with my friend which gave me the space and perspective to figure out what I really wanted to be doing. I applied to design school at NYSID from an internet cafe in Sydney and never looked back!
Do you have a mentor in your career, and if so, how have they helped to shape your trajectory:
I really don’t have one particular mentor but there are many designers who I look up to. One thing I love about the design industry is that designers are so warm and welcoming to each other and open to making introductions and giving advice. While I don’t have an official mentor I do have a peer group of designers whose opinions and judgments I respect immensely who I feel lucky to lean on and to share design ideas/nightmare client stories/advice with.
What does your home say about you:
Designing my own home is a lot harder and feels a lot more high pressure than designing somebody else’s does! We are currently in the process of moving from a 580 square foot apartment. I was very nervous about how small the space was so kept everything very minimal and light and bright. Our new home is larger and I’m finding that my design style is evolving to include a lot more color and classic furniture shapes. It’s a work in progress but I hope that when the space is done it feels comfortable, warm, and inspiring!
Where do you find inspiration:
In normal times I would say NYC, traveling, fashion etc but since Covid I’ve turned to instagram, Pinterest, and design books.
Who are your style icons:
My favorite designers are Jake Arnold, Amber Lewis, and Studio Life/Style.
What are your key ingredients for entertaining:
I really love to set a table and *make it nice*. Sometimes I think if I wasn’t an interior designer I’d love to open a shop that was all tabletop. So for me a beautiful tablescape is a must and then all of the obvious ingredients-- great friends, food, drinks, music.
Do you collect anything:
Glassware and tablecloths. I’ve never had a space where I can have an actual dinner party before so now that we have a dining table I’m really looking forward to breaking all of these items in post-Covid!
Favorite Instagram accounts to follow for inspiration:
@archdigest, @louiseroehome, @dominomag, @amberinteriors, @jakearnold, @nickeykehoe of course my friend @arielokin!
What design “rule” do you always follow, and which is made to be broken:
An interior always needs to make sense within the greater context of the architecture and setting in which it occupies. Above all else it also has to reflect the personality and tastes of the people who live in it!
Do not believe in most other design rules but do believe in understanding and mastering them so that you can deliberately question or break them in ways that make sense!
What are you working on right now:
We feel very lucky to have a pretty full calendar right now! Most excited about a gut renovation on Park Avenue, homes in the Hamptons, Westchester, and New Jersey, and a gut renovation in New Orleans.
Wardrobe staples:
In real life I love a good fitting pair of jeans, boots, and beautiful soft sweaters and tee shirts.
This year I’ve been quarantining in flowy dresses and leaning into the matching sweat suit trend. Layering jewelry is my current version of getting dressed up.
Favorite fabric/wallpaper:
Currently obsessing over Kerry Joyce Textiles Flora & Fauna and Flower Power, Pierre Frey Teddy Mohair and Beatrice Naturel boucle and Gracie Olive Silhouettes wallpaper.
Best interior advice you ever received:
If you love something it needs to find a place in your home and if you don’t love or use something regularly it should be sold/purged/donated immediately!
Best career advice you ever received:
It’s the most cliche answer of all time but find out what you love to do and then find a way to get paid to do it!
Types of home purchases you invest in, and save on:
I love to invest in staples that you will have forever such as your dining table or sofa and love to save on smaller accents that you can change out as your taste changes. The only exception to that is if you absolutely love an accessory or piece of art I definitely support splurging on it because that’s how to best infuse personality into your space.
Your greatest extravagance:
We spent a few months in the Berkshires this past Fall and completely fell in love. This is a capital E once-in-a-lifetime extravagance but we bought a beautiful plot of land there that we will one day build a home on that I am so, so excited about.
Favorite places to shop for home:
Finding something on 1stdibs, Chairish, or Etsy always feels exciting because you never know what you’ll find and the pieces could be anywhere in the world and are often one-of-a-kind. I love The Urban Electric Company for lighting and Lawrence of La Brea for vintage rugs and Sunday Shop for accessories.
Most prized possession and why:
A friend recently made fun of me because we packed up our entire apartment into boxes but during the move I hand-carried this little sculpture I have that my great grandfather made (it’s of an old man hunched over in thought). I really love how it looks and the soul it adds to our house but I also just love the history behind it!
Your interiors motto:
A home should be a reflection of the people who live in it and filled with things that bring you joy!
Your life motto:
It’s cliche but live life to the fullest and choose to be happy!
Advice for someone looking to define their own interior style:
Pick one thing you really love and build on it. A home feels the best when it’s an authentic representation of the people who live in it so by living amongst things you genuinely love your interior design style will evolve organically.
Take Ten: My Favorite…
Food: Chocolate
Drink: Red wine
Film: Catch Me if You Can and Titanic. Big Leo fan.
Hotel: For our honeymoon we went on a Safari in South Africa and stayed in Ngala, it was absolutely incredible. The balance of vernacular no frills design and over the top attention to detail and service was something I will never forget.
I also went to Marrackech with a friend a few years ago and we had dinner at The Royal Mounsour hotel, completely unmissable to walk around and explore the grounds if you’re ever in that part of the world!
City: New York and New Orleans--can’t pick!
Bedding: Ettitude---so, so soft.
Tea or Coffee (and how do you take it): Iced coffee all year no matter the weather.
Playlist: When I’m working I usually ask Alexa to play John Mayer radio. My toddler is obsessed with Lizzo so we play a lot of that too.
Weekend Activity: I really love going to restaurants and used to look forward to trying new places and having nice dinners out with my husband and friends on the weekends. These days we’re a lot more mellow and spend the weekend going to the park or relaxing at home.
Design Book: So many! I don’t know any designers who don’t collect an obscene amount of design books. Recently I keep coming back to A Place to Call Home, The Gil Schafer book.
