Talk Shop: Lauren Pendleton // Lauren Pendleton Design
ABOUT LAUREN
With nearly a decade of industry experience, Lauren Pendleton is one of the sweetest and most talented designers you ever will meet. Lauren believes the concept of “home” is a unique and deeply personal experience, and she has been operating Lauren Pendleton Design since 2017 after honing her craft at notable design firms such as Sarah Bartholomew Design. Lauren works hand-in-hand with her clients to achieve a timeless and effortless space where her clients can make memories they’ll cherish for a lifetime. We particularly love her deft use of pattern and well-edited approach to timeless interiors.
A Texas native, Lauren now calls Nashville home. When not designing, she can usually be found chasing her two young children (who have the best wardrobes!), cuddling her (very adorable) poodle Bogart, or gardening with her husband. Ariel and Lauren became Insta BFFs when they were due a week apart from each other last August, and it was a match made on IG heaven ever since. We sat down with Lauren for the low down on her favorite design books, best design advice she’s ever received, and more – read it all below!
Describe your style in three words or less:
Livable, youthful, and uncomplicated.
What have been the three biggest influences on your aesthetic in your life:
Being from the South has a huge impact on my aesthetic and how I approach projects. I grew up in Texas, got married in Georgia, and now call Nashville home. Southerners live big (the biggest in Texas, I might argue) in every sense of the word, and I aim to achieve spaces that allow for entertaining and easy living without being short on style and tradition. Secondly and unexpectedly, my children have become a huge influence on my aesthetic. I believe in “let them be little” and in our house, that usually means digging in mud piles and melted ice cream down to their elbows. There are so many opportunities to live in a gorgeous home with children without having to be fearful of actually living like laminating fabric, using indoor/outdoor rugs, or making sure your paint finish is washable. Lastly, I find so much inspiration from nature. I am my happiest and most inspired in the spring and summer when the gardens are their greenest and the sky is the bluest.
How did you start your company, and what is your favorite thing about what you do:
I was in the industry for six years before I established my business in 2017. Lauren Pendleton Design was created after my daughter was born in an effort to spend time with her and exercise my creativity. My favorite thing about designing homes is knowing that my clients are making lifelong memories in a space that feels authentic and comfortable to them.
Do you have a mentor in your career, and if so, how have they helped to shape your trajectory:
I most recently worked for Sarah Bartholomew and was so fortunate to learn from her. She has a fiercely dedicated work ethic when it comes to business and motherhood. She accomplishes both effortlessly. It’s been really exciting to see all the things she’s accomplished in recent years!
What does your home say about you:
That the cobbler’s children have no shoes. Truly! I don’t know when I will ever finish our house.
Where do you find inspiration:
I am constantly inspired from homes that stand the test of time and look as fresh today as they did the day they were installed. I love dissecting the details and applying those trademark pieces so I know my clients will be just as happy tomorrow as they will thirty years down the line.
Who are your style icons:
It’s hard to beat the dynamic duo of the Bouvier sisters.
What are your key ingredients for entertaining:
A well-stocked bar that guests can help themselves to and lots of things to nibble on. And always pressed linens and fresh flowers.
Do you collect anything:
I’m honestly in a stage of life where I’m feeling overwhelmed by “stuff”. I’m purging more than collecting these days and it feels very liberating.
Favorite Instagram accounts to follow for inspiration:
@becky_boyle is as talented as she is kind @catherinesloanarchitect is a local architect with an incredible gift for classism and @tallwoodcountryhouse is a bucolic dream I want to jump into on the daily.
What design “rule” do you always follow, and which is made to be broken:
I think a custom cut rug and custom drapes are definite “must follow” rules. They have the power to completely transform a room. Throwing off symmetry immediately makes a home feel more comfortable. I don’t know if “symmetry” counts as a rule, but it is definitely made to be broken.
What are you working on right now:
I’m working on a home for a sweet family who is moving to Nashville by way of California in the midst of this pandemic. I really want to make them feel as welcome to the South as possible despite not being able to enjoy their new city how they originally anticipated.
Wardrobe staples:
Jeans, stripes, and white tennies.
Best interior advice you ever received:
A friend of mine shared that her mother told her to buy one heirloom piece of furniture a year. I thought that was very sound advice.
Best career advice you ever received:
That the client/designer relationship is a two way street and it’s just as important for the designer to interview the client to ensure the best fit.
Types of home purchases you invest in, and save on:
Invest in custom drapes. Save on antique and vintage pieces by scouring buy/sell/trade groups, thrift shops, or estate sales.
Your greatest extravagance:
I would say it used to be travel but now it seems to be takeout.
Favorite places to shop for home:
We’re pretty limited in terms of resources in Nashville, so I rely heavily on showrooms and the internet. I’ve found some wonderful things from Chairish recently and I will always love Mainly Baskets wicker pieces.
Most prized possession and why:
Next to my children? My mother’s godmother’s seasoned cast iron skillets.
Your interiors motto:
Buy the best, and you’ll only cry once.
Your life motto:
A candle loses nothing by lighting another candle.
Advice for someone looking to define their own interior style:
I think we live in an overwhelmingly visual environment due to the permeation of social media. I feel the best thing to do is to start saving images that make you gasp or capture your attention before you have a project. I guarantee you’ll find common ground and be able to hone your style rather quickly. I would also tell them that it’s ok for your style to evolve with time and to buy things you love. If it feels authentic to you, it will always be stylish.
Take Ten: My Favorite…
Food: This is virtually impossible for me to decide, but my favorite meal of all time was at The French Laundry.
Drink: Manhattan
Film: Father of the Bride
Hotel: Blackberry Farm
City: Ha Long Bay, Vietnam for scenery and Florence, Italy for culture and food.
Bedding: Freshly ironed Matouk
Tea or Coffee (and how do you take it): I’ll have a latte or cappuccino but only in an emergency or on vacation.
Playlist: Coffee Table Jazz on Spotify keeps me zen.
Weekend Activity: Gardening, watching Barefoot Contessa with my daughter, or an at-home facial day.
Design Book: I love both of Gil Schafer’s books. His work is consistently inviting and impactful.
