Talk Shop: Samantha Stathis-Lynch // Samantha Ware Designs
About Samantha
Though she may not be a “classically trained designer,” Samantha Stathis-Lynch has worked in the design industry for years. She began authenticating countless pieces of art and furniture and working in some of New York’s top galleries. Wanting to pursue a more creative component of the industry, she went on to work at de Gournay, and then as a curator for the antiques and vintage department at One Kings Lane. She then joined their design team and worked on a number of large-scale commercial and residential projects with the director before ultimately setting out on her own in 2020.
After establishing the Hoboken, NJ-based Samantha Ware Designs, she has taken on clients from Houston to New York, and several projects are currently in the pipeline. While she has only been in business for a few short years, Samantha has a very distinct point of view rooted in her curatorial knowledge with a youthful take on traditional style. An anglophile at heart (and married to one!), we hope you enjoy this interview with Samantha.
Describe your style in three words or less:
Layered, timeless, comfortable.
What have been the three biggest influences on your aesthetic in your life:
For as long as I can remember, I've been surrounded by design. My mother was an interior designer and always created homes that were traditional yet playful. Growing up surrounded by such beauty and attention to detail inevitably played a major hand in my own design choices and personal style.
As I grew up and was fortunate enough to travel, I began to understand how everyday moments can become little luxuries. Whether it be the tap on your sink or the throw pillows on your patio, the small things end up shaping the bigger picture, ultimately creating an environment that’s joyous to be in. The more I traveled the more I observed, taking note of different textile patterns or tile motifs, and began imagining ways to implement them here in the States.
I also surround myself with nature at any possible opportunity, and it has greatly impacted my style and my ability to understand the importance of slowing down. When you work in interiors, the design choices you make have implications on daily living, meaning that it's important to pay attention to color and pattern. What better place to discover those two components than out in the wild? Whether it be the lime green that can be seen as trees bloom in the spring or the subtle silhouette of a blowsy flower, nature is always brought into my designs.
How did you start your company, and/or what is your favorite thing about what you do:
When the world shut down four years ago due to the COVID-19 outbreak, I found myself at a crossroads. Do I wait and continue to work for a larger company despite being furloughed while they worked out how they were going to move forward, or do I take the plunge and open up my own studio? It turns out that being furloughed was the best thing that happened to me because it gave me the push I needed to simply give myself a chance. It brings me so much joy to be able to create beautiful spaces full of life and character for my clients so that they can thrive every day.
Do you have a mentor in your career, and if so, how have they helped to shape your trajectory:
Apart from watching my mother design as a child, I don't necessarily have a mentor, but I certainly find inspiration in certain designers' work. I love reading design books and my home is full of them.
What does your home say about you:
I believe you can learn a lot about a person upon entering their home and I'm certainly no exception. As a designer, my home is like my laboratory. It's a space to experiment with different ideas and see what works and more importantly, what doesn't work. While the overall feel of my home has always been one of layered sensibility, when we first moved in, I was in my ochre phase and couldn't get enough of the muddy tone. Today, the apartment feels bright and cheery with its soft blues, pale greens, subtle reds, and bursts of yellow. Many of our core pieces, including my much-loved antiques, have stayed the same despite changing pallets. I think anyone who walks in here can see that English interiors heavily influence me (I am married to a Brit, after all!)
Where do you find inspiration:
I make a conscious effort to find inspiration all around me. While traveling is my biggest inspiration, simply observing the peeling paint on the side of a building or the subtle silhouette made from the shadows cast by creeping vines on the pavement can spark creativity.
Who are your style icons:
This is such a tough question, but I suppose for interiors Nina Campbell and her daughter Rita Konig are my go-to’s. For fashion, I love all things Carolina Herrera and Hubert de Givenchy. I suppose the timelessness of all four is what I'm drawn to.
What are your key ingredients for entertaining:
Tablescapes are one of my love languages. I love creating a beautiful atmosphere to enjoy with family and friends with beautiful table linens, fresh flowers, and of course, good food. If a tablecloth is plain white I don't want it, but if it has a floral motif, I'm all in.
Do you collect anything:
I suppose you could say that I collect antiques and art. I love nothing more than a weekend spent antiquing upstate with good food and a few cocktails thrown in there! I don't collect based on monetary value, rather, I find things that I love and simply can't live without. That said, I do understand the value of collecting museum-quality pieces and believe that in certain instances, strict vetting tactics should be implemented.
Favorite Instagram accounts to follow for inspiration:
@carolinairving, @houseandgardenuk, @flowermagazine, and @inigo.house.
What design “rule” do you always follow, and which is made to be broken:
I don't have any design rules per se, but I try to build schemes off of a fabric or rug that has more than two colors. In the same vein, the rule that you should never have more than three colors in a single space should 100% be broken! Color gives us life!
What are you working on right now:
I'm working on refreshing a country house surrounded by beautiful fields and gardens, designing a 100-plus-year-old house for a young family of four, and a colorful Manhattan apartment to name a few. They're all very different but equally satisfying.
Wardrobe staples:
I can't live without block print dresses, a pair of good jeans, and the perfect trench coat.
Favorite fabric/wallpaper:
This is such a hard question because it changes so often, but one paper/ fabric that I keep dreaming about is Soane Britain's Dianthus Chintz in the Lapis colorway. I'm dying to use it!
Best interior advice you ever received:
Surround yourself with the things you love.
Best career advice you ever received:
It's a cliche but it's true—don't give up until you've exhausted all avenues. Only then will you know if it's time to throw in the towel.
Types of home purchases you invest in, and save on:
I always invest in good lighting. There is something to be said for a high-quality light fixture-it can instantly elevate a room. Save on your dining chairs. While expensive chairs can be appropriate in a formal dining room that's only used on special occasions, opt for something that's durable and that you won't get upset over spills in your everyday eating area. It's not worth the headache of constantly worrying that someone's pasta sauce or coffee will ruin your beloved chairs.
Your greatest extravagance:
I love a good accent chair and because they're small, you can go for the expensive fabric without feeling guilty.
Favorite places to shop for home:
For furniture- Julian Chichester, Lee Industries, Chaddock, and any antique shop. For rugs- Patterson Flynn and for decor/tabletop: Ark Elements, Carolina & Daughters, Mrs. Alice, Sharland Home.
Most prized possession and why:
I inherited a pair of 18th-century chests from my mother that I absolutely adore.
Your interiors motto:
A comfortable home is a layered home.
Your life motto:
Remember to enjoy the little things.
Advice for someone looking to define their own interior style:
Flip through magazines and books and mark the pages that speak to you. Make notes on the elements that you like. Maybe it's the wall color or the motif on the curtains. Start to compile a list of the things you like and more importantly, what you don't like and you'll begin to see commonalities. Observation is vital in design.
Take Ten: My Favorite…
Food: · Anything pasta related! Give me a carb and I’m a happy lady.
Drink: I love a good Gin & Tonic on a hot summer’s day. If I’m feeling fancy, I’ll spice it up with some berries and garnish with mint or rosemary!
Film: The 2005 adaptation of Pride & Prejudice. There is something so romantic and dreamy about the cinematography.
Hotel: · This is such a hard question! My husband and I made an impromptu reservation at Il Salviatino in Florence after our wedding and it was so dreamy. I think about it all the time. Grand Hotel Tremezzo is another favorite!
City: · Rome! Though I haven’t been in some time. I’m dying to go back.
Bedding: Matouk. Their percale is so crisp yet soft.
Tea or Coffee (and how do you take it): Coffee with a splash of oat milk. If I’m out and about I love an oat milk latte.
Playlist: I love cooking with jazz in the background. It gets me in a relaxed state of mind.
Weekend Activity: Spending time with my husband and dog somewhere in nature.
Design Book: British Designers at Home by Jenny Rose-Innes. I love seeing where the greats live!