The Grammar of Design: Two sisters share their intimate knowledge of the world of design
Sisters Lee and Rose Ali sat down with one of the editors at Louisiana Homes and Gardens to discuss their successful interior design business, their “classical avant-garde” shop on Magazine Street in New Orleans, and most importantly, the secret to working with family . . . and staying sane.
Let’s start from the beginning. If I am looking to hire an interior designer, where should I look?
Lee: There are many ways to find a designer. You may see someone’s work at a house that you visit or find resources in a magazine. In some situations, such as ours, designers may have a retail space that reflects your sense of style. Design is so personal—you want to really connect with whomever you select. It makes the process so much more enjoyable.
Where do you begin a design project?
Lee: Think about it in this order —person, place, then thing. This is what I term the grammar of design. The client has to come first. The space itself comes next. For example, if you are working with old brick, you should use tones that enhance that material, not fight it. This step involves laying the groundwork for the things that are going to be placed in the space.
Rose: Lee has great instinct when it comes to people. I am always amazed by it, how quickly she can zero in on what someone wants, even if they can’t articulate it. Some people have a concrete idea or at least a vision of the direction that they want to go in, while others need some help bringing things into focus. We can be of great help in either instance.
How long have you been doing design work and how has your style evolved over the years?
Lee: I have been doing design work for about 30 years. When I began, I really preferred working with contemporary furniture and liked using lots of color. Having said that, I think that over the last few decades we have all gotten a lot more casual in the way we dress, as well as the way we live. Therefore, my work has become a bit less complicated, though I still manage to work in eclectic touches here and there. People are exposed to so much more now and are more global in their perspective—at times it leads to greater eclecticism in their interiors. In 18th century France, things were often done “en suite”—all the same fabric, or modifications of the same frame, which demonstrated that you could afford to have it all woven, built, or milled at once. This kind of uniformity today would put you to sleep.
What is your greatest challenge in the design industry today?
Lee: Balancing what is enduring with the latest trends. I will give you an example. When I was growing up, avocado green and gold were all the rage. About 20 years ago when color forecasters said that those colors would make a comeback, I was certain I would never use them again. Of course, I did, since they were reintroduced with soft tones of clay and looked quite lovely. The challenge is keeping your work fresh, but doing it in such a way that someone years from now doesn’t look at a room and label it “2008.”
What do you think sets you apart as an interior designer?
Rose: A friend of ours used to say that many people design by recipe: two French chairs, one sisal rug, a slipcover sofa, a dollop of animal print, one abstract painting, etc. Lee doesn’t work that way. She starts each job from scratch.
Lee: I would be bored to death if I did a version of the same project over and over. One of the best compliments I have received from a client is that I was metamorphic in my design sensibilities.
Having grown up in Connecticut, how did you both end up working and living in the Big Easy?
Lee: About a year after I graduated from college, Rose and I decided to go to Mexico for several months. We discovered New Orleans en route to Mexico. At that time, I was hoping to find Europe in Mexico but found it in New Orleans instead. My work would be very different if I had stayed in Connecticut. I have always loved the quote from Allen Toussaint where he basically said that in other places, culture comes down from on high, and in New Orleans it bubbles up from the streets. You can’t live in this city and not be influenced by the architecture, the people, the music. New Orleans has shaped me as a designer. I talked Rose into investing in a house with me in the Quarter and she ended up moving here about 20 years ago.
You have a retail space on Magazine Street that you stock with an interesting array of furniture, art, and accessories. Tell us more about this space.
Rose: The space itself is so beautiful, especially the second floor with its tall windows and fireplace. The shop feels like a home. We hear people say, over and over again, “I could move in here.” We have a variety of styles, so we appeal to many people, and designers love to shop here. We always have a great assortment of lamps, sconces, and chandeliers.
We have a lot of original artwork, many, many one-of-a-kind pieces, and some antiques. Our selection of rugs is wonderful and we can help you correlate rugs and upholstery. Our design studio is on the third floor and we carry all of the major fabric lines that you usually have to go to market to see. The items in the shop are just a departure point; we can go anywhere from there.
What are some brands and products you are especially proud to feature at your shop?
Rose: In home furnishings we carry Pearson, TRS, Swaim, French Heritage, and Elysee, to name a few. We just added Ferguson Copeland. A lot of our pieces come from France, and unlike many brands can be customized in size, and of course in finish. We also have some antiques and vintage pieces. Our accessory lines are too numerous to mention and change from season to season, depending upon what we find at market. One of the best things is that our design clients benefit from our stocking dealer status, and our retail customers benefit from our design expertise.
Do you have any predictions you can share with us regarding the up and coming trends within your field?
Rose: Lee hates that question.
Lee: In all honesty, we are influenced by trends, but you have to put things in perspective. Your home is an investment and you build an interior slowly; this isn’t like the wacky jacket that you got on sale that you can store in the back of the closet until it finds its way to Goodwill. You have to look at things with an eye to what is enduring. That doesn’t mean that it has to be dull or necessarily traditional, it just means that you want to love it years from now. You shouldn’t confuse style with fashion. True style never goes out of fashion.
How do you manage to work with a relative?
Rose: Good meds and lots of therapy! Seriously though, we really get along well. People see us as a team, and they like the dynamic and enjoy the process of working with us. ✦
Shop of the Two Sisters
1800 Magazine Street
New Orleans, Louisiana 70130
tel (504) 525-2747
fax (504) 525-5544
www.shopofthetwosisters.com
