Lived-In Style

Tell us about yourself, Candace Mary Interiors, and your design philosophy.

I’ve always been a creative, and have been very intentional about creating safe spaces for myself and those around me. I got my start in staging, which gave me hands-on experience designing clients’ spaces before going out on my own. There are currently three of us at Candace Mary Interiors!

In terms of philosophy, I’m someone who really loves lived-in spaces—cozy, inviting areas that make people want to stay awhile. But I also like them to look polished, so we love to blend those two worlds while tying in our clients’ personalities through art, rugs, texture, and layers.

We also really enjoy experimenting with the trend of high-low design. I love thinking outside the box, mixing a pricey sofa with more affordable décor accents to bring a room together.

You bring something new to every interior you design or stage. How do you highlight the personalities of each space to make them unique?

We not only ask our clients about what they want to see in their space, but also how they live in their space. Do they like to entertain? Have children? Love or hate color? This deep dive helps inform our process. It’s very collaborative, and once we feel like we have a good grasp on who they are, we can really work our magic.

What made FLOR a good fit for this project?

The homeowners love color, layering, and texture—which we also love—and they are huge fans of FLOR. They love being able to pull up a single tile after a spill or change the design by installing the tiles a different way. The property also has some interesting spacing elements that couldn’t work with a rug with a set size. FLOR allowed us to pick the exact number of tiles we needed.

Honestly, this project pushed us outside of our comfort zone a bit! It allowed us to lean into our creative sides, and FLOR fit perfectly into that creativity.

You’re going to be putting a FLOR rug in your home. Tell us a little about why you chose FLOR for your space.

We currently have a toddler, so we have to think about functionality alongside design. With FLOR, that functionality is built into the products as you can install it how you want, where you want, and replace individual tiles that are dirty or have been worn down. Also, it’s unique that FLOR offers functionality, sustainability, and interesting designs—all in one.

I love that for each project, you can install various FLOR rugs that each have a different design, yet they look cohesive and work well together. For my own home, I will have one FLOR rug in my dining room and a runner in the galley kitchen, so I’m excited to choose rugs that have their own vibe, but also go well together and sustain the mess of a toddler!

What’s the most exciting thing about styling your own space?

I get very excited about the details and the little things that make a space come to life, like artwork, rugs, pillows, and plants. I also like to play with textures and colors. One thing I love about designing spaces is keeping things fresh by switching out pillows for each season or adding in different florals and greenery that reflect the moment in time we’re in.