The accomplished TV interior designer personality Vanessa DeLeon, is known for creating dramatic cinematic level spaces for her clients, on and off screen. Her love of blending glamourous flourishes in an otherwise minimalistic, and restrained canvas led her to coin the term “Glamilistic”, an ethos that has served her well.
Newly chosen as brand ambassador for Neolith, and she recently partnered with Vänt Panels creating the Sunburst and Sonesta bed and headboard collections; she keeps busy in the design trend world.
We had the opportunity to chat with Vanessa to see what the future of design looks like and what she is looking forward to.
You have been on quite a few TV shows as an interior designer. Which one was your favorite?
Restaurant Impossible was my favorite TV show to be a part of. It was a lot of fun, and I learned a lot. I love to design commercial spaces.
What kind of commercial spaces do you like to design?
I love designing restaurants, like the Brownstone Pancake Factory in New Jersey, Jake & Daughters Bakery and Lefkes Delray Beach. You have a lot of freedom in the design.
What is the best tip you have for residential design?
Listening is key. You have to listen to what they need from their homes and that leads you to create what they need in their design. Ultimately, they are the ones who have to live there, so they have to be happy.
What are the design trends that you see on the horizon?
Definitely a move back to neutral, brown, and silver. Open spaces are going away in favor of defined living spaces. Home theaters are hot. People want experiences in their spaces, so they don’t have to leave their home to enjoy certain hobbies and services. People want to feel like they have their own private spas, wellness center, and Infared saunas. Essentially, they learned during the pandemic that they can have beauty techs come to them. Now they’re a bit spoiled and want to continue their private treatments and would rather spend the money on an investment into their home than a vacation at a destination spa.
Which design houses are you loving right now?
For hardware and doorknobs, I always look to Emtek. They have so many innovative options. I have been loving Art Hide carpets and rugs from Australia; they can be custom dyed. Doca for cabinetry, of course. Vänt Panels for headboards. Neolith has the best counter tops and surfaces, so I’m very excited to be the ambassador to the USA for a brand that I’ve loved working with for so long.
What projects are you most excited about right now?
There are some restaurants that I am working on right now that I’m looking forward to. And, I’m very excited about my own personal home that I am having built. It’s very custom and there are going to be things that no one has seen before. Excellent materials. Really showcasing a lot of special things. I really can’t wait.
TO EXPLORE MORE VISIT: Vanessa DeLeon Associates
- Photo Credits: Vanessa DeLeon; Neolith; Vänt Panels