This month we checked in with our friend and client, Annsley McAleer of
Boston-based interior design firm, Annsley Interiors.

Annsley is known for her lively and upbeat style, and we adore her use of
bright colors and patterns in the residences that she designs.

We have had the pleasure of knowing and working with Annsley since the
founding of our line in 2012.

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To listen to the complete conversation, tune into our IGTV here. Read an excerpt of our conversation below:

1 – How did you get your start in interior design, and how have you seen the industry evolve around you?

I graduated from Vanderbilt College in Nashville, and I moved to San Francisco with friends out of school and started working in commercial real estate. I did not have a planned career path out of college. After a couple of years, I took the opportunity to move to New York and was always excited about the energy in the city. A friend worked with the designer, Ralph Harvard, and alerted me of a job opening. I interviewed for the role of junior designer and was hired!

That was back when there wasn’t quite as much emphasis on having had to have studied design, per se. It was a little bit of trial by fire, and anyone who has worked in New York knows that it’s fast-paced, and you have exposure to clients with a lot of money. Most clients have a lot of experience, even in the design world, because they often have several homes. It was a great place to get my start because I had immense exposure to a higher-end clientele that was very exciting.

And then I met my husband in Nantucket, but he lived in Boston, and so shortly after, I moved to Boston. I worked with the designer Michael Carter for a couple of years. At that point, I was planning on having children; I started thinking ahead and started my own business in 2004. It took off by word of mouth. Although to would-be designers, I highly recommend getting a degree in design. The education is invaluable. I now have almost three employees, and I lean on them a lot for the technical aspect. So much so that sometimes I feel that maybe I will go back to design school. I feel fortunate to have fallen into an occupation that I love and that I’ve had people in my path who’ve been willing to take a chance on me and hire me. And so here I am.

2 – I am drawn to your colorful and optimistic sense of color and design. What has been your most favorite project to date?

That is a tricky question because every project is different and is terrific for various reasons. Although, I have a client who is my age and, like myself, has two daughters who are precisely the same age as mine. We worked together on her first home. And then she moved on to her second home in Weston, in the suburbs of Boston. Her home is probably my favorite project because it’s a manageable size built in the 20s or the 30s and is a classic traditional home. My client was willing to take some risks with the fabrics we selected, and she had several antiques from her family, which was nice to be able toad to the mix. I have a soft spot for DeGournay wallpaper, and we could use that in her dining room. The whole process of collaboration and customization with DeGournay and with the client was extraordinary.

3/4- What is your personal design aesthetic? And what are some of the things that you treasure the most in your own home?

I treasure my home. I am fortunate to live in Beacon Hill, and it has always been a dream for me to live in a traditional brick home with high ceilings and great architecture. I am lucky to have this house in my life and the fact that it dates back to 1830. I cannot help thinking about the people who lived here and how they used the house. It’s fascinating, but it’s also a fantastic backdrop because the high ceilings are excellent, and they make the rooms feel more significant than they are. And I can mix some traditional pieces of furniture with some fascinating colorful, and less conventional patterns. And then also, I love contemporary art. So, to be able to add that into the mix is fun.

There are a couple of things that I treasure in my home. Andrew Spindler is a beautiful antique dealer in Essex, and my husband and I bought a few things from him soon after we were married. I randomly bought these little green and white decorative dishes. They are hand-painted with little gold details. In every home, I’ve lived in since, they fit perfectly on the mantel in my living room. And I cannot imagine my life without them! It’s objects like these that make our homes personal.

5 – Lastly, I have to ask, what is your favorite pattern from our textiles and wallcoverings collection?

Oh, that’s, that’s an easy one. I love Breach Candy. It’s always been my favorite. And it still is, even though I have to say, all of your new fabrics, and mainly your recent wallpapers, are outstanding. But I always go back to Breach Candy. We love how your fabrics have such a unique handmade quality. I don’t know of anybody else who is integrating the thread and embroidery in the same way.

Breach Candy – Mughal Blue upholstered on slipper chairs