Robert Stilin is a highly sought-after interior designer, known for combining crisp, clean architecture with custom upholstery, antique and vintage furniture, and modern and contemporary art to create livable and casually elegant homes. Despite no formal training in interior design, architecture, or art, the New York-based designer has achieved his success through practicing and has extended his passion for art into collecting photography and painting.
LARRY’S LIST spoke with the AD100 and Elle Decor A-List designer to find out the favorite artists that he loves to see in collector homes, his favorite furniture designers, the kind of artworks that he is drawn to, and his advice to new art collectors in creating an arty home among other topics.
10 Questions with Robert Stilin
How did you develop your signature style in interior design?
I have been doing this for nearly thirty years. I have no formal training in interior design, architecture or art. I have honed my craft and style by doing, seeing, experiencing and making plenty of mistakes along the way, but also learned how to turn those mistakes into a win, be it by reinventing, shifting course, thinking outside the box… but mainly just being creative and confident and believing in myself, my taste, my style, and my ideas.
What is your number-one rule when designing a space to best compliment an art collection?
I design homes for people to live in, not museums, so it is more about incorporating art into a home in a way that is natural and comfortable and doesn’t make your home feel like a museum.
Would you share some of your personal favorite artists that you love to see in collector homes?
Richard Prince, Yves Klein, Joan Mitchell, Rita Ackerman, Tyler Mitchell, Wolfgang Tillmans, Pablo Picasso, Ed Clark, Julian Schnabel, Michalene Thomas, etc, etc.
And who are your favorite furniture designers?
Guillerme et Chambron, Maria Pergay, Pierre Guariche, Rene Gabriel, Humbeto & Fernando Campana, Misha Khan, Mattia Bonetti, Jean Michel Frank, Jean Royere, Pierre Paulin, Paul Evans and many, many more.
Interiors and art often seem to be in flawless harmony. Yet, we know from our collectors that artworks eventually change. How do your design interiors accommodate the changing art content?
I don’t design interiors for specific art, and I don’t select art for specific interiors. I feel its more about trusting your taste and style, both in terms of interior furnishings and art; knowing that things will change and evolve; and just being open to change and new ideas and perspectives. One of my rules about selecting furniture and furnishings and art is that you have to love it. If you do and you want it in your life with all the other things in your life that you love, it will all work out. It just does because you bought it with love and integrity and purpose.
In the art world we sometimes see artworks and art installations that look stunning in the .jpg but then when seeing the actual works, they are comparatively disappointing. How do you balance the need for creating livable, usable spaces with curating that “Instagram moment”?
I do not design homes for Instagram, magazines or books. I design homes for my clients to live in and enjoy and that is the singular goal. Photography is an art of its own and that comes after. And if you have done good work and you have a good photographer, it should be no problem getting not only good but great shots.
As a tastemaker, are there any trends from your perspective you could share with us? What can we expect to see in your future projects?
I don’t follow trends. I don’t want to be like everyone else and neither do my clients. I just do what I like and what interests me and seems fitting and appropriate for the client and project. And I am a work in progress, so what I like is constantly changing and evolving although there are some things, many things, that I will like forever.
You have been collecting photography and painting for decades. What is the theme that unites them in your art collection? Which pieces are closest to your heart?
I am visceral collector. I only buy what I love — work that speaks to me. And I don’t have a lot of hard and fast rules; and any rules I have are subject to change without notice if I really love something and it’s within my means. But I have noticed over time that I have a tendency to like things that are beautiful on the surface but have deeper meaning behind or underneath the surface that are sometimes a bit dark or controversial or provocative or make a strong statement. Ultimately, I do believe an art collection is an autobiography of sorts, and I don’t think mine is any exception to that.
What advice would you give to a new collector looking to create an arty space at home?
Look around. Go to museums, fairs, galleries. Notice what you like, and what you don’t like; themes will start to appear. Pay attention to the things you love over and over, and start buying that work.
Can you share 5 of your most inspirational IG accounts?
So hard to choose. I have so many, but here are five that come to mind:
@steffan
@jilsander
@galeriepatrickseguin
@objet_la_ny
@paolo_abate
Related: Robert Stilin
Instagram: @robertstilin
By Ricko Leung
