Designer Spotlight

Darren Henault
Darren Henault Interiors

What originally inspired you to become an interior designer?
A friend's dad is a successful architect. After a trip to the south of France with them he pushed me towards design. He thought I had "an eye". Actually I have two.

Where did you grow up, and how did it affect your sense of design?
New England. The two things that most affected my taste were comfy weekend homes and churches. There is nothing more attractive to me than a warm room with lots of pattern and comfortable furniture. The juxtaposition to that was sitting in church I'd start to divide the building to make it into a grand house.

What is the most common (or uncommon) place you find inspiration for your designs?
Magazines and books of all kinds and covering all subjects. I buy so many it's ridiculous. I feel as though I alone am responsible for deforestation and subsequently global warming.

What is your definition of good design?
For interiors, good design should envelope you but not overwhelm you. When you sit in a room it should reveal itself in layers.

What rules of design should everyone follow?
There are only two.
Rule #1: Anyone who tells you there are rules to follow is a toad.
Rule #2: Stop speaking to these people immediately.

What is the best design advice you ever got
Honestly, the best design industry advice I ever got was from Jamie Drake and it was to share resources. Designers do better work when they speak with their peers and share what they've learned.

What is the most common design challenge and how can people overcome it?
I hate talking in absolutes. One common design challenge however is a lack of natural light. Color and pattern are the solution. People do solid beige rooms to compensate and they just end up with solid beige rooms with no natural light. Dull.

What is your favorite new design trend for all rooms?
Pizza ovens in the living room. OK it's not a trend but wouldn't that be great?

What new materials/technologies/products interest you?
I'm not so big on new. Metal casting I love. Making custom designs for hardware and furniture and having it cast in bronze is so satisfying and elegant. I also love eglomise. That you can paint patterns on glass and use it for walls, table tops, cabinet doors, anything is brilliant. I love that people still do things that were started centuries ago.

What, in general, does the future hold for design?
The same thing it's held for centuries. People will constantly be trying to better their environments by developing new products or materials and by manipulating what we already know. There will be the good the bad and the ugly. Hopefully in that order.