There are two kinds of houses that immediately feel a little far apart.
The first is the house that looks like it came straight out of a furniture catalog, where every piece seems to have arrived on the same truck on the same day.
The second is the house that tries very, very hard to have a certain style. French country. Mid-century modern. Coastal Grandma. English country house. Choose your label.
And while there’s nothing wrong with loving a particular aesthetic, legendary interior designer Bunny Williams believes that true personal style doesn’t come from committing to a single decor tribe.
Instead, he compares it to making a salad.
Yes, a salad.
Talking to me Beautiful houseDirector of Special Projects Carisha Swanson, Bunny Williams explained her approach:
“You make your own recipe for it and you pick something from here and you don’t want to overdo it.”
It’s such a simple analogy, but it perfectly captures why some interiors feel deeply personal while others feel like they’re wearing a costume.
Because a single style can feel limiting
This light-filled living room from Williams Lawrence shows Bunny Williams’ ‘Salad Method’ to decorating, where antiques, artwork, botanicals and comfortable furniture are carefully mixed to create a room that feels collected rather than stylized.
One of the most common mistakes people make when decorating is to assume they have to pick a design identity and stick to it religiously.
They suddenly ask questions like:
- Can I combine modern lighting with antique furniture?
- Is this chair too traditional for my contemporary living room?
- Would this artwork work in a beach house?
The answer is almost always yes.
Williams has long championed rooms that naturally evolve over time. The houses he designs rarely fit neatly into one category. Instead, they feel focused, tight and alive.
Not because they follow a trend, but because they reflect the people who live there.
A house filled exclusively with one style can sometimes look like a movie set or a museum hall. Beautiful; Absolutely. Personal; Not always.
Think like a chef, not a decorator
This cozy corner inside Ola ZwolenikHis home perfectly illustrates the ‘Salad Method’ of decorating, mixing bold wall color, vintage-inspired furniture, lush vegetation and playful fabrics to create a space full of personality and warmth.
The genius of the salad method is that it takes the discussion away from labels.
Instead of asking, “What style am I?”
Please:
- What do I truly love?
- Which pieces are meaningful to me?
- What colors make me feel comfortable?
- What items have I collected over the years?
Just like a good salad isn’t made of twenty ingredients fighting for attention, a successful room isn’t about squeezing in every trend you like.
A little vintage.
A bit modern.
Something hereditary.
Something handmade.
Something unexpected.
The magic happens in the mix.
Mixing materials, not matching
One of the easiest ways to create a home that feels focused rather than predictable is to embrace contrasting materials. At Ormond Residence from Howthe warmth of Dune oak flooring meets the bold veining of Calacatta Viola marble, creating a staircase that feels both grounded and dramatic. It’s a perfect example of Bunny Williams’ “Salad Method” in action: it combines different elements that might not traditionally fit, but work beautifully together. The result is a space with more depth, character and visual interest than any material could achieve on its own.
The Takeaway: Stop decorating by category
If you’re struggling to define your decorating style, Bunny Williams offers a refreshing alternative:
Don’t do it.
Instead of chasing a label, start collecting ingredients.
Mix the old with the new.
Mix formal with casual.
Mix things that make you happy.
Just don’t over do anything.
Because the most interesting houses are not the ones that perfectly represent a single aesthetic.
They are the ones that tell the story of the people who live inside them.
And according to Bunny Williams, that’s exactly what good decorating should do.
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