What attracts a designer to a room that hasn’t been built yet? For contemporary interior designer Stacy of Decorilla, it all starts with what’s already there: architecture and the wear and tear on its surfaces. Today’s spotlight follows her material approach to interiors and her work as a member of our creative team.
Stacy’s interest in design stemmed from an earlier fascination with buildings. He continued to notice how spaces conveyed history in their construction or the way light passed through them during the course of a day. Over time, interior decoration the practical extension of this observation was made.
Growing up in Nova Scotia also leaves a visible mark on her way of working. Stacy’s references tend to raw materials and interiors closely shaped by the landscape outside them. Even her own dining room captures the same instinct: an unusual farm table sits under a south-facing loft, overlooking a backyard where deer roam. Stacy lived in the house for a while before redesigning any of it, and that’s how she tends to approach client work as well.
As one of Decorilla’s interior designers, Stacy builds rooms around the pieces her clients already care about. often, a chair or a cloth. The rest of the material direction follows from there. Lighting enters the design early and is layered throughout the room as a structural element.
Love Stacy’s design philosophy and sense of style? See what you can create together and start a project with her today!
What got you interested in interior design?
I have always been intensely fascinated by buildings themselves: what they were, what they are, and what they could become. I’m also drawn to the layers of history within a space. Interior design felt like a natural extension of that curiosity and the opportunity to take what’s there, understand it, and carefully guide it into its next chapter.
How would you describe your design style and what sets it apart?
I consider my style to be elevated yet approachable. I want a room to feel finished and purposeful, but still comfortable enough to actually live in it. Plus, I love bold moments like a striking light fixture or rich wallpaper. Or a statement piece that anchors the room, balanced with warmth and restraint. I’m less interested in perfectly matched ensembles and more concerned with tension: old and new, structured and soft, polished and organic. This balance is what gives a space its depth.
I think what sets my work apart is that I don’t design around trends. I design around meaning. Every piece in a room should either have a purpose or a personality. I build spaces around the elements that speak to my clients and let that guide the entire story of the room.
Who or what inspires your work and design choices?
I am inspired by how people live in their homes. I think about habits, routines, how someone starts their morning or how they end their evening. Design is not only visual. shapes everyday life.
I’m also inspired by spaces that feel a little unexpected. Not chaotic, but not overly safe either. The rooms you stay with usually have something special. That’s where the personality lives.
Is there a must-have item or element that you always include in your designs?
Multi-level lighting. Always. A room is not complete without ambient, task and statement lighting working together. A great light fixture can completely transform a space. adds sculptural interest and mood in a way few other elements can. I also almost always include something with warmth, whether it’s wood or layered fabrics, to make a space feel alive.
What current design trend are you most excited about right now?
I’d say I’m less excited about a particular trend and more encouraged by a broader shift happening right now. There is a growing movement away from fast aesthetics and influencer spaces that look good online but don’t necessarily support real life.
I see more people asking themselves what they really want in their homes and how they feel living in them every day. As we spend more of our lives at home, quality and functionality matter more than ever. This change in mindset is essential and long overdue.
If you had to choose a favorite room in your home, what would it be and why?
My dining room, without a doubt. It’s centered around a big, old farm table that’s more patina than shiny, and I love that about it. It’s where everyone gathers, phones disappear, conversations slow and board game competitions begin.
We have comfortable, comfortable dining chairs and the room opens up to a loft that floods the space with natural, south-facing light. From the table, you can also see straight into the backyard, where deer often roam. It’s simple, but feels grounding.
To me, this room represents what home is supposed to be: connected and loved.
Do you have a favorite design magazine or blog you follow? What do you like about it?
I am drawn to contemporary design releases such as Blue and The Local Project, which approach architecture through context rather than trend cycles. The spaces they feature feel rooted in the landscape and built to last.
I also appreciate Kinfolk for its emphasis on slow living and intentional planning. This philosophy resonates with me, especially growing up in Nova Scotia, where homes often feel connected to the coastline and community. There is a quiet restraint in the marine spaces that aligns beautifully with this slower, more considered approach to life.
What do you find most rewarding about being an interior designer?
What I love most is knowing that a space will quietly shape someone’s everyday life. Helping clients feel more grounded and confident in their own home is the part that stays with me.
I also find designing for children especially rewarding. As adults, I think, we often underestimate how special and important a child’s space is to them.
How do you deal with the challenges that arise during a design project?
Design always has limitations. I focus on what matters most in the space and make decisions from there. When priorities are clear, solutions usually are.
What do you enjoy most about working in interior design online?
Working online as one of Decorilla’s designers takes a lot of the noise out. It allows me to focus on the fundamentals. It also reflects how people live now. It is flexible and removes geographical barriers, allowing clients around the world to access professional design without traditional restrictions.
Ready for your perfect Decorilla designer match?
Start a project with Stacy if you love her work! Or, schedule a Free Interior Design Consultation to find your perfect match among Decorilla designers today!
