Designer Diaries: Taylor Simon 🍒
Meet Taylor Simon of @intayriors — the brains behind the interior design industry’s biggest social media trend of 2024 — the 'Unexpected Red Theory'.An interior designer creating elevated, liveable spaces in New York City, Taylor uses her social platform to share styling advice and the latest design trends. Let's sit down and learn more about Taylor's thoughtful services, latest projects, plus viral moments and autumn decor tips.
A typical client 🙇♂️
"My typical client is someone who wants a liveable but elevated space. People come to me when they know what they like but they aren’t sure how to make it look 'cohesive,' so that’s where I come in. I like to work with my clients to understand their lifestyle, how they use their space, and what feelings they want their home to evoke when you walk through the door."
Staying social 👬
"I love that social media has made design so accessible to a wider audience than it might have been before. It has been a game changer with my business as well. I have a great time making videos about trends I see or general design advice, and it’s also been the biggest driver of people finding my services. I look forward to evolving with social media and seeing how it continues to make an impact on the design world."‘Unexpected red theory’ 🔴
"I had no idea it was going to get the global attention that it did. It’s been unbelievable. I had only recently started posting on social media in that format with the talking head video, so it was shocking when an off-the-cuff video I just made from a train of thought really took off the way it did! I think the colour red specifically is why the video went so viral. Red evokes strong emotions on both ends of the spectrum. It represents love, but also anger. I think the video touched on those emotions for people, causing a lot of discourse on the topic.”Inspired by NY streets 🏙
"I’ve lived in New York for almost 8 years, and to this day it’s still my greatest source of inspiration. Walking around and seeing how people dress is a great source of inspiration. Noticing materials and colours that people combine is a great way to inspire interior design as well. I always say fashion and interiors are inherently connected."Latest lighting 🤎
"I am so excited. I mounted the JENSEN Wall Lights in my flat and I absolutely love how the antique brass looks against the dusty blue of my bedroom walls. The colour is so dimensional and it reflects light beautifully as it's not as stark as black. I love the juxtaposition of the 'old world' vibe it brings to a space, contrasted with the modern shape of the JENSEN. The wall lights are made from such a high quality material, and I will definitely use them in client projects going forward."
How to choose lighting 💡
"I would argue that lighting is one of the most (if not the most) important factors in creating ambiance in a room. Ideally you should have lighting at different levels throughout a space, creating dimension and cosiness. I try to avoid an overhead light if possible, which is why table and floor lamps, wall lights, and even candles are so important."3 Autumn decor tips 🍂
"As we move into autumn, here’s how you can make your home feel more cosy.Candles! They are a great, easy source of lighting that always elevates a space. Also a crisp, autumnal scented candle is always a great way to get into that autumn mindset.Deep, moody paint colours – If you’re wanting a refresh for autumn, I’d recommend painting a small room like a bathroom or even a wardrobe a moody colour. Of course I’m biased to red, so a deep burgundy would be great for this.Throw blankets and pillows in seasonal colours always gets me in the autumn mood. I recommend burnt umber, forest green, or navy."
Inspiring designers 👨🎨
“Here’s three designers I look to for inspiration:”Athena Calderone of Eyeswoon
“She has always been a huge inspiration for my work. I love how she mixes textures and really knows how to evoke a sense of sophistication in every space she creates. I also resonate with how much she loves vintage!”Augusta Hoffman
“I love her use of vintage! She is great at creating intentional and beautiful spaces. The way she uses colour is always so elevated and never overwhelming.”Roman and Williams
"Their designs are always so beautifully layered. I love visiting their storefront in Soho, there’s always so much inspiration to pull from!"The dream client 💭
"Florence Welch is easily my dream client."A huge thank you to Taylor for an insightful chat over a cuppa. Keep up with her trend spots and upcoming projects by following @intayriors on Instagram.