We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Bethany Grachan. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Bethany below.
Bethany, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?
A couple came to us with a dark and dated vintage co-op in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood. They were moving into together with each other for the first time and each brought a different style to the project. We needed to join their mid-century modern and “Parisian eclectic” styles to create a feel like each piece in the home was collected over time.
We worked strategically to preserve the important vintage details of the space, while providing modern updates that were more functional for the clients’ everyday way of life. A fresh coat of white paint covered the previous deep tan color on the walls throughout, while new stain brought warmth to the hardwood floors to contrast and enhance the brightened walls. Details like the vintage molding remained, providing the perfect balance to the new modern lighting that replaced the existing crystal chandeliers and sconces. One of my favorite architectural changes we made was the reconfiguration of the kitchen island into a peninsula that allowed us to create a French café-like eating counter. We outfitted this space with an organic arrangement displaying the client’s mix of her mother’s collection and her own newly acquired Royal Copenhagen blue and white porcelain plates.
Furniture and finishes not only fit the way they use the space, but was a healthy mix of vintage, retail, and custom or semi-custom solutions where needed. Visually, jewel tones mingled with light and bright hues, and we continued with vintage and old meets new and modern. For example, the dining room features a 96’’ oval Saarinin dining table paired with wall-to-wall custom bench seating on one side, and modern Pedrali Nemea 2825 dining chairs in black. In the living room, a newly purchased forest-colored velvet sofa and Sossego rocking chair and ottoman paired with an iconic 1960s chrome-bodied Ward Bennet Scissor chair reupholstered in a bright red fabric. A classic rosewood midcentury Niels Ottom Moller Bar Car Trolley was placed between two tufted high back Adrian Pearsall style armchairs previously manufactured by Castro Convertibles. The exterior shell of the armchairs was wrapped in an irresistibly soft velvet with a rich sheen that gently catches the light from the windows behind, adding warmth and a sophisticated spruce color to the room. The interior seat and back cushions are covered in an inviting mohair featuring a loopy pile and subtle color that complements the shell.
In the end, the unexpected mix of pieces helped deliver a residence that was as relaxed as it was refined; one that the client boiled down simply in one comment, “we love our home.” And all during the start of the pandemic!
Bethany, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
How you got into your industry / business / discipline / craft etc.: My path to design is not linear. I studied communication at the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, soaking up an in-depth understanding of how people communicate across various contexts, cultures, and channels. I applied these analytical skills to a career in various outlets of event planning and coordination – from runs and races, to fundraisers, conferences, and more. To me, interiors was a daydream that distracted me from my day job. It was off my radar as a career path until a few years later when introspection brought to light my unbalanced use of “left brain” logistics that left me craving more “right brain” creativity. This sparked the idea that led me to consider the transition. With a bit of research and a big leap of faith, I left my full-time job to begin the interior design master’s program at Chicago’s Harrington College of Design. Searl Lamaster Howe Architects was the first firm I connected with after graduating and it was such a natural fit, my first thought was ‘this is either “too good to be true” or it is “meant to be.”’ I’m happy to report it was the latter.
What are the main things you want potential clients/followers/fans to know about you/your brand/your work/ etc.:
It’s important for potential clients to know that SLH embraces a collaborative approach to design, not a one size fits all methodology. We love discovering clients’ aspirations and providing solutions to the toughest challenges, leveraging my unconventional background to execute a project from groundwork through to a thorough understanding of budgets and logistics, with no limit of communication along the way.
It’s also important for others to know how seriously SLH takes continuing education and industry involvement. As an active member of the Illinois Chapter of American Society of Interiors Designers, I stay up to date on industry knowledge and trends. I am also NCIDQ (National Council for Interior design Qualification) certified, something I hope shows my commitment to the profession.
What type of products/services/creative works you provide:
Our services are as diverse as our designs. From homes to amenities spaces, we can see a project through from ideation to installation or help with stages along the way – furniture plans, palette planning, procurement, storage and installation logistics, trades coordination, and more.
What problems you solve for your clients and/or what you think sets you apart from others:
One thing that is especially unique to Searl Lamaster Howe is how cohesively our interiors and architecture teams work together. We are constantly learning from each other, highly value the relationship of architecture to interior design. The project’s architecture guides the palette, texture, and materiality of the interiors, resulting in looks that are unified and complete, down to the most subtle of details.
What are you most proud of:
Most recently, winning the 2023 Design Excellence Rising Star award, on the same night as an award for Contract under 3,000 square feet!
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
Being a creative is an incredibly gratifying journey. Every project unfolds as its own adventure full of opportunities for innovative solutions. There is nothing quite like bringing an idea to life, but it’s the satisfaction of our clients that truly fuels my drive to consistently deliver impactful and meaningful spaces. It validates the culmination of effort and collaboration invested in creating spaces that are not only beautiful, but also enhance the efficiency of our clients’ day-to-day lives.
What’s been the best source of new clients for you?
Our best source of new clients is undoubtedly our past and present clients. Satisfied clients not only continue to trust and engage with our services but also become advocates for our business. Through their word-of-mouth referrals, we’ve been able to build strong relationships and expand our client base.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.searlarch.com
- Instagram: @searllamasterhowe_interiors
- Other: https://www.pinterest.com/SearlLamasterHowe/
Image Credits
Aimee Mazzenga Cate Ragan Petra Ford Kendall McCaugherty