We recently connected with Staver Gray and have shared our conversation below.

Staver, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

In addition to interior design, Ward + Gray also has a product arm – we have launched 2 rug collections and are excited about a lighting collection launching this spring. With most of our interior design products we design everything from the furniture to the fabrics to the lighting. In creating bespoke products for our clients, we have forged relationships with talented artisans around the globe – glassmasters in Venice, rug weavers in Pakistan and India, metal workers in Upstate New York… we put so much creative energy into custom work for our projects and felt that it was a shame to install them and end the story there. A couple years ago we decided to select our favorite designs from our recent projects and offer them for sale through our website. We started with rugs and have now expanded into lighting. The most fulfilling part is being able to see our designs in different contexts. For example a rug that we designed for a very traditional home was recently installed in a modern beach house. The effect was unique and beautiful.

Staver, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I am an interior designer and together with my business partner founded Ward + Gray. We work in both the residential and boutique hospitality space and have a line of rugs and lighting. Beyond the architectural shell of a space, we also custom design furnishings and source antiques from all over the world for our projects. Each Ward + Gray project is unique – we consider the location of the project as well as the history of the site or building. From there we create a narrative for the design. A common thread in all of our work is a thoughtful design rooted in history and place that is layered and typically colorful.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

Our goal as a studio is never to grow so large that we lose our connection to the process. My business partner, Christie, and I like to drive the concept for every project. We like to work directly with our clients, attend the site meetings and continue to be involved from concept to installation. That said, we do have a talented team that we rely on to execute our projects but we are involved and working with them every step of the way. The downside of this business model is that our resources are finite. We need to be selective about the projects we take on. Not every project or client will be a creative fit and I think its important to stay true to your identity as a creative and a designer.

Any resources you can share with us that might be helpful to other creatives?

As designers there are resources around us all the time – simply walking down the street in New York, where we have our main office is inspiring. The biggest sources of inspiration for me are travel and design books. A mistake a think a lot of young designers make is sourcing ideas only from digital sources – like Instagram or Pinterest. There is a lot of beautiful imagery to be found digitally but also a lot of sameness. I think its important to build a vast physical reference library and look to historical design movements for inspiration. Travel is also extremely important. This could be simply going to a local museum or taking a trip to a new city.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.wardandgray.com
• Instagram: @wardandgray
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ward-and-gray/

Image Credits

Portrait – John Daniel Powers
Living Room Space, Solarium – Michael Clifford
Restaurant – Read McKendree