Libby Langdon was born and raised in High Point, NC and the thrill of the twice yearly furniture market was like seeing the circus come to town. Now Langdon is a TV presence with a design empire of her own, featuring furniture crafted right in her beloved home state.
Alice Garbarini Hurley: Your rugs and wallcoverings are vivid and striking, in hip patterns like Cabana Stripe and Groovy Gate. Do people crave color in their surroundings?
Libby Langdon: Most people want to live with color but are scared they’ll pick the wrong ones, so I suggest using neutrals (like camel, cream and navy) as a room’s foundation in big-ticket items, like your sofa and armchairs, while introducing color and pattern on your walls and accessories, like lamps, pillows and throws that can be easily changed up. Rugs are often called the fifth wall in a room – they’re a fun place to play with color and pattern too. For folks who don’t want to make major decorating commitments, my wallcoverings are printed on a “peel-and-stick” backing that allows them to be easily removed and even reused, so it’s not so intimidating!
AGH: Did someone point you in the direction of interior design?
LL: My mom was an interior designer, and my dad was in textiles; they were always redecorating! My parents taught me that design is fun and allows you to live in a more beautiful way that affects how you feel in all aspects of your life. It’s amazing how certain hues and lighting can change your mood or how super soft fabrics can relax you. The house I grew up in was full – four kids, dogs, cats and lots of guests – but my parents always managed to make it beautiful and comfortable.
AGH: What did you major in?
LL: I studied fashion design at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT), which was so supportive about taking chances and having fun with your creativity. It wasn’t just about thinking outside the box. They would tell you there is no box, there are no limits. I learned so much about color, fabric, texture and style through studying fashion, which often inspires interior design, so it all came into play when I found my true calling.
AGH: When a client hires you, do you create your vision or theirs?
LL: Some designers go in and feel they should impart what they want, which I guess works for some clients. I love helping people live in a more beautiful and comfortable way in a style that’s truly theirs. The client is going to be the person living in the space, not the designer, so I prefer a more organic and intuitive experience. I like to sit with clients, one-to-one, and get a sense of how they live, entertain and spend time in their homes. I ask about their favorite vacation or a favorite piece of art and whether they read a lot or like to watch TV. All that information starts to meld into a design. I love creating a look that’s personal and perfectly suited just for individual clients and their lifestyles. If a client says, “I’m not crazy about this fabric,” trust me, that’s fine; there are only about two million other fabulous fabrics out there, and we will find the one that’s perfect for you!
AGH: Can shoppers only buy your furnishings through designers?
LL: A lot of stores across the country carry them – some directly to the trade, but not all. One of my goals was that the sofas, carpets and wallcoverings would be available to consumers, not just to clients working with interior designers.
AGH: What’s different about Libby Langdon sofas, aside from the fact that they look so stylish?
LL: I’m proud that they’re all American Made, right in North Carolina. The construction is amazing, and the filling is a blend of fiber and down. So it’s super comfy without having to constantly go around fluffing the cushions. I get so much satisfaction from creating sofas that have a fresh, updated look without compromising comfort. The biggest difference in my sofas is that they are designed based on actual input from consumers. Designing in homes and doing makeover TV all across the country has given me the unique opportunity to learn first-hand what real people are looking for, and that’s what makes the greatest difference in all of my home furnishings products.
AGH: What inspires you?
LL: My clients are my greatest source of inspiration. Also, I’m constantly inspired by my environment, from the streets of New York City to my home in Sag Harbor surrounded by nature. My husband and I just got back from the Caribbean; it just takes your breath away – the pink flowers and the 20 different shades of blue found in the water. In the office, I often look to Pinterest, Houzz and Instagram for loads of beautiful imagery and ideas.
AGH: You’ve been on “The View” and “The Rachael Ray Show” and now you have your own show on NBC, “Daykeover with Libby Langdon.” You must have to work pretty fast to decorate so beautifully in so little time per segment.
LL: For one episode, about a home out in the Hamptons, we installed 11 rooms in 11 hours! But like everything else, it’s all in the preparation. It’s months of gathering furnishings and storing them in a receiving warehouse, then installing it all in one day. We put the rooms together with all of the new pieces the clients have chosen, layering in their personal items like family pictures and favorite books – all of the things that make a house a home. I absolutely adore when they come in at the end of the day elated to see their home pulled together in a way that is fresh and fabulous but still them. It’s unbelievably gratifying!
AGH: What’s trending in family homes today?
LL: My signature design style has always been about using traditional elements with a modern twist, which I see trending throughout interior design. More and more clients are asking for clean and classic lines that are still comfortable and suited to modern lifestyles. Also, since staying in is the new going out, it’s up to me to create areas where family and friends can gather that are both functional and beautiful. Home offices are also a priority now, but often need to pull double duty, like serving as a guest room as well.
Righty or lefty?
Righty.
Cocktail of choice?
Margarita.
Intimate dinner or large gathering?
Both, but I do love a large dinner party!
Best dinner party music?
Old jazz – Ella, Etta, Louis.
Best music to decorate by?
A mix my husband makes me on our Pandora station.
Favorite restaurant?
La Masseria, an Italian restaurant on W 48th Street in New York City.
Favorite website to surf when you want to buy great towels or sheets/bedding?
Matouk.com or LegacyLinens.com
Your fragrance?
Molton Brown lotion…not perfume. I love really clean and really fresh scents.
China pattern you hold dear to your heart?
Original Wedgwood – the old cornflower blue with white relief motifs; it’s what my mother had and reminds me of big parties.
Preferred brand of paint for rooms and some go-to shades?
Benjamin Moore in Beacon Gray, Hale Navy, Stonington Gray, Revere Pewter, Grant Beige, Weston Flax and White Satin.
Your top clothes shopping destinations?
I don’t really have time to shop for clothes, so I’m sort of wearing the same things over and over again. I LOVE the colors from Ann Taylor every spring.
Favorite color to wear?
Cornflower blue.
If you could have dinner with anyone in history, who would it be?
Princess Diana.
Best seat in the house?
The Jermain Sofa from my Libby Langdon Upholstered Furniture Collection.
Most relaxing color scheme for a bedroom?
Icy Blue/Cream/Washed Wood.
Home Depot or Lowe’s – and for what?
BOTH!!! The list is just too long; I’m a frequent flyer.