Whether the look is city sophistication, country charm, or seaside serenity – Lynn Morgan applies her exceptionally well-honed sense of style to every project she takes on. Blending a client’s own lifestyle needs with her exceptional take on sophisticated textiles, soothing silhouettes, and a beautiful well-balanced use of color – sometimes in quite unexpected ways, she creates a home as unique as its inhabitants. The designs she manifests are quite simply: dreamy.

Clearly, there is only one Lynn Morgan, but in the interest of sharing some of her style and skill with our readers, we checked in with her to get some tips for taking a page out of her book and making our own homes polished, well proportioned and perhaps most importantly: unique. After all, when asked about her favorite elements in her own home, she shares, “My Grandmother’s writing desk and photos of my family!”

We love Lynn’s design philosophy that strives for “a clean, crisp, fresh look with a touch of whimsy,” but wondered what specifically she might do to add whimsy to a room. Her responses definitely inspired us to think bold! She suggests, “An unexpected piece of art, lacquering a ceiling in a fun color, finding a unique lighting fixture, or using a great rug for a colorful impact or raw silk pillows in a shocking color. I am always trying to make a room fun and inviting.”

July 8, 2016 for June 2017 issue
Another burning question of which we sought her council: with all the lust-worthy pieces available for a home, how to decide what is worth making a major investment in? “Any one item that you LOVE and OBSESS for! It may be a piece of furniture, a rug, or a rare painting and out of today’s budget. Buy it once as it will always make you happy.” Wise words.

The aptitude with which she works was not developed overnight, but rather, has been a lifelong pursuit. “I have always loved design! Growing up in a historic home in Savannah, I was always redecorating and rearranging furniture with my mother -it’s my fondest memory. Traveling with my family was also a great design inspiration from sandcastles at the beach to the Grand Castles of Europe I unconsciously absorbed every natural color and architectural detail.”

This love of beauty has never waned, “Nature and travel are my greatest inspirations! Caribbean sunsets, turquoise seas, incredible flowers, landscapes, and beautiful gardens…trips with my husband to India and Italy truly impacted my creativity. Not a day goes by that I am not inspired.”

And while inspiration is certainly one (majorly) important elements of a career in design, a certain amount of skill building and paying one’s dues are also a part of the equation. “My first hurdle was getting my foot in the door at House & Garden magazine. After paying my dues and finding my mentors who have been lifelong friends and inspirations, I became a Design Editor. The interaction between so many gifted Interior designers motivated me to go out on my own. The challenges of running a business are infinite but it all really boils down to being conscientious, trustworthy and loving what you do every day!”

Never one to remain stagnant, Lynn aims for her design aesthetic to continually evolve. “I hope my design sense is dynamic, evolving with the ever-changing aspirations of a wonderfully diverse clientele. Although my mantra has always been “clean and crisp,” I believe this understated maxim enhances my projects whether it is Nantucket, a contemporary NY apartment, or ranch in Montana.”

————————–

3 Design Questions with Lynn Morgan:

TLV: What’s your go-to classic color choice?

LM: My signature color is “Any Shade of Blue”!!!

 

TLV: Do you have any design rules you follow?

LM: “Keep it Simple” — avoid trends. They are yesterday’s news!

 

TLV: Is there a hotel that’s most inspired your work while traveling?

LM: Now that is a hard question — there are so many wonderful hotels that have inspired me. The Lake Palace in Udaipur, The Elounda in Crete, The Villa D’este on Lake Como and The Pavillion de la Reine in Paris! Wow, I would love to go back!

Thanks, Lynn!

 

Text and photo of the designer: Liana Hayles Newton

Photos of the designer’s work: Courtesy of Lynn Morgan Design

Click here to visit Lynn’s website