Decorating & Design
March 18, 2016
Editor’s Picks: The Best Designer Instagram Feeds To Follow Now
Design editor Lauren Petroff shares her favorite places to find interior inspiration on Instagram.
Like many of you, I’m sure, I can’t go anywhere without having my cell phone fully charged and within arm’s reach. I love staying connected with friends and family, but I’ll admit it: there’s rarely an hour that goes by that I don’t take a quick scroll through Instagram. What can I say? It’s a social media world. Plus, as a design editor, I’m constantly on the lookout for inspiring ideas!
I think we’re lucky to live in an age where so much is, quite literally, at our fingertips. From the inspiration boards of high-end designers, to clever DIYers and creative stylists, there’s an endless parade of images to “like” and share. Looking for some inspiration of your own? Here’s a list of 20 designers, stylists and retailers from far and wide to follow now.
Amber Lewis – @AmberInteriors
I love California-based designer Amber Lewis’s distinctive style. She always manages to strike that difficult balance between ultra-cool and refined. I’m constantly on her feed, admiring her innate understanding of texture and pattern.
Kelly Wearstler – @KellyWearstler
Celebrity designer Kelly Wearstler’s Instagram account offers a jaw-dropping look into her eclectic and ultra-chic world. Snaps of her bold interiors are mixed with personal travel, scouting and inspiration shots. She also offers peeks into her statement-making textile, accessory and furniture collections.
Ben Pentreath – @benpentreath
All hail the traditional, yet effortless style of British designer Ben Pentreath. Another expert in layering, his collection of images will inspire you to fill empty corners, pile on the pattern, go lush with florals, and combine unexpected and stately colors. Check out Joel Bray’s article about his visit to Pentreath & Hall last November.
Jessica Helgerson – @jhinteriordesign
Based out of Portland, Oregon, Jessica Helgerson Interior Design is one of my favorite design firms. Their feed is sultry and simple, displaying complete spaces and #BTS (behind-the-scenes) shots of works in progress. Helgerson’s use of materials — wood, tile, stone, textile and metals — makes my heart melt.
Commune Design – @communedesign
This L.A.-based studio takes a holistic approach to design, seamlessly integrating the fields of architecture, interiors and graphic design — and their Instagram feed takes you along for the ride. Commune’s aesthetic is contemporary with a natural edge, and always feels fresh.
Nickey Kehoe – @nickeykehoe
Owners of an eponymous — and wildly successful — shop and design studio, Todd Nickey and Amy Kehoe’s Instagram account is chock-full of inspiration. Their feed stays true to the duo’s sophisticated, yet bohemian style, and features plenty of eye-catching rugs, textiles and furniture.
Steven Gambrel – @Stevengambrel
New York-based Steven Gambrel is one of my top designers to follow. His style is very stately and all American, but with a beautifully soft edge. I love how his feed features a range of expertly executed interiors, from those he’s designed for clients to ones he’s spotted on his travels.
Ryan Korban – @ryancorban
Ryan Korban’s aesthetic has some serious edge, and with clients like Alexander Wang and Balenciaga on his résumé (Korban designed the fashion houses’ flagship stores), it’s clear he’s one to watch. His Instagram account includes striking images of spaces he’s designed, as well as those he finds inspiring. Taken together, his feed has that “model-off-duty” look: cool, effortless, chic.
Phillip Mitchell – @phillipmitchelldesign
Bopping around between his properties in Toronto and Nova Scotia, Phillip Mitchell’s Instagram feed features a great mixture of warm, livable and sophisticated spaces. He also gives followers a look at his enviable concept sketches.
See more of Phillip Mitchell’s designs here.
One King’s Lane – @onekingslane
Originally an online-only retailer of home goods, One Kings Lane is now a design studio and brick-and-mortar destination in New York City. The company’s Instagram feed is a treasure trove of well-curated design inspiration, and conveys a fun, poppy style.
Tilton Fenwick – @tiltonfenwick
If you’re constantly craving color and pattern, I suggest you follow design duo Tilton Fenwick. One of my personal goals is to experiment more when it comes to these design details, and their feed never fails to inspire me.
Studio McGee – @studiomcgee
Check out Studio McGee’s feed for a decidedly attainable take on interior design. I admire their crisp, livable and family-friendly interiors, not to mention their expert eye for details.
Kim Ficaro – @kimficaro
Kim Ficaro is a New York prop stylist, designer and co-author of The Inspired Home. Her feed is ultra-rich and tactile, featuring shots of her sourcing excursions, striking still lifes, and both interior and exterior snaps.
Kira Corbin – @kiracorbin
Kira Corbin is another prop stylist I love to follow. She curates a lovely, moody feed of beautiful interior photos, everyday still lifes and shots of her styling work. She also showcases her enviable collection of accessories, proving you can never have too many bowls, dishes and boards.
Peter Dunham – @peterdunhamtextiles
Designer Peter Dunham has multiple Instagram feeds, but the one dedicated to the use of his textiles is always a visual treat. His decorating style weaves together a classic European sensibility with casual, California elegance, while his fabrics draw inspiration from his travels through India, Turkey and the Mediterranean.
Justina Blakeney – @justinablakeney
Artist and designer Justina Blakeney has a feed that’s deeply influenced by the aesthetic of the American Southwest. Vibrant, graphic and bursting with personality, it also features lots of succulents and foliage, making the experience feel like a walk through the jungle (don’t miss her other Instagram account cleverly titled @thejungalow).
Jenni Kayne – @jennikayne
Former fashion designer Jenni Kayne has transformed herself into a lifestyle influencer. Her Instagram feed is like a lovely, hippie California daydream, and just oozes style.
Apparatus Studio – @apparatusstudio
Makers of stunning fixtures, objects and furniture, Apparatus Studio’s Gabriel Hendifar and Jeremy Anderson love to experiment with vintage design components. Their Instagram account sticks to a minimal and subdued palette, highlighting the honesty of the materials they use.
BDDW – @bddw_etc
BDDW is a small American furniture company dedicated to crafting timeless designs. Their pieces all have a bit of a quirky edge, and this is reflected in their Instagram presence. The company’s founder Tyler Hays was originally a painter and sculptor, so there’s also an artsy component to their feed.
Schumacher – @shumacher1889
This historic textile house has a charming and very inspiring feed. Though they tend to keep to a traditional aesthetic, the projects they highlight are always refreshing and inviting — interiors we’d all love to call home.
Vintage Objects – @vintageobjects
A fun and innovative use of Instagram is on the seller and maker side of the equation. More and more shops are using Instagram as a sales platform: putting their goods on display and allowing buyers to to purchase via direct message — or right there in the comment feed. Vintage Objects is one of my favorites to scour.
Atomic Hawks – @atomichawks
Another standout is Oakville, Ontario shop Atomic Hawks, which features a wide array of covetable vintage pieces on their Instagram feed. Don’t miss it!