an interview with sidney wagner of eclectic interior design group

Interior designers have always been intriguing to me, they really know how to pull everything together and make a room work. I tend to just find old pieces here and there and hope they work when I bring them home. Liz seems to have a more polished approach which I admire and aspire towards. Sometimes when you have a vision and have a hard time knowing how to approach it, a designer can be a huge help. Liz and I had the pleasure of interviewing Charleston based designer Sidney Wagner of Eclectic Interior Design Group. We love her mix of modern and traditional, and admire her use of “one-of-a-kind finds” from local thrift shops. Learn more about Sidney and get ready for some true design inspiration!

WHERE DO YOU LIKE TO SHOP LOCALLY FOR DESIGN PROJECTS?

I like to shop locally for those one-of-a-kind finds so I go hunting at 17 South, South of Market, Southern Accents, Antique Market, Paige’s Thieve’s Market, Six Mile Antiques and Architectural Antiques & Garden. And sometimes Homegoods, Habitat for Humanity Resale Store, Goodwill, etc.- depends on the budget! Plus, a good find is a good find, doesn’t matter to me where it came from!

WHAT ARE YOUR TOP THREE PIECES OF ADVICE FOR THE D.I.Y. DESIGNER?

1. The right tools make all the difference.
2. Don’t be afraid to experiment, oftentimes the reward is greater.
3. Try to see the possibilities in EVERYTHING!

TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND HOW YOU FOUND YOUR PASSION AS A DESIGNER?

There were lots of early childhood indicators….When I was in fourth grade, my Dad taught me how to measure my bedroom and plot it out on graph paper, cutting out all the furniture pieces to scale and moving them around on the paper. I was hooked! I think he did this because he was tired of helping me move all the furniture around every weekend! I was constantly redecorating. For my birthday’s I would ask for paint and bedding. My father developed neighborhoods and I would beg him to take me to the designer showhouses on the weekends (I was 10). I would steal blueprints from his office and look at them for hours studying the floorplans and trying to copy the draftsman handwriting.

I’ve always been passionate about design. I honestly can’t imagine doing anything else! I tried actually. I worked in advertising for a few years because I was told in college that business was the “smart” way to go. So I have a business degree in Marketing. After a few years of boredom and restlessness, I moved to Charleston and pursued my childhood dream of becoming an interior designer. I did some schooling and worked at various retail shops as I built my business. As a believer of “everything happens for a reason”, I now know that I needed to take the path that I did in order to be where I am today. And I am very thankful to have a business degree and the skills to market my own company.

WHAT ABOUT LIVING IN THE LOWCOUNTRY INSPIRES YOUR DESIGN STYLE?

Lots actually! Overall, my design aesthetic is a mix of modern and traditional with a concentration on clean lines and unique pieces from various time periods and styles (hence the name of my business Eclectic). I’m a beach bum and I live just over the bridge from Sullivan’s Island in the Old Village, so I am on or by the water as often as possible! So to add personality to a space, I love using beach inspired elements in a modern way. For example, an over-scaled piece of driftwood on a coffee table or a capiz shell chandelier in a dining room. I am also in love with all the amazing architecture of downtown Charleston so I like to incorporate those details into my designs whenever possible, but again, in an updated and unexpected way. I might turn an old Charleston gate into a mirror or console table. Or hang a large amount of old wood door rosettes in a graphic pattern as art on a wall.

WHAT GIVES YOU THE BIGGEST BANG FOR YOUR BUCK WHEN UPDATING A ROOM OR HOUSE?

I feel like I always hear “paint” as the answer to this question which is a good one but I’m gonna say “rearranging”! Sometimes you can make a big impact by just moving things around. Try a different furniture layout or change the art up on the walls or rearrange the accessories on your bookcases. Bam! Zero money spent. How do you like them apples?

WHO ARE YOUR FAVORITE DESIGNERS AND WHAT ABOUT THEIR STYLE DRIVES YOU?

Oh wow, where to start!?! I’ve always been a big fan of Celerie Kemble and was even more so after hearing her speak. She is a brilliant business woman and I think her designs are elegant and polished but in a very tangible way. I also adore Nate Berkus because he has a great eye yet he creates rooms that are functional and livable which I think is very important! I heart everything Tom Scheerer does. I like Mary McDonald and Kelly Wearstler for the fact that they take bold risks and don’t let people talk them out of their vision. Do I want to live in their designs, not always, but I do enjoy seeing their creations! I love how Lee Kleinhelter (Pieces) and Kay Douglas (South of Market) blend modern and rustic together so well, not always easy…both of their shops inspire me constantly. Total visual eye candy!!! And I enjoying taking in every detail of a Ruthie Sommers’ or Tia Zoldan design, both are brilliant at adding layers to a room! I told you, hard to stop once you get me talking about design………………..

THANKS FOR SHARING SIDNEY!

Sidney Wagner
Eclectic Interior Design GroupWebsite: www.eclectic-idg.com
Blog: www.eclecticinteriordesigngroup.blogspot.com