EXCLUSIVE: Celebrity Interior Designer Leanne Ford Talks New Book, ‘The Slow Down’
MILAN — In pursuit of a better quality of life, interior designer Leanne Ford made the big decision four years ago to move home to Pittsburgh. It was Mother’s Day when she said goodbye to the California home she actually became a mother in and packed up her family.
The HGTV DIY guru rose to fame showing America that any middle-class home has the potential to become a Parisian pied-à-terre or zen oasis with her HGlTV home renovation series, “Restored by the Fords,” and its sequel, “Home Again With the Fords.” She has also collaborated with Target and is a longtime Crate & Barrel and Crate & Kids partner.
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Littered with quotes from yesteryear actress turned interior designer and writer Elsie de Wolfe, her latest book, “The Slow Down,” published by Abrams, gives readers all look into her dream house. The French windows, the juxtaposition of the worn wood and glitzy chandeliers, the poetic light of her greenhouse, the convivial garden parties and unexpected delights like the funky Space Age egg chair, might entice the most loyal city dwellers to pack up and move, slow down and enjoy the beauty of everyday moments. In her lively script, Ford takes the reader on the journey with an inside perspective on how she made her historical home in Sewickley “a center for joy and fun.”
WWD: How did life change when you moved back home?
Leanne Ford: My quality of life went through the roof. Simple living, safety, having space and time to breathe and be a family and be creative. All things I didn’t realize were missing from my life in the big cities. It’s been one of the best decisions we’ve ever made as a family.
WWD: How did you convince your husband in the end?
L.F.: Haha. Who said he was? I think Erik is an incredible father and husband and knew that ultimately this was a better life for us as a family. And though it’s harder for him in his work life, he’s been amazing at small-town life. He’s taken to it beautifully — with many trips to big cities.
WWD: Moving from L.A., the pulse of entertainment, to the East Coast — was a huge move. Did you ever experience FOMO?
L.F.: Never. I’m always very happy where I am at the moment. Thank goodness.
WWD: What did you learn from moving back so many years after you left?
L.F.: Well, you know, when I was young, my least favorite part of Pittsburgh is that it “wasn’t cool” — but the truth is it is cool. It has the [Andy] Warhol [museum] and the rivers, and seasons — the weather is stunning about 11 months out of the year. You always want to get out of the town you grew up in, but I was happy to see my hometown with adult eyes.
WWD: How can we all simplify our lives in a meaningful way, in your opinion?
LF.: Say no to good so you can say yes to great. I’m stealing that concept from someone — I forget who — but it’s true. Your time is your most valuable asset, so make sure you don’t waste it in a rat race you don’t even care to win. Quality of life is so much more important than having more stuff, and more important than proving something to someone.
WWD: What slow design tips do you have for people looking to create an intimate home — a place to create memories?
L.F.: Lights on dimmers — always — and candles make a world of difference. Welcome books and personal items into your decor. Let imperfection be a good thing. Those are usually the best moments.
WWD: What was the biggest challenge to the total revamp of the house?
L.F.: Patience. Everything always takes longer in reality than I think it will. It took years to finish this home. But now, on the other side, it was so worth it. I say do it now instead of waiting until later. That way, you will have more time to enjoy your space.
WWD: Love the juxtaposition of the kitchen — the chandelier with the rustic table. How would you define the style?
L.F.: Thank you. I love mixing genres, but usually always keeping a color story keeps things easy breezy when designing. I’d define my style as warm and easy. I have a kind of minimalist-maximalist thing going, which makes no sense but also does.
WWD: How is this book more about coming home or is it more about making a home? In what way?
L.F.: It’s the same thing for me. It’s about making a home yours. Respecting the history and beauty of a space, while creating something warm and welcoming for your family. I walk the line.
WWD: Also, why are you such a fan of Elsie de Wolfe?
L.F.: I love her. I was reading her full book “A House in Good Taste” while doing my renovations and it really felt like she was there with me. She wrote that book around the same time they built this house. And the fact that so much of it is still relevant 100 plus years later is so beautiful to me.
“The Slow Down” will hit shelves Tuesday.
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