CASATALKS WITH BARRIE LIVINGSTONE

What inspired you to start in the interior design world?

I have long admired the great hotels and old Manor houses of my home country England. I fantasized about how people acted “back then” and realized the power interiors control how we feel and act. 

Describe your design aesthetic?

My design aesthetic is decidedly modern with clean lines and smooth surfaces. Nature is forever my inspiration both in textures and color.

Do certain color combinations always appear in your work? 
Neutrals will always play an important role in my design aesthetic as they bring it all together allowing the beauty of woods, stone and fabric to be celebrated. 

LA + Cabo: "It was love at first sight for me in both places. I am more in love with using color than ever before.” 

Do you believe interior design can impact a homeowner's mood?

Absolutely! Design is everything. Colors evoke feelings. Light or the absence of it controls how we feel. Rich polished finishes make us feel special and formal. Distressed wood and nubby Chenille’s are beach and cozy. We create and establish mood with design. This is why Hollywood relies on production designers. Design impacts homeowners, hotel guests, airport lounges, cruise ships and igloos.  

What are you seeing as the trends for 2023 in terms of interior design?

I am seeing a continuation of subtle neutrals with deeply drenched colors. Still a mixture of old worn brass, pewter and black metals. Lighter woods also seem to rule. 

Has living in Los Angeles and Cabo influenced your design style and sensibility?

Yes indeed. LA is city! LA is beaches! LA is deserts! LA is mountains. A dizzying array of Southern California colors. LA can be so hot! LA can be so cold dark and gray! But Los Cabos is bright and clear all the time. The sky and sea of Cortez are so deeply blue and turquoise whilst the sharp jagged rocks are terra cotta reds and peach. It was love at first sight for me in both places. I am more in love with using color than ever before.

“Fabric is truly everything. You get to tell a story with just 5 to 7 fabrics in a hotel suite or living dining room.” 

Has your role as a real estate agent impacted the way you think about design, both from a functionality and decorative perspective? 

I became a realtor to service my design client’s needs. My entire adult life I have been either preparing homes for people to move in or stage them to get top dollar when selling. When I became a realtor and started going to every open house in Malibu and Beverly Hills, I saw what everyone was doing inside their homes at every price range from $600K condos to $125M+ mansions. I feel like it greatly expanded my entire design psyche. Seeing first-hand what people do design wise at so many different levels of design. It is brilliant!

What's your favorite part about the design process?

I have two: Space Planning and Fabric. Space planning because the adventure of creating a square room has absolutely endless possibilities it can be a nursery, a dining room, a bedroom, an operating room, a wig room, a disco, or a gym. Fabric is truly everything. You get to tell a story with just 5 to 7 fabrics in a hotel suite or living dining room. I usually get bags and bags from the design center and have a crazy process of narrowing it down. I get so excited. In fact when I am feeling a little down, I just wander into the Pacific Design Center and go straight into a fabric showroom — give me 10 minutes flipping through those fabric walls and I feel like a million again.