Find out what inspires the design industry’s style makers and trend setters with our new monthly Design Q & A column.
Inspiration, travel, style icons, trend watching and more – our SweetHome Design Insider gives us the sweet scoop on what fuels her creativity.
SweetHome: How did you get your start in styling and decorating?
Janette Ewen: In regards to fashion styling, I guess I started when I was about eight (no joke). I bought a camera and would organize extensive photo shoots with my Cabbage Patch Kids. I didn't make them cutesy, it was serious fashion! I designed and sewed all of their clothes. At 22, I went to work in Florida and landed my first (paid) styling jobs, mostly for MTV. They were all fashion related. With decor it wasn't really until I started working in magazines (Chatelaine, House and Home, Chocolat). I did work for Tribute Communities and Quadrangle Architects (as an admin assistant) prior to magazines and managed pick up a lot of knowledge there, too (mostly in thanks to Laura Fyles, a genius designer).
SH: What has been your most memorable space or project to work on?
JE: My most memorable? The 2008 Dream Home (pictured left). My sister and I partnered on it. It was inspired by The Party (a 1968 Peter Sellers movie). It was fresh, fun and really sparked a return to decorating for me...bye-bye beige!
SH: What inspires your work?
JE: Life, a wonderful life... people who live wonderful lives. I have, and always will be drawn to, eclectic people with dimension. These types of people often have amazing homes full of treasures. I also find they dress with individual style (and tend to wear a lot of bracelets). I think unique individuals and the spaces, fashions, artwork, even music they create, is what inspires me most.
SH: Who is your style icon and why?
JE: It’s so hard to pick just one but for décor, without a doubt, Dorothy Draper. I literally just put down my copy of Decorating is Fun. I have read it so many times the pages are falling out. For fashion, it used to be some of the glam vintage ladies like Grace Kelly and Audrey Hepburn and while I still love their style I think I’m finding some of the real eccentrics more interesting today. The late Isabella Blow comes to mind. She had the confidence to pursue individual style at a time when it wasn't always seen as chic and she made it her life's mission to foster the truly talented designers of our day.
SH: What’s 2010 trend has you most excited?
JE: It would for sure have to be the military deconstructed, almost decomposing look. Balmain's latest collection really captures this look. I like this trend because I think it’s the rare case of fashion following décor. I have loved the military salvage look for about two years. I head to Smash Gallery in Toronto's Junction district to shop for home décor elements that reflect this trend.
Click here to reader Part 2 of our Design Q & A with Janette Ewen.
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