Designer Q&A
Innovative Design
Kara Osthoff, Allied Member ASID, of Kara Osthoff Design incorporates new design strategies into comfortable, stylishly designed spaces.
BY
edited by Vicki Pickle
PHOTOGRAPHY
Colin Miller/Strauss Peyton



Designer sketch

Hometown: Belleville, Illinois

I find inspiration: I'm sure every parent would say this, but I truly find inspiration in my kids.  They have a way of looking at things that is unfiltered and new.  I also love to get a "design surge" when I travel. When you get out of your comfort zone, you get a whole new energy.

Colors to consider in 2008: A little black injected into spaces.  Black lacquer or black matte finishes can be incorporated in small amounts and the elements don't have to look ultra modern.

Favorite spaces to design: My favorite spaces to design are places where people congregate, and I also have an affinity for children's rooms.

Watch for: The re-birth of traditional furniture and quality craftsmanship.
What innovations are you most excited about incorporating into your upcoming work?
I am very excited to use metallics in paints. I think the shimmer and shine is something different, but not as heavy as a lacquer. I also am very excited about indoor and outdoor fabrics because they are so interchangeable now. With new technology, the materials have become so much more palatable. I love incorporating new and innovative products into residential projects.

Do you have a cardinal rule for home design?
My cardinal rule for home design is that the space must be functional and comfortable. I design for how people actually live in their home, and I accommodate their lifestyles. With a variety of clients and families, I address the specific needs of the home. First and foremost, the spaces, both individually and collectively, must function for the clients and be comfortable to live in, or I haven't done my job.

What can we expect of design trends in the future?
Design trends mimic consumer demand, and companies in the industry are clamoring to introduce new products that are environmentally friendly for buyers. By acknowledging the benefits of being stewards of our planet, consumers' purchasing power has evoked many new products, such as low- or no-VOC paints. Environmentally friendly products are more prevalent now than they were even five years ago because people are committing to making a difference in the materials they choose to put in their homes.

What are the "must-haves" essential to any living space?
I think the must-haves for any living space are light and color. Nothing decorative can ever top natural light, and color is the essence of the human experience. I think people are becoming much more comfortable with incorporating color into their lives and homes.

How do you ensure that each room you design is uniquely its own?
I try to ensure that each room I design has a unique sense of "pride of place" and character for my clients. I love custom-made pillows and custom-made bedding so that these elements make the spaces special. I use things that are not likely to be replicated and will not be something that you see in every other residence.