Meet Alison Hammatt, the founder and principal designer for her eponymous design studio, Alison Hammatt Home, based in Providence, Rhode Island. A recent recipient of New England Home's 5 Under 40 Award, Alison’s work has also been spotlighted in The Wall Street Journal, The Boston Globe, and more. Below, she shares some insights, her latest design obsessions, and a few tips straight from the heart.
Tell us a little about yourself—how did you get started in design?
I got started in design by decorating my own homes. I was lucky to grow up surrounded by talented interior designers and have always loved decorating. My business started when two separate friends simultaneously asked me to help them decorate their new homes. And the rest is history! I now run my own business based in Providence, Rhode Island with projects across the country.
Do you have a signature design element or style that defines your work?
I really love a blend of collected British, whimsical Scandinavian, and classic American design. I am influenced by my life experiences having lived in Europe in my twenties and grown up around classic American interiors throughout my childhood. I like to design rooms that are sophisticated but approachable.
What’s the best piece of design advice you’ve ever received, and how has it influenced your work?
The best piece of design advice I ever got was from Tom Samet. He reminded me this work is, of course, at the end of the day about people -- how we live, what we care about, what makes us the most comfortable. He gets to know his clients personally -- and considers many of them lifelong friends. This is something I cherish in my work: getting to know my clients and being a part of making their homes uniquely theirs.
What’s your favorite design trend this year, and how are you bringing it into your projects?
I am here for all the chocolate brown I'm seeing! Sophisticated yet inviting -- I am all for it!
Where do you find the most inspiration—travel, nature, fashion, or something else?
Travel! A few places that have really inspired me are the Gasparilla Inn in Boca Grande, FL; the Greyfield Inn on Cumberland Island, GA; Round Hill in Montego Bay, Jamaica; Villa Solbacka 1911 in Skarpö, Sweden; and Kettle's Yard in Cambridge, England.
If you were designing your dream bathroom from scratch, what’s the first thing you’d choose?
I would choose my plumbing fixtures first -- the functionality, the finish, the style. I would let that set the tone for the other choices like tile, color, lighting, and of course the vanity.
If you could use just one wallpaper in a bathroom, which would it be and why?
I put Svenkst Tenn's "Klöverblad in my kids' bathroom and it is just so fun and whimsical. I found an antique French bamboo mirror that is such a nice contrast to that particular paper and it works so well in the space.
What’s your favorite Vanity & Co. style and how would you customize it for your client?
I love the Katherine! I love that campaign style and seek it out whenever I am sourcing for projects. I would paint it Light Blue 22 by Farrow & Ball to add my personal touch!
