An interior designer has revealed details about what her high-profile clients look for in their homes.
Bri MacDonald, 24, of Toronto, said her “very wealthy” clients have been requesting the same unique and often “extremely expensive” items to liven up their mansions.
The designer, who hopes to work for HGTV, said they have been asking to incorporate “expensive conversation pieces” into their homes to show off their wealth.
Earlier this year, MacDonald fulfilled an order for a 17th-century wood-burning fireplace that was to be imported from France.
“Talk about a topic to start a conversation,” he wrote in the article published by Insider business information.
“Having something interesting to talk about when people come in never hurts,” he added. “Imagine someone compliments your fireplace and casually responds, ‘Thanks, I sent it from France.'”
He had also fulfilled orders for a weathered wooden door from an abandoned Italian villa for another of his opulent clients.
A client asked the expert designer to incorporate a 17th-century French fireplace (not pictured) into his home, fulfilling one of many highly sought-after requests to “start expensive conversations.”
For Bri MacDonald, 24, a Toronto-based interior designer, it seems like her “very wealthy” clients have been requesting the same eight unique items to liven up their homes.
MacDonald said she has spent the better part of a year working closely with wealthy clients, from influencers to CEOs, helping her learn about the latest trends in home decor.
When asked to identify another high-end trend she had seen recently, MacDonald said she had received many requests for custom art, with clients asking her for pieces that “showcase their personalities and values, no matter their budget.”
For such individualized requests, she has resorted to creating her own custom art, which she said “required large paintings or paper canvases, which were very expensive to make.”
Sustainability also appears to be “in fashion,” MacDonald said, as many of his wealthy clients often look for materials made with sustainability in mind—”think energy-efficient lighting, reclaimed wood, and renewable energy sources,” he wrote. .
The sustainable additions she’s sourced range from sustainably made mattresses for a bedroom to reclaimed barn boards repurposed for a kitchen backsplash.
MacDonald believes the future of his industry, especially in luxury homes, will soon revolve around sustainability.
“In the coming years, I hope more designers will ask questions like, ‘How can we reuse marble to give it a second life?'” he said.
Unlike the minimalist era, where homeowners often sought “simple” or “all white” features that she feels “lack personality,” many of her high-end clients have also increasingly embraced statement features like onyx. and exotic marble.
Unlike the minimalist era, where homeowners often sought “simple” or “all white” features that she considers “lacking personality,” many of her high-end clients have also increasingly embraced statement features like onyx and exotic marble.
“Bold stones can elevate an ordinary space into something truly unique,” the designer said, adding that such features can generate a clearly sought-after “wow” factor. MacDonald added that ambient lighting, which ranges from LED strips hidden in architectural details to beautifully designed “statement lamps,” is another design trend that his well-heeled clientele welcomes.
“Bold stones can elevate an ordinary space into something truly unique,” the designer said, adding that such features can generate a clearly sought-after “wow” factor.
Continuing the line of unique additions, MacDonald said custom furniture is another high-priced trend he’s seen across the industry.
Although not essential, “custom furniture can be a game-changer,” she said, adding that she “loves the satisfaction of perfectly sizing a sofa to fit a tricky corner or coordinating trim on dining room chairs.” with the fabric of a living room sofa.
Ambient lighting, ranging from LED strips hidden in architectural details to beautifully crafted “statement lamps,” is another design trend welcomed by its well-heeled clientele.
For warm lighting requests like these, MacDonald once again had to fulfill custom requests, tailoring the fixtures to the “big budgets” of his clients, creating a “luxurious and relaxing atmosphere.”
He has also noticed that “organic mattresses seem to be all the rage” among his customers, saying that some bedding may contain polyurethane foam, which has been linked to the release of harmful chemicals, also known as volatile organic compounds.
So far, the expert designer has used organic bedding company, Avocado Green Mattress, in two of her jobs and she says they were “a huge success.” Organic mattresses sell for between $1,000 and $6,000.
Linen has also been key for the astute designer, as she stated that “luxury bedding is popping up everywhere and I honestly couldn’t be more excited about it.”
Linen has also been key for the astute designer, as she stated that “luxury bedding is popping up everywhere and I honestly couldn’t be more excited about it.”
The social media mogul has since showcased her work on her various social media platforms, including Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube. With his insightful designs, MacDonald has built a collective following of nearly 700,000 people.
MacDonald remembers having a passion for interior design since her formative years, when she preferred rearranging furniture inside her Barbie dream house rather than playing with dolls.
The social media mogul has since showcased her work on her various social media platforms, including Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
With his insightful designs, MacDonald has built a collective following of nearly 700,000 people.