Lindley Martens’ Classically Chic Spaces

Known for classic interiors infused with antiques, Lindley Martens is a sought-after designer and proprietor of Laurel Rd Antiques & Modern in Memphis, Tennessee. Combining artistry with one-of-a-kind finds, she creates spaces that feel at once elegant and inviting. Read on for a peek inside her projects, her shop, and a curated edit of her Chairish favorites.

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What made you passionate about interior design? How did you get your start?

I think I’ve always been deeply moved by my surroundings. I grew up in a home built in 1716 not far from New York City, and my parents entertained a good deal. My mother always involved me in the preparations, fluffing pillows, setting the table, arranging flowers and preparing hors d’oeuvres, I loved it!

When my family moved to Germantown, TN, an up-and-coming suburb of Memphis, our home search consisted only of new construction and I cried because I thought they were all soulless and seemed to be slapped together with cardboard. I hated the house we ended up buying, and so a few years later, when I was in the 8th grade, I scoured the Sunday real estate section each week to find the perfect replacement. I then convinced my parents to go look at a house I’d found. I knew it was wonderful, and we bought it that day. I became very involved in helping my mother decorate it and we also enlarged an existing guest house. I was quite clear as to how it all should be done and was right there with the contractor explaining things to him. It’s quite hysterical to think about now!

My delightful grandmother moved into the guest house, and my parents, two brothers and I all went on to have the best times living in that home. We all wish it were still in the family. I went on to have a brief career in fashion design and worked for Ralph Lauren in NYC which was an incredible experience, but missed my family and home, so entered the world of interior design upon moving back to Memphis. I felt the two fields were very similar as far as working with color, texture, proportion, and “mood”, but I really loved the ability to custom tailor an interior to an individual or a family. That was meaningful!

Early in my career I had the wonderful experience of working under two seriously talented designers, both of whom had prestigious design firm as well as antiques and interiors retail shops. Over the years I built my own clientele, and then went on to open Lindley Martens Design in 2010 , and my own interiors/antiques retail store, Laurel Rd. Antiques and Modern in 2016.

What do you find most compelling about Chairish?

I find Chairish to be a perfect platform to not only search for specific items for our projects but also to take the “deep dive” of exploration to find inspiration. I find it extremely approachable and easy to navigate. The search functions work well when needing tight parameters and the ever-changing content of offerings via features such as “curated collections” and “designers to know” give you a taste of wanting to know more. Chairish is the perfect place for me to work and play!!

How does sustainability factor into your design choices and love of vintage?

I am especially drawn to timeless pieces, most of which are antiques or vintage, have lived a previous life, and therefore are naturally sustainable. I also try to choose items that are nicely proportioned, well made, and have innate design integrity, having found that those are the attributes that have staying power. When working on a renovation or a new construction project, I recommend natural materials for the architectural finishes because they stand the test of time and can be renewed. I also try to choose fabrics that are made of natural fibers, which are becoming more difficult to find. I believe we, as an industry, are going to have to address the amount of polyester that the fabric companies are continuing to introduce. I keep thinking… did we learn nothing from the polyester era of the 1970s?

Favorite way to create a statement-making moment in a room?

I love for the art to be the showstopper. There simply is no substitute for a beautiful piece of artwork. I feel that many times it is the art that sets the tone and the mood for the space. Having well proportioned architecture and furniture placement is important to make the artwork sing.

Do you have any go-to color palettes and color combos?

I love just about every shade of green and other colors found in nature. I tend to gravitate toward slightly calm shades. I’ve just used Shumacher’s Backdrop color Night on Earth for a design vignette. I adore it-it is a rich mossy green and looks fabulous. To liven things up, I love a little splash of citrus yellow and hot lipstick red.

What advice do you have for first-time clients to make their space truly personal?

I tell clients to embrace what they respond to intuitively rather than follow trends. I find it most successful as their designer to spend time looking at fabrics or browsing with a new client in my shop, so I can get a real vision for what they will enjoy living with. It’s a shared exploratory venture, to be sure! Personal involvement and an open mind are key components of creating a uniquely personal space.

Lead Image: Interior Design by Lindley Martens, Photography by Annabella Charles.