Tori Mellott’s Instagram bio says it best: “I like what I like.” It’s a fitting preamble for the straight-talking, design savvy, and refreshingly unapologetic Mellott, who’s currently the Design and Markets Editor at Traditional Home. With stints at Elle Decor and Domino in her back pocket, Mellott has spent the better half of the past two decades perfecting an enviable sense of style that embraces color, pattern, and as she puts it “a little bit of fussiness.” Enamored as we are with this hard-working editor, we were thrilled to catch up with Mellott recently and get her take on everything from lacquered libraries to her favorite ways to “zhoosh” up your interiors for spring!
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Favorite 3 items on Chairish right now?
Pair of Swedish Gustavian Barrel Chairs – I love these chairs. They’re so classic. It’s like decorating for dummies—if you use these in a room, you literally can’t screw up. That’s how perfect they are!
Large Carved Walnut French Louis XVI-Style Display Armoire – I’ve always had this fantasy of displaying all of my candy-colored cashmere sweaters in a glass armoire—I think it would feel like Laduree looks!
Mid-Century Modern Ceiling Fixture – Here are some of the deals I am talking about. This light fixture would look adorable in a kid’s room or a powder room, or in any room with striped wallpaper. And it’s only $266! That’s basically FREE.
Design
Favorite thing about decorating with vintage pieces?
Vintage pieces add soul to a room. It’s always very obvious when everything in a space is brand new because the vibe is flat; lifeless. Add some old pieces and instantly a room has personality. Vintage pieces add history and romance. They tell a story. They beg questions. They transport people. They are conversation starters. And typically, they’re better made than a lot new things being made today.
Vintage design piece you hope to own someday?
There are so many! But I’ve always dreamed about having a Fornasetti secretary. I think that would be the ultimate vintage piece. And so affordable—only the price of a luxury car or one year of tuition at small, liberal arts school. NO. BIG. DEAL.
As an editor, what trend are you seeing that has surprised you (in a good way!)?
I never find trends to be a good thing. Trends are derivative—they’re the antithesis of creativity and originality. I believe trends are just designers being lazy, consumers being satisfied with mediocre goods, and the general propagation of bad taste.
Favorite vintage design books to pour over?
This is a tough one as there are so many wonderful design books. “Billy Baldwin Decorates” always lifts my spirits. “Jansen Decoration” is spectacular and full of inspiration. “Gio Ponti.The Complete Work 1923-1978” will make your head spin with delight.
Your Instagram is full of such gorgeous throw-back images! Where do you find those?
I’m just REALLY skilled at searching. I excel in harvesting images and I take pride in it. It’s actually quite easy. I’ll think of something in my head—something totally crazy like “Blue poodles driving Cadillacs in Palm Spring in the 1960s” and I’ll search for it and the image will pop up. You just have to be really creative and specific in what you want to search for. If I can imagine it, I promise there’s an image somewhere to support it.
Who are your design influences and icons?
There are so many, and I admire different designers for different reasons. I love Jean-Michel Frank for his innovation and his interesting use of exotic materials, but mostly for his sense of proportion and scale. I love David Hicks’s work because of his fearless use of color and pattern. I am smitten with the work of Tony Duquette because it’s extravagant and outrageous, yet somehow feels handmade. I love the work of Elsie de Wolfe because it is proper and fussy and formal. And I love Dorothy Draper designed interiors because they are cheerful, playful, and happy.
Do you have a go-to decorating trick?
Stripes. Stripes make every room sing.
Is there a particular pattern or style that you never get tired of?
I never tire of floral chintz (paired with stripes, of course!)
Advice you’d give to people decorating a small space?
I’m really good at this, as I’ve moved 26 times since moving to NYC in 1998—and they were all shoeboxes! I think my best advice is keep the furniture small and the mirrors big! Upholster the big pieces in solids and the smaller pieces in small to medium patterns. And don’t be afraid of color! Lot’s of it! Make it so colorful that you forget that you live in a postage stamp!
Favorite design Instagram accounts to follow?
Chairish founder Anna Brockway has a good one! I love Shrimps, MatildaGoad, CathyBGraham, (the ever elusive) terra_naut, savoygardens, delpozo, pigottsstore, alisonroseny, artgarmets, ettoresottsass, and of course TRADITIONAL HOME!
Spring Secrets
What are some of your favorite spring entertaining essentials?
A brightly patterned tablecloth is important. D. Porthault is a favorite go-to for patterned table linens. Very expensive, but worth it—they never go out of style. Linen napkins are an absolute essential and right now white linens with a colorful monogram or border are on my hit-list. Julia B designs the best. I always love seeing Dodie Thayer’s lettuceware on a spring table, too—that never disappoints. As for flowers, loads and loads of daffodils!
What are 3 easy ways to refresh your space for spring?
New curtains! There are so many wonderful options of ready-made drapery nowadays. Unless you have incredibly expensive custom drapes, switching out your drapes is the most dramatic way to change the look and feel of a room. If that’s too much of a commitment, switching out decorative pillows is pretty powerful, and of course there’s always my favorite—rearranging the furniture! That’s always a thrill for me. I love rearranging my furniture and figuring out new ways to transform my apartment.
Lifestyle
Favorite travel destination?
India
Favorite hotel to check in to?
le Sirenuse
Favorite thank you/hostess gift?
Something monogrammed. Cocktail napkins, aboudoir sham, a set of hand towels—any soft good that can be personalized.
Favorite saying/quote?
“The only way out, is in.” —Junot Diaz
Favorite entertaining essential?
A bounty of crudité and loads of hummus (sidenote: what would we do without hummus?).
Favorite artist?
Three-way tie: Egon Schiele, Henri Matisse, Helen Frankenthaler
Favorite thing to collect?
Things I don’t need that are all very breakable—like china, glassware, Meissen figurines, and intricately-crafted boxes. My collections are the definition of superfluous!
Local Favorites: NYC
Favorite restaurant?
Sant Ambroeus (I love pasta)
Favorite hotel to recommend to visiting friends?
If you can afford it, The St. Regis NY; if you can’t, an air mattress on my floor (my rates are rock bottom).
Favorite local culture hub?
The Met.
Favorite hidden design gems?
Nothing is hidden in NYC. We all know how to market ourselves! Well, there is a little shop on University Place called Tudor Rose–beautiful silver pieces.
Favorite local attraction/activity?
I love taking my daughters to The Nutcracker every Christmas. It’s my favorite tradition, and I am so lucky to have so much culture at my fingertips!
Favorite local flea market/vintage hunting ground?
I don’t shop vintage or antiques in NYC—it’s all too pricey and the vendors are too savvy. NYC is great if you are buying serious, museum-quality antiques, but all of the mom-and-pop junk shops are pretty much gone. The best way to get a deal in NYC is to park yourself outside of one of the luxury buildings on the Upper East Side on trash day and wait to see what the rich people throw out. Those pieces have been some of my best scores! But for serious junking and rummaging, I sneak away to my hometown of Pittsburg. There are some steals to be had in that town for sure!
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Lead photo by Brittany Ambridge
