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Homes & Gardens
Homes & Gardens
Pip Rich

'Sifting Through The Garbage Is Fun' – Superstar Designer Kelly Wearstler Explains How She Always Manages To Find The Treasures in The Trash

Kelly Wearstler stands in a brutalist room holding a bouquet of yellow flowers.

Few designers have shaped the look and feel of contemporary interiors quite like Kelly Wearstler. Known for her bold use of texture, sculptural forms, and a confident mixing of eras, Kelly has built a career that spans private residences, iconic hotels, and product design – always with a signature sense of drama balanced by livability.

Yet behind the polish lies a deeply personal creative philosophy, rooted in early experiences of thrift store treasure hunting, instinctive styling, and a lifelong fascination with objects that carry history. In this interview, part of our Layered Lives series, she reflects on the formative spaces that defined her aesthetic, from her maximalist childhood home in South Carolina to her first major breakthrough in hospitality design.

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