At work with Designer: Kerry Joyce
erry Joyce opened his Los Angeles design firm following a successful career as an Art Director for film and television. A master of crafting cohesive design stories, Joyce is celebrated as one of the top interior designers in the country. A testament to his impeccable design sense, Joyce has received a broad array of honors from some of the most highly regarded organizations in design and entertainment, including an Emmy award for set decoration, and a number of nationally regarded best design lists. Joyce’s work has been featured in Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, House Beautiful, WSJ Magazine, World of Interiors and Veranda magazine, amongst others. In addition to his lauded interior projects, Joyce has channeled his diverse talents into several highly regarded furniture, lighting and rug collections. Most recently his firm introduced Kerry Joyce Textiles, whose fabrics and wallpapers mirror the firm’s refined aesthetic, combining his powerful visual perspective, with reduced historical reference and nuanced color palette.
“I always set out to create an environment that evokes a feeling of well-being. If I have done my job right, I accomplish this feeling where everything feels balanced and no one element is the star. It is this feeling of tranquility and rightness that is my first goal. It is the “intangible.”
Kerry Joyce Associates embodies a passion for timeless design and flawless execution. Led by one of the country’s most celebrated designers, Kerry Joyce, the firm’s various projects have received notable acclaim and articulate a unique and unparalleled design sense, seamlessly marrying fine materials, clean lines, and sophisticated textures, emboldened by a touch of glamour. The work of Kerry Joyce Associates spans a variety of aesthetics – always imaginative, refined, and exquisite
Emmy Award-winning designer Kerry Joyce is known for the refined elegance and quiet classicism that unite his varied houses and interiors and his collections of textiles, furniture, and rugs. His debut book spans a fascinating career, celebrating a unique, warm design sense that constantly seeks to turn houses into homes—to achieve the Intangible through the creation of tranquility and balance.
The book covers eight homes in a surprising range of styles, from modern to traditional, urban to rustic, period restorations to entirely newly imagined houses that feel as though they are just as authentic. In addition, a charming introduction describes Joyce’s unusual path to becoming a designer, with thoughtful essays on each part of his work, from houses to interiors to his products. A unique view into the creative process of an influential and multi-talented designer.
Editor: You’ve named your new book ‘The Intangible,’ which in one sense would mean something hard to define. Why do you feel that is an appropriate title for your interior design?
I always set to create an environment that evokes a feeling of well-being. If I have done my job right, I accomplish this feeling where everything feels balanced, and no one element is the star. It is this feeling of tranquility and rightness that is my first goal. It is the “the intangible”.
What typifies a sense of balance and tranquility in the layout of a room?
I compose and balance my rooms as if they were a painting, or imagine, if you will, in the theatre when the curtain goes up on act one; what do you see? You see a stage picture composed and balanced. I take care in my arrangement of furniture and the architectural elements to appear at rest and contribute to the success of the overall composition. I ensure that all my choices are correctly proportioned, with nothing too big or too small.
In creating that balance, are you limited in your choice of decor or color?
There are no limits. I am primarily a lover of tonal environments, but I am not afraid of color and will do whatever is correct to realize my interiors. I consider the rooms I do on a good day art. My gestures, strokes, and decisions are intuitive but informed by my love of composition, history, and beauty. I am inspired by my clients and filter their ideas through my eyes to create a special and unique home for them.
As you can see in my book, I enjoy working in diverse styles and love it when clients bring something new to me that I have not done before.
How would you suggest someone start to create a harmonious space? What elements do they include?
Many elements are essential in making that special feeling. When I design a new room, I first compose the room to be balanced and at rest.
I exploit the garden views; this grounding of nature is essential to me. I take great care to place technical necessities in locations that are not distracting; if they are placed in the wrong spot, they can break the mood. I would also suggest carefully lighting the room; I am fond of reflected light (the most flattering), and I try to keep recessed lights to a minimum as they tend to be harsh. Carefully choose the accessories to feel personal and collected over time. I chose furniture that has a beautiful silhouette and fine finish. If you care about all of these elements, you will achieve a sense of tranquility and rightness. You will reach a feeling much larger than the simple sum of these parts, and that feeling will allow harmony to fill your home.
