MEET JEFF SNYDER OF SIMON’S HOUSE INTERIORS
Started by Jeff Snyder, Simon's House Interiors offers home furnishings, accessories, art, and interior design services. Snyder believes that creating a beautiful and livable home is all about comfortably combining what you love with your lifestyle. Boasting custom interior decorating services that range from consultation and editing to single room or full home interior design, Snyder can collaborate in any capacity. We caught up with the design guru to chat about his decorating style, his favorite projects of all time, life in Raleigh and more...
[Photo: Chris Lewis of CJL Media Group]
Hometown: Winston-Salem, North Carolina
Style Icon(s): Thomas O’Brien, Ralph Lauren and Salvatore Ferragamo.
[Thomas O’Brien]
How would you describe your decorating style? I really love to mix styles – I think that makes for a more interesting design overall. For example, I appreciate traditional lines, but I like a more contemporary spin on classic pieces (or mixing the two). And, I love incorporating unique pieces (when allowed!).
[Photos: Chris Lewis of CJL Media Group]
What is your favorite room in the house and why? Our formal dining room. I think dining rooms are underused and in many cases a missed opportunity for usable space, particularly if you have ample room within your kitchen to accommodate your dining needs. I recently took our dining room and connecting living room and created one large space with two major seating areas. The transformation took this space from the least used in our house to the most used.
If you splurge on one item for your home, what should it be? Lighting. That’s not ‘one item,’ but quality light fixtures can have such a huge impact on your overall design. I think lamps and other fixtures are a low priority for many people – sometimes the budget peters out and sometimes it’s just not an item felt worthy of a splurge. But a well chosen, quality lamp or fixture can really make the room sing.
Tell us the story behind Simon’s House Interiors! After a much too long corporate career, I started Simon’s House. It was a scary prospect at first, but it felt right and I did not want to regret that I never pursued what I really wanted to do. I feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to completely change direction at a later point in my life. By the way (because everyone asks when they realize my name is not Simon), Simon is the name of one of our cats. I wanted a name that was meaningful to me and would fit various aspects of our business.
[Photo: Chris Lewis of CJL Media Group]
Who or what inspires your designs? The client’s personality is key. Otherwise, I’ve not met their needs. This perspective can evolve as I get to know them, learn what inspires them, and see how they react to what I bring to the table. On an everyday basis, I love Instagram and find so many inspirational images there. Pinterest is a huge go-to for me as well, but I find Instagram has a truer, more instinctive perspective.
What have been some of your favorite projects of all time? Probably not the ‘right’ answer, but my own home is a favorite because there are no creative limits when you decorate for yourself (and no panicked texts or emails when a color goes up and it’s not what’s expected). And, the benefit of having personal access to inventory allows me to play with different looks over time. I would also add my first client, former neighbors, and friends who purchased a 1960s modern home and asked for my help in selecting the decor. Based on the style of the house and their personalities, we were able to select a lot of fun, colorful pieces – they were so happy with how it came together and fit their lifestyle.
What is the best part about running shop in Raleigh? Bringing a new, visual perspective that I’ve not seen here before. I’m able to meet customers who share a similar respect and admiration for what I offer (and are excited that we are here). I’m thankful for all feedback, but my favorite compliment is when someone tells me that they do not feel like they are in Raleigh when they visit my shop. This tells me that I’ve been successful in sharing a new perspective and that I’m not duplicating what is already here.
Favorite local spots in Raleigh? Restaurants, shops, watering holes? Poole’s Diner, Fresh (ice cream!), Taverna Agora, Plates, Gonza Tacos y Tequila, and The Raleigh Wine Shop.
[Poole’s Diner]
What are some of your favorite pieces/items in store right now? Our Randolph Zebra Mirror, the Orange Opportunity paintings by Baltimore artist Kelly Walker, our Doheny chair, the Ming Foo dog-lidded jar, our small Bordeaux tray, the Havana woven chair, the double banker’s lamp, our frosted ban urn, the Louise Dahl-Wolfe framed Vogue cover from 1959, and our driftwood cocktail table.
What do you love about House Account? House Account allows us to reach and directly communicate with a wider audience of shoppers (both locally and outside of our area). I particularly appreciate the ability to message back and forth with a potential customer who is interested in our items but unable to visit our shop.