Designer Spotlight: Erin Loechner

August 7, 2012 8:19 pm

Erin Loechner joins House Press for a candid interview about her celebrated blog, Design for Mankind. Her signature style has led to partnerships with HGTV and Apartment Therapy, as well as the creation of Design for Minikind, her spin on chic motherhood.

We love Seats and Feets! Where did the inspiration come from, and how do you find such spot-on matches?

Oh, thank you! Chairs and shoes are two of my favorite indulgences, so it only seemed natural to pair them together in a just-for-fun challenge of aesthetics. I generally start with a show-stopping chair and then look for a similar texture, pattern or shape in a few of my favorite online shops. I haven’t been let down yet – there’s just so much inspiration to gather around the web!

Your triangle logo is simple yet intriguing. Is there a story behind it?

I’ve always found three to be the perfect number, so that would make triangles the perfect shape, yes? I also think of my work in terms of a trifecta of visual elements: art / style / design. Everything I love falls under these elements, so it’s an easy way to categorize the sort of things I love to share on my site.

Design for Mankind has a long list of contributors (with so-cute watercolor portraits). How do you navigate through the many columns, and how important are they?

I started adding contributors a few months ago in an effort to streamline my workflow when my baby arrives (any day now!). Taking a proper maternity leave isn’t really in the cards for me, so it was important for me to maintain fresh content while still giving enough focus to the new addition in my life!

And oh goodness, the contributors have been an amazing addition to the site. Featuring voices and perspectives from other artists has been the foundation of my site since I began in 2006, so it’s only natural to welcome other creatives to expand that perspective even more. I feel so lucky to have such talented contributors to curate, craft and create a new side of Design for Mankind. They’ve made my life so much easier, and the site that much richer.

When prepping for Design for Minikind, was it difficult to maintain your signature style?

Not at all! I see signature style as a very direct reflection of a person’s life at any given moment. And right now, babies, kids and parenting are all swirling about my mind like crazy! It’s been fun to research and unearth an entirely new facet of design while still remaining true to the things I love: good, quality craftmanship mixed with smart interpretations of trends along the way.

Everyone has a décor fetish – lamps, plant stands, vases. What are some accents you can’t have enough of?

I’m a sucker for office supplies (I have a ridiculously non-functional supply of tape dispensers!) and tiny storage vessels that house clutter from the day’s noise. Bowls, canisters, boxes – I love them all. Anything that serves a purpose while making a statement is a welcome addition in my home.