Motivated by the success of his recurring Palm Springs showhouse, the Christopher Kennedy Compound, the eponymous designer was lured to Turlock, California by a homeowner looking to create an exciting interiors experience in a classic American town. “I don’t think style is just reserved for the big cities and coasts,” says Christopher Kennedy, who collaborated with 15 other designers on a 3,200-square- foot midcentury residence that—following its October 2019 show dates—would become a family’s home. “The designers did the best of themselves and they also made it perfect for the homeowner. Our showhouses tend to be very livable, while still being very inspiring.”
In our recently released aspire design and home Showhouse Issue, we sat down with Lindsey Borchard to learn more about their creative process in designing a Fire Pit Lounge for this project.
Interview with Lindsey Borchard
aspire design and home: How much time did you have to complete this room, start to finish?
Lindsey Borchard: “We didn’t have much time at all, we came in last minute and possibly had 4-6 weeks to design and complete the space. “
aspire: What was your biggest challenge? Did you have a Eureka moment during the process?
Lindsey: Well, not seeing the space at all was hard, but also we had a small area that we wanted to make look and feel really special; so we had to come up with some creative ideas to bring it to life.
aspire: What did you and your team accomplish that you thought would not happen in time?
Lindsey: Well, our whole space was still under construction when we came to install; so – to be honest – I didn’t think we were even going to be set up. During the process, one way we wanted to bring the space to life was reupholster plain outdoor furniture into having more personality. But getting fabric to Twist and letting them have enough time to do it was stressful. They pulled it off in record time though!
Seeking Inspiration and Finding Cohesiveness
aspire: What was your inspiration for this room?
Lindsey: Palm Springs Summer was really our inspiration, so we wanted to bring in bright colors, bold patterns, and an element of fun with nostalgic outdoor games
aspire: Did you step out of your comfort zone for this project, and if so, why?
Lindsey: Yes and no. We always envision how our clients would sue the space, so without clients in general we had to come up with who lived there and how we envisioned them. That allowed us to go brighter and bolder then we usually do”
aspire: Despite the fact that there were so many designers involved, there is an inherent cohesiveness to the home. Did you all converse/collaborate? Or was this a completely individual process?
Lindsey: I think because we came on so late we didn’t talk to anyone except Christopher [Kennedy]. He showed us some designs of the other spaces so we pulled colors, and inspiration from that
aspire: Is your preference for a showhouse a small space or a large space? Does one or the other provide a better opportunity to stretch your creativity?
Lindsey: I think you can do creative things with any size space. However, I think smaller spaces always challenge you more because there is only so much you can do. You have to edit a lot to make sure you are making an impact without it being too much.
aspire: Describe the town of Turlock in one sentence.
Lindsey: Charming.
“This or That?” with Lindsey Borchard
“This or That?” with Lindsey Borchardaspire: Paint or wallpaper?
Lindsey: Wallpaper.
aspire: Hardwood or rug?
Lindsey: Hardwood.
aspire: Beach or Mountains?
Lindsey: Beach.
aspire: Saturated color or black and white?
Lindsey: Color.
aspire: Brunch or Dinner?
Lindsey: Brunch.
aspire: Midcentury or 18th Century?
Lindsey: Right now, 18th century.
aspire: Draperies, shades, or nothing?
Lindsey: Draperies.
aspire: 2001: A Space Odyssey or The English Patient?
Lindsey: The English Patient
aspire: Week at the spa or week of Broadway shows?
Lindsey: Spa, always the Spa.
Want More?
Click Here to view more interviews with our [show house] designers.
Photography by Dave Adams.
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