Andrew Joseph: What inspired you to become a designer?
Bethany Adams: My mother actually suggested it when I was looking at colleges, but nobody ever does what their mother wants, so instead of going straight to design school, I got a degree in Japanese first. I really showed her.
Soft and plush textures invite you to sit down and take a book from the floor to ceiling bookshelves that frame the reading nook nestled behind it. Photo by Justin Jordan
AJ: Can you describe your design philosophy in three words?
BA: “Figure it out.” I love working in old homes because there are so many puzzles to solve. Often, we come up against unwelcome surprises when remodeling historic homes, but I like to say that every step backward is really a step forward. Usually, the solutions to these problems end up being better than the original design.
AJ: How do you approach a new design project?
BA: With a mix of panic, excitement, enthusiasm and dread. And a really good set of as-built drawings.
AJ: What is the most challenging project you’ve worked on and how did you overcome it?
BA: The historic Tudor project was hands-down the most challenging, as it began just prior to the pandemic and so my idea of how it would go was quickly challenged by the reality of not being able to meet and have my then-toddler daughter in my lap during every Zoom.
Illuminate this dining room is the Collier de Lune pendant—its playful orbs cast a moonlit glow, ensuring a memorable dinner setting under the moon, every night. Photo by Justin Jordan
AJ: Can you tell us about a design trend you are excited about?
BA: I’m so excited that clients are willing to embrace color drenching after seeing it in the magazines. When I first started out as a designer circa 2006, a potential boss physically cringed when I said I was really good at using color in spaces – their work was all gray – so I feel like I’m finally in the right place at the right time.
AJ: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received as a designer?
BA: “If you like it, other people will too” – this was actually advice given to me by my dear friend, the designer Caryn Campbell (Caryn Campbell Interiors) when I was designing my first house and getting stuck worrying about resale value. I’ve since embraced this philosophy in everything I create. Maybe not everyone likes what I do, but the point is to trust myself and have confidence in my decisions.
In this texture-rich kitchen, a seamless blend of materials creates a cozy yet sophisticated ambiance. The space is tied together by subtle gold accents. Photo by Justin Jordan
AJ: Can you tell us about a specific moment in your career that made you feel accomplished?
BA: Winning my first ASID award as a full-fledged member made me feel so accomplished. Not just because of the award – which was amazing! – but because of all the work it takes to actually qualify to be a member of ASID and enter the awards in the first place. I felt like, “I did it!”
AJ: How do you incorporate sustainability into your designs?
BA: A huge way is working with what is there. If you have marble floors, I’m not going to suggest we tear them out and install wood floors, just because they’re more “of the moment” or whatever. Part of the fun of design is figuring out a way to make everything work and ripping it all out and starting from scratch, for no good reason feels like cheating to me.
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