Designer Friday: An ASPIRE Exclusive Interview With Rachel Moriarty

This week’s #DesignerFriday is the most colorful yet! Self-proclaimed maximalist and award-winning designer Rachel Moriarty has a signature style that is undeniably electric. Enjoy her radiant spirit, as she and Andrew discuss dream jobs, scarf collections, and designing for sports fans.

These electric yellows and bouncy blues have us opening our crayon boxes.

Andrew Joseph: What’s one thing people don’t know about you?
Rachel Moriarty: I used to book male models back in the day for a large catalog company – International Male and Undergear. It was seriously a dream job! If you’ve ever seen the models in those catalogs, you’ll see why!

Andrew: What would your dream project or dream client be right now?
Rachel: My dream client is someone who isn’t afraid to take risks and use bold colors and patterns in their space. They also have houses all over the world and deep pockets.

Andrew: What are you most proud of?
Rachel: I’m most proud of taking the leap of faith and jumping into the design industry even though it was much later in life. Design is actually my sixth (and favorite) career!

Andrew: What’s one ingredient you put in everything?
Rachel: Color, Darling! I sprinkle that on everything!

A royal blue pool table transforms this bachelor’s pad into a king’s palace.

Andrew: The weirdest thing a client has ever asked you?
Rachel: I had a bachelor client who asked me to design his home around the Lakers (purple) AND the USC Bruins (red and gold). I like a challenge so for the Lakers’ vibe, I custom created a massive corner piece of art of The Staples Center where the Lakers play. I was also able to pull off the USC red and gold in the bedroom and still make it feel serene. Since red has the energy of arousal, I added a touch of red to the bed.

Andrew: If you had one more hour in the day what would you do with it?
Rachel: Nothing, absolutely nothing. I’m embracing “Dolce far Niente”, which means “the sweetness of doing nothing.” I custom designed a fiber piece of art for a client’s meditation space that says “be still,” I keep an image of it on my desktop as a reminder. It’s a work in progress for me.

Andrew: Favorite piece of clothing you own?
Rachel: That is really hard to answer! I’m a maximalist and collector! I’ve been collecting scarves since I was 12 and own hundreds of them. I also collect Kimonos and Caftans. My favorites are the ones that my husband has gifted me.

Andrew: Best advice you’d give your teenage self?
Rachel: I was a treasure huntress at a very early age. I started curating my wardrobe from Mod 1960’s thrift store finds when I was 12. I would tell my teenage self to keep honing that skill because you’ll be needing that on buying trips to the world’s largest furniture markets!


About The Designer | Rachel Moriarty is an award-winning designer who embodies bold design in not only the spaces she creates but also in her personal style. Her iconic designs have been featured in publications including Vision Magazine and San Diego Home/Garden Lifestyle, as well as on HGTV and the Design Network. She also shares her knowledge on the Design+Style Podcast and her own published work, including the co-authored #1 Amazon Best Seller, Marketing For the Design + Staging Industry.


Andrew Joseph is a regular contributing editor for ASPIRE DESIGN AND HOME magazine. See more of his work here

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