This Design Era Endlessly Inspires Stylist Colin King
Hint: It’s full of color.
Updated Oct 11, 2018 8:43 PM
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Before stylist Colin King’s visionary images were all over your Instagram feed, he was a classically trained dancer. And it’s his dance career that he often refers back to when it comes to inspiring his visual eye. “Imagery can really make you feel something,” King explains to Domino’s editor-in-chief, Jessica Romm Perez, on this week’s episode of Design Time. “When I’m struck by an image, it always has an element of curvature that carries the eye. As a dancer, you do a similar thing. You’re telling a story without having to say a word, and it can be interpreted in many different ways.” With a number of career pivots in between (personal trainer and social media strategist, to name a couple), King has now established himself in the design world, styling interiors for major brands such as Roman and Williams Guild, Anthropologie, Zara Home, and Hay. (Listen to the episode, out today on Spotify and Apple Podcasts, to hear more.)
After chatting about his recently launched rug collection, the Shape of Color, with Moroccan brand Beni; what it means to be a famous stylist; and how he goes about reenergizing spaces, King took a moment to share what’s inspiring him right now, from the book on his nightstand to his favorite design style. Read on for his picks.
Favorite Design Style
“I love the ’70s and’ 80s…all of those color-field painters who came in around that time, like Mark Rothko. Those were people I looked to for my collection.”
Go-To Color Pairing
“I’m into an aubergine-navy color with ochre.”Material of the Moment
“I love the feeling of unfinished travertine, especially how it’s porous. I’d love a pair of raw travertine bookends.”
Dream Destination
“Barcelona. It is just so vibrant and so full of life. No one sleeps. It has a lot of architectural elements that I didn’t know I would like. There’s a lot of curvature and all this wild, fantastical, Alice in Wonderland futuristic stuff that I was really into.”
Hotel Hitmaker
“When I traveled to Morocco, I loved staying at El Fenn. It was so magical, especially in the evenings on the rooftop. I can’t wait to go back.”
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Restaurant I Crave
“[The now-closed] Flora Bar at the Met Breuer. It’s at the museum; what could be better than that?”Furniture Design Heroes
“Jean-Michel Frank and Donald Judd. They actually have a lot in common.”
My Plant Pick
“I love a black olive tree. I also love an Australian tree fern. I think I’m more of a sculptural branch kind of guy. I believe that it comes from my years as a dancer, but I love the gestural elements and the suggestion of movement with branches.”My Wind-Down Routine
“I feel like as a creative, I’m in my head a lot. So my favorite way to unwind is to really be able to connect with family and friends; just sitting with somebody and having an honest conversation in sweatpants in front of a fireplace.”
The Book on My Nightstand
“Right now I’m reading Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Its [subtitle is] Some Instructions on Writing and Life. It’s amazing. She’s an incredible writer. I may or may not be working on a book of my own, so I’m starting out with this book about writing, and it’s just fascinating.”Our Fall Style issue has arrived! Subscribe now to get an exclusive first look at Ayesha Curry’s Bay Area home—and discover how design can shape our world.