jeffrey bilhuber Archives

Since founding Bilhuber and Associates in 1984, Jeffrey Bilhuber has earned his place as one of the world’s top interior designers. He’s been published in more than 50 design books and been featured in every nation and international design magazine. He’s completed projects from New York to London and exudes such an accessible philosophy that he’s been invited to appear on shows such as The View and Conan O’Brien as well as HGTV. His Bilhuber Basics line for Stark Carpets increased his name recognition as did the success of his first book, Jeffrey Bilhuber’s Design Basics, as well as his next two books, Defining Luxury and The Way Home: Reflections on American Beauty. Jeffrey is known for blending traditionalism with modern sensibilities to produce beautiful and practical interiors uniquely suited to each client. His career and clientele so far have been really amazing so far!

j bilhuber 1 — Love the suzani and the black floors.

j bilhuber 2 — More layers and textiles. Great combinations!

I adore Jeffrey Bilhuber for so many reasons. Each of his spaces is the perfect collected mix of details and fearless, unexpected, fascinating touches. His designs feature vivacious colors and timeless, sophisticated beauty. He implements top-notch finishes and creates these layered interiors that I really admire. Everything from his color selections to the way he uses big plants or bunches of grapes to bring a human element to a room resonates with me and certainly inspires me. When I find a stack of new design magazines in my mail box, I can’t wait to see Jeffrey Bilhuber designs among the pages.

j bilhuber 4 — I love this foyer: light, simple, and comfortable.

j bilhuber 5 — Truly a bold statement with the gilt paint on the de Gournay panels.

My own designs have definitely been influenced by Jeffrey’s work. He inspires me to use the unexpected but still be timeless. I know when I give my clients examples from Jeffrey’s designs, we build a relationship of trust and confidence to maybe take design risks they might not otherwise have considered. I wouldn’t copy Jeffrey’s ideas, of course, but reinterpret elements and make them my own. The magnitude of his design is so big, other designers can learn so much just from just from taking a bit here and there to adapt to their own style and their clients’ needs.

j bilhuber 6 — The color combination is luscious with a stunning hand-painted detail on the floor.

j bilhuber 8 — The backdrop of the black against the light sisal area rug is a great contrast.

Earlier this week I had an incredible time at the Jeffrey Bilhuber Lecture and Luncheon, hosted by the Greenwich Historical Society and exclusive media sponsor Connecticut Cottages and Gardens. Jeffrey Bilhuber has long been one of my all-time favorite designers. I find his style so inspirational, with his use of amazing color combinations and his knack for layers. He has such an extravagant, eccentric design flair and a fascinating personal story. When I heard about this event to benefit the Historical Society, I knew I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to hear Jeffrey Bhilhuber speak and showcase his new book, The Way Home: Reflections on American Beauty.

Jeffrey’s lecture demonstrated his mastery of design and set my mind spinning with ideas and possibilities. His creative design concepts never fail to amaze me. One particular highlight of the luncheon was the chance to meet Jeffrey and speak to him face-to-face. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to meet someone you’ve long looked up to as an inspiration and icon, you can imagine how I felt at that moment!

Photo by Neil Landino

I loved this brochure handed out at the luncheon. Titled “Jeffrey Bilhuber Unedited,” it listed Jeffrey’s responses to 14 prompts about his favorite things and places, featured a very cool design, and included references to unique Greenwich spots!