ETHOS

SIMPLE IS BEAUTIFUL...BUT BLAND IS BORING.
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Interior design is a delicate balancing act. A craft that requires curatorial flair and the instinctive placement of objects and furniture to accentuate their commonalities, contrasts, and express the space in between. It requires an artistic eye naturally perfecting the proportions of colour, texture, pattern, light and form so that the recipe is just right.
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RSd strive for ‘elegant simplicity’ without tipping over into cold sparsity. ‘Lived-in and soulful’ without chaos and clutter. Enough colour and pattern to stimulate but not to overwhelm. Enough ‘wow’ to touch the senses, sprinkled with a little bit of attitude.
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Michelle likes to streamline with clean lines and establish a tonal base palette to calm the eye, thus creating a sophisticated and functional foundation on which to build layers of sensual texture, visual interest, rebellious accents, and personal story. Design concepts are inspired by the inhabitant, uniquely expressing their quirks, interests, and innate preferences.
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Working in a contemporary, eclectic style Michelle aims to combine decor from various design genres and eras and especially enjoys unexpected juxtaposition. A happy clash that ‘just works’.
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Up-cycling, up-styling, and restoring pre-loved pieces and finishes must be part of the formula; simultaneously reducing waste, energy, and cost whilst adding character, history, and individuality.
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She believes that good design should be accessible and affordable for all. However, mass production, unethical manufacturing, and unsustainable sourcing must be questioned. The very real deterioration of our environment means that quality, durability, and timeless longevity are more important than ever. Less is more.
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Ethics alongside aesthetics and practicality. Function, form, and sustainability are equally weighted in the RSd ethos. It is essential to design with head, heart, and a moral compass.

Michelle Mathieson
RSD FOUNDER & DESIGNER
Q &
A
How do you decide which projects are a good fit for you?
There should be a good personality fit….the process should be enjoyable and the client needs to feel comfortable to open up and let me in. I'm happy to say that many of my client relationships have naturally blossomed into friendships. Other things to consider are a great scope for creativity, a realistic budget, eco-values, and a completion date with enough time to imagine, explore, and do the project justice.
Do you welcome client involvement?
I love creating beautiful spaces but essentially, in the words of Louis Sullivan ‘form follows function'. The space must ‘work’ for the end user so client input is crucial. However, the client must be willing to accept guidance and be happy to step a little out of their comfort zone. Design is an intuitive, creative process and there needs to be an element of trust.
What elements define your style?
I believe in simplicity and settling the eye…streamlining the space where possible with a sophisticated tonal base palette; and then lifting the scheme with a burst of something interesting, a splash of individuality and personality. The goal is ‘sophisticated style’ with a sprinkling of attitude. Finding a happy contrast through eclectic selections and juxtaposition of form, pattern, and colour can really add life to a space. Layering texture keeps it soft and inviting. Previously loved pieces really add character, story, and uniqueness so I encourage clients to hang on to some interesting pieces.
Where do you find inspiration?
Everywhere. Architecture, graphic design, fashion, nature, the streetscape, fine art. But when I’m working with a client I like to delve deep and take something they love, own, or admire; whether that be an object, a movement, or a place; and springboard into an artistic concept. Interior design is full of colour, wonder, and options and it’s easy to get distracted. It’s important to form an artistic concept and stay close to it, reminding yourself what the intention is all the way through.
Design heroes
Ilsa Crawford, Kelly Wearstler, Frank Lloyd Wright, Carlo Scarpa, Luis Barragan, Hans Wegner, Warren Platner, Mies Van der Rohe, Tom Dixon, Florence Broadhurst, Arent & Pyke
What do you find most challenging about designing a client’s home?
Changing the brief mid-way through the design development can result in a lot of wasted time and money. For this reason, I take my client’s through a detailed ‘Return brief’ exercise in which I thoroughly articulate their requirements, objectives, design scope, tastes, and style preferences to create a strong foundation on which to build the design. Spontaneous purchases by the client can also change the goalposts. Colour palettes and furniture selections are all very well-considered. All the elements relate to each other and combine to form the full picture. One change can cause a ripple effect and suddenly we need multiple changes which can be time-consuming and costly for the client.