Artist Spotlight: Dani Dazey

TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT YOURSELF. WHO IS DANI? FOR ANYONE MEETING YOU FOR THE FIRST TIME, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE WHAT YOU DO AND WHO YOU ARE IN THIS CHAPTER OF YOUR LIFE?

I’M AN INTERIOR DESIGNER, CONTENT CREATOR, AND AUTHOR WHO HAS SPENT THE LAST DECADE ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO EMBRACE COLOR, PATTERN, AND HOMES THAT REFLECT WHO THEY REALLY ARE. MY DESIGN PHILOSOPHY HAS ALWAYS BEEN ABOUT CREATING SPACES THAT BRING JOY INSTEAD OF FOLLOWING TRENDS.

THIS CHAPTER OF MY LIFE FEELS ESPECIALLY MEANINGFUL BECAUSE I’M ALSO A NEW MOM TO MY SON, BECK. BECOMING A PARENT HAS SHIFTED MY PERSPECTIVE IN THE BEST WAY. I’M STILL DESIGNING BOLD, MAXIMALIST INTERIORS, BUT NOW I’M ALSO FIGURING OUT HOW TO BUILD A CREATIVE LIFE THAT MAKES ROOM FOR MOTHERHOOD, COMMUNITY, AND SLOWING DOWN WHEN IT MATTERS.

WHAT LED YOU TO FINDING YOUR PASSION?

I’VE ALWAYS BEEN OBSESSED WITH CREATING. AS A KID I WAS CONSTANTLY REARRANGING MY BEDROOM, MAKING THINGS, OR DREAMING UP IMAGINARY SPACES. I ACTUALLY STARTED MY CAREER IN FASHION WITH MY CLOTHING BRAND, DAZEY LA, WHERE I BECAME KNOWN FOR COLORFUL PRINTS AND OPTIMISTIC MESSAGING. EVENTUALLY I REALIZED WHAT I LOVED EVEN MORE THAN DESIGNING CLOTHES WAS DESIGNING THE ENVIRONMENTS PEOPLE LIVED IN.

I’VE NEVER BEEN INTERESTED IN MAKING THINGS LOOK EXPENSIVE OR PERFECT. I’M MUCH MORE INTERESTED IN MAKING THEM FEEL ALIVE AND DEEPLY PERSONAL.

WHERE DO YOU LOOK FOR INSPIRATION?

EVERYWHERE. VINTAGE BOOKS, OLD HOTELS, FLEA MARKETS, TRAVEL, FASHION, HISTORIC HOMES, MOVIES, GARDENS, CHILDREN’S BOOKS. I LOVE ANYTHING THAT TELLS A STORY THROUGH COLOR AND DETAIL.

I ALSO THINK INSPIRATION COMES FROM PAYING ATTENTION TO WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL SOMETHING. SOMETIMES IT’S AN OLD WALLPAPER. SOMETIMES IT’S THE COLORS IN A FRUIT STAND OR SOMEONE’S INCREDIBLE VINTAGE QUILT. I COLLECT THOSE LITTLE MOMENTS AND THEY USUALLY FIND THEIR WAY INTO MY WORK.

CAN YOU DESCRIBE YOUR PROCESS? WHEN YOU WALK INTO A SPACE, WHERE DO YOU BEGIN? IS IT AN INTUITIVE PRACTICE OR DO YOU HAVE A SPECIFIC PROCESS?

IT’S A LITTLE BIT OF BOTH. MY FIRST INSTINCT IS ALWAYS EMOTIONAL. I TRY TO UNDERSTAND HOW SOMEONE WANTS TO FEEL IN THE SPACE BEFORE THINKING ABOUT WHAT IT SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

THEN I START BUILDING THE STORY. I USUALLY BEGIN WITH ONE ELEMENT I’M EXCITED ABOUT, WHETHER THAT’S A WALLPAPER, FABRIC, VINTAGE PIECE, OR COLOR PALETTE. FROM THERE EVERYTHING STARTS LAYERING TOGETHER. I THINK OF A ROOM ALMOST LIKE GETTING DRESSED. YOU NEED CONTRAST, BALANCE, SURPRISES, AND PIECES THAT ALL SUPPORT EACH OTHER WITHOUT MATCHING PERFECTLY.

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU’RE EXPLORING IN DESIGN RIGHT NOW THAT FEELS NEW?

I’M REALLY INTERESTED IN DESIGNING SPACES THAT CAN EVOLVE ALONGSIDE LIFE INSTEAD OF NEEDING TO BE COMPLETELY REINVENTED.

HAVING BECK HAS CHALLENGED ME IN A FUN WAY. RATHER THAN SACRIFICING STYLE FOR FUNCTIONALITY, I’M ASKING, “HOW CAN THESE THINGS COEXIST?” WE’VE BEEN TRANSFORMING SPACES IN OUR HOME TO WORK FOR OUR FAMILY WHILE STILL FEELING WHIMSICAL, COLORFUL, AND VERY US. IT’S PROVING THAT FAMILY FRIENDLY DESIGN DOESN’T HAVE TO MEAN GIVING UP PERSONALITY.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SPACE THAT YOU’VE DESIGNED?

IT’S ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO CHOOSE, BUT I’D PROBABLY SAY MY OWN LIVING ROOM. IT HAD GOOD BONES WHEN WE BOUGHT THE HOUSE AND WE ONLY IMPROVED ON IT! IT’S ALSO ON THE COVER OF MY BOOK THE MAXIMALIST!

IT REPRESENTS EVERYTHING I LOVE. BOLD COLOR, LAYERED PATTERN, VINTAGE CHARM, PLAYFUL DETAILS, AND A SPACE THAT’S MEANT TO BE LIVED IN. WE HANG THERE, HOST FRIENDS, PHOTOGRAPH CAMPAIGNS, AND NOW IT’S WHERE BECK SPENDS THE MOST TIME PLAYING WITH US. IT’S BEAUTIFUL, BUT IT’S ALSO DEEPLY FUNCTIONAL, WHICH FEELS LIKE THE SWEET SPOT OF GOOD DESIGN.

WHAT’S A PIECE OF HOME DECOR ADVICE EVERYONE SHOULD KNOW?

DON’T DECORATE FOR RESALE. DECORATE FOR YOUR LIFE.

YOUR HOME SHOULD TELL YOUR STORY, NOT SOMEONE ELSE’S. THE MOST MEMORABLE SPACES ARE THE ONES THAT FEEL PERSONAL, EVEN IF THEY BREAK A FEW DESIGN “RULES.”

YOU’VE RECENTLY HAD BABY BECK. HOW DO YOU BALANCE RUNNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS AND A NEWBORN?

I’M STILL FIGURING IT OUT! I DON’T THINK BALANCE IS SOMETHING YOU ACHIEVE ONCE. IT’S SOMETHING YOU’RE CONSTANTLY ADJUSTING.

SOME WEEKS MOTHERHOOD TAKES THE LEAD. OTHER WEEKS WORK DOES. I’VE LEARNED TO BE MORE FLEXIBLE WITH MY EXPECTATIONS AND TO GIVE MYSELF PERMISSION TO SHIFT PRIORITIES DEPENDING ON THE SEASON. HAVING AN INCREDIBLE PARTNER AND A SMALL SUPPORT SYSTEM HAS ALSO MADE IT POSSIBLE FOR ME TO CONTINUE CREATING WHILE BEING REALLY PRESENT FOR BECK.

HONESTLY, BECOMING A MOM HAS MADE ME EVEN MORE INSPIRED CREATIVELY.

YOU’RE A SELF DESCRIBED “ANTI BEIGE MOM.” TELL US MORE!

IT’S ALL IN GOOD FUN, BUT IT COMES FROM A REAL BELIEF THAT KIDS DESERVE INSPIRING ENVIRONMENTS TOO.

I DON’T THINK CHILDHOOD HAS TO BE MUTED TO BE BEAUTIFUL. COLOR SPARKS IMAGINATION, CURIOSITY, AND JOY. MY HOME HAS ALWAYS BEEN COLORFUL, AND BECOMING A MOM DIDN’T MAKE ME WANT TO CHANGE THAT. IT MADE ME WANT TO LEAN INTO IT EVEN MORE.

I LOVE PROVING THAT FAMILY SPACES CAN BE PLAYFUL, PRACTICAL, AND AESTHETICALLY EXCITING ALL AT ONCE.

YOU’RE A MASTER AT PRINT MIXING, BOTH IN INTERIORS AND OUTFITS. WHAT’S YOUR BIGGEST TIP FOR PATTERN CLASHING CONFIDENTLY?

TREAT PATTERN LIKE A COLOR PALETTE RATHER THAN A MATCHING GAME.

IF YOUR PRINTS SHARE A FEW COMMON COLORS BUT VARY IN SCALE, THEY’LL ALMOST ALWAYS WORK TOGETHER. I ALSO LOVE MIXING FLORALS WITH STRIPES, CHECKS WITH ORGANIC PRINTS, AND BALANCING BUSY MOMENTS WITH SOLIDS OR TEXTURE.

THE BIGGEST TRICK IS CONFIDENCE. IF YOU COMMIT TO IT, IT ALMOST ALWAYS LOOKS INTENTIONAL.

WHAT DO YOU WEAR WHEN YOU WANT TO FEEL CONFIDENT?

SOMETHING COLORFUL THAT FEELS LIKE ME.

I’VE LEARNED THAT CONFIDENCE ISN’T ABOUT DRESSING LOUDER. IT’S ABOUT DRESSING AUTHENTICALLY. WHEN I PUT ON A GREAT PRINTED DRESS OR MATCHING SET THAT FEELS PLAYFUL AND EXPRESSIVE, I INSTANTLY FEEL MORE LIKE MYSELF. THAT ENERGY CARRIES INTO EVERYTHING ELSE I DO.

WHY DO YOU WEAR BEL KAZAN?

BEL KAZAN FEELS LIKE AN EXTENSION OF HOW I DESIGN. THE PRINTS ARE JOYFUL WITHOUT FEELING OVERWHELMING, THE SILHOUETTES ARE EFFORTLESS, AND EVERYTHING FEELS THOUGHTFULLY MADE. I LOVE PIECES THAT MAKE GETTING DRESSED EASY WHILE STILL FEELING EXPRESSIVE, AND BEL KAZAN STRIKES THAT BALANCE PERFECTLY. THEIR CLOTHES HAVE PERSONALITY, WHICH IS SOMETHING I’LL ALWAYS BE DRAWN TO.

WHAT’S THE PIECE YOU REACH FOR MOST?

I’M FOREVER A FAN OF A MATCHING SET!

IT’S MY UNIFORM BECAUSE IT WORKS FOR ALMOST EVERYTHING. CLIENT MEETINGS, DESIGN INSTALLS, PHOTO SHOOTS, DINNER WITH FRIENDS, OR CHASING BECK AROUND THE HOUSE. I LOVE THAT I CAN THROW THEM ON AND IMMEDIATELY FEEL PUT TOGETHER WITHOUT SACRIFICING COMFORT.

I TEND TO REACH FOR BOLD PRINTED MATCHING SETS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THAT EFFORTLESS FEELING WHILE STILL MAKING A STATEMENT.

SHOP DANI'S SELECTS

FOLLOW DANI DAZEY

Photography by Cameron Jourdan