Stylemaker: Kishani Perera
Company: fuse id
Birthday: May 7, 1975

by kelly lee

Interior designer Kishani Perera has helped Hollywood's hautest -- think Kate Bosworth and Molly Sims, among others -- chicify their homes, and now she's dishing on how we can add a little sparkle to our spaces too.

Learn her insider style secrets and tips, what things she absolutely can't live without and why, for her, it's a Beautiful World.



{All About You}

BB: Where did you grow up? Did this influence your desire to design and your personal style? If so, how?

KP: I grew up in the suburbs of Los Angeles. The high school I went to was a magnet school where, as would be expected, an unusual emphasis was placed on academics and generally very little on the arts and music. So as a teenager I felt like there was virtually no outlet for my creativity, which in hindsight I realize was the best thing that could have happened to me. I spent hours in my room painting, drawing and re-arranging, re-inventing, re-finishing, and re-upholstering my flea market and thrift shop finds. It was then that an obsession was born!

BB: When did you first start designing and how did you get into interior design?

KP: Even though I actually fell in love with design in my teens, it wasn't until my early 20s that I realized that my life-long passion would become a career. It only took one class at the UCLA interior design and architecture program for me to realize that interior design had my heart. After working with, and learning from, two established designers over the course of five years, and gaining invaluable experience and insight into the industry, I decided it was time to go it on my own.

BB: When and why did you start your own firm?

KP: I started fuse ID in 2002 because I was anxious to turn my own, and my clients', visions and dreams into reality.

BB: In just three words, describe yourself.

KP: Quirky, colorful, cosmopolitan.

{Style Inspirations and Obsessions}

BB: What five things can you absolutely not live without?

KP: My video iPod, Pure Food and Wine, Jo Malone Fig Cassis Perfume, my dogs, TiVo.



BB: Where is your favorite spot to go to for design inspiration?

KP: I tend to find inspiration all around me, from the mundane to the most unexpected of people, places and things!

BB: How would you describe your own personal style?

KP: Rocker-chic meets urban-hippie.

BB: What does your own home look like?

KP: My home is very eclectic, rich with color and layered with various finds and treasures.

{Advice}

BB: As a style insider, what's your best style tip?

KP: No matter how weird, crazy or seemingly useless something may seem, if you love it, get it! Worry about what you're going to do with it, what other people will think and where it's going to go later!

BB: What's the secret to creating a fabulous personal home style?

KP: Don't be scared of a little sparkle! Have fun and throw the "rules" out the window!

BB: Who is your style icon?

KP: Tony Duquette -- he was bold, fearless and brought a touch of fantasy and magic to everything he created.

BB: It's so easy to get overwhelmed when decorating your own space. Do you have any tips on the best way to figure out what style will work best for you and any tips for keeping the process fun?

KP: Follow your heart and don't take it so seriously. Many people allow the feeling of permanence to overwhelm the process. Don't over think it! Design is an expression of personality, so you can't go wrong.

BB: You've worked with lots of celebrities, from Molly Sims to Kate Bosworth, and seem to be the queen of creating modern yet warm and highly personalized, chic spaces. Can you share any tips on how readers at home can do the same?

KP: It's easy to get overwhelmed by the various styles out there, and also to get distracted by passing trends. So I suggest over a period of time tearing out images from magazines that speak to you. After accumulating a group of images, a common thread usually begins to present itself. This encourages a person to begin thinking about what is really important to them, their lifestyle, and the various needs and wants that they may have for their space. This personalizes the process, and thereby the design that ultimately results from the process.



BB: I think most people would love to get the help of an interior designer, but have no idea where to start, or if it would even be affordable. Is interior design only for those with deep pockets? Can renters and those on a budget benefit from professional help as well?

KP: Unfortunately, hiring a designer can be costly, especially if they are involved for an extended period of time, i.e., from the conceptualization through the implementation of the design. Regardless, I don't believe that a designer should be considered a luxury exclusive to the wealthy. I think it's a great idea to get professional help whether living in a mansion or apartment because creating a warm, inviting and comfortable home is so very important. So if budget is an issue, I suggest hiring a designer for a one-time consultation, something I now offer for this very reason. Having a professional assess the space, suggest ideas and shopping tips and arming the client with a definitive plan can really make the DIY process run a bit more smoothly.

BB: Can you dish about the enviable discount designers get? And please explain the general process overall.

KP: Yes, designers do get a discount at various home shops and design showrooms. This discount varies anywhere between 10-60% off of retail, essentially resulting in the wholesale price. What happens when working with a designer is that the client has access to the wholesale resources through the designer. The designer purchases these wholesale items on behalf of the client and adds a standard mark-up to the item, this mark-up varies from designer to designer. Although the client pays a bit more than the wholesale price, they are still getting the item at below retail prices, not to mention, access to wholesale showrooms that are otherwise not available to the general public.

BB: What's the best way for someone to find an interior designer?

KP: Again, I would refer back to the idea of pulling images from a magazine. Find the designer that seems to fit your style and get in touch with them!

BB: How do you feel about all of the interior design shows on TV? Like them? Loathe them? Have any favorites? Do you think they help or hurt interior design? Any desires/plans for a show of your own?

KP: I like them because they've brought design into the mainstream and demystified the field a bit, but I must admit, I don't really watch them! Extreme Home Makeover on occasion, but only if I'm in the mood to cry! And no, no immediate plans for a show of my own.

BB: Which has been your favorite project?

KP: I know it sounds crazy, but whatever project I'm working on at the moment is my favorite project! I get so invested and obsessed with what I'm working on, it immediately becomes my favorite!

BB: Which celebrity would you like to have next as a client? Why?

KP: I would love to work with Stella McCartney. Besides being the daughter of a Beatle, she is an amazing fashion designer who also happens to be vegan. Being vegan myself, I not only respect and admire that she didn't compromise her ethics in order to make really stylish stuff, but I was also thinking maybe she and I can work out a trade -- will design for shoes!

BB: What's the best way to get chic on the cheap?

KP: I love a great find, and am a master bargain hunter! I shop for myself and clients on eBay, craigslist, at flea markets and thrift shops. They are fabulous resources. The only trick is learning how to identify a diamond in the rough.

{Playing Favorites}

BB: Fave place to shop in LA?

KP: J.F. Chen -- amazing shop for designers and collectors alike.

BB: Fave gift to give?

KP: Compartes -- a unique chocolate shop in LA, very hip.

BB: Fave gift to receive?

KP: Red velvet cupcakes from BabyCakes in New York City, vegan and delicious!

BB: Favorite online shop for fashion?

KP: Net-a-Porter -- one-stop designer shopping, couldn't be easier.

BB: Favorite online shop for home decor?

KP: 1st Dibs -- global antiquing all in one place.

BB: Favorite online shop for gifts?

KP: www.UncommonGoods.com for the unique gifts.

BB: Favorite online shop for beauty?

KP: Veganessentials.com and Urbandecay.com -- both have awesome vegan, cruelty-free products.

BB: Fave online shop for art on the cheap?

KP: Etsy.com -- really cool site for home-grown art.

BB: Fave online shop for decorating on a budget?

KP: eBay, of course!

BB: Fave hotel?

KP: Sunset Marquis Hotel and Villas -- a quaint rock 'n' roll hotel in LA.

BB: Fave secret spot in your favorite city?

KP: I have two. Hotel La Racona, an adorable, old world bed and breakfast in the small town of Denia, Spain. So charming! And Maharani, this tiny little Indian restaurant off the beaten path in London.

BB: Fave film for design inspiration?

KP: Hands down, Amelie! Eye candy for sure!

BB: Fave piece of furniture/decor?

KP: I love Victorian canopy chairs, a little Goth and very chic!

BB: Fave way to procrastinate?

KP: Hanging out with my dogs.

{Extra Extra}

BB: If a song were the soundtrack to your life, which one would it be?

KP: That's a hard one...I'm such a music fan and every chapter in my life seems to have its own soundtrack! But, if I had to pick one, I'd say Colin Hay's Beautiful World reminds me how lucky I am and to always be grateful.

{Looking Ahead}

BB: What's next?

KP: Growing the business, expanding it to include a vintage and custom furniture line and/or opening up a little shop somewhere.

BB: What will you be doing in 10 years?

KP: Traveling the world, working, shopping, indulging and generally enjoying and living life to the fullest.

BB: What will you be doing in 10 minutes?

KP: Taking my bamboo bike out for a spin!


Find more information about Kishani Perera and her work at fuse id.

photos above by Troy House and Kishani Perera