black eyed susan
For The Love Of StyleSit in on a Black-eyed Susan interior design client meeting, and you’ll walk away with good news: You don’t have to sacrifice style for a practical living space. That means no more formal sitting rooms sealed off from everyday family living so the sofa armrest covers stay pristine!
How do you design for everyday living with young families, pets or grandchildren? Black-eyed Susan CEO and principal designer Susan Taylor said the latest introductions in performance fabrics are the answer. “Today’s design challenges are so much easier. With the performance fabrics we work with like Crypton and Sunbrella, you can plan for the wine spills and dog hair that you know are going to happen.” She said that while even a few years ago, performance fabrics meant they had a rough texture or were for outdoor use only, textile technology has advanced so her team can draw on fabric options with soft textures and patterns.
Performance fabric choices also widen the color palette options for families with pets or children around. “There is no longer any need to sacrifice style for practicality,” Taylor said. “Color as bold as you want or in the lightest of neutrals can be a part of your design dream.” She said it brings living room choices like a cream-colored sectional with a definitive color in the rug and pillows, or a dark velvet pair of sofas with a contrasting light rug, into the realm of possibility for everyday living.
While Taylor is recognized as a Bucks County style icon today, her own sense of design started with everyday living when she was growing up at home. “I have early memories of a chic, stylish mother who was always trend setting with chartreuse walls and Irish linen draperies with passementerie trims. She was the first of her friends to have sculptured carpet! I guess it’s no surprise that my early years put me on this style path.
”When Taylor founded Black-eyed Susan 25 years ago, that sense of design became the four style rules that the interior design firm and home store still follow: bring an invitation to style into every life; create enduring interiors that speak the language of style; design rooms that are as approachable as they are beautiful; and don’t be afraid to break a few rules along the way!
The first place to start for designing with style and practicality is an inventory of how a family really uses space in the home. “Each room should speak to your family’s everydaylifestyle,” Taylor said. “That’s how you get a fabulous interior design project that lasts.”
Black-eyed Susan client Denise Williams said understanding her family’s everyday lifestyle started at the first consultation. “Susan Taylor started the design process by finding out who we are as a family. She sat down with me. She came over with her project manager and started asking questions. They wanted to know what I wanted to do, what budget I had in mind, what help I was looking for. They asked about our lifestyle and took some time to get to know us.
”Founded in 1994, Black-eyed Susan is the premier home store and interior design firm in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. Specializing in transitional and modern designs, its team takes pride in being your creative partners to create a space that is enduring and is as sophisticated as it is approachable. The 10,000 square foot home store of exceptional room settings is filled with thoughtfully curated furnishings and decor from hundreds of brands.
Black-eyed Susan is located at 5222 York Road, Holicong PA 18928. Home store hours: Mon.–Wed. 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Thu. 10 a.m.–7 p.m.; F 10 a.m.–6 p.m.; Sat 10 a.m.–5 p.m.; Sun. closed. For more information, call 215-794-1800 or visit besusan.com.