DESIGNER SPOTLIGHT: Paula Daher

PAULA DAHER has been designing exceptional interior spaces since 1995. As the firm’s principal creative director at Daher Interior Design, Paula’s solid strategic foundation coupled with her frequent international travel provides boundless inspiration for the firm’s many projects.

Our homes provide nurture and rejuvenation. In our busy lives, that moment you walk through your front door and say ahhhhh….happy to be home, that is what I want all of my clients to feel.” – P. Daher

 

 

 

 

 

Interior by Daher Interior Design with Ironware’s Cassiopeia Chandelier Photo by Michael J. Lee

 

Interior by Daher Interior Design with Ironware’s Ondine Chandelier Photo by Michael J. Lee

 

Entry way by Daher Interior Design with a customized Ironware Twinka Pendant
Photo by Michael J. Lee

 

What is your favorite travel destination?
My latest muse is Morocco. I have been 5 times in the past 18 months (planning my daughter’s wedding) and the country has become dear to my heart. Marrakech is a designer’s dream with color, texture, and handwork. All this in a warm and friendly atmosphere. The ceramics bring a level of craft to be appreciated by all and the tile, oh the tile…intricate designs to inspire and send me over the moon! And then the food, the perfect combination of Middle Eastern with a French influence. Trés bon.

Is there a special detail you always add to your projects?
Each project is unique and needs to appeal to the client. Art is the one element for me that, when added to a room, can make it sing and just feel complete.

Most common mistake you see in interiors…
Accessories that do not add to a room or shelves, they detract. Less is more. Elevate the simple without clutter and the simple becomes beautiful.

What are you reading?
Unsheltered by Barbara Kingsolver

Tell us about a lesson you learned on the job?
Ha! When do we not learn from a job? Each project is unique with a different set of parameters unique to the home. Each project has an army of trades people to pull the entire project together from start to finish. There is always something new to resolve and work through and this becomes the basis of our decisions for each next project. In nearly 25 years of business, I have definitely learned a thing or two on the job. 😉

Name something that has inspired your work recently…
Morocco has left an indelible mark on my soul and bits and pieces have been finding ways into my work. Nothing is more magical than a piece of pottery made in a Berber village, brought home and placed on display in a contemporary space.

What has been the most outrageous request you’ve ever had from a client?
My latest request, and unbelievably, two clients simultaneously: three TV’s on the same wall! Yikes – a definite challenge.

What do you especially appreciate about Ironware?
Ironware has become a go-to for my firm. The true customization of the products in terms of size and finish allow us to work them into a variety of rooms of various scales.  Many of our projects are in Boston’s brownstones, typically thin buildings with ceilings 12’ tall. Ironware is an easy resource in terms of customization with efficient fabrication and shipping.

Name something on your bucket list…
My never ending quest…..to  be fluent in French and not just a fluent 4 year old.  A solid few months in Paris or Marrakech could do the trick!

Why is interior design important?
Our homes provide nurture and rejuvenation. In our busy lives, that moment you walk through your front door and say ahhhhh…happy to be home, that is what I want all of my clients to feel.

 

 

A few favorites of Daher Interior Design projects, all photos by Michael J. Lee:

To learn more about Daher Interior Design, go to www.daherinteriordesign.com.