Discovering your personal interior design style can feel like an elusive pursuit — especially when the world of design is overflowing with trends, fleeting aesthetics, and an overwhelming array of choices. Enter Brittny Button, founder and principal designer of Button Atelier, whose philosophy of accessible luxury has earned her a reputation for blending the livable with the luxurious.
Brittny’s signature approach — balancing timeless elegance with a modern edge — has made her one to watch in the world of interiors. From incorporating vintage finds with contemporary pieces to mastering the art of curating color and texture, her work feels at once effortless and intentional. But what sets Brittny apart is her belief that great design should feel natural, not forced — and above all, that the spaces we inhabit should make us feel at ease.
In this expert-guided conversation, Brittny shares her practical advice for developing your own design style — whether you’re working with a blank canvas or simply looking to refine your existing space. From her ‘give it a day’ rule for design decisions to her pro tips for balancing beauty and function (especially for families), Brittny offers a refreshing perspective on creating homes that are both stunning and sincerely livable.
Whether you’re drawn to classic European romance, contemporary minimalism, or somewhere in between, her thoughtful strategies will help you curate a home that feels authentically you — and one you’ll love living in for years to come.
Many of our readers are unsure how to identify their personal design style. What’s your advice for discovering what resonates with them?
It’s not just what you like — it’s determining what you can live with. There’s a distinct difference between the two. I always suggest focusing on what makes you feel calm visually rather than the occasional theme that you’re being drawn to. I use the guidance of ‘give it a day.’ If you still like it tomorrow, it probably has evergreen power to be livable.
How can someone incorporate design trends into their home without compromising a timeless aesthetic?
Small touches of that trend — swapping out lighting options, throw pillows, or rugs — can build or add texture and color without detracting from the integrity of the room’s overall design. Often, I think of building a room and look at items as part of an ensemble cast. What is each one saying aesthetic-wise?
What are the foundational design elements you believe every space should have, regardless of style?
If possible, arching doorways and windows create additional height to spaces. This is a must. I’m drawn to natural material usage such as rough-cut stone, natural wood, and reclaimed pieces that are vintage or antiques — they regenerate some history to the interiors.
You describe your work as “accessible luxury.” What does that mean in practice, and how can readers bring this concept into their own homes?
Nothing is too fancy or over the top that guests feel uncomfortable or kids can’t play on with ease. Opt for durable fabrics that are stain-resistant and can withstand everyday use. The key is choosing the boucle or velvet that’s of quality to endure strenuous use. Sometimes, I think it’s simply the mixing of color choices. Often, tone-on-tone creates a classical look, or staying within shades that you see within Mother Nature limits the chance of error.
Your designs are known for combining classic and modern elements. How can readers achieve this balance effectively?
Don’t be afraid of the mix. It’s precisely this kind of classic and modern combo that looks and feels fresh. With interior design, there’s a real freedom now in what can be paired together. The balance of two pieces per room helps — modern light and modern console combined with classic rug and classic-style sofa works!
For those with busy lives or young families, what are your top tips for creating spaces that are both beautiful and practical?
Make sure the space isn’t too cluttered, allowing for rooms to appear styled, yet not overdone. Children need space for unobstructed play. A pro tip is placing deep baskets throughout to organize and be a catch-all for toys. Find furniture that has deep pull-out drawers for storage. These add-ons will help to combat the constant mess.
Are there specific rooms where you think people should focus most of their design energy, and why?
The creation of a spa-like bathroom is meaningful. It’s the ritual of the cleanse and wellness practices that make investing in this space beneficial. Many tubs have both cold plunge and thermal air capabilities to provide restorative benefits for recovery. Plus, thinking of tubs as sculptural statement pieces changes the approach for how they can be situated in the room.
How do you approach color palettes and layering textures to create depth and interest in a room?
I start with scale. Do I want to create intimacy within the space? For me, bedrooms need to feel like an embrace. Lime wash wall treatments enable this enclosed cavern effect. I’ll choose a creamier white tone to convey warmth and coziness, whereas living rooms need to have a sense of airiness to them, and lighter cream colors enable this. I’ll go for bolder furniture with croissant-shaped sofas, brutalist ottomans, and dramatic plants to heighten the double height of the ceiling. The approach to both spaces is entirely different.
Many people feel overwhelmed by the choices in design. How can they narrow down their options and make confident decisions?
Curating and editing are paramount. Finding an interior designer that can translate the vision into reality is worth the spend. Even if they devise a few rooms that can then be copied for the rest of the home, it makes sense to have the guidance of an expert. Otherwise, craft an inspirational overview plan with images per room to outline the looks, deciding whether there’s a consistency that conveys the design aesthetic you’re after. Approach it like a matching game! Ask yourself — does each room somewhat match the other? Or is it similar in feeling to the other spaces?
What are your go-to strategies for making smaller spaces feel luxurious and functional?
Color and texture are two tools to utilize. Keeping color usage to a limited palette looks rich while layered with fine textures such as mohair, boucle, performance velvet, linens, and silks. Design the home in its entirety with one end goal in mind, so there’s a collective aesthetic rather than room by room.
What are some of the most common design mistakes you see, and how can readers avoid them?
Improper styling of the room, being overwhelmed with furniture that is too large in scale, placing too many pieces of art — all of these can cause an imbalance. Matching all of the furniture in one fabrication also feels incredibly dated.
Where do you personally draw inspiration for your projects, and how can readers find inspiration for their own homes?
I look at old architectural design references and magazines that showcase interiors from the 1930s and 1940s. Thinking about copying a feeling is helpful when generating the design for the space and enabling the feeling of calm, solitude, or dynamism to be evoked.
Are there any specific books, magazines, or online platforms you recommend for readers looking to refine their design knowledge?
Flea markets provide the most inspiration, as well as looking at what’s new and debuting at design shows — Salone del Mobile Milano, Milan Design Week, and Maison & Objet. They give a preemptive feel for what will be coming ahead of the next three years to come.
Credits:
Written by Kacey Perez | @studioblume_
Photography courtesy Button Atelier
