“Every room needs a rogue element,” says Cameron Ruppert.

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Her designs may run the gamut in terms of style—ranging from maximalist to traditional to mid-century modern—but it’s this intriguing and unexpected layer that draws clients to the D.C.-based Expert. “It makes you think,” she adds. “Fifty percent of people might think, ‘Why did she do that?’ But the other 50 percent may think, ‘That was genius.’”

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Cameron’s career launched when her very first solo project was featured in Domino in 2017. “It was a combination of luck and a good project—the stars aligned,” she admits. “It was an eight-page spread in their summer print issue and that was all I needed. From there, we've just kept growing.”

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Here, Cameron shares the secrets behind her success, from how she mixes patterns to her favorite paint colors, as well as the thought process behind her recently-released Showroom.

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How I curated my edit

Our projects vary, so I wanted to choose things across a range of styles. I'll often have two back-to-back consultations on The Expert and one person may say, ‘I am very traditional and I loved your project on 35th Street,’ which has a bright, colorful grand millennial vibe, and the next person will be like, ‘We are just in love with your farmhouse project and that English countryside look.’

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I had to be mindful of that when I was curating this Showroom because not everyone hires me for the same type of project. I tried to cast a wider net as far as who we typically appeal to.

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My go-to brands

I love Rose Tarlow so much. Her pieces feel a little bit more primitive, so they access a level of sophistication and act as that outlier in a room, which I love. One of the issues I have with a lot of manufactured furniture nowadays is that the wood just kind of screams new. Maison Madeleine’s collection doesn't feel that way. It has a refined, almost antique feel which I love.

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I typically like the smaller, boutique fabric companies. The Lawns is a great example, it's quirky and weird. And I love Jennifer Shorto so much. I always find myself gravitating towards The Expert Vintage. It’s one of my go-to sources when looking for iconic, hard-to-find furniture pieces or light fixtures.

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What makes a room feel cozy

It’s 80 percent lighting. That's not to say you have to buy specific brands or expensive vintage lamps—just good lighting. I have a very strong opposition to recessed light fixtures. I will avoid them at all costs. That’s my hill to die on. They feel cold and they cast shadows on your face. The lower the light is in the room, the cozier the room will be. So I love lamps and sconces.

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The first thing I do when I design a room

I start with fabrics because they have such a presence in a space. Most of my living rooms have two sofas, so those two fabrics really ground the room. That’s how I create the initial contrast—whether I do a floral and a check or a solid and a plaid—and that's my taking off point.

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How I mix patterns

The biggest mistake people make is not thinking about the scale of patterns. You should do a large-scale floral with a tiny plaid or leather with something geometric. It's all about balance because too many small prints or too many big patterns just don't work well together. You also have to mix in a few solids for it to be successful.

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Colors I’m loving right now

Farrow & Ball Bancha is this yellow-undertoned, mid-century green I love. Farrow & Ball India Yellow is an ochre color that's rich, mustardy, and warm and almost reads brown. And Farrow & Ball Sulking Room Pink is this sophisticated pinky-purpley mauve color. I actually love all three of them together.

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My secrets for a well-layered room

Choose the rug last, for sure. I would say that’s how 90 percent of designers start, but I choose it at the very end because I find that if I start a room with it, it ends up too cohesive and matchy. I can't help but play off the rug too much in all of the furnishings. When I design the room and then find the rug, I’m destined to find something that's not going to fit entirely in the room, but that's what I like about it.

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What I buy vintage versus what I specify new

We're not one of those design firms that uses all antiques and vintage. Lighting and rugs are something that I will always choose vintage, but I always prefer new upholstery—even if it's vintage furniture that we're recovering. In my own dining room, I have a new rug, new dining chairs, a new dining table, and then two sets of vintage sconces. It’s all about balance.

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My go-to finishing touch

Art—one hundred percent. Art doesn't need to match a room. It stands on its own. It's a lot better to find something after the fact that has no relationship to the room.

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How my Showroom will help me in consultations

Having this Showroom will make it a little bit more streamlined for me. If the client says ‘We loved these pieces you curated, this is really our style,’ it gives me an understanding of what someone's gravitating towards for their house.

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What’s next

Right now, we're working on this Montana ranch I'm so excited about. It's going to be a huge property with a ton of houses. As far as goals go, I really would love to do a small boutique hotel, a bed-and-breakfast, or a restaurant.

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