Before she was an interior designer, Molly Kidd was a florist.

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Her former career is evident in every home she designs with her Portland, Oregon-based firm Light and Dwell—she even starts each project with a bouquet as inspiration. Earthy palettes, natural materials, and sustainable elements appear in every project, whether a cottage, Tudor, or mountain ranch.

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Most of Molly’s projects also feature a handmade piece from Light and Dwell’s furniture collection. “It's very special to me,” she says of the line she produces with a local craftsman in the Pacific Northwest. All the wood is sourced from fallen oak trees, so everything is sustainable. “I love the thought of creating heirloom pieces that can be passed down and that might one day be found in antique stores.”

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The collection, which is recognizable for its wave details and minimalist silhouettes inspired by vintage Scandinavian casework, stands alongside more of Molly’s favorite pieces, go-to brands, and favorite female artisans in her new Showroom. Shop her earthy, collected style and learn all her best design secrets, from what she always buys vintage to the element every room needs.

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How I curated my Showroom

I shop The Expert a lot for my own projects. It's such an incredible resource. I have incorporated a lot of upholstered pieces that feel tailored, but also lived-in. It's an embodiment of my aesthetic and my style: a collection of items from small makers and brands I love that I'm constantly gravitating towards and pulling for clients.

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The first thing I do when I design a room

Every project starts with an image of a floral arrangement. I present it to clients from the very beginning and that’s where I find color inspiration and start pulling references to create a mood board. From there, I choose all the hard finishes, interior elevations, and furniture. At the end of each project, I actually create a floral arrangement with the color palette and give it to my clients to put in their homes.

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The colors I’m loving right now

I’ve always gravitated toward natural palettes and rich, warm tones. I love and always will love any color with brown in it. Broccoli Brown by Farrow & Ball is my go-to. It’s timeless and can go with lots of different styles.

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My go-to brands

Of course, Light and Dwell. I love Sophie Lou Jacobson, she's one of my favorites. I adore her. Armadillo is another brand that I’m constantly using. They are both female-owned, small makers that care greatly about sustainability. I naturally gravitate towards them and want to support them and put them in projects so they feel unique.

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I also really love The Expert Collection pieces. They have a perfect slipcovered look. I source the sofa, the bed, and the lounge chair, for almost every project because they’re classic and go with multiple styles. It says in the notes that these pieces are like the white t-shirt of a room—and I really agree. I love The Expert Vintage, too. The pieces are reupholstered and beautifully done. It’s a great curated collection.

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A no-fail element that every space needs

Something slipcovered and an oak furniture piece, whether it's a chocolate oak or a white oak. You will find these two things in every single room I design.

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What makes a room feel cozy

Mixing vintage and new items is going to automatically give a room character and interest. I don't want anything to feel precious. I want people to walk into their homes and think: ‘I can actually live in this space, but it's beautifully done, very layered, and filled with texture and interest.’ A lot of that comes from incorporating vintage pieces.

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What I buy vintage versus what I specify new

I have a heavy focus on sustainability, so I have a 50-50 initiative where I source 50 percent vintage items and 50 percent new for each project. Vintage mirrors, oil paintings, light fixtures, dishware, ceramics, and accessories are great additions to a room because they have a great patina. I even love finding second-hand books. Vintage wood pieces, like stools and coffee tables, are a great way to add interest because they look aged and add that warmth that a room so desperately needs. As for new items, it’s usually daily functional pieces like beds or sofas. Rugs, towels, and textiles tend to be new, as well.

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How I mix textures

I love the juxtaposition between an old, worn wood and smooth marble or travertine. I like playing with opposites. It makes a room feel lived-in. Same with textiles. I love a mix of elevated velvet and raw linen. There's always that balance in my work.

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How my Showroom helps with consultations

I source a lot of my recommendations from The Expert. It's great. I know the assortment pretty well, so I know what items I already like and would source. It's a great glossary of sorts to pull from and source for clients on a call.

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My go-to finishing touches

I bring it back to the outdoors. I always go out and forage to add that texture and depth. You might have an empty vase on a coffee table or something, but as soon as you add in elements of life, it completes a space. So that's one thing, which is free. In terms of products, textiles like pillows and throws have a huge impact and can totally change the trajectory of a room.

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What’s next

I have a lighting line coming out with Huey Lightshop, so that’s super exciting. It's very reminiscent of our furniture: wavy details in the shades and cool brass fixtures with cutouts. My own house will be finished this year and I’m wrapping up a few projects across the country.

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