A Conversation With ... Sharon Taylor

I’m a design consultant and stylist for corporate and private events. Designing for me is more than just decorating. I like for it to take on more of an art form that explores the beauty and comfort in everyday living. My services include interior design, staging and merchandising, event and theme design, décor and planning, event site and vendor selection and on-site event management.

How did you become interested in interior design?

My mom was a great influence. She took us to auctions and garage sales. She showed us how to bargain and gave us an appreciation for aesthetic. And she made every get-together a special occasion, no matter how informal or crazy it was with all her children.

Two years ago I began working at Merchants Landing in Ozark as an antique vendor/retail merchandiser and event coordinator. I found myself being asked by customers to do their interiors and to create their events.

Your home is featured in Better Homes & Gardens Spring Do-It-Yourself edition, on newsstands now. How did that come about?

An editor from Kansas City who works for Meredith Corp. (the magazine’s publisher) was traveling to Branson. She happened upon (Merchant’s Landing) … a home décor shop full of great antiques and quirky vignettes. She liked it, and wondered if anyone involved with the store had a house with similar décor for publication possibilities. My friend (Joann Dapp, who owns the store) gave her my name … because I’m really the only one in the store that decorates with the same stuff that we sell.

What drew you to the Parisian style in your Rountree neighborhood home?

I love all things French, but I’m also drawn to a lot of different styles in design. I try to keep things current and look to the fashion runway for inspiration, whether it be in investing in luxurious fabrics, or just by noticing what colors and accessories are hot right now. My obsessions in design right now are Hollywood glam/vintage, bohemian chic and Greek influences. I like to think of my house as a canvas for doing different things all the time.

What are some of your favorite pieces or decorating techniques in your house?

I love to design using everything I have. Chalkboards for daytime messages become menu boards for luncheons. Old maps become placemats for a themed dinner, and concrete garden urns come inside to hold iced drinks. Old trophies that hold toothbrushes become silverware containers or centerpieces with flowers. I’m trying to amass a huge collection of old leather bound books to use for a law office, and I also have this idea to stack them as a sort of coffee table for a men’s cigar-corner at an outdoor wedding reception. I have a passion for repurposing things, and my guests tell me that those little things are what make my parties most memorable. I’m at auctions and garage sales, and sometimes I just happen upon treasures in the least expected places.

What kinds of interior design trends are your clients asking for now?

I’m hearing from my clients that they want a look that appears as if it’s been collected over time, and one that transports them to another place. They also want comfort and modern necessities to counteract their hectic lifestyles. People are asking for more eclectic mixes that blend old with new, and architectural with contemporary art.

What advice do you have for the inexperienced home decorator who has ideas to try?

I think sometimes people know what they want, but getting started, they don’t even know where to begin. Just start small, and look around at what they have to see potential uses for things.

Tell us about your family.

I’m the fourth of nine kids. Growing up in the midst of chaos, our mom helped us find the magic in life through the arts. Even though she’s gone now, my siblings and I still like to bounce ideas off of each other for our own artistic endeavors. I have three great kids, Eleanor, Louis and Charlie. We keep very busy with soccer, piano, cello and homework.[[In-content Ad]]