Lived in Spaces Inspired by Personal Stories
Renowned interior designer Patrick Sutton offers a glimpse into his artistry in the newly released book Tailored Interiors.
The entryway of this Jackson home is accessorized with artwork by neo-expressionist painter Hunt Slonem, and a hand-carved credenza and onyx trough sourced in Mexico. | Photo: Richard Powers
Architect and celebrated interior designer Patrick Sutton swears he does not have a defining style, and for good reason. “Every project is a portrayal of the client’s personal story,” he begins. “The end result is a confluence of place and personality.”
Tailored Interiors, written by Vicky Lowry, presents seven distinctive residences in Jackson Hole, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, D.C. The collection pays homage to Sutton’s innate ability to transform the intangible into tangible through the art of visual storytelling. “He listens carefully and astutely observes his clients, and it pays off,” Lowry says.
In this Washington, D.C, family room, original wood beams and doors add Old World charm, while a bronze lamp by Hervé van der Straeten from Ralph Pucci, an eye catching photo, and ceiling pendant light add a touch of mod. | Photo: Richard Powers
Unlike his first book, Storied Interiors, which he personally penned, Sutton opted for a third-person perspective and engaged Lowry, a well-known editor on luxury interiors. “Patrick is incredibly honest, very charming, and none of his work is cookie cutter, which really appealed to me,” says Lowry.
Sutton identifies his unorthodox childhood as the son of an eminent travel writer and fashion model as the catalyst for his illustrious career and empathetic ear. While he was exposed to some of the most sumptuous and far-flung corners of the world, he also lived with the devastating struggle of a mother with schizophrenia. “It had a huge impact on me, and I looked to others for guidance and behavioral norms,” he says. “I think it molded my ability to be empathic and observant as a result.”
Dark wood accents balance a cottage-style exterior with interior modern styling. A customized RH table and a handwoven wool rug by Amadi anchor the dining area. | Photo: Richard Powers
His approach and that of his Baltimore and Palm Beach-based team begins with simply listening. Sutton is committed to understanding each client’s life story, daily routines and aspirations, while gauging a sense of place for the property. Armed with such detail, the creative process and quest for materials can begin.
“I could have made a mental note on something from my travels that I will revisit, or I might be inspired by something I’ve seen from a fashion designer, especially Brunello Cucinelli, one of my absolute favorites,” Sutton says. “I particularly like his use of color and texture; how garments are assembled and whole ensembles.”
White painted shiplap walls and European oak flooring frame the kitchen. Holly Hunt bronze pendant lighting illuminates the gray-tone marble countertops and walnut cabinetry. | Photo: Richard Powers
While the seven residences chosen for Tailored Interiors are noticeably individualized, each one showcases Sutton’s quintessential flair for synthesizing color, texture and light with fixtures and furnishings. He is a master at juxtaposing old and new, and, as he says, “has an unhealthy obsession with detail.”
The featured residences are a mountain retreat in Jackson Hole; a limestone manor and a 1920s stone building in Washington, D.C.; a stately mansion,a contemporary cottage and a two-bedroom guesthouse with full gym in Maryland; and a historic beach home in Delaware.
A stone covered cabana by the pool maintains an earthy vibe with a reclaimed wood coffee table and tribal print accessories. Rattan-and-rice-paper pendant lights provide a soft glow in the evenings for a spa-like ambience. | Photo: Richard Powers
Lowry spent a year delving into the narrative of each project and animates the imagery with depth and intention. Light-filled interiors with expansive ocean vistas and sculptural furnishings give way to intimate, richly layered reading nooks accented by modern art—each page revealing a thoughtfully composed world, rich with atmosphere and story.
“There is something about sitting on the sofa with a book of beautiful photos that is very comforting,” Sutton says. In Tailored Interiors, he translates that comfort into design, capturing homes where texture, proportion and personal history come together—spaces meant not just to be seen, but to be lived in.
Tailored Interiors by Patrick Sutton, $60, Images Publishing.
