Push and Play
Décor gets dynamic with interior design firm Gauthier-Stacy.
By Caroline Cunningham
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| Jim Gauthier and Susan Stacy in their South End studio |
When Jim Gauthier and Susan Stacy launched their business in Boston 13 years ago, they had two guiding principles: M ake the design process enjoyable, and allow the client’s vision to guide the design direction. Both Gauthier and Stacy had years of experience with some of the city’s most prestigious firms before setting out on their own. I t didn’t take very long before they emerged as one of the premier design studios around, with residential and commercial projects (such as the model homes at Fairmont Battery Wharf) not only in N ew E ngland, but across the country. “What makes us different is that our personal tastes don’t come into play,” Gauthier explains. “We listen to our clients—to what their styles and goals are, and then we make it happen.”
The Gauthier-Stacy signature look resists classification—it’s as varied as the clients they serve. “We can do chintz to modern,” says Stacy, “and we strive to assemble beautiful rooms that are tailored, clean and without fuss.” T he partners don’t always agree on everything, but this artistic tension “forces us to push a little harder and farther, to think outside the box about what might set a particular design scheme apart,” explains Gauthier. “I tend to be more preppy, while Susan is more bohemian.” Stacy interrupts, with mock horror, “Bohemian?!”
“We enjoy what we’re doing, and we laugh a lot,” says Gauthier, mirroring the ultimate unifying Gauthier-Stacy design principle—to create spaces that bring joy.
| 1. “Paola Navone baked-clay watering cans are fun and graphic—and would be great in the mudroom of a country house or arranged on the treads of a stairwell to tell an interesting story.” JFS Design Studio, 450 Harrison Ave., Ste. 73, 617-292-6299; jfsdesigninc.com |
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2. “Unique finishes like fabulous Sobu Espresso Mosaics by Walker Zanger add texture and interest to any design scheme. We use them in small rooms, and we use a lot of them, on every surface, for maximum impact.” Tile Showcase, Boston Design Center, Ste. 639, 617-426-6515; tileshowcase.com |
| 3. “We like to use textural wall coverings by Nobilis in smaller spaces, like a hallway or powder room. Details like this always add unexpected interest and character to a room.” Webster & Company, Boston Design Center, Stes. 144–242, 617-261-9660; webstercompany.com |
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4. “Simon Pearce Hartland bowls are such clean and classic items. Gorgeous glassware is so versatile; these bowls look beautiful empty or filled with apples or an extravagant dessert.” 115 Newbury St., 617-450-8388; simonpearce.com |
| 5. "Art is just essential—it’s what makes you smile when you walk into a room. The vibrant colors and exuberant feel of Indiana-born artist Zygmund Jankowski’s oils and watercolors add life to any space.” Judi Rotenberg Gallery, 130 Newbury St., 617-437-1518; judirotenberg.com |
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6. "Regency Antiques, Lampworks & Restoration is great at taking objects that we find in our travels, like an antique marble sculpture, and transforming them into extraordinary lamps. We bring them something and describe what we want, and off they go.” 70 Charles St., 617-742-3111; regencyboston.net |
| 7. “We loe the elegant geometry and rich coloration of lacquered cabinets. The deep sheen of the lacquer gives a modern feel to an antique piece.” Abhaya Antiques, 145 Hudson St., New York, 212-431-6931; abhayatribeca.com |
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| 8. “This Christian Liaigre Basse Terre sofa for Holly Hunt has such tailored and elegant lines. I t’s subtle and beautiful, and not trying too hard. I t’s exactly what it’s supposed to be.” Webster & Company, Boston Design Center, Stes. 144–242, 617-261-9660; webstercompany.com |
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Photographs by Maggie Searcy (Simon Pearce); courtesy of Zygmund Jankowski and Judi Rotenberg Gallery (The Lme Green Table, oil on canvas)
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