Designer Spotlight: Liz Marchant Interiors
With a penchant for soft contemporary interiors, Liz Marchant Ourston brings her thoughtful and deliberate design approach to homes all over the country. Evoking feelings of lightness, calm, and relaxation, her interiors are marked by light colors, organic shapes, and natural materials. Having lived all over the United States, Liz infuses influences from different cities into each of her projects, whether it’s through the architecture, lifestyle, or design. We sat down with Liz to learn more about her design journey, process, and inspiration.
With a true knowledge of the history of design and architecture, Liz uses her studies as a source of inspiration for her projects, enabling her to think outside the box and come up with innovative ideas. “Architecture is my number one influence when it comes to interior design,” Liz explained. Letting the architecture of the home guide her design process, Liz believes “that the interior of a space should always be in harmony with the exterior architecture.” This principle has inspired Liz to design homes of varying architectural styles all over the country- from a Tudor cottage to a California ranch to a Dutch Colonial, Liz has truly proved her versatility and adaptability. Beyond the architecture of the building itself, the location of a home influences its design through the “climate, landscape, historical context and cultural significance.” Designing homes from the east coast to the west coast, Liz truly takes everything into consideration in her approach. All in all, Liz feels that the “interior of a space should be shaped by its surrounding architecture and geography, as well as the needs and personalities of the people who live there.”
Out of the many cities she has lived in, Liz credits Detroit, Michigan, her hometown, and southern California, where she lived and worked after college, with shaping her interior design style. Liz has integrated “California’s laid-back and inviting vibe” and “Detroit’s strong Tudor influence” into her design, mixing elements from both to create her signature style. Pairing modern furnishings with the existing architectural elements of the home creates a balance of old and new, telling a story in each of her projects.
When selecting art for her projects, Liz turns to her clients first since “art can be one of the most personal and important aspects of a design project.” Once she understands their taste, she chooses art based on what “complements the overall style, colors, lighting, and mood of the room.” A trio of our Sculpted Panels were placed in a stairwell in her Tudor Cottage project, adding texture and contrast to the area. A silkscreen diptych was placed opposite the Sculpted Panels, complementing the neutral tones of the space. When asked about working with Visual Contrast, Liz replied, “ Visual Contrast is always on my side and goes above and beyond to help me make my clients happy.”
