Kristin Paton Shares her Style Secrets

Portrait by Sasha Israel

Kristin Paton has a classically trained eye. On a recent visit to her Boston home, I marveled at the pleasing balance of the twin built-ins in her living room, and Paton said simply, “I like symmetry.” Though she initially thought she’d be an architect, she emerged from Syracuse University with a BS in interior design and illustration and began her design career working for the likes of William Hodgins and Parish-Hadley Associates. While living in London, she opened Kristin Paton Interiors and ran it for ten years before returning to Boston in 2009. As evidenced by her own homes, Paton’s design ethos demonstrates, yes, her love of symmetry, but also a skillful mix of old and new and an embrace of heritage crafts. An enviable collection of lightship baskets lives front and center in her Nantucket home, many woven by Paton, her daughters, and her friends. “Style is different than expensive,” she says. “Style is about how you put something together, not what you can afford.” kristinpatoninteriors.com

1. The last thing I bought and loved…was a vintage Lucien Rollin dining table from Chairish.

2. My personal style signifier…is a silver Hermès cuff my husband gifted me that I wear on my wrist daily. It’s my Wonder Woman bangle.

3. The best book I read recently…is Belle Burden’s autobiography Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage. She is from a high-profile familyin NYC, and she really bares all in this book.

4. An individual whose work and life inspires me…is Anouska Hempel, a celebrated London-based interior and fashion designer.

5. Whenever I travel, I always carry…a large pashmina to wrap around my neck to stay cozy and a Longchamp foldable tote—in case of purchases! I have written to Longchamp many times to ask them to add a nylon sleeve so the tote can fit over a trolley handle—but to no avail.

6. The best souvenirs I bring home…are furniture and art treasures from many days scouring Les Puces de Saint-Ouen in Paris.

7. The best gift I’ve ever received…is a special ring depicting an Ottoman hilltop that my husband gifted me several years ago from Turkish artisan Sevan Biçakçi. And most recently, my eldest daughter gifted me her time and focus. She spent a weekend in Boston to help me weed through all my clothes and shoes after a recent move—she did leave with a few prizes!

8. My favorite housewarming or thank-you gift to give…is a handmade leather strap with bells from Craftmasters of Nantucket. We have them on our front door, and our sheepdogs whack them whenever they need to go out.

9. I have a collection of…emerald green Empoli glass vases that I bought in Paris many years ago.

10. My favorite room in any home…is the kitchen. No matter what your intention, the kitchen is where everyone ends up gathering.

11. When I need inspiration I…travel. Seeing new places always feeds my imagination.

12. My advice to those interested in a design career…is to work hard. Every task has learning moments. The now-venerable designer Bunny Williams started as a receptionist at Parish-Hadley. Also, understand that design is a business. Get grounded in the business fundamentals, or you won’t be around long enough to continue to design.

13. I keep my own design eye sharp by…visiting National Trust houses.

14. In another life, I would have…owned a dog farm with all breeds for daycare or long stays. Nothing makes me happier than engaging with the wonderful woofs!