On a lark, Lindley Arthur set up an antiques shop in Dallas in 2008, and the rest was history. Her passion for antiques soon expanded into interior design, and today she runs Lindley Arthur Interiors, a successful design business focused on residential projects in Texas and beyond. Her firm believes a home should be a well-curated mix of old and new, ultimately resulting in timeless interiors with a fresh edge. Lindley’s driving passion for antiques makes them a priority in all of her projects and inspires her “traditional with a twist” aesthetic.
The Glam Pad is delighted to welcome Lindley today for a Style Profile Q&A… Welcome, Lindley!
Q: When did you know you wanted to pursue a career in interior design?
A: I think it was always God’s plan for me to work in design, it just took me a while to figure that out! When I was a little girl, I was always rearranging my room. I went to fashion school in London and worked at Liberty where I spent hours wandering through their textile floor. After college, I promptly grass clothed my ugly gray cubicle.
After working in PR for 10 years, I became a mom. When my second son Benton went to pre-school, I needed a little something for myself. So, I opened a tiny booth in the back of Antique Row on West Lovers Lane. The business just grew organically from there!
Q: What is your favorite aspect of being an interior designer?
A: As a designer, I have a more important mission than just making a house pretty. I’m creating a space for a family that they want to come home to. There is nothing more rewarding than running into a client months after they’ve moved in and hearing how much they enjoy their house. It makes all of the unglamorous difficult days worth it!
Q: How do you describe your personal style and where do you find inspiration?
A: Traditional with a twist! I love clean-lined antiques and timeless upholstery silhouettes. These are the pieces that clients can invest in and keep for years. But I like to mix in unexpected textiles, contemporary art and pops of color. A little bit of juxtaposition keeps things fresh and interesting.
Q: Do you have any favorite go-to paints, wallpapers, linens, artists, etc.?
A: Our go-to neutral paint color is Glacier White from Benjamin Moore. It’s not too white and exudes a warmth, even though it doesn’t have any yellow undertones.
Hand-painted wallpaper from Gracie Studio is always a favorite but a splurge, so we also love machine made scenic papers from House of Harris and Iksel.
We love pottery lamps from Hwang Bishop and Stephen Gerould; monogrammed bedding from Leontine Linens, and contemporary art from Erika Huddleston, Ky Anderson and Thomas Hager (to name a few).
Q: What are 5 everyday luxuries you could not live without?
A: Iced tea with crushed Sonic-style ice; my Warby Parker readers; a reformer class at Session Pilates; a Trudon Cyrnos candle; and a REALLY hot bath at the end of the day.
Q: What has been the most challenging and the most rewarding part of developing your business?
A: It’s been challenging to discern which projects are a fit. When I was starting the business, I took every job that came along. I’m grateful I did because I needed the experience and learned SO much. But as our business has grown, we’ve figured out what projects to take – and which ones to pass on. We never really want to say no, but ultimately, we are all moms and have limited time. So, we try and focus on the jobs where there is good chemistry with the client, and with those we know will trust us.
The most rewarding part has definitely been the relationships – the women that work at Lindley Arthur Interiors are a tight-knit group and I’m proud to say we have had zero turnover in the 10 years we’ve been in business! We have friendships with vendors and obviously have become close friends with clients over the years.
Q: What do you consider the most exciting part of your work, and how do you stay energized on a project?
A: Bringing something new into the mix! We love doing a little detective work to find new textile and furnishing lines – especially those that are small and not very well known. I want our clients to have something that no one else has.
Q: What are your tips for setting a lovely table?
A: Make a custom tablecloth and napkins in pretty textiles that compliment your dining room scheme; mix and match plate patterns (old and new) and use a collection of vintage barware for drinks! Cole’s Antique Show in Round Top is the best place to treasure hunt for vintage plates and glasses.
Q: Have you ever had a decorating disaster that you can laugh about now?
A: Thankfully nothing major – we’ve made little mistakes along the way, of course – and we always learn from them.The one thing that comes to mind is my grass cloth cubicle that I mentioned earlier. FYI – grass cloth doesn’t adhere very well to a soft surface. It looked amazing but only for about 24 hours.
Q: What is one fail-safe design element that every room should have?
A: Every room needs something with a little age. An antique Empire chest, a Maison Jansen side table, even an opaline box in a pop of color – one-of-a-kind pieces with history add character and keep the room feeling curated and not like a cookie cutter space.
Thank you, Lindley, for your inspiring words and this delightful glimpse inside your portfolio! To learn more, please visit Lindley Arthur Interiors and follow @lindleyarthurinteriors on Instagram for ongoing inspiration.
