Wesley Moon

WESLEY MOON, INC.

DESIGNER DETAILS

WESLEY MOON

Wesley Moon, Inc.

www.wesleymoon.com

We looked to designer Wesley Moon for his advice on gift giving and being the perfect host.

A bedroom suite designed by Wesley Moon

What determined your passion for design?

I’ve always had a passion for design and architecture. I don’t particularly know why. When I was a kid, and I’m talking six or seven years old, I would beg my parents to take me to Biltmore House instead of Disney World.

What inspires you?

I get inspired by originality and ingenuity in design. They say everything has been done before, but I get very excited when I see an interior that puts a new spin on a conventional idea. I try to do that in every project so I get really inspired when I see other people doing that as well.

How do you like to host guests?

We prefer smaller groups of 6 - 10 for dinner so that we can fit everyone around the dining table. My partner, Sal, is an amazing cook, and he loves to make many courses that will allow him to show off as much of our vintage china and serving ware as possible. We always have cocktails in the living room before dinner, complete with our monogrammed Frette cocktail napkins, before moving to the dining room. The night always ends with aperitifs in the library. I know it sounds very stuffy, but with our friends, the laughter never stops and there's usually some dancing thrown in there along the way!

Details of a bedroom suite designed by Wesley Moon

"They say everything has been done before, but I get very excited when I see an interior that puts a new spin on a conventional idea. I try to do that in every project."

What are memorable hosting gifts to ensure you are invited back?

Anything but flowers! Flowers are a beautiful gesture for most occasions and I love them, but we always fill our vases before having people over, so when someone brings flowers to a dinner party, it's a bit of a stress to properly cut the stems, put them in water, and find them a home. I'd much rather be fixing cocktails!

How do you make your guests feel most comfortable?

Good music, good food, and plenty of drinks! The right lighting is key. Put dimmers on everything and never install CFL's or LED's over 3000K. Use candlelight when possible. That makes it relaxing and intimate... that's enough. I want people to enjoy my home but they don't need to be comfortable enough to put their feet on my coffee table!

Can you remember your first design project?

Do my Lego houses count? I used to furnish them and everything! When I was ten years old we remodeled our house and my mom let me space plan me and my brother’s bedrooms and pick all of the finishes. That was the first thing I designed that got built full scale.