Domino (October 2008)

Gwen Stefani

Creative Director for L.A.M.B, New York City

How did the space come together?

It’s huge and gets a ton of light, so I played that up with glossy white walls and sheer shades. But I was also picturing Lucille Ball’s dressing room, so I added that smudge of old-school glamour with a Deco-inspired chandelier and tufted baby-blue chairs.

Why didn’t you use the strong hues and patterns that you’re known for?

I needed a simple, pure backdrop that wouldn’t conflict with the creative process. The showroom also had to be versitile. We use it for everything, from design meetings to castings. One moment, it’s chaos of models and clothes; the next, it’s organized and minimal.

How is decorating different from designing clothes?

I had to put pieces together on a new scale: Instead of figuring out which belt goes with which dress, I was pairing girly chairs with mid-century tables, tiled walls, with concrete floors! I made a lot of mistakes at first. Still, it was so much fun.