Modern Matter Blog
Collaborator Spotlight: Mark D. Sikes
Known for all-American sensibilities and a fresh take on classical aesthetics, the esteemed interior designer Mark D. Sikes has clients like First Lady Jill Biden, who chose Sikes to redesign her East Wing Office, and stars like Reese Witherspoon and Nancy Meyers.
Sikes interiors have been featured in numerous design magazines and showhouses. He is a recurring member of the AD100 list and Elle Decor’s A-Lists, and is the author of Beautiful: All-American Decorating and Timeless Style and More Beautiful: All-American Decoration. Sikes’ exclusive collection for Modern Matter celebrates classical proportions with a nod to English architecture that he is known for.
Q: Tell us a little bit about your journey to becoming an interior designer.
A: When we moved to LA in 2010, we re-modeled our home, and this move coincided with my blog, My home, which ended up being published in House Beautiful. This publication, along with the followers from my blog, helped my interior design career start and take off!
Q: You have previously worked in fashion merchandising; how has that experience shaped you as a designer?
A: Hugely! It taught me how to execute creativity, how to tell stories, and how to manage teams. My experiences in fashion and marketing gave me the foundation to start my business and create beautiful designs.
Q: How do you describe your style? And how has your style evolved over the years?
A: Classic and All-American. I would not say my style has necessarily evolved, but my knowledge and my experiences through the years have taught me so much and have shaped the way I approach projects and execute designs.
Q: Tell us about your creative process. How do you start your design projects?
A: When we start any project, we always look for inspiration. This can be a photo from the past, or it could be a detail that catches my eye. Along with inspiration, it is important to me that each design project tells a “story.” Having a strong marketing and design background, I always like to think about the message of each project and story for the client and our viewers. It is important to think about how the house speaks to the client’s style but also how the home flows.
It is important to me that each design project tells a “story.” Mark D. SIkes
Q: What was your inspiration for this hardware line?
A: My inspiration was to make sure that this collection told a story of a complete home. This hardware line caters to all the different spaces throughout a home—the decorative, informal, and formal spaces in a home.
Q: How do you envision these collections being used?
A: Each collection service different aspects of a home and fall into different categories: classic, functional, and everyday. Our Pixie Collection can be used in kitchens, mudrooms, or flower rooms. In contrast, our Clementine Collection has a timeless but casual design that can be used in bathrooms and guest rooms. And lastly, our Valencia Collection is our more elevated design that can be used in formal places such as libraries, living rooms, or dining rooms.
Q: Do you have a favorite piece in the collection?
A: The Clementine Porcelain Button Knob (coming soon)! It’s cool and unique because it has a perfect classic balance. I think this can be a major color vehicle and finish vehicle for future collections.
Q: How do you think of hardware when designing a space, and what do you look for when sourcing hardware for your clients?
A: I like to think of it as the jewelry of the home. I'm always looking for quality, finish, and detail.
words of wisdom
Mark D. Sikes
Favorite finish: Burnished Brass
Favorite gemstone: Alabaster
Describe your style in 3 words: All-American, Classic, Beautiful
Style icon: Jackie Kennedy
Pets: Poppy, our French bulldog.
