Do you know your design style?
Most people know what they like, but struggle when it comes to defining their personal style. For couples, the process can be even more challenging, especially when partners don’t share the same likes. As a classicist (Matthew) and a modernist (Frank), we cover a lot of ground, and we can help you identify where your style falls. We’ve also spent the past 15 years creating a dialogue between seemingly opposite styles so we’re well-equipped to reconcile conflicts and create the sort of blend that makes each partner feel like they’ve won the contest. Over time, we’ve found that the majority of our clients like some mix of old and new. Much like a shower regulator, we help you determine what spot feels most comfortable on that dial, and we tailor a design scheme that is uniquely yours.
Wondering How We Work?
Fair warning – we’re quiet and reflective, and we carefully choose our words. We ask a lot of questions, and we like to do our research before offering suggestions. Much as we love a good show, we aren’t particularly theatrical, preferring to leave the drama to our interiors. We have a point of view, and we’ll communicate it excitedly and clearly, but we don’t insist on our way or the highway. We welcome clients who prefer to take a hands-off approach, but we’re energized by those with a vision and a desire to collaborate.
MATTHEW WHITE
Interior designer and author, Matthew White was selected as one of the “AD 100” (Architectural Digest’s list of the 100 best designers in the world). Rather than being known for a specific look, he creates something new with every project. His passion for history is clearly evident in his work, while his partnership with Frank Webb (a modernist) presents a refreshing blend of old and new. Although their projects are stylistically diverse, there is a consistent sensibility within the work – warmth, comfort, beauty, quality and a keen interest in lasting design.
As a young adult, Matthew left his home in Amarillo, Texas to pursue a career in dance. In 1978 he was accepted into the prestigious School of American Ballet in New York City. During his training at the school, he worked in an antiques shop where he continued to cultivate his interest in the decorative arts. He went on to dance professionally for five years with the Los Angeles Ballet. After leaving the ballet he went back to school to study graphic design and worked in that field for a number of years. But it was in 1989 that he returned to his first love and opened an antiques shop in Pasadena, California. The nearly ten years of owning Matthew White Antiques proved to be a period of education and artistic growth, allowing for a deeper understanding of the world of decorative arts. It wasn’t long before the collectors who frequented his shop insisted that Matthew design the rooms in which his treasures would be placed.
Matthew serves on the board of Save Venice Inc. – an American non-profit that restores superb examples of Venetian art and architecture in Venice Italy. His first book: Italy of my Dreams – An American Designer’s Real Life Passion for Italian Style shares his love of the architecture and fine and applied arts of Italy. He is active in the revitalization and preservation of the hamlet of Hillsdale NY, and has restored two historic buildings there that house his own Hillsdale General Store and HGS Home Chef, a kitchen store and cooking school.
FRANK WEBB
“What makes you happy?” It’s the first question Frank asks a client, and it’s what he thinks good design should deliver. While the answer can take some digging, he enjoys playing Sherlock Holmes, and relishes the moment when the clues all add up and a unique design vision emerges. Although it’s serious, exceptionally detailed and demanding work, he also believes that getting to the happy place has to be equally fun and rewarding.
Since 2004, Frank Webb has teamed with interior designer, author and antiquarian, Matthew White in their multi-disciplinary design firm, White Webb, LLC. Based in New York City, the firm specializes in residential interior design, but has also undertaken successful expansions into furniture design, art installations, retail and more.
Like his design partner, Frank enjoys working in a variety of styles, focusing on architectural appropriateness as the foundation for his design work. Where he differs, however, is in his orientation as a modernist, favoring streamlined forms, innovative materials and the application of new technologies to the design process. By incorporating a blend of modern and classic style, the design duo has won rave reviews and seen their projects published in nearly every national shelter magazine, as well as numerous local and international outlets.
Frank holds a degree in international economics from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, as well as a certificate in international business from Nijenrode, the Netherlands School of Business. Prior to entering the design world, he had a career in finance, culminating in his role as a Managing Director at JP Morgan Investment Management. He also serves as an Advisory Board member for Africa.com, a website dedicated to presenting the best of the African continent, where he oversees content pertaining to African arts and culture.
