REAL Magazine

Interview With Pamela Hughes

Renowned International Interior Designer

By Ed Bertha

Photography by Giovanni Lunardi

An internationally renowned luxury designer whose sumptuous interiors have been featured in the industry’s top publications, Pamela Hughes is proud to call Sarasota home.

Pamela, who maintains offices in McLean, Virginia in addition to her Sarasota location, first arrived in the area when she accepted an invitation to design The Ritz-Carlton, Sarasota.

Though Pamela is well known for her work with high-end luxury hotels and resorts, including The Ritz-Carlton, Four Seasons and The Cloister at Sea Island, she reveals that her true passion is working with homeowners to create spaces that are as elegant as they are accommodating. “I enjoy the hands-on aspect of high-end residential design projects,” she says. “It’s an opportunity for me to connect with individuals and work one-on-one with my clients.”

One of her most recent projects, in which she collaborated with the international fashion designer Adrienne Vittadini, is The Concession Golf Clubhouse featured in this issue. The Clubhouse, being extremely residential in feeling, is a wonderful example of how Pamela’s work transitions between resort projects and large, luxurious homes.

Sitting with Pamela, in the gracious and airy living room of The Clubhouse, I had an opportunity to engage this extraordinary interior designer.

EB:  Tell me about how you and Adrienne Vittadini designed The Concession Golf Clubhouse project together.
 
PH:  Adrienne and I had a marvelous time working together on this project. She has exquisite taste and extraordinary style. I have never worked with anyone before who has such an experienced and talented eye. I learned so much from her. Adrienne was very involved in The Concession project from the beginning, acting as the design consultant for the entire community. She brought the concept of Palladian styling to The Clubhouse, both in the exterior architecture and interior architectural details. In addition she introduced a European sensibility, setting the tone and mood of the interiors.

Adrienne and I would meet in our offices, or I would go to New York, for meetings together and with sources. We also went to Los Angeles to work with our custom light fixture manufacturer. We would bring huge suitcases full of fabric swatches, carpets, wood flooring and stone samples to assist with the developing selections. It is not a trip for carry-on luggage, but it allows us to review the whole project with all of its complexity. We even met in Paris to work together after Adrienne had scoured the Italian furnishings market, and I had researched England and France.

EB:  How did you come upon the interior design concept?  It is quite different from most clubhouses.

PH:  Adrienne definitely had the concept in mind, which I embraced wholeheartedly. The soft colors and clean lines were Adrienne’s vision and a large part of the overall flavor of The Clubhouse. Making it welcoming to both men and women was one of our important considerations. We remembered and have worked on projects that are more in the old school of dark paneling and heavy traditional furnishings in somber hues. We all wanted this to be something unique and attractive, something light and airy, embracing the magnificent views of the golf course and the lush surroundings. While it is therefore appealing to women, it is equally attractive to men, due to the strength of the architecture and the grandeur of the spaces. We also provided the men with a rich, wood-clad environment for their locker rooms, lounge and bath areas.

EB:  How did you help shape the building?

PH:  A critical factor in the planning and development of The Clubhouse was to capitalize on the views to the beautiful landscape and golf course immediately outside. So great attention was focused on making sure there are views from every public room. Expansive French doors and large arched windows grace the exterior in a very pleasing way. And from the inside, you have a lovely infiltration of light, protected from the direct sun by elegant porticos and loggias. From the men’s locker rooms there are views to the 18th green.  From the living room, dining room and terraces, you can see the Events Lawn and the striking gazebo. The brilliant turf and the dark greens of the perimeter landscaping provide a wonderful backdrop for the activities of The Clubhouse.

EB:  In walking through The Clubhouse, I was struck by how fresh the colors are. How did you come to the palette?

PH:  It was important for us to bring the colors of nature inside: the blues and greens that seem to define the Gulf Coast. Off-setting these hues are a range of pale off-whites for the door casings and trim, beams and crown mouldings. We then used a variety of color palettes for the furnishings and finishes in different rooms. All are fresh and distinctive colors, and are accented by splashes of more intense colorations in fabrics, area rugs and dramatic artwork.

EB:  Are you and Adrienne pleased with the final result?

PH:  We’re very pleased, and have received many wonderful compliments.

EB:  Let’s change topics. Pamela, what led you to interior design and what keeps you passionate about it?

PH:  I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t drawing, painting, sewing or otherwise engaged in creative and artful activities. My mother had a short stint as a fashion designer, so we were always sewing together, or drawing and painting. I just knew I was going to be an artist. I didn’t know what a designer was at that age, but I knew I was going to do something in the arts. And then while studying applied design at the University of Maryland I went to an interior design studio. I walked in and it was overwhelming:  there was fabric, trim, furniture, woods, stones and drawings.  It was everything I loved. I remember the moment so vividly, and I knew then that was exactly what I wanted to do.

What keeps me passionate about it is that every job and every day is different!  It is never boring. We work both with individual homeowners and large luxury hotel and resort companies. They are very different in the way one approaches the design and the result which you want to create. The constant is the level of quality, which is the very best.  And there is always something new to discover in order to remain fresh and unique. It is a challenge that keeps me energized.

EB:  Pamela, how do you balance your work and your style, between the hospitality projects, which get so much press, and your residential work, which requires more discretion and intimate involvement with your clients?

PH: When I am designing a five-star hotel it is more like stage-set design.  It is all about drama and atmosphere. People go to these resorts and hotels to get away, to live a bit of fantasy, so that element comes into play. You must appeal to lots of people, with a variety of tastes, and still create a special place that can help them carry memories for a long time.

When we are designing for a homeowner, we must be very personal with them about how they live, what they want and what their dreams are. We design to make those things a reality by creating spaces that function well in their new home, and also shape and furnish the rooms to be easy, comfortable and livable. This includes the design of the rooms and all of their details, as well as knowing the best chair construction, where to hang art, what colors are pleasing, and even what bed linens would be most appropriate. Every aspect and detail is brought into play to create a warm and comfortable home.

EB:  Does your hospitality work inform or affect your residential work?

PH:  A common component is that they both require the best quality. For hospitality work, outstanding quality is needed not only to create beauty, but because of the intensive use that hotel furnishings experience. For the homeowner, quality both in finishes and furnishings is important not only in developing how the space looks, but for long-term appreciation and satisfaction. Needless to say, style and elegance are a requirement no matter what the project.

EB:  You are famous for your attention to detail: how do you keep control over the minutia when you are involved in so much?

PH:  Every project has a team which I directly supervise and with whom I have constant contact.  For hospitality work, I have experienced senior designers who assist me and do the day-to-day development and documentation. I attend meetings with the owners and am involved with the progress of the work. For residential clients, I am more personally involved. I still have a team of designers supporting my efforts and keeping things organized, but I have almost constant contact with the clients, making sure they are comfortable with every aspect of the design.

EB:  You were just awarded your firm’s tenth Ritz-Carlton project. How did you manage that in this economy?

PH:  We have always worked very hard to have our former clients be our future clients. We do that by keeping them happy with our design work, our level of service, our attention to detail and our personal approach. Hotel owners are often repeat clients. Residential clients come back to us again when they are ready to move, to renovate, or to have us assist with their second or third home

EB:  Many people don’t understand that utilizing an interior designer may actually save them money.  Can you elaborate?

PH:  There are several important ways working with an interior designer can save money.  One of the first is that you avoid costly mistakes. Most often, we begin the design process at the beginning of the project - even as the architect is working on the preliminary plans - assisting with space planning and developing preliminary budgets. This is the most effective way we can assist a client. In addition to the myriad of details to be considered and all the decisions that must be made, we know how to organize the project and edit the process.  Costly mistakes can be made in the preliminary planning by selecting inappropriate materials, lighting, finishes and furnishings. We can help avoid all that. Secondly, many of our resources are only available to the trade and we purchase from them at wholesale prices. We charge a service fee, but the end result is much less than the retail cost.  And, of course, one of the costs of designing a home is the anxiety and worry. We try to eliminate that, making the whole process easier and more enjoyable for the client.

EB:  You have a reputation for being on time and within budget as well. How do you accomplish this?

PH:  We are quite experienced in project management. This includes creating budgets early on and keeping track of that constantly throughout the process. At first, the numbers are experienced recommendations, and then as selections are being made and the details developed, each item is placed into the budget. If some selections are not within the acceptable range, they are eliminated or re-selected to keep the budget on target. We also have considerable leverage with many manufacturers, so that as installation dates draw near we track each item, making sure that all furnishings are in the warehouse ahead of time. We provide full installation services so that when the client sees the project, the lights are on, the flowers are in the vases and the sound system is softly welcoming them to their new home. No surprises other than happy ones.

EB:  Pamela, one last question. Would you elaborate on what made you choose Sarasota as your home?

PH:  I first came to Sarasota when I was working on The Ritz-Carlton project. I had been all over the country for various projects, but hadn’t been here. I love the climate, the sunshine, the stunning sunsets, the fabulous beaches and, most importantly, the friendliness of the community. The thriving arts scene in Sarasota is the icing on the cake.  It all just felt right and I just didn’t want to leave.

Click here to see Pamela Hughes’ golf clubhouse work.

Click here to read Pamela Hughes’ profile.

Pamela Hughes
Hughes Design Associates
3412 Clark Road, Suite 237
Sarasota, FL 34231
Telephone: 941.922.4767
1487 Chain Bridge Road, Suite 100
McLean, VA 22101
Telephone: 703.442.3200
www.hughesdes.com