Talking with “Project Runway’s” Sweet P About Fashion and Interiors

If you’re a “Project Runway” devotee, no doubt you were a fan of Season 4’s Sweet P, the rare PR contestant who not only showed talent, but a heart. Who could forget her denim number in the Levi’s challenge, or her sophisticated prom dress for the Catholic schoolgirl from Jersey? Or the way Rami made her cry in the team challenge? I caught up with her recently at the Southern California Home & Garden Show, where she and I traded stage times as the featured speakers. You might ask what the fashion designer was doing at a home décor show, the usual domain of hot tub manufacturers and miracle home cleaning products. But Sweet P reminded me that fashion and interior design have always shared influences, and this season’s trends are no exception. Sweet P also traced the influence of fashion on home interiors (and the other way around) through past decades. It makes sense. Scarlett O’Hara’s not the only person who looked at a drapery panel and found the inspiration for a new dress.

Painterly prints.

Brush strokes and water color prints are making a big splash on the runway and on home furnishings textiles.

Boho chic.

It seems to be THE look for homes now. Personally, it’s a difficult look to pull off, because after all that work to make it appear that you’re bohemian and don’t really care, your mismatched home could make it look like you’re still in college. Still, if done right, your cool quotient goes up significantly.

Hot color palettes like grey and yellow; corals, oranges and tomato red; blue and white; purple, chartreuse and gold. Furniture staples like dining chairs that used to be only available in brown or black are now available in bright colors.

Tiers and ruffles.

I think of a dress Olivia Newton-John wore to the Grammy’s once in the 70s. Now you can have that dress in a shower curtain.