We are kicking off 2019 with a new designer interview. This time we got a chance to catch up with the talented Bryan Frost from Black Awning. Bryan Frost is the founder of Black Awning and specializes in designing and decorating historic homes in, and around Omaha, Nebraska.
Whether designing a space for a client, shopping for treasures at flea markets, or drawing up plans for a remodel Bryan relies on his years of experience and instinct to make every space feel unique and intentional.
What inspired you to become an interior designer and what currently inspires you and is influencing your work?
I always had a desire to design. Also, watching interior design and staging shows as a kid, such as Candis Olsen and Trading Spaces was a desire, too. I always admired the way these professionals could transform a space. My dad was also a contractor. He taught me how to use power tools and how to restore furniture. I decided to pursue design on a professional level majoring in Interior Design at the University of Nebraska at Kearney where I received my bachelor’s.
How would you describe your personal style?
I’m madly in love with mid-century and earthy bohemian spaces. I enjoy using design to express my creativity while finding organized and visually pleasing solutions for my client’s spaces. Using my clients’ lives and stories as inspiration, I build unique spaces and treat every project as if it were going in my own home. I believe design should be curated by infusing the past with future hopes and aspirations. To me, a well-designed interior unites a peaceful setting with a realm of relation and organization. My open-minded attitude towards design has allowed my pallet to grow, and to appreciate new artistic styles and period design. I enjoy making ordinary things beautiful.
When designing a home, what is your favorite room?
My favorite room in the house is the Kitchen. It’s the heart of the home. As a kid, I have fond memories of being in the kitchen around good mid-west cooking. My grandma’s jadeite green kitchen and 50’s floral wallpapers will be forever associated and etched in my mind. A kitchen should be practical, beautiful, and memorable.
What was the source of inspiration for this project?
The home’s architecture is a modern 1970s-era home with a nod to Spanish design elements. I found inspiration in the classic Spanish geometric motifs, blue tiles, and materials seen in the home. The selections included new wood floor tiles, rattan accents, marble tile and counters, and antiqued brass hardware. The walls and exterior cabinets are a clean white in keeping with the home’s bright and airy demeanor. Materials were selected to be timeless just like limestone tiles, not trendy ones.
What were the key aspects for consideration when choosing our Talya Collection for your client?
The design and material are timeless. So many of the trends come and go, but marble is always here to stay. I loved incorporating marble with a stunning geometric design. The marble’s variation in tone and richness allowed me to pair rich natural neutrals of gray and brown harmoniously. Marble tile is the perfect neutral; it literally goes with every color, and material like ceramic tiles, and lives classic in all eras.
How would you describe the end result?
Is it cheesy to say breathtaking? Seriously, it exceeded my expectations. Elegant yet unstated. It feels current and classic.
What are your favorite materials or textures?
Marble is always a favorite material. It’s used and integrated into every design style and never dates a space. My guilty pleasure material of 2018 is rattan. It’s a very 90’s “Golden Girl” and I will more than likely regret using it in 10 years, but trends should be fun. My tip: use trends in pieces and accessories that are easy to change out. With bronze tiles and my favorite marble, you can achieve the “Golden Girl” with a classy look.
