Q&A with Brittny Button

Welcome Button Atelier!

Get to know more about the brand and the designer behind it as Brittny Button answers some of our questions and lets us in on what inspires her. 

Head to Design Home for more during this month’s Designer Voices Event. As part of our partnership, Design Home players will also receive early previews of her pieces! We hope you’re excited for some chic California aesthetics, so get ready to dive in and start designing. 

Now on to the Q&A!

What inspired the beginning of Button Atelier?

After selling a completely renovated home in Palm Springs, I confirmed for myself that interior design and real estate investing could be a viable business. From there, I materialized it with creating an interior design firm. It’s been the best decision! I can’t believe our furniture collection is launching this Fall! Truly a dream come true!

What makes your brand unique?  

We operate like a startup  and a workshop hence the ‘atelier’ naming. In this way, each end of the spectrum allows for a collaborative environment; we’re a lean team, move fast and have immense output. 

What about Spanish architecture draws you in?

It’s the romance of it all! The undulating tiled rooftops, with arched windows, terracotta tile floors and wrought iron detail work. It’s charming and transfixes you from the moment you walk through the door. Plus, the rich Hollywood history feels very synonymous with the beginnings of true California living.

How do you blend Spanish architectural elements with SoCal style without losing the soul of either? 

For me, it’s about establishing a sense of timelessness that respects the architectural heritage, yet infuses it with a freshness. My tendency is to create interior spaces with a classical bent.

What is most important to you when working with a space? 

Does it have both function and form? Will it be classical and timeless to stand the test of time?

Is there a certain feel you aim for when designing a space? 

Yes, definitely, the idea of connectedness and calm are two feelings I want to evoke in the spaces I design. 

Can you share a difficult project where everything came together seamlessly in the end? What design choices made it work?

Sometimes mid-way through a renovation there can be lots of structural repair. This can be defeating as it adds extra time and cost. I try to focus on the end result even though the project lag is frustrating. The motto of ‘growing beauty takes time’ gives me patience and tenacity to persevere. I try to look at the positive and see a ‘benefit’ of this challenge - can we optimize and take out another wall - given this upset has occurred? There’s always a silver lining. It’s just your perspective on it.

Do you have the most fun working with indoor or outdoor spaces? 

To me, especially in moderate climates like California and Florida, they hold equal value, given how much time we’re able to spend in both.

Do you have a signature material or element you return to again and again that just works?

Limewash. It creates warmth and textural interest within the walls. I’ve used it in a kitchen, bathroom and long hallway; and in each instance it creates an immediate intimacy.

What's one Southern California design trend you secretly love, even if it’s a little overdone? And one you’d like to see fade away?

Trend love is - plaster as it still reads as luxurious and sumptuous when executed correctly. Fade away is - The overuse of grey and black used on both the interior and exterior. It’s such an awful mix of colors and lacks any kind of creativity.

What’s your favorite color to work with right now? 

Chocolate brown. Very versatile color, given the shades it comes in and has real depth.

What are your best budget hacks for luxurious style?

Always sync the project’s design around a central theme or vision - this ensures there’s a real message within the interior. One of my guiding principals on many projects is to ask myself - ‘Would this be fitting in an Old Manor situated on the Amalfi Coast, the UK countryside or the South of France?’, if the answer is no, then I remove it. Use vintage pieces! I’m a big advocate for seeing the potential in pieces and scour Facebook marketplace for deals! It’s transformational how new upholstery can change the entire look of the piece. Also, if you’re into saving money I even find amazing pieces at the curb or on the street! You just have to have some vision to see what it could transform into! 

If you had to design your dream courtyard from scratch, what’s the one element you’d absolutely have to include—and why? 

The inclusion of a water feature - fountain or waterfall - is a must. The sound and the nature it attracts brings life! It’s often the central focus of the garden. To me, it brings a calming presence and the audio it provides is an immediate destresser.

What is most special to you about the California desert? 

The climate is outstanding and the consistent bright white light it provides.

Which new project would you love to take on if you had the chance?  

A full home restoration. Meaning, fully renovate and restore a historically significant home. There’s one by Frank Lloyd Wright that is for sale with some interesting design attributes that I’d love to reenvision with care. Or, an old Hollywood estate with rich historical grandeur would be another on the top of the list. 

How do you choose color palettes that reflect both the warmth of Spanish design and the breezy, laid-back energy of the West Coast? 

The natural bright light is always a constant when designing spaces in California. Knowing this, it becomes an element of the design process. Being aware of its inclusion and how the shadows affect the interior setting and in what ways is vital to understanding other colors that are selected.

If you could only pick one, which piece of design advice would you give our players?

Look at the entire design in totality. Does it feel cohesive and does it convey a mood or an underlying feeling? If not, try to dissect what it is that’s not working. Could it be the art that feels off? If so, change it out to something else to see if this creates a balance. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Design is supposed to be fun and evolve over time!

Which piece are you most excited for our players to discover? 

The sofa is a fun one as it has fantastic lines yet is comfortable to relax on. 

There’s a lot of trending DIY content right now. What’s the best hack you’ve seen? Or the worst?

Best hack - the new adhesive that looks like stained glass. I’ve used this on picture windows where privacy and design elements are needed. In bathroom windows and even in glass cupboard doors in kitchens. Its use is limitless! The worst - the monotone kitchen interiors where the wall, counters, floor and cupboards are all one color - painted a single shade. This looks awful and yes we can tell it was DIY - the results are horrid on all fronts.

If you could design a dream home for any fictional character or famous figure, who would it be and what would the vibe be like? 

In a way, I utilized this concept as the inspiration for my Mesa Bungalows project (linked here). I was in love with Jayne Mansfield’s Pink Palace and used it as the guiding force and the pink color palette used both inside and out!

If you had to live in one color palette for the rest of your life, what would it be? What materials would help keep it interesting? 

Shades of cream. Lots of boucles, braided textural components on bedding, pillows, drapery and within art pieces. 

If you had to design a home entirely using items from a flea market, a salvage yard, and a cactus nursery, what’s your strategy? 

Find the central core or largest pieces first like the rug, sofa, occasional chairs, console tables, lighting and art. Be adventurous and creative with the finds. Could a floor lamp take on new life, with a different shade being added, or two benches be combined to make an ottoman with smaller legs? The design aspect comes into repurposing items too. 

If you could bring back the design aesthetics of any era, which would it be?

1930’s. It was so rich with creation from Art Deco, color use and incorporation of metallic detailing. Moreover, the guiding sensibility was geared towards simplicity and practicality - two pillars I love to use in my work as well! It marked a historical shift as it moved away from a more ornate aesthetic. See more in this AD Pro article.