Details matter. And often, it’s the details of the things we collect and curate throughout our homes that tell the story of who we are and where we come from. A go-to interior stylist for top brands and publications, Colin King has built an impressive body of work. His creative vision is helping define modern American design and is inspiring the way we see the spaces we live in and the world around us.
Photography by Colin King
For his debut book, Arranging Things, King has shaped a series of anecdotes and visual essays that captures his intuitive and deeply personal process, meditating on scale, proportion, palette and texture. Here, the interior stylist gives us a closer look at the process of developing the upcoming Rizzoli coffee table book, shares what he hopes readers take away from the tome and more.
Photography by Gentl & Hyers | RW Guild
Where do you source creative inspiration?
Art and nature inform my exploration of color combinations, object relationships, light, and the nuances of textiles and compositions.
Do you have a mantra or manifesto when it comes to styling?
Don’t aim for perfection. Try to style a space that conveys who you are and let the objects lead you.
Photography by Pippa Drummond | West Elm
What’s the earliest memory you have of falling in love with design?
Gathering rocks from outside my childhood home and arranging them in different ways on my windowsill in my bedroom. Rocks still appear throughout my home as sculptural objects on my shelves and windowsills, and they even act as the base of my homemade coffee table.
Can you describe what Arranging Things means to you?
To me, it’s about looking at objects in unexpected ways and elevating them to create simple, sophisticated vignettes that bring joy and life into someone’s home. I want the book to inspire and assist the reader by arranging things in unexpected ways.
Photography by Adrian Gaut | Anna Karlin
What encouraged you to write a book about interior styling and the different ways people can curate their spaces?
I view interior styling as a daily practice that empowers people to see the world differently. It’s an important tool that makes the most of what you already have while reconnecting you with the world you live in and, most importantly, yourself.
What was the process like shaping Arranging Things?
It was very collaborative. My writer, Sam Cochran, and designer, Javas Lehn, would come to my apartment each week, and we would pore over thousands of images scattered across my 12-foot dining table. I have a difficult time looking at my work objectively, so I really relied on them to help me create a book that they would both be proud of and want to have in their own collection. Every chapter is very specific and gives readers a better understanding of each specific styling aspect.
Photography by Stephen Kent Johnson | Giancarlo Valle
Do you have a favorite project featured in the book?
That’s like asking me to pick a favorite child! My favorite project would have to be my own space. It’s the culmination of everything I’ve learned through my experience styling the other projects featured in Arranging Things.
What’s the biggest takeaway you hope readers get from Arranging Things?
I hope readers will go shopping in their own home and look at the objects they own with a different perspective and arrange them in new ways. Not only will this allow them to discover and interact with different textures and colors, but it can also ultimately change the way one looks at the everyday objects they surround themselves with. I also hope readers are encouraged to find inspiration from nature, which adds a natural element to an otherwise urban environment they may be living in.
Photography by Sean Davidson | Beni Rugs
Are there any exciting projects on the horizon?
I’ve been nurturing and expanding the disciplines in my studio to more product and exhibition design. Stay tuned!
Finally, what’s the funniest thing you’ve heard or read recently?
I really enjoyed the playful yet potent message in the new campy horror film M3GAN.
