We’re back with a new guest tastemaker for some quick-fire questions and a mini-curation of some fab Chairish finds!
Today we are chatting with interior and lifestyle photographer Margaret Wright. Based out of her hometown of Charleston, she attributes her keen eye to growing up surrounded by historic architecture and design. And it shines through in both her work and how she’s designed her own abode. With patience and a willingness to create some of her own custom furniture, this photographer with a knack for bringing out the beauty in other people’s spaces has been able to watch her vision of her home come true this past year.
Read on to find out about some of her most memorable past projects and her favorite vintage find yet!
What is the most memorable space or design element you’ve ever photographed?
I loved shooting Karen Baldwin’s ultra-modern home for The New York Times, which was designed by Steven Ortego of IOLA Modern. Charleston isn’t exactly a hub of modern design, so it’s always fun to shoot something different.
By contrast, a few years ago I got to shoot several rooms of the Traditional Home Designer Showhouse in Charleston and had so much fun being enveloped in the glitzy maximalism of that world. (Staircase by LCH Interiors, living room by IOLA Modern)
What would you say is the key to great interior photography?
Following the light. I almost exclusively shoot with natural light, and I think it’s the key to images that evoke a sense of welcome and serenity. It’s also so important to me to have a strong, collaborative relationship with my design clients. We really work in tandem to create images that flawlessly capture all the elements in a space.
What helped you get through quarantine?
At the beginning of quarantine, I dove into projects in my own home and designing and making furniture, which I had always wanted to experiment with. Pretty quickly however, things picked up. And the past year has been my busiest of all time, thanks to a booming design industry as people spend more time indoors than ever before. So staying busy has definitely kept me focused. I can’t wait to travel again soon and shoot for some of my clients in New York and on the West Coast.
What kind of design additions or changes did you made to your home during quarantine?
So many! I painted a lot of the house: I painted the windows, color blocked my hallway with a rich green hue, and hand painted the tiles around my fireplace. I commissioned a mural by Carrie Beth Waghorn in my entry, and now it’s the best room in the house! I also built a fluted marble coffee table, an arched velvet headboard, and an outdoor safe ping-pong/dining table combo.
What is the coolest vintage piece in your house?
I have so many favorites. But I’d probably have to say my dining room table, simply because it’s one of a kind. I scooped it up for practically nothing, and now it’s my most talked about piece! I have no idea who the maker is — it’s unfortunately unmarked — but I’ve never seen another piece like it.
Do you collect anything?
I have an ever-growing collection of glassware. I love the way a fun glass can elevate a gathering, or give an element of luxury and festivity to the everyday. I also have a bit of a reptile collection, between my Willa Heart snake prints and alligator figurines. I guess it’s my way of adding a little edge or danger to an otherwise fairly neutral aesthetic.
Headshot Image Courtesy of Margaret Wright
