Katie Zamprioli – Take Risks and Break the Rules to Find Your True Design Voice (American Interior Decorator, 200K+ Followers)

“I hear music when I look at certain spaces — design, like music, follows a formula but thrives when you break the rules.”

 

Q. How has your experience in singing and acting influenced your approach to interior design?

I moved out to LA originally for singing and acting but I have always had a passion for fashion and decor as well. I didn’t plan on design and content creation becoming my full time job, but just like acting and singing, they are creative and very fulfilling. 

Design and music are somewhat similar in my mind because they both follow a certain formula but there is also a certain magic that happens when you break the rules and allow yourself to be unbridled with your choices. I hear music when I look at certain spaces as well. 

They have a vibe and a feel and the color and mood play into that. I’m very particular with the music I select for my content creation as well. It’s all very thoughtful and intentional. In my opinion, design and music go hand in hand.

Q. Could you share a memorable story behind a favorite vintage piece you found while thrifting?

I have so many! I’ll share them one of my most recent finds. My friend and I were at Bougie Bazaar, a vintage shop in Pasadena, and I fell madly in love with a Brutalist wild boar sculpture. My friend thought I was joking because she thought it was hideous. Admittedly it is somewhat ugly, but I am drawn to the weird and the wonderful and I absolutely adore it. Certain pieces you know will be forever heirlooms and this is one of them. A weird, creepy little conversation piece that sparks joy.

Q. What advice would you give to those new to thrifting looking for unique items?

Go often! You aren’t guaranteed to find amazing things unless you are looking regularly. The more you go, the better the odds of finding a treasure. If possible, go during the week to avoid the crowds and have a better chance of grabbing that score!

Go forth! You should definitely expand your area (especially if you’re in a busy city) to the smaller surrounding towns. Chances are that the bigger cities are over saturated with vintage hunters looking to make the next big score and you have a much better chance of finding something cool in a small, random town. 

I usually head out within a 40 mile radius to the local goodwill, then search “thrift stores, antique stores and vintage shops” in my google maps and hit up as many as I can that are close by!

Go Online! Utilize your online resources. Facebook Marketplace is a veritable treasure trove of vintage goods. Los Angeles is very competitive so I like to set my search radius within 50 miles because sometimes vintage goods are definitely worth the drive! If you find something you love? DO NOT HESITATE! 

Things go super quickly so if you love it- message the seller and even offer a down payment and time to pick it up so that they know you’re serious. If it’s a really good deal already- don’t try to bargain- just get that piece ASAP! Craigslist is actually still a useful tool too for searching vintage. You can find some amazing steals on there. 

You can also try Charish and put on the local search option so that you aren’t paying for shipping. Check out shop goodwill online, ThredUp and also The Real Real, Vestiaire Collective, What Goes Around Comes Around, Far Fetch, Rebag and Fashionphile for designer vintage clothing and accessories. 

My advice for the search bar is to try several different wording options for the same piece. For example, if you know that you’re looking for a Karl Springer style table, you’re going to get the best deal from someone who doesn’t know what they have. So besides searching “Karl Springer table”, also think like the common layman who doesn’t know what the table is and search “curved table, curvy table, wavy table, c shaped table, scroll table, sculptural table, post modern table, etc. 

I recommend trying lots of searches and searching often and soon you will create an algorithm in your FB Marketplace feed that will end up serving you!

Q. How do you maintain harmony in your spaces while using bold colors and diverse textures?

I think letting yourself and your process be somewhat uninhibited is truly the way to create harmony within a unique space. Gravitate towards the pieces that you love and don’t worry about what others think or what’s popular. I usually start with the color that I want a space to be and the feel that I want it to have and build everything around it. 

Colors all have a mood and a vibe so figure out the mood first and then start by picking paint and/ or wallpaper. I like to keep things somewhat monochrome so it doesn’t feel too circusey. Stick to 2-3 complimentary colors. After deciding on a color, I’ll usually pick a big focal point piece for each space first, like the couch or bed and then build everything else (like the texture through textiles) around that.

Q. If you had to pick one element that defines your design philosophy, what would it be and why?

Take risks! It’s funny, people have said to me my entire life, “only you could get away with that,” whether it was an outfit or a design choice. I definitely don’t agree with that, I just think it’s that a lot of people censor themselves and their ideas out of fear of what people will think or because it’s different. The more you make choices to incorporate things you love into your home, the easier it will be to figure out your true voice and style.

Q. What inspired you to start the Beet Red Podcast, and what do you hope listeners take away from it?

I actually had the idea to start Beet Red almost 10 years ago. I loved reading embarrassing stories in magazines when I was growing up and my friends and I always loved making each other laugh with our own ridiculous stories.

Embarrassment and shame are universal feelings and when we can share our stories freely it’s not only cathartic, but incredibly uniting. Our goal is to unite the world (in our own small way) through laughter, vulnerability and humiliation and we hope to take you along for the ride, bringing levity to your day.

Bio

Katie Zamprioli is an interior decorator, content creator, fashion lover & avid thrifter who lives in Los Angeles and loves to express creativity and inspire others to do the same. Her aptly named IG and TikTok account @candycoloredhome were born organically out of a love of sharing her home, designs and life with the world. She loves showcasing unique vintage pieces and taking her audience along on her thrifting adventures. Her love of eclectic secondhand pieces, color and bold maximalism have created a style that is uniquely her own.

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Interviewed By Irene Elina Eldhose