Some modern interiors can feel too stiff, perfect, and formal, says Robertson. A good antidote: incorporating organic elements from the natural world, like shells, stone, coral, and botanicals.
“I’m always looking, whether it’s just pulling in branches from my garden or finding stones on a beach walk, or all those things. Bringing nature inside has really always been a kind of mantra of mine. It connects you to the outside.”
Sheepskin and rawhide pelts work very well in this regard. The stylist has a number of pelts in both her eclectic, elegant Brooklyn brownstone and her Connecticut country home–an old schoolhouse she decorated with a modern rustic flair.
“They’re actually quite pet-friendly,” she says of the cowhides. “I’ve got two cats, and they can ruin a wool woven rug easily, but they don’t seem to do much damage to cowhides.” In her Connecticut home, her sheepskin rugs contrast beautifully with the cedar walls and floors, lending the space a relaxed, laid-back feel. “One of the rugs I’ve had for about twelve years! They’re very practical if you’ve got kids and pets. It’s hard to get them dirty; they’re very forgiving.”
