Sharon Crudele has been earning a living as an interior designer for fifteen years, but she’s been decorating rooms for as long as she can remember (she wallpapered her bedroom when she was nine). A member of the Interior Design Society, Sharon has been a consultant at our Ethan Allen Design Center in Worthington, Ohio for twelve years; she’s a four-time Diamond Spirit award winner—and has just been named our most recent Design Star.
Sharon loves living in Granville, a picturesque town east of Columbus, where she enjoys “a quiet, country life complete with a chicken coop and a menagerie of pets.” She winds down by listening to music while she cooks, and likes to hike, garden, and travel—when she’s not designing rooms, that is.
“It’s an understatement to say that interior design is my passion,” says Sharon. “If I’m not working on client projects or my own home, my nose is in design magazines or I’m planning my next trip around the opening of a showhouse. I never stop.”
We recently asked Sharon to share her thoughts on her work and on design in general.
What is your favorite Ethan Allen project?
Last summer I met a kind woman, recently widowed, who wanted to make a fresh start. She was building a new home and needed to furnish it from top to bottom, but didn’t know where to begin (or even what her style preferences were). She was overwhelmed. There were some tears along the way, but in the end, we created a stunning home together. It was a beautiful and sweet experience for both of us.
[fyi: this project is on houzz: https://www.houzz.com/projects/2647363/ferguson-new-home]
What Ethan Allen piece is your favorite?
I really love the Callum home office collection, especially in the sunwashed gray finish. The antique gold hardware against that perfect shade of gray is stunning. I have to say I’m thrilled to see that gold is trending again!
What is your favorite design tip?
Don’t be afraid to mix metals; the era of using only one finish—in lighting, hardware, plumbing, etc.—throughout the home is over. And remember, if you really love something, there’s always a way to make it work.
Complete this sentence: Every room needs …
A contrast in textures; soft, rough, shiny, vintage, chunky, refined—the more the merrier. Oh, and at least one piece of whimsy; it loosens up a space and infuses it with a bit of your personality.
What is the color you can’t live without, and why?
White. White makes every other color look good! It quickly brightens a space and makes any room feel fresh, current, clean. It makes artwork shine … I could go on and on!
If you could do any project, anywhere, on any budget, what would it be?
I love Alys Beach, a seaside town on the Florida panhandle, and would love to do a beachfront home there. The colors of the sea, sky, and clouds are so ethereal; it would make such a magical canvas!
Is there anything else you’d like our readers to know about you?
I believe that every home should reflect the people who live there. A beautiful home that mirrors your personality is an affordable luxury that everyone deserves.
Find more of Sharon Crudele’s work on Instagram @sharoncrudele_design, and on Houzz, where she was named a Best of Houzz winner in Client Satisfaction in 2017 and 2018. To see more beautiful rooms by designers like Sharon, subscribe to The Daily Muse.
