Lyn Peterson

For over two decades, Lyn Peterson—decorator, product designer, author, and co-founder of Motif Designs—has been creating fresh, chic interiors that work in real life for real families. In every project she undertakes, from a small kitchen renovation to a full design scheme for new construction, Lyn strikes a unique balance between pragmatism and personality—hence her moniker, the real life decorator. A mother of four, Lyn understands, in a utilitarian context, the need for interiors that are aesthetically pleasing yet hold up to the vicissitudes of everyday life. She uses her own home, a 1920s colonial in Scarsdale, New York, as a testing ground for smart design solutions. “I gear all my decorating and product design toward making family life work. Kids, dogs, muddy boots, computer cables, and clutter are facts of life to be reckoned with, albeit with style,” says Lyn. “Looks are paramount but they should have intelligence and integrity. I want wallpapers that hold up, fabrics that soothe, chairs that embrace.” Simultaneously stylish and thrifty, Lyn loves to spend but hates to waste. Years of on-the-job-site knowledge make her savvy about what really works in decoration and renovation. Lyn keeps her well-trained eye on both the big picture and the details. She works regularly with top architects and contractors to hone the overall design, then researches antique and trade sources to add the furnishings and accessories that capture a client's individual creative vision. Lyn has clients from Maine to Santa Monica, and she takes on projects from a small kitchen renovation to an entire modern manse.