In a reality-TV world where every interior decorator and restaurant chef seems to enjoy fifteen minutes of fame, our city is fortunate to have a few genuine design celebrities. Here are two favorites whose work will still look great twenty years from now.

	Phoebe Howard	Suzanne Kasler
claim to fame	Owner of Mrs. Howard and Max & Company stores in Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina. Member of Domino’s Style Council and columnist for Southern Living	Architectural Digest’s “AD100” (2012), Elle Decor’s “A-List” (2010–2012), House & Garden’s “Tastemakers” list (2006), House Beautiful’s “Top 100 Interior Designers” list, and the Atlanta Decorative Arts Center’s Southeast Designer of the Year (2003)
book	The Joy of Decorating (Stewart, Tabori & Chang) in 2012	Inspired Interiors (Rizzoli) in 2009
style influence	Southern	Continental
mantra	“Be realistic about your lifestyle. Decorate for who you are, not who you want to be.”	“A room should be collected, not decorated.”
signature touches	Mixing old and new; strong architecture; pretty colors, especially blue and white; luxurious bedrooms	Mixing old and new; strong architecture; whites, neutrals, and muted colors; classic motifs, especially the quatrefoil; couture detailing
national magazine covers	House Beautiful, Southern Accents, Coastal Living	House Beautiful, Southern Accents, Traditional Home
signature lines	Mr. and Mrs. Howard for Sherrill Furniture; a rug license and a bedding collection are coming soon	The Hickory Chair Furniture Co., Visual Comfort lighting, Safavieh rugs, Soicher Marin fine art, Lee Jofa fabric, Ballard Designs accessories
famous client	“I never kiss and tell.”	Blackberry Farm

Photograph of Howard by Josh Savage Gibson; photograph of Kasler by Erica George Dines. This article originally appeared in our December 2012 issue.

Design Stars

Phoebe Howard Vs. Suzanne Kasler