Ep. 341: Storytelling in Decorating with David Netto

We welcome Los Angeles based interior designer and writer David Netto this week. David’s work has been featured in Vogue, Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, House Beautiful, and many more. David is on the AD100 list, and has also written about the history of architecture and ensign for the Wall Street Journal and New York Times Style Magazine and is now a contributing editor for Town and Country. In our conversation, we talk with David about his inspiration for design, and his gorgeous new self-titled book. David shares more about how he creates a furniture plan, his love of the dramatic in design, and he shares a few practical tips for creating elegance in your home.  

What You’ll Hear On This Episode:

• David’s father owned the historic fabric house, Cowtan & Tout. 
• From an early age, David had an appetite and appreciation for theater in decor, and combining the modern with antique. 
• How and why a slightly unfinished look can be elegant. 
• Using chairs like chess pieces in design. 
• A few of David’s other versatile tools to make rooms like artsy, dramatic and bohemian. 
• How a cooking star influenced David’s self-titled book. 
• Storytelling is the foundation of good decorating. 
• How David starts creating a furniture plan. 
• Afraid of a beautiful chocolate brown wall? Don’t be! 
• What David looks for when choosing fabric or upholstery. 
• East vs. West coast design. 
• The importance of having a team of greatly skilled people who can play up to your own strengths. 

Also Mentioned: 

• Ballard Designs
• David Netto Design 
• David Netto IG 
• David Netto monograph 



Decorating Dilemma: 

Thank you for writing in, Rachel! First, David is going to dream. In a world where construction is possible, we would cut that window straight ahead down to the floor and turn it into a French window that has a railing. In reality though, David would demolish the bookcases on the left and right, and retain them just at the end.  He would invest in four clipped bookcase lights (there’s a store in London that he loves for this) and some nice paint. Also, David would paint the floor with high gloss paint! Something to keep in mind and put on your list, if you agree!