Q&A with Tara McCauley

Based in Manhattan, Tara McCauley is a contemporary interior designer who innovates while retaining a vintage sensibility. She tells Lucy Upward how her unique approach began and where it is now leading

Following an apprenticeship at the studio of Elle Décor A-List designer Nick Olsen, Tara McCauley set up her own studio in 2022. With her listing as a 2023 ‘Next Wave’ designer from House Beautiful magazine under her belt, McCauley is set for big things.

Here she talks about how she creates interior schemes and her love of rugs.

How would you describe your signature style?

I think of interior design as a form of storytelling. I’m a romantic by nature, and I’m drawn to rooms with personality, atmosphere and a touch of humour.

I draw constantly from fashion, art, film and decorative history, and I love bringing together things that perhaps, on paper, shouldn’t quite work: different periods, patterns, materials or ideas. I want a space to feel considered but alive, with a sense that there is more to discover over time.

I’m a longtime collector of vintage fashion, and that collector’s instinct naturally informs the way I approach interiors. I’m always looking for the connections between objects and the stories they tell together.

I’m also very interested in world-building: creating an atmosphere with its own visual language, with perhaps more theatrical flourishes than would suit a residential interior. I’m excited by opportunities in fashion, hospitality and other creative industries where an interior can communicate a point of view and create an immersive experience.

Are there any trends that you worked with this year that you really value?

I’m generally wary of trends, but I’ve been excited by the number of new rugs and textiles that draw on historical references while reinterpreting them in unusual colour combinations or unexpected scales. With more contemporary designs, I have recently dipped a toe into working with metallic yarns, which feel glamorous yet subtle, when used sparingly.

Do you currently see clients being pulled towards any particular looks?

My clients want their homes to feel as though they were put together over time, not decorated all in one go. Even when we are creating a brand-new custom rug for a project, they tend to gravitate toward patterns that feel retro or historical.

Do you see many clients wanting to include antiques in their interiors?

Absolutely. My clients crave the patina and sense of collectedness that antiques bring to a room. An older piece has already had a life before it enters the space, and that history gives it a presence that is difficult to replicate with something new.

Antiques also introduce irregularity and contrast, preventing an interior from feeling generic or overly polished. I love to see how antiques react to works of contemporary art and design.

Have you observed an increase in the importance of rugs and textiles in interiors?

My designs often begin with the rug; its colours become the starting point for the other textiles, wall coverings and paint colours in the room. It establishes the mood and gives all the subsequent decisions a framework.

My clients, thankfully, see the value in investing in custom rugs. Bespoke rugs can really make a room. Being able to customise the palette and scale of a rug to suit the design scheme of the room is invaluable.

I recently collaborated with the textile and rug brand Makrosha on several rugs for a client who wanted a primarily greyscale palette throughout the home.

We worked painstakingly to get the greys and blacks just right-neutrals can so easily skew blue or brown! We also paid special attention to materials chosen, to introduce more textural variation instead of colour. For instance, the bedroom is a super-soft Merino wool with silk and metallic accents, whereas the dining area rug is a sturdier wool flatweave.

For broadlooms, I love Patterson Flynn. They have great designs, a broad selection of colours, and their installation team always does a great job.

How do you use rugs in your interior schemes?

The rug ultimately needs to tie everything together, but when it is selected first (or designed specifically for the room) it can make a statement at the same time.

It is much harder to make a bold rug choice when it is introduced at the very end of the design process. At that point, there are often so many existing colours and patterns to accommodate that the safest option becomes the most practical one.

That being said, in a calming bedroom, for instance, I may not want to introduce too much visual noise. Then the rug becomes less about pattern and more about texture, material, and how it feels underfoot.

What kind of rugs do you love to work with?

I recently collaborated on the showroom design for Makrosha, which designs handwoven textiles and bespoke rugs. I have been collaborating with their team for years on custom rugs for my clients.

We have a very similar design sensibility, informed by history but interested in colour combinations that feel very fresh.

Do you have a favourite interior project?

Collaborating with Makrosha founder Esha Ahmed on the showroom was one of the most gratifying projects I’ve ever worked on. We really leaned into the world-creation aspect.

The goal was for the new showroom to evoke a 19th-century atelier where designers can see presentations of the collection and to discuss bespoke commissions. Makrosha’s textiles are produced entirely by hand, using techniques that have existed for centuries, yet the colour combinations feel strikingly fresh, sometimes even surprising. It’s a balance we both gravitate toward: honouring tradition while allowing for a certain irreverence.

A room feels luxurious when it feels considered and collected, not when everything feels newly purchased. Good proportions, soft lighting and a properly scaled rug will do far more for a room than an assortment of conspicuously expensive pieces.

What’s your designer’s tip to make a room look more ‘luxury’ than it really is?

To me, the greatest luxury is time: time to enjoy relaxing in your home and to spend with the people you love. I feel most ‘rich in life’, as the expression goes, when I’m reminded of my family and of travel experiences that have shaped my perspective.

A souvenir from a meaningful trip, or a beautifully framed family photograph, brings me much more happiness than an expensive object ever could.

Do you have any interesting projects coming up?

I recently worked on a 1950s bungalow in Atlanta where, despite a gut renovation, my clients wanted the house to feel as though it had never been touched. We designed several custom rugs with Makrosha to give each room a distinct personality. The patterns were inspired by early 20th-century Japanese floral prints, but the colours are pure mid-century modern.

Q&A by Lucy Upward