Presidents' Day Sale: 20% off select rugs + free shipping with code PRESFREESHIP through Feb 17thDetails
Designer of the Week: Monica Lavin
Monica Lavin is a Charleston, South Carolina-based designer and entrepreneur whose work has been featured by major publications and brands including House Beautiful, Southern Living and Circa Lighting. Her latest venture, Art of the Entry, goes beyond the front door. With thoughtful craftsmanship and heritage design, this lifestyle brand offers timeless pieces for entries and exteriors, inspired by traditions of Southern hospitality.
Monica Lavin of Lavin Label
Monica Lavin is a Charleston, South Carolina-based designer and entrepreneur whose work has been featured by major publications and brands including House Beautiful, Southern Living and Circa Lighting. Her latest venture, Art of the Entry, goes beyond the front door. With thoughtful craftsmanship and heritage design, this lifestyle brand offers timeless pieces for entries and exteriors, inspired by traditions of Southern hospitality.
Why do you love interior design?
I’ve always been drawn to the way a space can tell a story and create a sense of welcome. For me, interior design is about harmony, beauty, and care, crafting environments that nurture, inspire, and reflect the people who live within them. I’m endlessly inspired by craftsmanship, history, and the layers that make a home feel like it has been collected over time. That same philosophy led me to create Art of the Entry, a brand I founded to celebrate the beauty of the home’s first impression. Through thoughtful details — from hand-painted tile house numbers to design-forward mailboxes — the collection brings that sense of story and craftsmanship to the exterior. It’s an extension of my belief that design doesn’t stop at the front door; it begins there.
Describe your style in three words
Sophisticated. Collected. Calming.
Where do you find inspiration?
I find inspiration in the details that tell a story: the patina of old brass, the texture of handwoven fabric, the elegance of historic architecture. Travel and craftsmanship have shaped my eye; I’m endlessly drawn to the layered beauty of places like Charleston, New England, and coastal Europe, where design feels both timeworn and intentional. Nature inspires me too — the softness of coastal light, the greens of Southern landscapes, and the texture of natural materials often find their way into my palette. More than anything, I’m inspired by how a space feels — calm, welcoming, and timeless. My work lives at the intersection of heritage and home, where artistry, storytelling, and everyday living meet.
What is a current design trend that you're loving, and how are you using it in your work?
I’ve never been one to chase trends, but I do love the timelessness of layered design. Lately, I’ve been especially drawn to the resurgence of pattern and texture, from wallpaper that adds warmth and depth to fabric lampshades that bring a soft, tailored touch to a room. Mixing textiles, trims, and prints creates that collected, lived-in feeling I always aim for. Whether it’s a subtle stripe paired with a floral or the contrast of linen against marble, those layers add soul and storytelling to a space, and to me, that never goes out of style.
What is your idea of great design?
My idea of great design is when a space makes you feel something. It’s not just about how it looks, but the emotion it evokes. I love it when your eyes wander and you keep discovering new details, like a pattern you hadn’t noticed, the texture of a fabric, or the way light hits a surface at a specific time of day. Great design should unfold slowly, revealing its layers over time. It invites you in, makes you pause, and reminds you that beauty resides in both grand gestures and quiet details.
Tell us about your project with Ernesta. What was the vision, and how did the custom-sized rug bring it to life?
For my project with Ernesta, the vision was to create a den that felt layered, comfortable, and lived-in: a space beautiful enough for entertaining but relaxed enough for everyday life. With a five-year-old and a dog, durability was just as important as design. Ernesta’s custom-sized rug fit the room perfectly and brought the whole space together by grounding the layout, added warmth and texture, and creating that soft foundation that makes a room feel complete. It’s proof that family-friendly design can still feel elevated, especially when every detail is tailored to how you really live.
When you're selecting or sizing a rug for a space, what factors do you consider to get it just right?
When selecting or sizing a rug, I always start by considering how the space functions. From there, it’s all about proportion and precision. I like a rug to anchor the furniture layout, not float in the middle of the room, so I make sure the front legs of sofas and chairs rest comfortably on it. I also pay attention to architectural details — for instance, cutting around the fireplace mantel or built-ins so the rug truly fits the room rather than competing with it. And finally, I always want it to cover enough floor to feel intentional and cohesive. The right rug should feel like it was made for the space because it should be.
How do you balance beauty and functionality in your work?
To me, beauty and functionality go hand in hand, enhancing each other. A space can only be truly beautiful if it supports the way you live in it. I always start with how a room is used — where people gather, how light moves through it, what needs to be within reach — and then layer in texture, color, and craftsmanship to make it feel elevated. I love materials that age gracefully, fabrics that invite touch, and details that are as practical as they are pretty. The goal is to create rooms that not only photograph beautifully, but also feel good and work hard for everyday life.
What are you reading or watching right now?
Right now, I’m watching The House of Guinness. I love stories that weave together history, legacy, and design in unexpected ways. I just finished reading The Ghostwriter, which completely pulled me in. I’m always drawn to books and shows that have a strong sense of place, whether it’s an ancestral estate or a writer’s retreat by the sea, those layered settings often inspire how I think about storytelling through interiors.
If you could design a home for a famous person or couple, who would it be?
If I could design a home for anyone, it wouldn’t be a celebrity — I’m much more inspired by the everyday mom. The woman who’s juggling work, family, and the beautiful chaos of daily life, but still wants her home to feel thoughtful and pulled together. I love creating spaces that make real life feel a little more graceful, where a coffee table can hold both fresh flowers and a stack of picture books, and where design supports the rhythm of family living without sacrificing beauty. To me, that’s where the heart of design really lives.
More from Monica Lavin:
Instagram
