Fashion Director Kerry Pieri’s Stylish Home Is Dressed in Monochrome Tones

Welcome to The Makers. Each week, we’re celebrating innovators, artisans, and crafters of all types, taking you on a private tour of their creative spaces. For this instalment, we tour fashion director and artist, Kerry Pieri's neutral-toned home in Buffalo, New York.

If you didn't know that fashion director Kerry Pieri was the occupant of this Victorian house in Buffalo, New York what you would recognise is that someone who understands and appreciates good design calls it their home. The attention to detail and cohesion throughout is fundamental to the aesthetic success of the interior design that reflects the predilections of its style-savvy owner.

Kerry studied writing and fine art at college, unsurprisingly diving into the world of journalism and design thereafter. She has worked at Harper's BAZAAR for the last ten years overseeing the fashion vertical for BAZAAR.com. This role as digital fashion director sees her launching digital covers, styling celebrity features, and managing recurring features. On top of this coveted role, Kerry is an artist who paints abstract oil paintings and line drawings, creates content for social media, and is a mother.

She has created an atmosphere of understated luxury with an elegant, relaxed vibe in her home. Embracing a neutral palette means there is a cohesive design scheme across the rooms, with these pared-back tones being elevated by tactile materials and an interesting mix of cool and classic décor.

The main living room is Kerry's favourite area of the home and perhaps the chicest of the spaces. Here, a white Maralunga sofa sits with a brown marble coffee table, an eclectic mix of ceramic pots, and a large antique gold mirror. An expansive bay window with sheer curtains allows natural light to filter through the open-plan space that is shared with the dining area where one of her oil paintings hangs on the wall.

Each room is adorned with textured materials like bouclé and linen upholstery which elevate the monochrome scheme and make the home feel more liveable. Dark accents add contrast and definition and can be seen in the living room's Charcoal cushion covers and the primary bedroom's matching bedding. This boudoir feels classic and inviting and features travertine bedside tables that match the living room console.

We spoke to Kerry about her top tips for creating a stylish space, her impressive career, and her upcoming children's book.

Shop Kerry Pieri's Edit.

Hi Kerry! This series is called The Makers. What is it that you make?

I love the word maker because we are all making something all of the time, even people who don’t think of themselves as creative. I paint abstract oil paintings and line drawings, I create images and videos for social media, and I write stories for interior and fashion websites. I also made a children’s astrology book coming out in January!

How does the act of “making” relate to your personality and who you are?

Having creative outlets is so important for me to feel in balance. I felt for a long time like I needed to pick a lane, which is why I was in a fashion role for so long (over a decade!) but now I am embracing that I have many avenues to explore my creativity and seeing where each of them take me.

Tell us about your career journey to date. Did you always know you wanted to pursue this line of work?

I studied writing and fine art in college, so I suppose keeping both of those aspects as part of my professional life makes sense, but it wasn’t always the case. I worked for a bit in broadcast television planning lifestyle and fashion-based shoots before starting in websites and magazines. I wrote, styled, and edited while at BAZAAR.com for ten years. I didn’t have a true career plan – but I was often pleasantly surprised by what was around the corner – and let’s be honest, I still don’t.

What’s been the best thing that’s happened to you since you started your career?

I’ve loved the travel and getting to explore new places and meet amazing and creative people. And more recently, creating art that lives in people’s homes and daily lives is so beautiful.

Do you have a single piece of advice you’d give to your younger self or someone looking to pursue a similar line of work?

Be open to learning from other people, but also follow your instincts. The line between paying your dues and getting stuck can be hard to decipher if you don’t do regular gut checks.

Now, the home stuff. How long have you lived in your home?

We’ve been here about a year and a half.

How did you initially know this was the space for you?

I wasn’t honestly sure I was ready to leave NYC, but I knew I loved this space. It’s so much bigger than where I was living in the city but still approachable for our little family and the old Victorian details made it feel so special.

Did you do any renovations or make any big changes after moving in?

The main big change we did was getting rid of floor-to-floor carpeting and putting in unfinished oak floors. The rest is paint and little projects.

What was the thought process behind the way you’ve styled the interior?

I wanted it to feel calm but cool and interesting. I did that by investing in pieces that feel different, tactile, and unexpected but by also keeping the palette neutral.

What are your top tips for a well-styled bedroom, and home generally?

It has to feel inviting. Have a few light sources like side lights and a diffused overhead. Lots of comfy pillows and blankets, and I personally love white, tan and grey in a bedroom because they put you at ease.

Do you have any projects coming up you want to talk about?

My children’s book, Baby’s First Zodiac, is coming in January. It’s an illustrated poetry book for children, and obviously is needed on every bedside to complete a bedroom for both children and adults globally!

For more from Kerry follow her Instagram @kerrypieri

Photography by Meghan Marin. Styling by Laura Woolf.