Cortney Novogratz

What first inspired you to delve into design? Down South, our mamas often inspire us. Did yours?
My mother gave me the freedom—and a push—to decorate my bedroom when I was young, and I loved the experience. After that, I was ready to do more, and ultimately, it is what defined what I wanted to do as an adult.

What is your favorite piece? Would you sell it under any condition? I am not including children.
My husband, Robert, and I have a gorgeous mirror in our country house. It’s plaster with two women on it; they don’t make things like that anymore! I would never sell it, but on the other hand, I also try to ‘never say never’ on pretty much everything because you never know!

You, your husband and troupe of seven kids are now America’s most famous designing family. Does that add or take away any pressure? You and Robert are so low-key.
Robert and I never went to design school, so we design with our guts and naturally make mistakes. That is how you get better or challenge yourself. We’re not afraid and we don’t take ourselves too seriously. We simply love what we do and are always up for a new project, a new experience, a new challenge.

We know it isn’t easy raising such a large family in New York. How do you stay sane? Do you make calm time for yourself?
I actually love it, though that doesn’t mean that there aren’t difficult days. Somehow, we manage to juggle it all and it works. We have help, for sure! It is life the way Robert and I wanted to live it. Robert helps me by always making light of a stressful situation, and I do take time for myself. A glass of wine really helps!

Children and design don’t always seem to overlap. Any advice for parents, besides to run and hide?
Children do like design if you expose them to it. They love—and often have an opinion about—color, texture and more. Many moms would be surprised to learn that, after having kids, not everything needs to be plastic! We should strive to remain hip, cool, calm and alive, even after becoming a parent! Don’t just throw in the towel from a design point of view; get better with a fuller life and lots of style.

Since you must never sleep, you must be on to some new and exciting project.
We are currently designing a larger hotel in New Jersey, working on a new book and adjusting to the teenage years. Fingers crossed!