Colin King is considered the leading interior stylist for the world’s most prominent brands and publications, but what sets his projects apart is antithetical to the conventions that tend to come with such titles. There is a humanness to his work, a celebrated imperfection that captivates beholders and makes them feel at ease. This signature “unstyledness” isn’t merely an aesthetic device, however. It’s the center point of Colin’s design philosophy, and a remnant of his unconventional path.
From a young age, Colin understood the gravity of self-expression. Growing up in suburban Ohio, he used dance as a means to both find and hone his creative vocabulary. “It was a big part of my identity,” he recounts. “I saw it as a bridge to the world outside the Midwest.” When the medium provided him an opportunity to move to New York and pursue a BFA, he never imagined stepping beyond the stage.
“It’s been an organic and intuitive journey—and I feel incredibly grateful, because I know it doesn’t always happen that way,” Colin notes. “I wasn’t one of those people jackhammering at one thing. I was like a hummingbird flying around to different flowers, trying to find the right one, but it resulted in this beautiful cross-pollination.” Though he’s only worked in the industry for the past decade, he’s approached styling the same way he has every other job: with ambition and curiosity. “I just never stopped moving. I threw myself into it and said yes to everything, wanting to experience as much as I could. It’s led to successes and some definite misses, but I’ve loved every part of it.”
In this way, Colin attests that every object and detail in a home has the potential to come to life, if it’s given a proper chance. “A rock is just as important as an art piece, a custom cabinet, or a family heirloom. It’s really about the significance that you give to each item—how you arrange it or choose to display it—which is the fun part,” he adds. But Colin believes that the most beautiful aspect of living spaces is that they can and should constantly change, just like us. “Styling is so often viewed as polishing, but I view it as a way to honor the fact that our homes are perpetually evolving,” he continues. “We, as people, are always creating, composing, moving, and acquiring—our lives are never set. Our homes should be a reflection of that.”
