Designer Mona Ross Berman opened her eponymous design firm in Philadelphia in 2004, and has been steadily increasing her client base and expanding into new markets ever since. Her aesthetic as a designer is rooted in the classics, but marked by a fresh and fun twist. She approaches every project as a unique opportunity to explore new ideas and find solutions for her clients.
Over iced coffees at Du Jour in Haverford, Berman dished to me about her aesthetic (colorful, a bit funky, yet still classic), her favorite clients (Doron is one of them), and whether or not Bravo’s Million Dollar Decorators is how it really works in the world of interior design (yes, the problems portrayed in the show really do creep up, but—as is de riguer with reality shows—they’ve clearly been amped for dramatic effect).
Mona Ross Berman’s design of a Jersey shore beach house in this month’s House Beautiful makes use of expansive neutrals with many bursts of colorful accents in coral, yellow, and turquoise.
Though color is used boldly throughout the home, it is not a jarring experience to travel from room to room because the same tones repeat themselves in all the spaces. Berman was cautious not to make all her choices ultramodern, however, because she wants the design to have longevity for her client. For example, classic picture molding, simple window treatments, and eclectic furnishings balance out the bright paint colors so the design as a whole doesn’t feel as if it comes from only one era. Other creative solutions include treating sliding barn doors that hide the laundry area with a strong color to function as artwork on the wall and highlight their beachy texture.
Mona, eager to infuse a fresh and fun vibe, knew just how to attack the space to pull together a cohesive design—which can now be characterized as a gentle mix of high-end accessories and affordable retail items, family heirlooms next to custom-made furniture, and vintage antiques paired with modern art.
Next, I hired Mona Ross Berman, an interior designer based in Philadelphia, to help me stage my apartment. I needed a fresh pair of eyes to transform my boring two-bedroom into a beautiful space. But rather than simply make my current home more attractive to a buyer, I also wanted to select some new furnishings that I could take with me to my next house. I’ll admit that I spent more money than I would have if I hired a traditional home stager. But I actually feel as if I got a better bang for my buck since I now have some gorgeous lamps, pillows and curtains that I can take with me.
Maureen Doron’s favorite spring look at her Bryn Mawr store is a Milly floral coat over a striped dress. So it’s no surprise the owner of Skirt wanted to use color and pattern in the first home she bought at 29 with her husband, Nathan.
“I wanted it to be classic, yet young and fresh,” she says of the stone Colonial in Broomall. She also wanted it to look finished even before she moved in.
Mona Ross Berman was just the kindred spirit to help Doron. But the Chestnut Hill designer presented her with an element banished by the previous generation of homeowners – wallpaper.
