A Touch of Style

Esteemed independent stylist, Carlos Mota gives Urban Agenda an insider's look at his new book of interior designs.

By Sarah Emily Gilbert

There’s nothing more eye-catching than a well-designed room—except, of course, when it’s featured in a world-renowned magazine. With a punch of Carlos Mota’s aesthetic, spaces are transformed into editorial masterpieces that demand attention in the pages of Elle Décor and the like. As the International Style Editor of Architectural Digest – and the designer of choice to celebrities like Jonathan Adler, Simon Doonan, and Geoffrey Ross – Mota is able to use his skills to curate some of the most beautiful rooms for the most discerning clients.

Eager to share his signature aesthetic with the rest of the world, Mota compiled his favorite images over the last 20 years into his new book by Assouline, A Touch of Style. “A curated journey through some of [Mota’s] incredible spaces,” A Touch of Style is guaranteed to throw you into a frenzy of flowers, colors, and unmatched elegance. Below, the master-class designer walks Urban Agenda NYC Magazine through some of his most memorable images.

: LOCATION: Jane Holzer, Long Island NY. “By using orchids in the bathroom, not only do you add a strong touch of color, but you bring the outdoors inside.” (Photo by Douglas Friedman)

: LOCATION: Giambattista Valli, Paris FRANCE. “This is one of my favorite pictures of Mr. Valli’s house in Paris. The pottery vase is from the Amalfi Coast, so I wanted to do something very summery; therefore, I chose the colorful dahlias.” (Photo by Matthieu Salvaing)

: LOCATION: Mima and Cesar Reyes’s house, PUERTO RICO. “This house in Puerto Rico is already very colorful. All I did was add the simple modern purple flowers to keep with the modern aesthetics of the house.” (Photo by Nikolas Koenig)

: LOCATION: John Dransfield and Geoffrey Ross, Somerset County NJ. “I love purple flowers and I try to use them as much as I possibly can! In this picture, with all of the monochromatics of the artwork, it makes the picture a little more fun, playful, and organic.” (Photo by Simon Upton)

: LOCATION: Rita Schrager, Southampton NY. “In this case, I wanted to bring the indoors into the garden by placing the daybed in front of the pool – the dog just adds a touch of life!” (Photo by William Waldron)

: LOCATION: Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan, Palm Beach FL. “I like to sometimes use weird and quirky flowers. Somehow it worked well at Jonathan Adler’s house! The hot pink really pops in this mostly green background.” (Photo by William Waldron)