Photographs by ChiChi Ubiña

Where did you grow up?
Bergen County, New Jersey

What influences did you have growing up that made you become a designer?
At age nine, I made a decision to become a designer. I cherished my mother’s subscription to Architectural Digest. I already considered myself an artist and I thought I could make a career out of design. I loved all of the arts as a child. I grew up working on my drawing at home and at my grandfather’s office. He encouraged my art pursuits.

My father, who owns a carpet and flooring business, would take me with him to job sites to measure on Sundays. My mother, who had impeccably good taste, liked WJ Sloane. When I was 5, she taught me that curtains should have linings and weights at the bottom and that they should touch the floor. She also told me about pinch pleats. Both of my parents let me pursue my interest in art and design at a young age. My mother believed in my talent. They signed me up for courses outside of school to develop my portfolio to enable me to get into the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).

I think that my diverse cultural heritage has some bearing on my career path. My father is Persian. I was lucky to have visited Iran before the revolution in 1979 and to see the beautiful architecture and art. I was completely blown away by Isfahan. I think it is almost natural to be drawn to the arts, design and architecture, if one is exposed to the richness of Persian art and architecture at a young age. My childhood home reflected a mix of cultures. My parents were pretty stylish. Later, I fell in love with everything English and then French and now Asian.

What would you consider your design style?
Transitional, eclectic, hints of the exotic.

How long have you been designing?
Since the late 1980‘s.

Where did you study?
Fashion Institute of Technology NYC, Curry College, Milton MA and The Sotheby’s Institute of Art, London.

How do you define “home”?
A place to curl up with a book, a refuge from the world, a place of comfort and a place to receive guests and entertain.

What are some questions you ask your clients before you begin a project?
What is your dream? Do you entertain? What do you love? How do you see yourself using this room?

Noelle Newell
Residential Design
Allied Member ASID
20 Ground Pine Lane
Easton, CT 06612
(203) 373 1206 Land Line
(203) 273-8920 Mobile
noellenewell@me.com