Dani Nagel loves color, design, and modernism. If you went to the Modernism Week Fall Preview, you got to see a bold and unforgettable Palm Springs home with interior design in Dani Nagel’s vivacious style. In our upcoming print issue, you’ll get to step inside a Dani Nagel-designed interior. Owner of Dazey LA, a fashion line, as well as Dazey Den, Dani Nagel is a designer and entrepreneur. We wanted to find out more about how her interests come together and how her maximalist take on modernism works. Read on for what Dani has to say.
Fashion came first for you, is that correct? What drew you to the fashion industry?
Dani: I’ve been in love with both fashion and interior design since I was a child! But I always thought I had to choose one to pursue, so fashion came first. I’ve been working in fashion for over 11 years and started my own clothing brand Dazey LA about 6 years ago now. After building a successful career in the fashion/textile industry, I started to purse my other dream design job in interiors. Starting with my own spaces, I began to gain exposure for doing bold and daring design. From there my interior design studio Dazey Den was born! Now I do both fashion and home design, but both are colorful and maximal so they mesh so well.
What got you interested in Mid Century Modern inspired interior design?
I was invited to attend Modernism Week as I became more well-known as a fashion designer. There I was shown the magic of modernism in such an immersive way. Of course I had always loved MCM furniture and homes, but touring these spaces firsthand was so inspiring. It’s actually what kicked off our home search in Palm Springs!
What overlap do you see between your two fields of design? How do they influence each other?
I find so much overlap in fashion and interiors. From trends to textiles, they really follow a similar path. For me it was a seamless transition. I see designing a space very much how I design a collection. With a lot of experience as a graphic and textile designer, I knew how to use the computer programs that now help me bring my interiors to life. Across both my brands, Dazey LA and Dazey Den, you can see so many similarities.
Color palettes, use of pattern, bold colors/shapes, and vintage design inspiration. If you love design like I do, you want to design everything you see!
Your work draws on bold color and pattern—how do you achieve a cohesive style without the patterns and color clashing? How do you know if it “works”?
I design all of my spaces digitally before taking the leap. As a trained fashion designer, I have spent so many times iterating and experimenting with collections before going into production.
My clients love being able to see my digital renders and how uncanny they are to the real thing when it’s finished. I also have so much experience playing with color and pattern, it’s literally been my life for 10 years!
Finding unexpected combinations that work together is one of my favorite things, both in fashion and home.
Ethical and sustainable practice seems important to your work in the clothing industry. How do those values affect your interior design work?
Yes my clothing line Dazey LA is produced ethically and sustainably in Los Angeles. This was so important to me when starting after seeing the negative effects of fast fashion firsthand when I used to work corporate design. Sourcing sustainable things for interiors is not as easy, but something I’m always working on building my sources. Some great brands I love are Fireclay tile, a certified B-crop, and Joybird.
I’m also working on building a selection of ethical home goods based off of my textile designs!
How do you approach the interior design process?
With an open mind! When I walk into a space I start to see what makes sense for it design wise. It’s hard to explain, but I can almost see it come together before I even start designing.
I can walk in with no ideas and leave inspired with a total game-plan. Working with existing elements and within a theme always pushes me to think outside of the box and find way to make it work!
What’s your advice to someone who’s looking to tackle their home’s interior design?
Start small and build as you go. It can be really intimating to go bold with design, especially when the world teaches you to be afraid of color. But once you realize color is your friend, I think it’s easy to learn to make more daring design decisions! Even starting with an accent wall or bold textiles.
To see more of Dani Nagel’s interior design at work, stay tuned for our forthcoming Palm Springs issue! For more of Dani’s designs, visit Dazey LA and Dazey Den.
And of course, don’t forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more Mid Century Modern inspiration!
