In the BOH series What I Love, we’re asking designers to build us a mood board of what’s inspiring them right now.
For native New Yorker Susan Petrie-Badertscher, her melting pot of a home city doubles as a centrally located launchpad to all the wonders of the world. “This year alone, I’ve visited London, Spain and Italy,” says the principal at Petrie Interior Designs, who jumps on a plane “whenever I want to get my creative juices flowing.” Crucial in shaping her evolution as a cosmopolitan and culturally intuitive interior designer, travel also serves as her forever resource. “I keep my eyes wide open and never go anywhere without bringing something back that subtly weaves—visually, materially or emotionally—into my design narratives,” she adds.
In her vivid yet sophisticated mood board, Petrie draws inspiration from time spent exploring Mexico and Morocco. A botanical linen print in green and blue features a peacock motif that evokes the traditional bird imagery often depicted in indigenous Mexican textiles. It complements a ceramic cup from Oaxaca ringed with painterly swirls of the same two colors. The cobalt-blue cloth cover of a vintage art book found at a Mexico City flea market nods to the hue made famous by both Frida Kahlo’s Casa Azul in Coyoacán and Yves Saint Laurent’s Jardin Majorelle in Marrakech. Countering the intense shade, concrete tiles in muted tones of rose and sand reference Morocco’s zellige mosaics, while a hand-knotted wool-and-jute rug celebrates the North African country’s heritage of custom craftsmanship.
“Whether it’s a contemporary take on a paisley block print or an embroidered trim vibrating with orange, pink and yellow geometries, these are the kinds of details that find their way into my projects,” says Petrie. Her artful balance of such disparate influences—grounded by neutrals like matte oak flooring and matchstick roller blinds—appeals to a clientele that’s just as well-traveled as she is and wants layered, collected spaces that convey their personal journeys without crossing the line into the garish or touristically clichéd. “The mix of browns, blues and greens in this mood board brings to mind desert terrains and coastal landscapes, seeding a sense of wanderlust,” she explains. “The patterns and textures suggest craftsmanship found in far-flung corners of the world.” Below, the designer describes her choice of palettes, materials and prints.
1. SAMBURU GRASSCLOTH WALLCOVERING IN MIDNIGHT BY PETER FASANO
“I’ve always admired this jute combination. It feels tribal yet modern—a worldly take on wallcoverings.”
2. AGATE COASTER
“The soft beige gradations of this coaster from my home add to the overall natural feel of the mood board.”
3. ARCOS FABRIC IN OCEAN BY CAROLINA IRVING TEXTILES
“I am a sucker for a green-and-blue combo, but this linen fabric had me at the bird motif, which is often seen in, and indigenous to, Mexican textiles.”
4. CERAMIC CUP FROM COOPERATIVA 1050°
“I found this in a small but chic pottery store in Oaxaca that makes the most beautiful ceramic home goods.”
5. CORFU FABRIC IN BLACK NEUTRAL BY SCHUMACHER
“This suzani print with embroidered accents feels decorative and exotic.”
6. MAUPAS FABRIC IN ABSINTHE BY MANUEL CANOVAS
“Another enticing arrangement of blue and green, this time as an impressionistic ikat bordered by rows of indigo diamonds.”
7. ‘RUFINO TAMAYO: TRAYECTOS’
“I found this vintage Rufino Tamayo book at a flea market in Mexico City and fell in love with the artist. The cover is what drew me in, and it embodies the cobalt blue that you see in places such as Frida Kahlo’s home or architect Luis Barragan’s Casa Gilardi in Mexico City, as well as the Majorelle Garden in Morocco.”
8. COLOURWEAVE BAMBOO SHADE IN NATURAL BY HARTMANN&FORBES
“Matchstick shades are becoming popular again, and I’m all for it. They filter light so naturally, and the timeless quality of a well-made textural shade packs a nice punch in any room.”
9. STRANDS TILES IN BLUSH AND SABLE BY CONCRETE COLLABORATIVE
“While in Morocco with Travel with Grant, we went on a personal tour of Popham Design to learn more about the process and history of zellige tiles, even making our own. The tiles in my mood board are concrete and manufactured in Southern California, but their muted, earthy hues share an affinity with the clay tiles I saw abroad. They feel like the colors of a tropical beach scattered with sun-kissed seashells.”
10. POP ART BORDER TRIM IN ORANGE BY KIT KEMP FOR CHRISTOPHER FARR CLOTH
“A jute pop-art border of high-energy, geometric shapes? Yes, please. Not only are the graphics modern—they also offer a global feel that’s perfectly suited to the overall aesthetic of the flat lay.”
11. AYESHA PAISLEY FABRIC IN SPINEL/IVORY BY LISA FINE TEXTILES
“Unlike a cookie-cutter paisley, this one from Lisa Fine feels contemporary and alive, almost like it’s telling a story across the linen. The pattern has a painterly, bohemian quality—hand-drawn, organic and slightly imperfect—that brings a romantic touch to interiors, and the block-print vibe can work in many spaces.”
12. MOROCCAN WAVE RUG BY STUDIO FOUR NYC
“I really enjoyed looking for rugs in Morocco. The artisans who weave them are so invested in their work. Hearing how much love goes into creating each style makes you appreciate them even more. Named after the country that inspired it, this rug by New York’s Studio Four reminds me so much of the [kind you see in] souks. The wheat and cream tones are attractive, the texture so comfortable on bare feet.”
13. LUMP CANDLEHOLDER BY KIM THOMÉ
“Propping up a pair of curvy candles—I got this handcrafted one from a maker in Oaxaca—these brass candleholders will elevate any dinner party. They’re so cool and sculptural.”
14. STILE COCONUT FLOORING IN EUROPEAN OAK BY LV WOOD
“A beautifully brushed, matte-finished wood that would look good in any globally inspired home: In the mood board, it’s a rich backdrop for a sprinkling of spices and a colorful photo from my travels.”
15. PALM PARADE GRASSCLOTH WALLCOVERING IN SAGE BY ERIKA M. POWELL TEXTILES
“This subtle and soft grasscloth would look beautiful in an enclosed porch or family room, creating the sensation of being lost in a lovely garden.”
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