What's Your Fancy? Billy Cotton on His Elevated Everyday Essentials

"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."

True luxury whispers. Take interior designer Billy Cotton's new home collection with West Elm, for example. You won't see home objects warped in experimental shapes, or accessories doused in bright colors, but rather, the line is filled with streamlined silhouettes without fuss. Plenty of Cotton's past projects are print-heavy, but this one takes a different turn. "I wanted this collection for West Elm to be the opposite [of what I've done before]," he tells T&C. "I wanted people to be able to live with it in a really seamless way and not have to overthink anything. I have also seen from my work that timeless design is essential, and this collection really embodies that."

A series of bed frames, chairs, and table decor feature a neutral color palette and angular shapes. There are little quirks here and there, such as ceramic seashell bowls and floor lamps with cone-shaped shades. "The dining chair for example is like this idea of a great pair of jeans, it just fits. It doesn’t really know what time it belongs to—could be Art Deco, could be now—and I hope that means that the design is inherently timeless."

Sure, the items may appear simple, but upon a close look, the genius is clear. "A lot of design that we see today is a reproduction of vintage things from the past, and we were certainly inspired by certain things during the design process, but everything in this collection is a new design," Cotton says. " It was also important to me for everything to have an element of hand to it; we went through over a hundred versions of shells to find the perfect shape for the cereal bowl. You don’t get higher-end than that."

His everyday essentials mirror this, too: not too flashy, but beautifully made.

Toothpaste Squeezer

For Cotton, even the mundane things should be beautiful. “Makes the daily chore a joy," he says. "And no more unsightly half-squeezed tubes of toothpaste!”

English Breakfast Tea

Where does Cotton get his mojo from? English breakfast tea, which he simply describes as "my fuel."

Roadster Slim-Fit Striped Cashmere Half-Zip Sweater

“The combination of fabrics is unreal. Durable, gorgeous, unpretentious. The world’s best sweatshirt.”

Herbag Zip Cabine Bag

Cotton also takes the philosophy of high-quality and simple design with his accessories. This bag is his go-to choice, whether it's on the way to the office or traveling abroad. "The details, the quality, the brand," he says.

Arrangements

No detail is too small. "My enamel vase is best when filled with the perfect flowers from Plaza Flowers on Lexington Avenue."

Billy Cotton Ceramic Shell Bowl

While most of Cotton's collection is minimal, the designer wanted to include a dash of whimsy. “Salt is very important to me, and the shell brings a smile.”

Billy Cotton Simple Dining Chair

“Hopefully it feels like it disappears. A phalanx of dining chairs can feel so overwhelming," Cotton says, describing his take on a simple dining chair for West Elm. "A phalanx of dining chairs can feel so overwhelming."

You Might Also Like

• 12 Weekend Getaway Spas For Every Type of Occasion

• 13 Beauty Tools to Up Your At-Home Facial Game