At the Table With: Leanne Ford
Ft. drippy, moody candles and a Parisian playlist
At The Table With is a monthly interview series that explores the ideas of creativity and personal taste through the eyes of my friends (or people I would like to be friends with). This month’s guest is—I kind of can’t believe I’m saying this—the truly iconic Leanne Ford.
Leanne Ford really needs no introduction, but I’ll do my best. An interior designer, TV personality, and expert curator, Leanne is known for thoughtfully renovating and restoring historic spaces, from carriage houses and schoolhouses to brownstones and barns. Her design perspective is textured and nuanced, deeply layered with story, and almost always involves a meticulously chosen shade of white paint. Alongside her brother Steve, Leanne has co-hosted two HGTV shows, Restored by the Fords (2016) and Home Again with the Fords (2020)—the only two home renovation series I can honestly say I’ve watched more than once. She’s since gone on to write a book, launch a print magazine, design multiple collections with Crate & Barrel, buy and renovate a Texas rental home with her best friend, open a shop with Buck Mason… The list goes on. I mean, she just announced last week that she’s writing a musical!!!
Leanne is my favorite kind of designer, someone who allows their intuition to lead their decision-making and doesn’t abide by any specific set of rules. In one episode of Home Again with the Fords, Leanne sponges dark roast coffee onto a white wall to give it a sort of patinated, been-there-forever feeling. In Restored by the Fords, she patches two holes in a cottage’s old wooden floorboards with bowtie-shaped plugs, adding the kind of character you’d get from mending an old pair of Levi’s. Where someone might see a flaw, Leanne sees an opportunity, and none of it’s in a “get the look for less” way. It’s more of an, “I have an idea, let’s just see if it works” way. A ceiling might be hiding long-forgotten wooden rafters; wood paneling could be layered over vintage wallpaper worth saving.
As a perfectionist-in-recovery, I find Leanne’s ability to follow her curiosities across projects and mediums so, so inspiring. I’m actively working on embracing the more meandering parts of the creative process—the parts where you can’t quite see what’s at the end but you’ll know it when you get there. Leanne’s trust in and understanding of her own taste has become a bit of a north star for me, something to continue to work towards as I chase my own creative whims and try my hand at things I’ve never done before. I think a lot about gut feelings—or that place you go when you just know something’s worth exploring—and how to set aside fear to access them. Leanne’s got an exceptional ability to see the potential in something, and paired with the guts to just go for it, it makes for something truly special.
I asked Leanne a few questions…
Ali LaBelle: There are a lot of talented interior designers out there, but you’re one of a few who have a truly artful, uniquely-yours aesthetic. Even when others are trying their hand at the Leanne Ford vibe, you’re one step ahead, pushing yourself creatively and finding new corners of the Leanne Ford world to explore. So, a two-part question: How have you honed your point of view over time, and how do you stay nimble and excited about design?
Leanne Ford: Well first, thank you—that means a lot. You know, for me it’s never been about chasing a “look” or sticking to one formula. It’s always been about feeling. I didn’t go the traditional design school route, so I came into this from a place of curiosity and instinct, not rules. I just kept following what felt right to me—raw textures, lived-in whites, pieces with soul—and over time that evolved into a point of view. I say this a lot, but I really believe in designing fearlessly. That’s how you find your voice—by trying things, messing up, learning, and trying again.
And honestly, I like to see myself as a vessel for ideas to flow through. The best ideas come when I get out of the way and just let them flow through. When you’re tuned in—whether it’s to the space, the people, or the story—it all kind of reveals itself. My job is to listen, not force it.
Staying excited is easy when you’re not chasing anyone else’s version of success. I give myself permission to play, to try weird ideas, and to use what I already have and see it in a new way. Creativity shows up when you leave space for it. I don’t try to reinvent the wheel—I just keep finding new ways to roll with it.
AL: Something I really love about your approach is the way you embrace history, both the history of a house and the personal histories of the people who live in it. How do research and storytelling play a part in your creative process?
LF: I should say up front, I only take on renovations. I have only ever done one new build project. I’ve learned I’m at my best when I’m solving problems, not starting from a blank page. I need something to respond to—layers, history, even imperfections. That’s where the magic lives.
When I walk into a space, I think: What’s good? What can we keep? I’m not looking for perfection. I’m looking for something special. Every house has a story, and I want to honor that before bringing in anything new, whether it’s old woodwork, patinated old floor boards, or weird little nooks. Those are the things that give a place soul.
My process is super hands-on and in-the-moment. I’m not behind a computer creating CAD sketches. I’m in the space, moving things, trying things, trusting the feel of it. It’s messy and intuitive—and that’s how I like it.
I don’t research in the traditional way. I listen. I observe. I let the space and the items I have collected for the space guide me. That’s how the story comes together—quietly, honestly, and in its own time.
AL: Let’s talk about failure. You seem to have a sense of humor about most things… Have you ever tried something that just really didn’t work, and would you be willing to tell us about it? What did you learn from the process?
LF: I’ve failed more times than I can count—and honestly, I think that’s part of the job. I say this all the time: Design is just a big game of trial and error. You try something, you stand back, you squint, you move it again… I’ve painted entire rooms a color before just to paint them back to white. I’ve shipped and dragged in giant vintage pieces that looked amazing in my head but were a total miss in the space. Contractors hate to see me coming but even then I am not afraid to change my mind.
But here’s the thing: I don’t see those as failures. They’re just part of the process. The only way to find the magic is to be willing to mess it up first. That’s why I always say “design fearlessly.” Don’t wait for the perfect plan—just start. You can always pivot. You can always repaint. You can always rip it out and try again.
And yes, you’ve got to have a sense of humor about it or you will rip your hair out.
AL: How important is personal work for your creativity? I imagine that projects like Round the Round [Leanne’s rental property in Texas] or your magazine, Feel Free, provide a sense of fulfillment that’s different from client work.
LF: Honestly, I’m not really doing traditional client work right now—and that’s very intentional. At this point, projects like Round the Round and Feel Free aren’t just side projects, they are the work. It’s all personal. Work is life and life is work, and I wouldn’t want it any other way.
What’s been so fulfilling about this season is that I get to create purely from instinct. I’m not answering to a brief or a client, I’m just following what feels good—what sparks something. Whether it’s designing a space with my bestie, working on one of my books, building out the next issue of Feel Free, making art in my basement, or even songwriting with friends, it all feeds the same creative fire.
AL: What are three things you’re especially inspired by lately?
LF: As a true creative, I’m inspired by everything and everyone: music, people, places… You just gotta look up and the world is full of inspiration. I do love reading musicians’ autobiographies. Born to Run by Bruce Springsteen, Paul Simon’s book, and Patti Smith’s Just Kids are books I always find myself going to because they get my brain thinking bigger and more creatively. They’re totally unrelated but still the same thing.
There’s an old saying about the bed, the bath, and the bus and how that’s where all our good ideas come, and it is so true; give me a bath, a nap, or a road trip any day.
AL: What’s next for Leanne Ford?
LF: I think a new era is making its way in at the moment and it’s full of product design, music, and even some songwriting!
AL: Let’s do a little visualization exercise! Imagine your dream dinner party. You can invite anyone (living or not, famous or not), serve anything, and host it anywhere. Where’s the party?
LF: I actually just hosted my dream dinner party at my home in Sewickley. It was one of those nights where everything just clicked—good people, good vibes, good food.
AL: What are we having?
LF: We had a beautiful five-course meal by Nate Saar, an amazing up-and-coming chef I met on a trip to Miami. He’s since moved back to Pittsburgh and is working on opening his own restaurant here, which I’m so excited about. Every dish he made was thoughtful and delicious.
As for drinks—we kept it easy. Great wine and a few light, refreshing cocktails to keep the night flowing.
AL: What’s on the table? How are you decorating?
LF: I’m all about keeping it simple and beautiful. Lots of candles—always. We did something fun where we set different wine bottles on the table, opened them up, and tied cute napkins around the necks. It looked effortless and inviting, which is the goal.
And my number one rule: Dim the lights! Ambiance, ambiance, ambiance.
AL: Who’s invited?
LF: Everybody’s invited! The more the merrier.
AL: What’s the dress code? What are you wearing?
LF: Nothing too fussy. I love when people feel comfortable enough to show up as themselves. I wore my favorite black bell bottom trousers with heels and an oversized black silk blouse—untucked, of course—with a little neck scarf tied underneath the collar. Easy, comfortable, but still pulled together.
AL: What music is playing?
LF: My incredibly talented friend Erika Zabelle played live to start the night—it was magic. Then we let my "Pour Mon Pied à Terre" playlist take over. It’s got just the right vibe for a long, easy evening.
AL: Quick-fire round. What’s your favorite scent or smell?
LF: All things smoky and woodsy—I am actually working on a new candle as we speak!
AL: Favorite artist?
LF:Alexandra Valenti, Heather Chontos, and Jackie Leishman. Funny enough, they’re all colorful—which is ironic considering my usual neutral palette—but I love how these women use color.
AL: Last thing you read?
LF: A Moveable Feast by Ernest Hemingway. I can’t believe I hadn’t read it before—I picked it up on my way to Paris, naturally. And I'm immersed in this book about God and faith that my friend Tara Hannaford gifted me—Richard Rohr’s Everything Belongs. It’s blowing my mind. I have to read it with a pen and paper—so much to take in.
AL: Comfort food?
LF: I’m happiest eating anything from my friend’s local spot, Mic’s Market. It’s simple, delicious, and great for you—what more could you want?
AL: Something you bought recently?
LF: A pair of new/old jeans from Mello & Sons, and I may or may not have gone on a little Buck Mason shopping spree... Can you blame me?
Leanne, the biggest and most heartfelt thank you for taking the time to chat with me!
For more from Leanne, pick up a copy of her book, The Slow Down, or snag a piece from Leanne Ford for Crate & Barrel or Crate & Kids! And if you find yourself near Sewickley, PA, pop into Buck Mason with Leanne Ford for me—it looks like a dream.
x
Ali
Read more At the Table With interviews here.
Header image photography by Sarah Barlow.
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I’d never heard of her before. LOVE the Round The Round project.
Great read with so many fantastic insights to trusting the process and your instinct! 👏👏👏