As images from Pinterest and Houzz flood my computer and the passing of trends speeds up, I make a point to take a beat and breathe. Though the image references are quite useful, I find myself drawing less, moving too fast, and desiring to slow the design process to a speed that allows true originality. For me, looking back to early American design is always a great way to refresh the brain and recharge the talent.

I think most people who aren't in the interior design business think of an actor when they hear the name Billy Baldwin, but long before he was ever born, brilliant interior designer Billy Baldwin was working his magic on spaces across the U.S. Thought of as the quintessential American designer, he took cues from Europe while defining a clean, tailored, modern, distinctly American aesthetic. He truly was a genius. And like all designers I know, he had a fair amount of insistent opinions. Below are a few key Baldwin-isms:

"First and foremost, furniture must be comfortable. That is the original purpose of it, after all."

"No matter how taste may change, the basics of good decorating remain the same: We're talking about someplace people live in, surrounded by things they like and that make them comfortable. It's as simple as that."

"Stick to the things you really love. An honest room is always up to date."

"Be faithful to your own taste because nothing you really like is ever out of style."

Brilliant, simple, honest. My favorite. For more reading on the 'dean of interiors', his philosophies, and his impressive clientele, check out Billy Baldwin Decorates. The spaces are still as fresh as the day he designed them.