During childhood visits with his grandparents in Upstate New York, Baltimore-born Matthew Quill learned the power of a well-designed abode. His grandfather was a woodworker with a cabinetry business and his grandmother had an eye for antiques, so the couple opened a shop together. “Every time I went there, I was inspired by how beautiful they made their life and home, and I felt safe and comfortable,” shares Quill. “I just knew I wanted to create spaces like that for myself and others.”

After briefly attending community college, Quill took an interior design class which yielded a design internship. At the time, he was gut-renovating his own home in Baltimore. Taking professional photos of his work on that house led to a job in DC with interior designer Christopher Boutlier, where he spent four years before going solo. He now works out of his Georgetown home/studio, and lists Boutlier, Darryl Carter and Molly Kidd Studio as influences. His recipe for good design includes a monochromatic palette, organic materials and antiques—but the most crucial ingredients are determination and kindness. “You have to have drive; you can’t be afraid of falling on your face,” he says. “Also, be nice. Clients want to work with someone who they connect with.”

Interior Design: Matthew Quill, Matthew Quill Interiors, Washington, DC.