Janet Gridley reads Roald Dahl books she checks out at the library, drinks espresso with two lemon twists at La Duni and counts a primitive cabin in Minnesota (accessible only by traversing a lake in a little motor boat) as one of her favorite places on earth. Erudite, warm and supremely down-to-earth, she also possesses an almost intimidatingly amazing sense of style and seriously impeccable taste.

After spending years as a sought-after stylist and art director for film, print and advertising, Janet was craving more permanence in her work, spurring a transition to interior design (she still accepts the occasional photo shoot when the project is too cool to pass up – think Blu Dot).

Now the Minneapolis transplant (she made the move to Dallas with her family five years ago) spends her days creating lasting interiors for residential and commercial clients filled with her signature blend of utility and whimsy. Recent projects include a stunning Preston Hollow modern that made an appearance in last November’s AIA tour and the Minneapolis foodie temple, The Bachelor Farmer.

In a nutshell, Janet’s an all-around cool chic, so I thought she’d be the perfect subject to kick-off our inaugural “Thursday Tastemakers” feature.

So without further ado, herewith some of Janet’s design inspirations:

Images clockwise from top: blankets, Iacoli McAllister light fixture, Studio Ditte, sink

Hardware: I can get lost in any hardware store, time stands still as I wander the aisles. With catalogs now online, there are sites for marine hardware, tool carts, and prison sinks. Little tool carts are great as nightstands and small bathroom cabinets.

Thread: I never really grabbed-on to the “colorblocking” trend, but I do love seeing small bright shots of color. I used an amazing Iacoli McAllister light fixture recently in a project.

Charming/naive pattern: I use a lot of pattern in my work, lately, through online resources such as the smithsonian libraries, I have found all kinds of inspiration. Pattern is everywhere, even a high school football game. I try to keep my eyes open and camera handy.