When it comes to designing a bedroom or kitchen or office, Tyler Wisler believes “there are no rules.”
“At the end of the day, it’s about your gut feeling, and you’re the one living in your space,” Wisler said.
But that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few guidelines, the accomplished New York City designer quickly added.
“I think the most successful design is the one that mixes a lot of different things and a lot of different eras to create a story,” he said. “I think successful design is about mixing and matching the unexpected.”
And Wisler would know.
The 42-year-old has managed to make his voice — and style — stand out in the competitive world of interior design. He has established himself as an influential designer in New York City, and has become a much-followed personality on social media, including on Pinterest where he has racked up more than 61,000 followers.
The Hawaii native currently lives in South Orange, a bedroom community in northern New Jersey, with his husband Adrian and their 12-year-old son Paolo.
This weekend, Wisler will be among the many speakers at the Philly Home Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, where more than 300 vendors will also exhibit the latest trends in interior design.
Wisler discovered an interest in interior design in college. During his freshman year when he was 17, Wisler recalled with a laugh: “I was the guy with a place setting for four and an espresso machine [in my dorm room]. So people were like, What’s wrong with you? And I was like, that’s me!”
Wisler went on to receive a certificate from the New York School of Interior Design, and a Bachelor of Arts in interior design from Marymount University in Virginia.
Later, Wisler was working at an interior design firm in New York City when his big break came in 2011. He became a standout contestant on HGTV’s “Design Star,” which gave him “that voice, that platform, and that exposure to get me to the next level of design,” Wisler said.
He eventually went on to found his own interior design company, Tyler Wisler Home, in 2015 based in New York City.
Wisler said his personal aesthetic leans toward the vintage and industrial – a theme not unfamiliar in many of the newly renovated-warehouses-turned-luxury-loft-apartments popping up throughout Philadelphia.
When asked which project best exhibits his work and style, Wisler referred to a design he created for the faucet company Brizo, which is described as the “Rock Star Kitchen” on his website.
“I got a chance to design for me,” Wisler recalled, because the space was to be used as a set for the company and not to be lived in by a client.
The kitchen has hardwood floors in a herringbone design, with some exposed brick walls, a spiral staircase leading up to a loft, large industrial windows, and an island featuring a live-edged walnut slab for a counter.
“That is a great embodiment of what I love,” Wisler said about the design. “There are some unexpected things in there. Yes, it has this industrial, sort of dark, sexy feel to it, but it still has a lot of light, it’s got a lot of movement in it. That’s how I design.”
Wisler said he has designed interior spaces for clients all around the world, many of whom have nearly unlimited budgets.
But Wisler said he also looks to give back.
The interior design community in New York City embraces philanthropy, he said. During his nearly 20-year career, Wisler has participated in various charities and fundraising events, including Design On A Dime, a benefit put on by the nonprofit Housing Works to raise money to fight against AIDS and homelessness.
Wisler added that he also seeks to give back through his work on NBC’s “George To The Rescue,” which features host George Oliphant and a team of contractors and designers who build and remodel homes for those with medical issues and other deserving people.
When it comes to creating any design for an interior space, Wisler said he relies on a simple mantra: “I want you to feel like a rock star when you come home. This is your space; this is your domain. So why not reflect how awesome you are?”
Tyler Wisler will be in attendance at the Philly Home Show Jan 12-14 at the Pennsylvania Convention Center, 1101 Arch St. The event will also be held Jan. 19-21. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit https://phillyhomeshow.com/.