A conversation with

Sydney Gore

Tell us about where you’re from, originally, and the house you grew up in.

"One of my best kept secrets is that I was born in Michigan so technically I’m a midwesterner, but I don’t claim this birthright. During that time, my parents lived in a tudor house—I’ve never seen any photos, but imagine that it must have been charming! Not long after I came out of the womb, we moved to New Jersey where I was raised in the suburbs. Driving to the mall was like going to church. My childhood home was part of a new neighborhood that was built in 1993 so there’s not much history beyond that, but my mom recalls the houses in the development being described as “European-inspired” with single family open floor plans. The exterior has some hints of Tuscan-style like stucco, but the interior leans hard into traditional decor."

What's your favorite room at home?

"My bedroom has always been my favorite room in this house; it’s the only place with color, the walls are pink with hand painted clouds and birds holding the ends of silky blue ribbons wrapped in flowers with butterflies. Very feminine, peak suburban princess vibes… It looks like something out of a Laura Ashley catalog. The furniture is a vintage French provincial set from my mom’s childhood bedroom so that’s really special. Despite going through a pop-punk phase as a teenager, I never had the heart to change anything—all I would do is tape posters of my celebrity crushes on the back of my door like a shrine! (They have since been disposed of, please send my regards to Adam Brody and Joe Jonas.)"

Sydney wears the Petal Silk Corset in Small & the Sofia Nightdress.

Have you repaired or restored anything recently? (We like maintenance.) If so, tell us about it!

"Anyone who knows me in real life is fully aware that I am not a DIYer, I will literally hire a TaskRabbit if I can’t find a friend who will do me a favor. I have no shame in using pretty privilege in this type of situation, I do not dream of labor! I never liked following directions, I’m a visual person so I’m better off watching a tutorial video on YouTube. Unfortunately, I have a backlog of repairs for vintage pieces that I’ve been avoiding for years like rewiring a lamp, recaning a chair, and framing several art prints… Maybe I’ll finally get around to it in 2025!"

What one house museum would you recommend visiting?

"I grew up going to art museums and parks, but didn’t really start enjoying historic house tours until my mid-twenties. Escaping the chaos of Soho by ducking into the Judd Foundation still feels like the greatest hack. Los Angeles has some of the most special homes like Hollyhock House and Neutra VDL House; I deeply regret not making time to drive out to the Eames House on my last trip now that it’s closed until further notice due to the devastating LA wildfires. I really want to visit Casa Pedregal, Casa Orgánica, The Glass House, and Fallingwater this year."

Sydney Gore Salter House Corset Sydney wears size Small Winter Tartan Bloomers and Corset & Batiste Daydress.

Is there a design tradition or era you’re most drawn to?

"This is a hard question to answer because I’m drawn to different eras for different reasons. My interior design style is more contemporary, I like mixing the old with the new—very Gorecore coded. I’m inspired by every space that Solange Knowles curates from the Saint Heron studio to her previous Hollywood loft, she is truly the blueprint. I think I’ll always have an appreciation for colonial era design because I grew up in such close proximity to Philadelphia; some of the neighboring suburbs have the most beautiful historic houses. When I was little, my late grandfather built me a dollhouse from scratch and ever since then I’ve longed to live in a Dutch Colonial. (Until then, I’ll continue living vicariously through Alyse Archer-Coité until further notice.) When it’s not being romanticized for all the wrong reasons, that style reminds me of the best parts of my childhood.

As an adult, I feel the most influenced by Bauhaus. In 2019, I randomly visited the Bauhaus Dessau Campus not knowing that the course of my life would change about six months later. (The publication that I was working for at the time would go on to do a capsule collection with Bauhaus-Archiv, but I was out there to cover a music festival nearby.) This didn’t register until 2021 while I was being interviewed for my job at Architectural Digest. My boss, Amy Astley, asked how and when I became interested in design, and as I paused to think of a good response, I realized that A*G Minis was the catalyst—it taught me (and so many other millennials) how to design with a point of view. After the call ended, I nearly fell to the floor because I hadn’t noticed how similar the retro furniture in the AG Minis loft looked to some of the pieces in my current apartment like my vintage MR10 chairs. Bauhaus was there before I was even aware"

Sydney Gore East Village Salter House Sydney wears Butterscotch Knit Cardigan and Wrap Skirt in size Small.

Do you have recommendations for books or writings about design that have really resonated with you?

"Maybe this is just the natural progression of life once you turn 30, but I feel like I can’t have a conversation with anyone without the housing crisis coming up. I’ve been deep in research mode so most of what I’ve been reading lately is meaty nonfiction related to homeownership. I recently started Black Utopians: Searching for Paradise and the Promised Land in America by Aaron Robertson. After I finish that I plan to tackle Soul City by Thomas Healy. I highly recommend Rooted: The American Legacy of Land Theft and the Modern Movement for Black Land Ownership by Brea Baker; I found out about the book after working on a story about modern Black migration and couldn’t put it down!"

Sydney Gore and Sandeep Salter Sydney wears the Butterscotch Cardigan, Slip Skirt & Jacquard Studio Coat in size Small.

When you think about becoming a writer, is it connected to a place?

"For me, writing is home. It’s always felt like the most natural thing that I know how to do, writing is like breathing."

What have you been writing about this month?

"So many things! I connected the dots between the “fisherman aesthetic” trend and coastal interiors which was too much fun. I have a column at AD called “Rent Free” where I write about things I can’t stop thinking about—watch this space for a very special animal print report. I just launched my own newsletter, Nobody’s Home, on Substack where original content will be living on a screen near you soon :)"

Sydney Gore Salter House Nightdress

How does your work affect your home / your wardrobe / the relationship to your belongings and the objects in your home?

"Everything is interconnected, there really isn’t room for separation anymore–the lines have never been blurrier! I’ve always been very attached to my belongings, every object that I collect has a story. I follow my grandmother’s example of treating your home like a gallery and filling it with meaningful things that you’ll cherish forever. I curate every nook and cranny very intentionally whether it’s what’s hanging in my closet or the stack of books on a shelf. I strive for every piece in my home to be in constant conversation."

Sydney Gore at Salter House East Village Sydney wears Wendy PJ Top & Butterscotch Wrap Skirt in size Small.

How do you hope your writing affects how readers’ think about these spaces?

"I hope that my writing makes people feel welcome to engage in an ongoing dialogue. The throughline in my work is interrogating the why; I want to challenge my readers to do the same, don’t be afraid to question things! I trust my gut and follow my curiosity wherever it leads me; that approach has never failed me. Before working at AD, I felt like I didn’t have the authority to speak in this space because I didn’t come from a design or architecture background, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. Now that I’ve been doing this for awhile, I feel obligated to bridge that gap. The door is wide open, so what’s stopping you from coming in? The days of waiting for a seat at the table are over, pull up with your own chair."

Sydney Gore in Gardana Glogs
Sydney wears Batiste Beatrice & Corduroy Bloomers in size Medium.

Do you have a favorite Salter House garment? How do you wear it?

"The best thing I ever purchased was the Forest Check set, I feel like an American Girl Doll when I wear all the pieces together :)"

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