High-profile interior designer Celerie Kemble has become sought after by the young, successful set for creating an irreverent mix of classical and contemporary styles that always feel like home. With offices in New York City and Palm Beach, Celerie's constantly on the go, but spending time with her growing family is this tastemaker's top priority.
Q: What about your child makes you laugh?
A: His wobble-run/giggle-shriek combination. How he tucks his head down for extra speed when he's doing a real charge.
Q: What is your favorite family ritual?
A: Morning showers together, listening to ABBA. We have great shower acoustics for our waterproof-iPod thing.
Q: What was your most frazzled mom moment?
A: My son is learning to take his own diaper off, and our dog thinks the whole thing's a buffet.
Q: What parenting issue do you and your partner disagree most about?
A: What constitutes an okay toy—pens, soda cans, my jewelry!
Q: What is your parenting role: good cop or bad cop?
A: Bad cop.
Q: What do you wake up in the middle of the night thinking about?
A: Thank-you letters I've never written and still feeling the weight of gratitude not expressed; calls I haven't returned; and a billion work anxieties that at 3 a.m. seem heart-poundingly grave.
Q: What do you wish you had done before you had children?
A: Not much—I feel pretty lucky about that. Very practically, a massive spring cleaning of all the things filling my cupboards and closets—things I can't part with now, as much because of a lack of time as because of the reluctance of a serious hoarder. But, we need the space, and I need to escape the oppression of too much stuff.
Q: What is a typical Saturday morning in your house like?
A: Snuggling and nibbling in bed, trying to read the newspaper while Rascal dive-bombs through it.
Q: What was your mom most right about?
A: That time keeps getting faster. I need to stop more and just smell his hair.
WHAT'S YOUR
...guiltiest pleasure?
My husband, Rascal, and I all get our haircuts together at home.
...ideal getaway?
Down to Palm Beach for a long weekend with my family. My mom's the best babysitter, and I get to revert to preteen-like behavior.
...favorite clothing item?
Lela Rose Trench Coat
...current reading material?
Michael Pollan's In Defense of Food (Penguin Press)
WHAT'S YOUR PREFERENCE
...chocolate or cheese?
Cheese.
...cook at home or eat takeout?
Takeout ... unless my sister's doing the cooking for us. She comes by our apartment a few times a week, combs through our fridge and cabinets and surprises us with an amazing dinner. She loves the chance to hang out with Rascal and be part of the family commotion. Then, she raids my closet, steals shoes, and goes out.
...coddle your tot or let him cry it out?
I hover in anticipation of a sleepy or comfort-needing toddler, a rarity given Rascal's tough-guy, curious, relentless-explorer disposition. He's too focused on the go-go-go, so I eagerly await the chance to coddle—even greedily race in when there's been a head bump or a bad dream, desperate for a little head on my shoulder. Have to capture him half-asleep most of the time to get my fill.
