Living Boldly: How David Hicks Still Shapes Modern Design

“The best rooms have something to say about the people who live in them.” - David Hicks

When we talk about design icons, few have left as bold a mark as David Hicks. Known for his fearless use of pattern, color, and the unexpected mix of traditional and modern, Hicks transformed the interiors of the 1960s and 70s in vibrant, layered compositions that continue to influence designers today. His books, David Hicks on Decoration - With Fabrics and David Hicks on Home Decoration, are not just style manuals, but manifestos for confident, personality-driven design.

At Emily June Designs, we often find ourselves inspired by this philosophy - interiors that are elegant yet never timid, timeless yet distinctly personal.

Design by David Hicks

Pattern With Purpose

One of Hicks’ most iconic signatures was his unapologetic use of strong geometry - honeycomb wallpaper, oversized carpets, and bold upholstery that gave rooms a striking rhythm. Yet what made these patterns timeless was his sense of balance; geometry was never arbitrary but served to create structure in a space. We channel that same discipline in our Highland project, where patterned textiles are layered against a clean foundation of neutrals. By repeating motifs and controlling scale, a room becomes visually dynamic without feeling chaotic. Hicks shows us that patterns work best not when they overwhelm, but when they act as anchors - editing the space, drawing the eye, and making interiors feel both alive and orderly.

Tradition Reimagined 

Hicks had a gift for reframing tradition. He often paired ornate moldings and antique silhouettes with lacquered surfaces, glass tables, or sleek seating; a juxtaposition that made old-world details feel modern again. That same design takeaway informs our Heights Hollow project, where classic architectural elements are respected but never left static. By layering transitional furniture against traditional bones, the home feels rooted but not stuck in the past. This approach reminds us that heritage details are most powerful when they’re given a new role in contemporary living - a quiet dialogue between past and present that feels fresh yet timeless. 

Design by David Hicks

The Power of Color

If patterns were Hicks’ rhythm, then color was his melody. His palettes, emerald green paired with shocking pink or chocolate brown against crisp white, carried emotional weight, setting the mood for each room. He understood that color was not simply aesthetic but experiential: it could spark energy, invite calm, or lend gravitas. In our Parc V project, we follow this same principle by using a neutral base as a canvas for carefully chosen bursts of color. A blush-toned accent shifts a bedroom toward serenity, while jewel tones enliven communal spaces with energy. Hicks’ legacy is clear through thoughtful color choices that are not decoration but storytelling, shaping the way people move through and feel within a space.

Design by David Hicks

Why Hicks’ Influence is Enduring

Though his peak influence was decades ago, Hicks’ voice still reverberates in today’s interiors. From the resurgence of bold wallpaper to the embrace of mixed-era furnishings, the echoes of his philosophy are everywhere. But perhaps his most enduring lesson is that design should never be timid. At Emily June Designs, we echo that conviction; each project is a study in balance - patterned but grounded, traditional but forward-looking, neutral but punctuated with color. Hicks taught us that decoration is not imitation but interpretation, and his fearless approach continues to embolden us to create interiors that are layered, personal, and lasting.

Design by David Hicks