The Art of the Clash
A Manifesto Against Mundane Design
The sumptuous photography of Sophie von Oertzen Williamson’s The Art of the Clash illustrates the design principles behind her distinctive and colorful approach to interiors.
Williamson’s guiding mantra is based in the power of contrast—think a velvet goldenrod sofa against a backdrop of high-gloss grass-green bookshelves. She eschews white walls and unfilled space. Say yes to cast-offs, she urges, and this philosophy is evident in the layered look of her rooms, which are filled with artwork, textiles, and a good number of antiques. Balance is achieved via uniting threads: red in the picture frames and accent pieces in her compact Swiss flat; lacquered ceilings throughout the first floor of a farmhouse with the delightful name of Puddleduck.
The photographs take pride in place, ample in number and gorgeous in their unexpected combinations: A green-and-gold library is preceded by a Pink Panther–colored living room; a white-and-red checkerboard kitchen floor abuts a set of primary-blue sliding doors, which give way to original oak cabinetry in the butler’s pantry.
Williamson’s mastery proffers simple lessons, as of how to mix midcentury modern furniture with period pieces and on creative ways to repurpose already-owned items. Still, the book has an aspirational quality, its interiors a leap for laypeople. Williamson leans into her yearslong design evolution, presenting her first homes right alongside later ones and detailing how she grew out of her imposter syndrome as a self-taught designer. These charming insights anchor her accomplishments in family history and a circle of friends with good taste; two of the pictured homes aren’t Williamson’s creations at all, but rather spaces she admires, serving to widen the scope of her method past one individual interpretation.
The Art of the Clash is a striking addition to the canon of color-forward interior design.
Reviewed by
Carolyn Wilson-Scott
Disclosure: This article is not an endorsement, but a review. The publisher of this book provided free copies of the book to have their book reviewed by a professional reviewer. No fee was paid by the publisher for this review. Foreword Reviews only recommends books that we love. Foreword Magazine, Inc. is disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.
