In this week’s episode of our Curious Objects podcast, interior designer Tara McCauley discusses a small splatter-painted box by artist Thomas Engelhart, a veteran of the houses of Mugler and Hermès. For his series of handmade objets d’art in the shapes of pyramids, platters, obelisks, and disks, Engelhart has taken inspiration from porphyry, a material prized by the ancient Romans and employed in the construction of monuments and tombs. McCauley also gives listeners an inside look at her own practice, which she likens, curiously, to a travel agency. She says: “I like to think of myself like I’ve gone into the market and I’ve done the research and I’ve talked to the experts and the locals and I’m bringing you the best kind of experience you’re looking for.”
Tara McCauley is an interior designer based in Manhattan. Drawing on influences from art history, fashion, and travel, McCauley has always had a specific point of view—her work is romantic, layered, and often inflected with a dash of humor. With history as an anchor, she finds beauty in the juxtaposition of periods and unexpected materials. In addition to residential interiors, McCauley brings her fashion-forward eye to retail, events, and sets. She has been recognized as a 2023 “Next Wave” designer by House Beautiful, and she designed the Primary Bedroom at the Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse. Her work has been featured in New York Magazine’s “Great Rooms” as well as in NBC’s Open House TV.
