By all accounts, Schuyler Samperton is seriously fancy. The interior-design guru trained with legendary White House decorator Michael S. Smith. Bold-faced names regularly call on her to reimagine their most treasured spaces (to wit, actor Michael Weatherly tapped her to redesign his on-set trailer in the spirit of a louche, 1970s-era recording studio). And she was dubbed a Tastemaker and Top Young Designer by no less than Vogue and House Beautiful, respectively. At the end of the day, however, she’s really just at the beck and call of one of her most important “clients”: her four-legged companion, . “Nothing is off-limits to Tricky, which has resulted in a completely shredded loveseat that I’ve recovered several times and have now given up on,” she says. “He can do whatever he wants on whatever he wants as far as I’m concerned.” —Jennifer Henderson

Her style story: “I was lucky to grow up with a father who was an award-winning architect and a mother on the best-dressed list who, although not a professional interior decorator, was incredibly gifted in that area. As a child, I spent a lot of time in ‘client meetings’ with our dogs, poring over Knoll samples. Needless to say, style in all its many applications was of utmost importance in our house. My remarkable parents taught me about the impact and importance of color, scale, and beauty.”

Her raison d’être: “Happy clients make me happy. Each project offers an opportunity to create a fantasy for them. It’s exciting to find the perfect antique cabinet, the ideal vintage textile, or a paint color that informs an entire space. I love the challenge of the hunt and the assemblage of the different components.”

Her work ethic: “Psychotic, unhealthy, and obsessive. I’m constantly thinking about my projects. It’s hard to turn your brain off when you’re in a creative field. It’s just not a 9-to-5 pursuit.”

Her aesthetic: “Although I enjoy working in a number of different styles, I’m most at home in the classic-bohemian realm. I’ve always been drawn to color and pattern. I believe more is more, and excessive layering, whether it be with jewelry or pillows, is a must.”

Her signature colors: “For interiors, I tend to work in combinations of red, blue, and black. Fashion-wise, I love everything but yellow.”

Her must-haves: “Henry Beguelin boots and blue-jean cutoffs. My iPod—I’m obsessed with music and the radio station KCSN. Fresh flowers, Diptyque L’Ombre dans l’Eau, and self tanner. My diamond M necklace from my boyfriend, Marc, and my Heyoka Merrifield star sapphire ring. My mother’s insane clothing and jewelry collection. Dean Larson’s of my dog. Books on pre-Raphaelite art, HBO, and Talenti toasted-almond gelato.”

Her true beauty: “Anything that elicits an emotion. Recently, I visited a tiny chapel on an island off the coast of Maine that was built in the 1920s and it was so spectacular in its rugged simplicity that I actually got choked up. Those are the moments that make a real impact on me.”

Her favorite space: “The library! Cozy and full of dogs (on the furniture) and loads of books. I love small, nest-like spaces with tons of under-stuffed pillows where people go to relax and recharge. It’s therapeutic and inspiring.”

Her inspiration: “My parents and my brother Kyle were my first teachers and exposed me to beauty in all its applications. Thanks to them, at a very early age, I learned about the intricacies of flower species, Palladian proportions, and the importance of David Bowie.”

Her social circle: “I get a lot of inspiration from . It’s my only online guilty pleasure. I especially love photos by and my fabulous friend .”

Her future: “I’m designing a fabric line and I’m beyond excited about it. Personally, I hope to travel more and get inspired by what’s out there.”