Today, we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Bunkoczy.
Hi Tracy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I got started with a B.F.A. from Otis College of Art and Design. My major was in the fashion design program. I have always loved digging through my mom’s vintage clothing and shopping at the Army surplus store as a teen.
My grandfather was an artist and an architect, and my mother had a craft store when I was young. She brought me to estate sales and auctions as a small child. Growing up in rural Illinois, I was surrounded by an Andrew Wyeth landscape of wheat fields and 200-year-old farmhouses.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
There have been many ups and downs. In fashion, brands come and go, and retailers cancel programs if the line is not performing; there is a lot of uncertainty in the fashion world. It is not unusual to get laid off or for the brand you are working on to go under.
In one of my first fashion jobs, the retailer that we had an exclusive deal with canceled our program before our contract was up. That was my first experience with disappointment and the sense of panic when you think, “What will I do now?”.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar with what you do, what can you tell them about what you do?
I now specialize in interiors. I work for one of the biggest staging companies in the U.S., Meridith Baer Home.
I feel like my experience in fashion/art history was imperative for understanding color, texture, pattern, and historical references. Also, doing so many photo shoots involved set decorating, which I feel is similar to what I do now. I go into a blank space and make it feel like a home.
I am best known for my eclectic style and love of color and pattern. If I had to pick, I would decorate an old Hollywood estate with unusual pieces, lots of vintage, really cool art, and a mix of styles. I love a “World of Interiors” look.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Curiosity, determination, and a strong work ethic.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://meridithbaer.com/
- Instagram: @tracybunkoczy
Image Credit
Anthony Barcelo
