Erica Vassalotti was a stylist for Anthropolgie’s home catalogue when she reached out to interior designer Dana Bergman Falcione in search of some freelance work. “I hired her to help with a photo shoot and quickly realized she was extremely talented,” Bergman Falcione says. “After a few freelance projects, I asked if she would work with me full time and she took the leap of faith.”
Bergman Falcione—who, by the way, has a BA and Master in Architecture from the University of Pennsylvania—has been in the industry for three decades. Today, the duo runs their firm together from the suburbs of Philadelphia. “Bergman Vass was formed because we both had the same dreams and aspirations to create a beautiful brand, and because we realize that we make each other better,” Dana Bergman Falcione says. Read on for a Q&A with the designers.
How would you describe your aesthetic?
Dana Bergman Falcione: A fresh interpretation of classic design.
Erica Vassalotti: Design that is rooted in simplicity, casually elegant, and reflects lives well lived.
What roles do each of you take on in a project?
DBF: We always concept the project together, as a team. I take on the role of interior architect, tweaking floor plans, selecting interior finishes, and creating a millwork scheme. Erica dreams up the mood with colors and textures, selecting fabrics and furnishings to start. Her super power, though, is her ability to find the perfect art and accessories which add a crucial layer to any project. The process is very collaborative and we are constantly checking in with each other.
Your projects have a traditional, yet refreshing look. How do you achieve this?
DBF: This is where mine and Erica’s design perspectives intersect. Our projects are a mix of my more classic, traditional aesthetic, layered with Erica’s more modern, sensual vocabulary.
Do you have a favorite space to design?
DBF: I love to cook, bake, and entertain, so the kitchen is one of my favorite rooms to design.
EV: I am very drawn to designing layered living spaces. I love finding a balance of making a space casual and approachable for everyday living, yet elegant and refined. I find it the most challenging space to design in a home, yet the most creatively intriguing. There’s endless opportunity to add depth with a mix of materials, textures, accessories and art.
You have an online collection of products for sale. Can you share a bit about this? Where do you source these items?
EV: Dana and I have a dream of one day having a small boutique shop of antiques. The online shop is the infancy of this concept. These are special pieces we are drawn to and have sourced and collected through the years from vintage boutiques, online auctions, and designer shops we frequent.
Do you personally prefer country or beach projects?
DBF: I grew up at the beach and love the beach, so that’s my pick. The ocean will always be my favorite view.
EV: Dana has successfully converted me to be drawn to designing a beach project. When we began working together, we had a lineup of new-builds on the water and I used to always say I couldn’t wait to design something in the country. Now I crave being near the water during the design process and miss it when we aren’t! I find it a beautiful complement to our design aesthetic and palette. We have elevated the beach aesthetic in a really unique way and our projects near the water tend to have a refined sophistication and soulful touch that clients actively seek us out for.
Dream project?
DBF: Any project with a passionate and collaborative client who appreciates good design, the importance of art, and truly respects our role in the process. An amazing view would be the icing on the cake!
EV: I’m dying to design a home in the Hamptons! The concept of a sophisticated countryside beach town mixed with the evolving yet timeless architecture known to the area is the design collaboration my creative heart is dreaming of. Add the client Dana speaks of and we’d be extremely inspired.