What do you get when you mix worldly culture with impeccably eclectic taste? You get Edelweiss Fromm. She’s a Morristown-based interior designer and one-half of the Speak Easy Drink Better Podcast with her husband, Alex Brescia. Born and raised in Honduras, she’s lived and traveled all over the globe, which gives her a style as unique as her name.
She wasn’t born in a country where girls were exposed to all the options available to Americans today; her love for style was innate. She’s bold, bright, curious, and not afraid to take risks. Hot pink tights? Absolutely. Black basement like a moody speakeasy? Done.
Who was your first influence in design?
100% my mother. I grew up always seeing my mom be into design, even when she didn’t know it. She’s always paying attention to detail, and I grew up in a very well-put-together home.
When I was a kid, we watched telenovelas, and my mother would be like, “Oh, look at those curtains!” I always thought it was funny that she was paying attention to the pillows and the sofa when there was so much drama going on in the show!
Did you go to school for interior design?
I wanted to study interior design when I was in high school. In the late 90’s in Honduras, that career wasn't available. So, I studied Business Administration and earned a Master’s in International Business. And I have really never worked in that field! I just wanted to do my own thing. Later on, I received a certification in Interior Design from the New York Institute of Art + Design, and I also studied floral art and design for a year while living in Mexico, which played a big role in shaping my creative perspective.
How did you get your start?
When we lived in Mexico, I started an event-planning business. Everything I’ve done has always been related to creativity. When we came back to New Jersey, I worked in retail, interior design, and fashion. Then I decided in my 40’s to work as a personal stylist and interior designer. That’s what I’ve been doing for the past four-plus years.
How would you describe your style?
Eclectic. I know sometimes that word has a negative connotation, people think it’s just a bunch of things thrown together. It’s more than that. It’s one of the hardest styles to accomplish successfully. Because it can look crazy if you don’t do it correctly. It’s combining different styles in a way that makes it look cohesive and aesthetically pleasing. So yes, I love dark, but I love pops of color, and I love mixing patterns.
Eclectic design is about combining different styles in a way that makes it look cohesive and aesthetically pleasing.