Designer Drew Michael Scott (a.k.a Lone Fox) on his ever-evolving style, his viral DIY videos, and his dreams of working with Lana Del Rey

I've followed Lone Fox on Instagram for years. Pre-working at H&G even. I think I might have even mentioned him in my interview when asked about which interior designers inspired me. That was true – his videos both on YouTube and on Instagram did very much inspire me and helped with my own apartment reno which I slowly mostly DIYed over the various lockdowns of 2020.

If you haven't come across Lone Fox's videos, designer Drew Michael Scott is the LA-based designer behind them. It's the fastest-growing YouTube channel in the home space. Through his DIY projects, home renovations, and unique design perspective, Drew is changing how we approach design, and both inspires and educates his community on how to curate beautiful homes regardless of budget.

What drew me to Drew's content is that, unlike other DIY accounts I was following at the time, it wasn't all about the quick, cheap overhauls you can do in an hour, that look impressive in an Instagram reel but in reality don't hold up or date in a few months. Rather, Drew's posts were about creating timeless, considered spaces, by customizing pieces and updating one-off finds.

His interior design style is that incredibly covetable transitional layered look – somehow both traditional and current. Here I asked Drew about how his jounrey in interior design started, how he defines his style, and what's next for Lone Fox.

How would you describe your design aesthetic?

'My design style is constantly evolving, but at its core, I would say it's eclectic with a mix of old and new. I try to stick with design trends that emulate my personal style rather than incorporating pieces just because they are “trendy.” I love mixing contrasting elements to create juxtaposition because it really makes a space so much more interesting. You’ll find a mix of feminine and masculine elements within almost every room I create.'

How did it all begin?

'When I graduated college, my [YouTube] channel was producing just enough revenue to pay for my rent in a shared 600 square foot studio. I got a part-time job at West Elm being a sales associate on the floor.'

'Only a month after being hired I was placed into an in-home stylist position where I went to customers' homes and helped them choose pieces from our online catalog. Looking back, I know my boss at the time, (Rachel, whom I still love!) saw something in me. Over the next year, my schedule consisted of working 30 hours a week at West Elm on Beverly, taking a full semester of classes, filming YouTube videos every night and editing through the morning to maintain my posting schedule.'

'I slowly started to post about interior design and DIYs on my fashion channel and the videos gained a lot of traction. I noticed the DIY videos were outperforming my fashion videos by hundreds of thousands of views, and it sparked something in me that the fashion videos didn’t…CREATIVITY.'

'I’m not saying that styling clothing can’t be creative, but when you think about men’s fashion, creativity can only go so far. I never really loved sewing or creating clothing, so I was primarily just styling myself, and that didn’t fulfill me the same way design content did (and still does). Lone Fox was created on March 7th of 2018, and I never would have imagined my channel would grow to be as big as it is today. It’s a dream!'

What kind of work do you take on?

'I have been really focused on my house recently, but in the past, I’ve helped several friends and family members redo their spaces. I am so focused on my own home and my Channel that I haven’t taken on much client work as of late, but I do have two special clients I’ve been working with on spaces in their homes that will be coming out soon!'

What’s your favorite project you have worked on?

'Two years ago, I purchased a 1920s Spanish Revival home in Los Angeles that I have been slowly renovating and designing from top to bottom.'

'The building is actually a duplex that I’ve been turning into a single-family home, and I have really enjoyed completing the upstairs portion of my home, which includes the main living areas such as the kitchen, dining room and main bedrooms. I hope to have the upstairs fully completed by January 2025 and then start on the lower portion of the house.

Who inspired you when you started, and who inspires you now?

'When I first started, Joanna Gaines was a huge inspiration for me. I first saw her show when interior design wasn’t a huge thing on social media, and I created DIY projects that emulated the look of some of the projects on TV and shared them on my YouTube channel.'

'The empire she has built beyond design is so impressive and I really admire how she has extended her brand into so many areas of lifestyle. Nowadays, I get a lot of my inspiration through a mix of social media, travel, and design books. I find old design books to be such a great source of inspiration because the imagery hasn’t been published online.'

Who are your dream clients?

'Beyonce or Lana Del Rey. You have to dream big, right?!'

What’s next?

'I have a few exciting projects in the works that I can’t speak about just yet, but I’m really excited about them and they've been a huge labor of love.'