115: What the design hive is buying for home
For New York Design Week, 12 tastemakers share their latest household obsessions.
I’ve said, and I’ll keep saying, that there should be a Magasin for interiors. My excursions into homewares have been hugely personally satisfying—conceptually and sometimes actually arranging floors and walls and things that live in drawers and on shelves—but at the end of the day, fashion is my game.
At the top of New York Design Week, objects that we relate to spatially are surging to the forefront of minds, even those that usually prefer to wear their investments. To satisfy this curiosity, I’ve reached out to 12 design minds who so clearly have it: the good sense of how to make a place beautiful.
Below, these custodians of taste share their favorite pieces to have entered their homes lately.
Caroline Sillesen, @carolinesillesen
“I live with my boyfriend, Thomas Vogel, who is also an architect. We are both sensitive about what we bring into our home and like it to change slowly. The latest addition is the Uno Lamp that we designed at my architectural office atelier axo. It can be purchased through our Instagram @atelieraxo. The latest purchase is a few pieces of the Rundes Modell cutlery series by Josef Hoffmann that I am a growing collector of. It can be purchased through Alessi.
One of my favorite furniture pieces in our home is our Otto Puff, also from atelier axo. It is named after our dog and was specially designed for a boutique in Copenhagen. It is a mix between an ottoman and a soft stool.”
Andrew J.S., @andrew_js
“My absolute favorite home purchase is a custom daybed cushion and bolster, made with Payton Hari at Takhar Textile Arts. It's rare that I find anything to my liking off the shelf, I source from collectors or dealers or build things myself before I'd ever set foot in a store. I had already built and finished the frame, but it sat cushionless for maybe three months because I couldn't find what I wanted anywhere.
After Googling upholsterers in NY for weeks and making about 25 dead-end phone calls, IG finally suggested TTA as someone I might know, so I reached out. We talked it through, Payton sourced my dream materials in the most perfect colors that matched my palette refs, handled everything graciously over Gmail, and we eventually wound up with a very particular and elevated rendition of a classic form.
Happily it has ended up being the place where I start nearly every day, having an espresso and doing Wordle, texting my mom or looking at a book before getting to work. Has also become my dog Bruno's favorite lounge spot, perfect for looking out the window for kitties from on high or taking a midmorning nap.
Beyond that, a few more sensory essentials that make home feel like home:
Candles from Régime des Fleurs or Buly that come in vessels you will never throw away.
Incense from Astier de Villatte, one for each time of day: Namche Bazar's black tea and hay bale for AM, turpentine and tobacco via Atelier de Balthus while I work, deep wood and ancient green of Yakushima for heady evenings, etc) — the smell of all my apartments for over a decade, I can't live without it!!!
And last, Tekla blankets are super nice to have around for both people and pets. I always buy during SSENSE mega sales—worth dealing-with bad shipping, IMO.”
Sydney Gore, @cozy.spice / @spoiledg00ds
“I recently rang in my 30th birthday, so naturally that milestone presented the perfect opportunity to treat myself! I started with a PrettyShittyCakes tissue box and Gohar World cutlery rest because I have a sweet tooth that can't be denied. My work wife Hannah Martin just published her first book, Nicola L.: Life and Art, which everyone should add to their coffee table because it's a puffy masterpiece—I try to support small local businesses as much as I can so I snagged my copy from Yowie in Philly.
I love everything that Sarah Ellison designs, and her new Chromeo chair has drastically shifted the vibes in my living room, I'm obsessed with it. (Look no further than Tiffany Howell's living room to feel fully #influenced.) My haul from the Brimfield Antique Flea Market consisted of vintage books, a set of wooden canisters, a trio of candle holders, and a pair of Staffordshire dog ceramics.”
Gijsje Ribbens, @gijsjeribbens
“1. Cutting board by Jonas Lutz for RiRa Objects: I dare say these cutting boards by Jonas Lutz are the most beautiful cutting boards ever made. He chops and cuts them by hand in his Rotterdam workshop. I was introduced to his work by Sabine Marcelis, they both worked with FOS on designs for ‘old Celine.’ I love the facts that a beautiful chopping board can make a tedious task like chopping onions a fun job.
2. Hocker by Muller van Severen for KASSL Editions: I’m a sucker for things patent, and the material isn’t used often enough in homeware in my opinion! I got this hocker in black patent coated canvas, and it’s mainly used by my son as a bouncy castle.
3. Iittala candle holders: I love Iittala and never leave their shop empty handed—usually the word timeless is connected to basic stuff in neutral colours, but Iittala’s colourful glassware is really timeless.
4. Liquidish by Vincent de Rijk for RiRa Objects: One of my friends has 10 Liquidishes at her place—I understand though, they are quite hypnotising. The workshop of Vincent in Rotterdam is one of my favourite places on the planet. He spends a few hours polishing every dish, so despite it’s ‘picture perfect’ appearance, it’s an artisanal product. I recently got myself a large one in pink.
5. Mirror by Sottsass: My parents have been stuffing their home with Sottsass as long as I can remember, and I think their taste in interior has had a big influence on me. I recently found his Dioniso mirror on Vinted, of all places. In the reflection you can also see my most cherished item in my home, which is a portrait of my sister and me as kids by Rineke Dijkstra.”
Marie-Anne Derville, @marieannederville
“The armchair is by André Arbus (1940), I’ve reupholstered it in black watered silk (moire in French). It comes from Les Puces de St. Ouen, from my secret dealer. The proportions are amazing, it’s very classic and very modern at the same time. Lines are pure and minimal, it’s comfortable yet beautiful (which is not so easy to find!). The rectangular radical shape of its back makes me think of the big TV screens from the ‘90s, which I love!
The little artwork on the wall is a photograph by Bob Colacello, called ‘Andy and Fred Hughes, the Factory, 860’ from 1976. I bought it at Thaddeus Ropac, during their last show in Paris dedicated to Bob Colacello photographs, titled It Just Happened. Colacello’s work documented his long-standing collaboration with Andy Warhol and the cycle of parties and travelling between 1976 and 1982. It has a soul, it’s powerful and very meaningful to me. I love its ‘miniature’ size and its black box frame.
The floor lamp is by Jacques Grange from 1980, and I’ve been dreaming about it for years! Elegant and radical at once, I like everything about it, the minimalism, the proportions, the patina, the light, it’s gorgeous and perfect. I bought it at my friend Nans Bouchet’s (Nes Gallery), great young dealer of ‘80s and ‘90s pieces of furniture. He has a great eye.”
Lana Launay, @lanalaunay
“I recently acquired this vintage Josef Hoffmann chair from My Verona—a Sydney-based circular design studio founded by my beautiful friend Sarah Cousens. She offers a curated edit of collectible furniture items and prop hire that focuses on 20th century design. I don't have a big enough space (or budget) to warrant my lamp and chair addiction but, where there's an art nouveau-style collectable calling, there's always a way.
The spherical accents marry well with this floor lamp I recently designed (incoming shameful self promotion: ‘Feels Like Home Floor Lamp’), and they both look so at home on our Zouzou rug, so, how could one resist?”
Laura Chautin, @laurachautin
“This quilt was bought by me and my partner from a lovely store called Sharktooth, in Williamsburg. They occasionally have sales and when they do, things get swooped up very quickly! I was so drawn to the beauty of this piece, so when I saw it on sale I rushed to purchase it! It’s a (very tattered) nine-patch pattern American quilt top from the late 1800s.”
Louis Rambert, @louisrambert
“I recently found this John Chamberlain drawing in an auction. This is based on his Three-Cornered Desire sculpture in the late ‘70s. I always felt very drawn by the extreme tension of his work. Even if he is considered by most a minimal artist, his process was also full-on pop art, after all he is using dismantled pieces of cars as medium. The color compositions of his car sculptures are always a source of inspiration when I work in material palettes for projects. I also love his foam works so much.
I also started to collect objects by the designers Migeon et Migeon. They started their career as jewelry designers for Christian Lacroix and started their own lines, first jewelry then home accessories. They were pioneer in the resin technique. They also include precious-metal leaf in the resin.
They were friends of my dad’s cousin, and I will always remember their house outside of Paris. As a maybe 10-year-old aspiring designer, this house was a dream to me, all the door knobs were from them, and she had trays, candlesticks, and other beautiful objects everywhere in the house.
They are really rare today but also completely under the radar. I found this pair of candlesticks in an auction in Florida and this yellow and gold leaf ashtray on Etsy. I don’t smoke but I use it to burn papier d’Arménie.”
Sophie Lou Jacobsen, @sophieloujacobsen
“The Coral Collection is a true collaboration of design languages and our shared love of beauty, with whimsical motifs and design details that are signature to my work, created by the hands of La Romaine Editions talented glassblower. Bubble glass is a strong and tactile material reminiscent of mid-century Murano glass art, and I am beyond thrilled by the opportunity to work with La Romaine Editions to bring these designs to life.” Launching tomorrow at sophieloujacobsen.com.
Rhythm Zero, @rhythmzeronyc
“This chair was actually the first on the list of things I wanted to have in our space. Designed by Per Holland Bastrup in 1989, the Frama Triangolo Chair embodies a breathtakingly progressive, sculptural design. Made of stainless steel, this chair presents a true statement piece that elevates the space and gives it a special touch.
We have two of them in the space, and according to our customers, I can say that they are two absolute favorite things in Rhythm Zero. We strive to have unique pieces, curated and designed and we carefully choose who we will work with and whose art we will exhibit.
Rhythm Zero is a space that combines art and pleasure and we were lucky that people recognized our efforts and supported the idea that there is a place in Greenpoint where you can buy coffee and pastries that arrive directly from Italy and enjoy in the gallery, read the morning newspaper, meet friends, daydream or simply come to see a new exhibition or event.”
Minjae Kim, @mnjaekim
“I've been drinking a lot of tea lately, so my shopping has been mostly tea-related.
The teapot is from Etsy, then the knob was added later.
The small mug is by Portland-based artist Nick Norman.”
Olivia Bossy, @oliviabossy
“I buy very few pieces as I tend to make a lot myself, but if I do they are mostly antiques with some kind of story behind them. This lamp is German from the 1920s, and I bought it from the collection of Geoffrey Hatty who was a 20th century decorative arts specialist. He hosted my first exhibition last year and he became a kind of mentor and good friend. He passed away in January from MND and the missing goes on, but it's lovely to have this little reminder lighting up the mess.”
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Nice read