Christopher Farr

what is your idea of perfect design happiness? THE ULINE CATALOGUE.

what is your greatest fear in design? OVER DESIGN.

 which historical design figure do you most identify with? CARLO MOLLINO.

which living designer do you most admire? PAOLA NAVONE.

what profession other than design would you like to attempt? STEEPLEJACK. A CRAFTSMAN WHO SCALES LARGE BUILDINGS.

what is your greatest design extravagance? BOOKS.

when and where were you happiest with your design? ST LUKE'S COLLEGE OXFORD LIBRARY CARPET (8' X 57').

what do you consider your greatest achievement in design? ALWAYS WILLING TO TAKE RISKS.

if you died and came back as another designer or design object, who or what do you think it would be? A STANLEY AIRCRAFT ALUMINUM STAPLE GUN.

what specific design related talent are you lacking that you would you most like to have? MODESTY.

what is your most treasured design related possession? THE NUMBER ONE EDITION OF GENTRY MAGAZINE. NO 1 WINTER 1951. TWO DOLLARS.

what do you regard as the lowest depths of misery in design? BRAVO TELEVISION.

what curse word do you most frequently use? BOLLOCKS.

what is your favorite design related word? WELL BEHAVED.

what is your least favorite design related word? WELL BEHAVED.

what turns you on in design? COHERENCE.

what turns you off in design? INCOHERENCE.

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ABOUT PROUST ON DESIGN | Answered by our design icons, these must-ask questions come from a 19th century parlor game made popular by Marcel Proust, the French novelist, essayist & critic. Proust believed the direct questions and honest responses that they elicited revealed the true nature of the individual. For this column, we have put a design related spin on the traditional questions. While this method has been used by many journalists throughout the years, we were primarily inspired by The Proust Questionnaire, which appears monthly on the back page of one of our all time favorite magazines, Vanity Fair (also Krista’s alma mater). Read all of the previous Proust on Design questionnaires here.

Lee Kleinhelter

what is your idea of perfect design happiness?

WHEN THE CONCEPT IS APPRECIATED & UNDERSTOOD.

what is your greatest fear in design?

BEING UNORIGINAL.

which historical design figure do you most identify with?

BILLY BALDWIN. LOVE THAT ERA OF DESIGN.

which living designer do you most admire?

THERE ARE LOTS. KELLY WEARSTLER, MILES REDD ARE A FEW.

what profession other than design would you like to attempt?

PHOTOGRAPHY.

what is your greatest design extravagance?

THE LUXURY OF BEING ABLE TO RECREATE, FORM A COMPLETELY NEW LOOK IN THE STORE OR A PIECE OF FURNITURE. THAT’S WHAT I LOVE TO DO, CONSTANTLY EDITING, RETHINKING AND RESTYLING.

when and where were you happiest with your design?

I’M HAPPIEST WHEN THE STORE OR A PROJECT IS COMPLETELY FINISHED AND EVERYTHING IS IN THE PERFECT SPOT, THEN THE STORY COMES TOGETHER.

what do you consider your greatest achievement in design?

INSPIRING PEOPLE. WHEN PEOPLE COME INTO A SPACE WE’VE DESIGNED OR INTO PIECES, AND THEY SAY THEY’VE NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT THAT MAKES DESIGN SCHOOL, WORKING FOR DESIGNERS AND THE LAST 9 YEARS OF HAVING A BRICK & MORTAR… WORTH IT.

if you died and came back as another designer or design object, who or what do you think it would be?

HOW TO PICK? MY NON-DESIGN ANSWER WOULD BE RIDER. ENGLISH CREAM GOLDEN RETRIEVER THAT EMBARRASSINGLY ENOUGH GETS MORE ATTENTION THAN ANYTHING WE SELL.

what specific design related talent are you lacking that you would like most to have?
THE KNOWLEDGE OF AN ARCHITECT OR AN ENGINEER. MY HUSBAND IS A BUILDER AND WHEN WE MEET WITH ARCHITECTS IT’S FASCINATING HOW THEY KNOW HOW TO CREATE WHAT’S BEEN DESIGNED.

what is your most treasured design related possession?
THE WHITE LEATHER EAMES LOUNGE CHAIR & OTTOMAN IN OUR BEDROOM. IT’S SUBTLE, NOTHING FLASHY. I LOVE THE STYLE, THE HISTORY, AND COMBINING THE CRISP WHITE MATERIAL WITH ITS ORIGINAL WOOD FRAME. IT ALSO SITS IN A POSITION YOU CAN SEE FROM ALL ANGLES IN OUR HOME.

what do you regard as the lowest depths of misery in design?
A SPACE OR ROOM WHERE EVERYTHING IS THE SAME, HAS BEEN BOUGHT AS A MATCHING SET, WITH NO DEPTH, LAYERS OR TEXTURES.

what curse word do you most frequently use?
NOW THAT MY 3 YEAR OLD PICKS UP ON EVERY SINGLE WORD WE SAY I’VE TRIED TO TONE DOWN THE CURSING, THOUGH NOT ALWAYS SUCCESSFULLY. HE RECENTLY POINTED OUT TO ME THAT STUPID IS NOT NICE, HE’S RIGHT. I THINK I WAS SAYING SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF ‘THAT’S SO STUPID’ ABOUT A THING I HAD DONE. I DEFINITELY SAY A LOT OF ‘WHAT THE HELL…?’ & ‘OH MY GOD’.

what is your favorite design related word?
WELL EDITED.

what is your least favorite design related word?
TRENDY.

what turns you on in design?
ORDER, THE UNEXPECTED, THINKING OUTSIDE OF THE BOX.

what turns you off in design?
ANYTHING BLATANTLY COPYING SOMEONE ELSE’S DESIGN.

what is your motto in design?
BE UNIQUE.

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ABOUT PROUST ON DESIGN | Answered by our design icons, these must-ask questions come from a 19th century parlor game made popular by Marcel Proust, the French novelist, essayist & critic. Proust believed the direct questions and honest responses that they elicited revealed the true nature of the individual. For this column, we have put a design related spin on the traditional questions. While this method has been used by many journalists throughout the years, we were primarily inspired by The Proust Questionnaire, which appears monthly on the back page of one of our all time favorite magazines, Vanity Fair (also Krista’s alma mater). Read all of the previous Proust on Design questionnaires here.

Annie Selke

what is your idea of perfect design happiness? THE MOST SATISFYING MOMENT IS WHEN YOU SEE THE SYNERGY OR SHARED ENERGY BETWEEN THE VARIOUS ELEMENTS COMING TOGETHER IN SOMETHING AS GOOD OR BETTER THAN YOU ORIGINALLY CONCEIVED OF IT.

 what is your greatest fear in design? I DON’T REALLY HAVE ANY SPECIFIC FEAR AROUND DESIGN. IT IS SUCH AN ITERATIVE PROCESS, YOU CAN ALWAYS BACK UP A FEW STEPS AND WORK TOWARD CREATING WHAT IT IS YOU WANTED.

which historical design figure do you most identify with? NANCY LANCASTER, CHANEL, JOHN FOWLER.

which living designer do you most admire? BUNNY WILLIAMS, MICHAEL SMITH, AND VICTORIA HAGAN.

what profession other than design would you like to attempt? ART HISTORIAN, COWGIRL.

 what is your greatest design extravagance? ART AND ANTIQUES.

when and where were you happiest with your design? I HAVE ALWAYS ENJOYED CREATING MY OWN LIVING SPACES.

 what do you consider your greatest achievement in design? BRINGING AN ENORMOUS NUMBER OF WELL-DESIGNED PRODUCTS TO AN ENORMOUS NUMBER OF PEOPLE AT AN ACCESSIBLE  PRICE LEVEL.

if you died and came back as another designer or design object, who or what do you think it would be? I WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK AS AN AMAZING ORIENTAL RUG THAT MOVES TO AND FROM FANTASTICALLY INTERESTING LIVING ROOMS AROUND THE GLOBE, WHERE I COULD WATCH AND LISTEN TO ALL THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED IN THOSE SPACES. PLUS, GREAT RUGS ARE NEVER TOSSED; THEY ARE PASSED DOWN OR SOLD TO OTHER FABULOUS HOUSES!

what specific design related talent are you lacking that you would you most like to have? I WOULD LOVE TO BE ABLE TO PAINT & RENDER THE DESIGNS THAT APPEAR IN MY HEAD BY HAND, BUT I DON’T DRAW VERY WELL.

what is your most treasured design related possession? THE PAINTINGS THAT HUNG IN MY MOTHER’S HOUSE AND A PAIR OF ROSE QUARTZ ELEPHANTS.

what do you regard as the lowest depths of misery in design? STRIP MALLS, FAUX COLONIAL ANYTHING, THE A-FRAME.

what curse word do you most frequently use? SHIT & MOTHERFUCKA SEEM TO BE THE MOST OFTEN UTTERED.

what is your favorite design related word? JUXTAPOSE.

what is your least favorite design related word? CURATED.

what turns you on in design? THE PROCESS AND SEEING IT ALL COME TOGETHER —THE THRILL OF THE HUNT.

what turns you off in design? PRETENTION AND TACKINESS.

what is your motto in design? DON’T OVERTHINK IT.

//

ABOUT PROUST ON DESIGN | Answered by our design icons, these must-ask questions come from a 19th century parlor game made popular by Marcel Proust, the French novelist, essayist & critic. Proust believed the direct questions and honest responses that they elicited revealed the true nature of the individual. For this column, we have put a design related spin on the traditional questions. While this method has been used by many journalists throughout the years, we were primarily inspired by The Proust Questionnaire, which appears monthly on the back page of one of our all time favorite magazines, Vanity Fair (also Krista’s alma mater). Read all of the previous Proust on Design questionnaires here.

Kelly Wearstler

what is your idea of perfect design happiness? ANYTHING THAT TELLS A GREAT STORY.

what is your greatest fear in design? OVERDESIGN.

which historical design figure do you most identify with? JOSEF HOFFMANN.

which living designer do you most admire? THERE ARE SEVERAL… JACQUES GRANGE, PETER MARINO, JEAN-LOUIS DENIOT TO NAME A FEW.

what profession other than design would you like to attempt? PAINTING.

what is your greatest design extravagance? TAKING A RISK .

when and where were you happiest with your design? THE MOMENT I BRING A CLIENT’S VISION TO FRUITION.

what do you consider your greatest achievement in design? LEARNING TO BE A GREAT LISTENER.

if you died and came back as another designer or design object, who or what do you think it would be? TO BE IMMORTALIZED AS SCULPTURE.

what specific design related talent are you lacking that you would you most like to have? BEING ABLE TO DRAW BEAUTIFULLY.

what is your most treasured design related possession? A PAINTING BY VICTOR VASARELY (MY FAVORITE ARTIST) PAINTING THAT HANGS IN MY BEDROOM.

what do you regard as the lowest depths of misery in design? A LOOK THAT’S ONE NOTE - WHERE EVERYTHING COMES FROM THE SAME DESIGNER OR ERA. I LOVE A MIX OF SCALE, PERIOD AND TEXTURE.

what curse word do you most frequently use? FUCK!

what is your favorite design related word? RAW AND REFINED.

what is your least favorite design related word? RETRO, KITSCH, WHIMSY.

what turns you on in design? TAKING RISKS.

what turns you off in design? FOLLOWING TRENDS.

what is your motto in design? TAKE RISKS. LOVE COLOR.

//

IMAGE CREDITS | All images courtesy of Kelly Wearstler, and via her Instagram feed. Josef Hoffman image courtesy of Apartment Therapy.

ABOUT PROUST ON DESIGN | Answered by our design icons, these must-ask questions come from a 19th century parlor game made popular by Marcel Proust, the French novelist, essayist & critic. Proust believed the direct questions and honest responses that they elicited revealed the true nature of the individual. For this column, we have put a design related spin on the traditional questions. While this method has been used by many journalists throughout the years, we were primarily inspired by The Proust Questionnaire, which appears monthly on the back page of one of our all time favorite magazines, Vanity Fair (also Krista’s alma mater). Read all of the previous Proust on Design questionnaires here.

Angie Hranowsky

what is your idea of perfect design happiness? WHEN I’M IN THE MOMENT AND MY MIND IS RACING WITH IDEAS.

what is your greatest fear in design? I TRY NOT TO GET CAUGHT UP IN FEAR. I CHOOSE TO TRUST IN MY ABILITY AND KEEP MY MIND AND HEART OPEN.

which historical design figure do you most identify with? GIO PONTI.

which living designer do you most admire? MURIEL BRANDOLINI. SHE’S BRILLIANT.

what profession other than design would you like to attempt? ARCHITECT.

what is your greatest design extravagance? DESIGNING FOR MYSELF.

when and where were you happiest with your design? ANYTIME I HAVE A JOB AND A CLIENT THAT CHALLENGES AND INSPIRES ME AND ALLOWS ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX.

what do you consider your greatest achievement in design? CHOOSING TO FOLLOW MY HEART AND MAKE THE TRANSITION FROM GRAPHIC DESIGN TO PURSUE INTERIOR DESIGN... AND CONTINUING TO BUILD ON MY SUCCESS OF THAT DREAM.

if you died and came back as another designer or design object, who or what do you think it would be? A CONSTANTIN BRANCUSI SCULPTURE.

what specific design related talent are you lacking that you would you most like to have? THE ABILITY TO DRAW ARCHITECTURAL PLANS.

what is your most treasured design related possession? MY COLLECTION OF ARTWORK AND POTTERY.

what do you regard as the lowest depths of misery in design? THE LACK OF INSPIRATION IN DESIGNING FOR THE MASSES.

what curse word do you most frequently use? FUCK.

what is your favorite design related word? MODERNISM.

what is your least favorite design related word? GLAMOUR.

what turns you on in design? NONCONFORMITY.

what turns you off in design? UNORIGINALITY.

what is your motto in design? BE AUTHENTIC.

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ABOUT PROUST ON DESIGN | Answered by our design icons, these must-ask questions come from a 19th century parlor game made popular by Marcel Proust, the French novelist, essayist & critic. Proust believed the direct questions and honest responses that they elicited revealed the true nature of the individual. For this column, we have put a design related spin on the traditional questions. While this method has been used by many journalists throughout the years, we were primarily inspired by The Proust Questionnaire, which appears monthly on the back page of one of our all time favorite magazines, Vanity Fair (also Krista’s alma mater). Read all of the previous Proust on Design questionnaires here.

Laura Kirar

what is your idea of perfect design happiness? BEING SURROUNDED BY NATURE, ENVIRONMENTS AND OBJECTS THAT INSPIRE WONDER.

what is your greatest fear in design? FEAR ITSELF.

which historical design figure do you most identify with? EILEEN GRAY.

which living designer do you most admire? MAYA ROMANOFF FOR HIS TALENT, INNOVATIONS AND PERSEVERANCE.

what profession other than design would you like to attempt? PRODUCER.

what is your greatest design extravagance? RESTORING MY HACIENDA IN THE YUCATAN.

when and where were you happiest with your design? WHEREVER I AM IN THE DESIGN PROCESS - BEING IN THE PRESENT.

what do you consider your greatest achievement in design? THAT I EVOLVE AS AN ARTIST AND CONTINUE TO PRODUCE NEW RELEVANT WORK.

if you died and came back as another designer or design object, who or what do you think it would be? MICHELANGELO.

what specific design related talent are you lacking that you would you most like to have? BETTER TIME MANAGEMENT.

what is your most treasured design related possession? MY SAPPHO CUFF BY LORAE RUSSO. IT'S THE PERFECT COMBINATION OF NATURE, STRENGTH AND SENSUALITY.

what do you regard as the lowest depths of misery in design? DISPOSABLE DESIGN. INJECTION MOULDED PLASTICS AND OTHER “LANDFILL WAITING TO HAPPEN”.

what curse word do you most frequently use? FUCKING HELL.

what is your favorite design related word? ELEGANT.

what is your least favorite design related word? ECLECTIC – REALLY WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

what turns you on in design? LONGEVITY.

what turns you off in design? TRENDINESS.

what is your motto in design? BETTER TO CREATE ONE INCREDIBLE THING IN 10 DAYS THAN 10 MEDIOCRE THINGS IN ONE.

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IMAGE CREDITS | Laura Kirar photographed by Soohang Lee, Maya Romanoff, Lorae Russo.

ABOUT PROUST ON DESIGN | Answered by our design icons, these must-ask questions come from a 19th century parlor game made popular by Marcel Proust, the French novelist, essayist & critic. Proust believed the direct questions and honest responses that they elicited revealed the true nature of the individual. For this column, we have put a design related spin on the traditional questions. While this method has been used by many journalists throughout the years, we were primarily inspired by The Proust Questionnaire, which appears monthly on the back page of one of our all time favorite magazines, Vanity Fair (also Krista’s alma mater). Read all of the previous Proust on Design questionnaires here.

Babi Ahluwalia

what is your idea of perfect design happiness? TO ENVISION AN IDEA OR SOMETHING IN MY MIND AND THEN BE ABLE TO FIND THE RESOURCES TO EXECUTE IT. PERFECTION WOULD BE FINALLY SEEING THAT THE APPLICATION OF MY IDEA HAS EXCEEDED MY INITIAL VISION FROM ITS CONCEPTION.

what is your greatest fear in design? I HAVE NO FEAR IN DESIGN.

which historical design figure do you most identify with? MAHARAJA OF PATIALA. THE REGALITY OF HIS AURA, AND IN ESSENCE, ALL THE ROYALS FROM INDIA, IS AWE INSPIRING.

which living designer do you most admire? OSCAR DE LA RENTA BECAUSE OF HIS TIMELESS STYLES AND SUCCESSFUL LONGEVITY.

what profession other than design would you like to attempt? SOMETHING IN THE CREATIVE FIELD SUCH AS ADVERTISING OR CALLIGRAPHY.

what is your greatest design extravagance? MY PROCLIVITY TO TRAVEL AROUND THE GLOBE FOR INSPIRATION.

when and where were you happiest with your design? IT’S HARD TO PICK ONE MOMENT. AS LONG AS I AM DOING WHAT I LOVE MORNING, NOON, AND NIGHT, I WILL ALWAYS BE HAPPY.

what do you consider your greatest achievement in design? MY TWO STORES IN NEW YORK. ANKASA MADISON AND ANKASA SOHO.

if you died and came back as another designer or design object, who or what do you think it would be? A TOOL USED TO EXPRESS SOMEONE’S CREATIVITY - AN EASEL, OR BRUSH OR PENCIL.

what specific design related talent are you lacking that you would you most like to have? A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE FORM OF DESIGN WOULD HELP SHAPE MY OVERALL UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT IT MEANS TO BE A DESIGNER.

what is your most treasured design related possession? MY MOST TREASURED POSSESSIONS AREN’T TANGIBLE OBJECTS BUT RATHER TRAITS THAT I HOLD DEAR SUCH AS MY KEEN EYE AND MY ABILITY TO VISUALIZE THINGS.

what do you regard as the lowest depths of misery in design? KNOCK-OFFS.

what curse word do you most frequently use? BLEEP! BLEEP! BLEEP! (I KNOW HOW TO USE THE F--- WORD).

what is your favorite design related word? ANKASA IT! (USED AS A VERB).

what is your least favorite design related word? PRICING!

what turns you on in design? ALL THE MYSTERY THAT IS INVOLVED IN CREATING AND THE INFINITE POSSIBILITIES THAT LAY AHEAD.

what turns you off in design? NOTHING REALLY!

what is your motto in design? WHEN I’M WORKING WITH MY TEAM MY FAVORITE SAYING IS “KEEP IT RELEVANT".

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IMAGE CREDITS | via Ankasa and Sachin + Babi. Oscar de la Renta photo via Zaid Hamid.

ABOUT PROUST ON DESIGN | Answered by our design icons, these must-ask questions come from a 19th century parlor game made popular by Marcel Proust, the French novelist, essayist & critic. Proust believed the direct questions and honest responses that they elicited revealed the true nature of the individual. For this column, we have put a design related spin on the traditional questions. While this method has been used by many journalists throughout the years, we were primarily inspired by The Proust Questionnaire, which appears monthly on the back page of one of our all time favorite magazines, Vanity Fair (also Krista’s alma mater). Read all of the previous Proust on Design questionnaires here.

Timothy Corrigan

what is your idea of perfect design happiness? A WELL-PROPORTIONED ROOM WITH PLENTY OF NATURAL LIGHT AND A CLIENT WITH A GOOD BUDGET WHO SAYS: “AMAZE ME!”

what is your greatest fear in design? PLASTIC-COVERED FURNITURE… I SAW SOME IN A FRIEND’S HOME IN COLLEGE AND HAVE NEVER GOTTEN OVER IT!

which historical design figure do you most identify with? JEAN-CHARLES MOREUX DID IT ALL. HE WAS AN ARCHITECT, HE DESIGNED INTERIORS, HE CREATED FURNITURE AND HE DID LANDSCAPE DESIGN. A TRUE RENAISSANCE MAN.

which living designer do you most admire? NEW YORK DESIGN ICON VICENTE WOLF HAS BEEN A GREAT INSPIRATION.

what profession other than design would you like to attempt? I WOULD LOVE TO BE A LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT. WHAT A JOY IT MUST BE TO INTEGRATE SPACE, SHAPE AND FORM WITH THE MOST WONDERFUL OF ALL MATERIALS - TREES, SHRUBS, AND FLOWERS.

what is your greatest design extravagance? MY PORTRAIT COLLECTION. I HAVE ALWAYS LOVED PORTRAIT PAINTINGS BECAUSE THEY HAVE THEIR OWN KIND OF ICONOGRAPHY THAT TELLS YOU ABOUT THE TIME AND PLACE THAT THE PERSON IN THE PORTRAIT LIVED.

when and where were you happiest with your design? MY PLACE IN THE FRENCH COUNTRYSIDE, THE CHATEAU DU GRAND-LUCÉ. I PURCHASED THE CHATEAU IN 2004 THEN UNDERTOOK ITS MASSIVE RESTORATION AND DECORATION, BRINGING IT BACK TO ITS FULL GLORY. IT DOESN’T MATTER WHAT I AM DOING THERE - PULLING WEEDS, FEEDING THE SWANS, OR WALKING IN THE WOODS - THIS IS THE PLACE WHERE I FIND THE TRUE MEANING OF JOY.

what do you consider your greatest achievement in design? I HAVE SO LOVED THE DEVELOPMENT OF MY NEW LINE OF FABRICS AND FURNITURE FOR SCHUMACHER AS WELL AS CARPETS FOR PATTERSON, FLYNN & MARTIN THAT ARE ALL COMING OUT NEXT SPRING.

if you died and came back as another designer or design object, who or what do you think it would be? EMILIO TERRY WAS AN INCREDIBLE TASTEMAKER WHO NEVER REALLY RECEIVED GREAT FAME. I WOULD LIKE TO COME BACK AS HIM TO INSURE HE ACHIEVES THE LEVEL OF NOTORIETY HE DESERVES.

what specific design related talent are you lacking that you would you most like to have? GOOD HANDWRITING AND THE ABILITY TO SKETCH WELL… WHEN IT COMES TO A PEN OR PENCIL, I AM SEVERELY CHALLENGED!

what is your most treasured design related possession? A SMALL SILVER AND VERMEIL BOX WITH ENAMEL AND PORCELAIN THAT WAS GIVEN BY EMPRESS ELIZABETH ("SISI”) OF AUSTRIA TO HER NIECE, MY GREAT, GREAT GRANDMOTHER. IT’S FILLED WITH AN ODD COLLECTION OF SMALL MEMENTOS FROM MY FAMILY AND CHILDHOOD, LIKE THE FIRST STARFISH I EVER FOUND AND SOME OLD KEYS TO THE STABLES AT MY GRANDMOTHER’S HOUSE. IT HAS BEEN WITH ME THROUGH TODAY AND SERVES AS A KIND OF TOUCHSTONE.

what do you regard as the lowest depths of misery in design? CLOSED MINDED PEOPLE WITH NO DESIRE TO GROW OR LEARN. IT’S SO IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS BE OPEN TO NEW IDEAS AND WAYS OF LOOKING AT THINGS… THAT’S WHEN MAGIC HAPPENS IN DESIGN, AS IN LIFE!

what curse word do you most frequently use? I AM EMBARRASSED TO SAY IT, BUT IT WOULD HAVE TO BE “WHAT THE FU-CK?...YOU’VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!”

what is your favorite design related word? ELEGANT

what is your least favorite design related word? DELICIOUS OR FABULOUS… REALLY, WHAT SELF-RESPECTING PERSON WOULD UTTER SUCH SILLINESS?

what turns you on in design? HAVING NUMEROUS OPPORTUNITIES TO TRY NEW AND DIFFERENT THINGS. I ALSO LOVE THE CHALLENGE OF TAKING ARCHITECTURE FROM AN EARLIER TIME, IN WHICH PEOPLE LIVED VERY DIFFERENTLY AND THEN FIGURING OUT HOW TO APPROPRIATELY UPDATE THAT STRUCTURE FOR THE WAY WE LIVE AND WORK TODAY.

what turns you off in design? OH, WHERE DOES ONE BEGIN HERE? 1. I AM SO OVER IKAT THAT I COULD SCREAM. 2. I HATE ROOMS THAT LOOK LIKE THEY JUST CAME DELIVERED FROM A SHOW ROOM. 3. I DON’T UNDERSTAND MOST OF THE PLASTIC FURNITURE FROM THE 70’S… IT WAS CHEAP THEN AND HASN’T IMPROVED WITH AGE.

what is your motto in design? COMFORTABLE ELEGANCE. I TRY TO CREATE ENVIRONMENTS WHERE PEOPLE FEEL AT HOME AND WELCOME. COMFORT IS THE KEY INGREDIENT.

//

IMAGE CREDITS | Images courtesy of Timothy Corrigan, Architectural Digest, Vulgare & OperaGloves.

ABOUT PROUST ON DESIGN | Answered by our design icons, these must-ask questions come from a 19th century parlor game made popular by Marcel Proust, the French novelist, essayist & critic. Proust believed the direct questions and honest responses that they elicited revealed the true nature of the individual. For this column, we have put a design related spin on the traditional questions. While this method has been used by many journalists throughout the years, we were primarily inspired by The Proust Questionnaire, which appears monthly on the back page of one of our all time favorite magazines, Vanity Fair (also Krista’s alma mater). Read all of the previous Proust on Design questionnaires here.

India Hicks

what is your idea of perfect design happiness? IS THERE SUCH A THING? A PERFECTLY POOFED PINK SOFA FREE OF DOG HAIR AND OREO COOKIE STAINS WOULD DO ME JUST FINE.

what is your greatest fear in design? THAT I WAKE UP ONE MORNING AND FIND THE ANISH KAPOOROLYMPIC TOWER IN MY GARDEN. ANISH IS A CLOSE FRIEND AND BRILLIANT ARTIST BUT GOOD GOD THAT THING IS HIDEOUS.

which historical design figure do you most identify with? WELL HAVING DAVID HICKS AS YOUR FATHER CERTAINLY MEANS HE IS IN MY DNA. QUITE LITERALLY.

which living designer do you most admire? KELLY WEARSTLER. NOT BECAUSE I WOULD NECESSARILY WANT TO LIVE IN ONE OF HER INTERIORS BUT BECAUSE SHE HAS GUTS, DRIVE, DETERMINATION AND ABOVE ALL HER OWN POINT OF VIEW. SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL HARD WORKING WOMAN WHO HAS MADE IT ON HER OWN AND IS A MOTHER ON TOP OF ALL THAT.

what profession other than design would you like to attempt? I WOULD LIKE TO EDIT A MAGAZINE. I LIKE LONG HOURS, I LIKE A CHALLENGE, I LIKE DEADLINES BUT MOST OF ALL I LIKE BEAUTIFULLY LAID OUT PAGES OF GOOD DESIGN COUPLED WITH INTERESTING FACT.

what is your greatest design extravagance? I DON’T HUGELY OVER SPEND WHEN IT COMES TO DESIGN OR INTERIORS, PROBABLY LESS SO THAN MOST, BUT WE DO HAVE HUNDREDS OF COFFEE TABLE BOOKS. A GREAT INDULGENCE BECAUSE YOU REALLY NEVER READ THE COPY YOU ONLY FLEETINGLY GLIMPSE AT A WORD OR TWO.

when and where were you happiest with your design? RIGHT NOW. RIGHT THIS MINUTE IN MY PALE PINK OFFICE ON A BAHAMAIN SPRING DAY KNOWING THAT MY COLLECTION FOR HSN EXCEEDED ALL OUR EXPECTATIONS AND SALES GOALS. AM I ALLOWED TO BOAST ABOUT THAT?

what do you consider your greatest achievement in design? MY WEBSITE! IT’S A HUGE PROJECT AND ENORMOUS COMMITMENT. BLOOD, SWEAT AND TEARS GO INTO IT. FEW PEOPLE UNDERSTAND WHAT IT TAKES FROM A PERSONAL AND FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO KEEP AN ECOMMERCE SITE MOVING FORWARD.

if you died and came back as another designer or design object, who or what do you think it would be? A SMYTHSON LEATHER BOUND PHOTO ALBUM IN THE HICKS FLINT WOOD HOUSEHOLD. MY CHILDREN LOVE THEIR SCRAP BOOKS FILLED WITH PHOTOS, NOTES, LETTERS, AND MEMORABILIA. LOVING CHERISHED AND LOOKED AFTER.

what specific design related talent are you lacking that you would you most like to have? THE ACCOUNTING SIDE OF A DESIGN PROJECT!

what is your most treasured design related possession? MY IPHONE CAMERA. I RECORD EVERYTHING – TEXTURES, COLOURS, MOODS.

what do you regard as the lowest depths of misery in design? A HORRIBLE CLIENT.

what curse word do you most frequently use? I HAVE SEVERAL. THEY ARE ALL VERY EFFECTIVE.

what is your favorite design related word? PERFECT.

what is your least favorite design related word? ICON.

what turns you on in design? FORM AND FUNCTION.

what turns you off in design? ANYTHING OVER-PRICED. A CHAIR, A CARPENTER, A CAN OF PAINT.

 what is your motto in design? “GOOD TASTE AND DESIGN ARE BY NO MEANS DEPENDENT UPON MONEY.” MY FATHER WROTE THIS INTO MY LITTLE AUTOGRAPH BOOK WHEN I WAS SEVEN. I DID NOT HAVE A CLUE WHAT IT MEANT.

//

IMAGE CREDITS | Images courtesy of India Hicks, her Facebook page & Instagram. Kelly Wearstler image via Instagram.

ABOUT PROUST ON DESIGN | Answered by our design icons, these must-ask questions come from a 19th century parlor game made popular by Marcel Proust, the French novelist, essayist & critic. Proust believed the direct questions and honest responses that they elicited revealed the true nature of the individual. For this column, we have put a design related spin on the traditional questions. While this method has been used by many journalists throughout the years, we were primarily inspired by The Proust Questionnaire, which appears monthly on the back page of one of our all time favorite magazines, Vanity Fair (also Krista’s alma mater). Read all of the previous Proust on Design questionnaires here.

Susan Bartlett Crater

what is your idea of perfect design happiness?

susan | WHEN I WALK IN TO A ROOM AND FEEL LIKE I AM GOING TO HAVE A GOOD TIME THERE. WHETHER JUST TO SIT QUIETLY AND READ A BOOK OR HAVE A DINNER PARTY FOR 12. IT’S A VIBE OF COMFORT, BEAUTY AND IMAGINATION COMBINED.

what is your greatest fear in design?

susan | THAT THINGS LOOK “WISPY’ WAS ONE OF MY GRANDMOTHER’S MOST NEGATIVE COMMENTS. SHE DID NOT LIKE “WISPY” CURTAINS, COLORS OR ANYTHING WITHOUT SOUL OR HEART. IT ALSO IMPLIES A ROOM IS NOT WELL LOVED.

which historical design figure do you most identify with?

susan | MY GRANDMOTHER SISTER PARISH.

which living designer do you most admire?

susan | I LIKE MANY PEOPLE WORKING NOW. MARKHAM ROBERTS, JEFFREY BILHUBER, LIBBY CAMERON, KATIE RIDDER IN THE NORTH EAST. CATHY KINCAID IN THE SOUTH. RUTHIE SUMMERS, LUCAS STUDIO AND RAMEY CAULKINS IN THE WEST. I LOVE WHAT MY MOTHER APPLE BARTLETT DOES WITH HER  FANTASTIC COLLAGES AND HER STORE.

what profession other than design would you like to attempt?

susan | I USED TO BE A LAWYER SO THIS IS MY SECOND CAREER. ARTIST PROBABLY - I LOVE COLLAGE, DECOUPAGE, PAINTING.

what is your greatest design extravagance?

susan | FRESH FLOWERS ALL OF THE TIME.

when and where were you happiest with your design?

susan | AT OUR HOUSE IN MAINE, WHICH USED TO BE MY GRANDMOTHERS.

what do you consider your greatest achievement in design?

susan | STARTING SISTER PARISH DESIGN.

if you died and came back as another designer or design object, who or what do you think it would be?

susan | MAYBE AN ANTIQUE GARDEN ORNAMENT OR FOLLY SO I COULD BE IN A GARDEN ALL OF THE TIME - PREFERABLY NEAR THE OCEAN.

what specific design related talent are you lacking that you would you most like to have?

susan | A BETTER KNOWLEDGE OF FURNITURE.

what is your most treasured design related possession?
susan | A  GIGANTIC VICTORIAN BIRDCAGE MY GANDMOTHER GAVE ME TO MAKE INTO A DOLL HOUSE WHEN I WAS 12.

what do you regard as the lowest depths of misery in design?

susan | ROOMS THAT LOOK LIKE CRATE AND BARREL CATALOGUES.

what curse word do you most frequently use?

susan | SHIT.

what is your favorite design related word?

susan | PRETTY.

what is your least favorite design related word? 

susan | EDITED.

what turns you on in design?

susan | COLOR, IMAGINATION AND COMFORT.

what turns you off in design?

susan | LACK OF THE ABOVE.

what is your motto in design?

susan | OUR COMPANY MOTTO , WHICH IS SOMETHING MY GRANDMOTHER SAID “IN DESIGN, INNOVATION IS THE ABILITY TO REACH INTO THE PAST AND TAKE WHAT IS GOOD, WHAT IS USEFUL AND WHAT IS LASTING.”

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IMAGE CREDITS | Images courtesy of Sister Parish Design & Lonny's November 2012 issue (check it out for an excellent article on the three generations of women in Sister Parish's family)

ABOUT SISTER PARISH DESIGN | Susan Bartlett Crater, granddaughter of the legendary interior decorator “Sister” Parish, was bemoaning the state of decorating with kindred spirit Libby Cameron, Parish’s last apprentice, when they realized, in Cameron’s words, “…that everything had gotten too white and beige.”  In 2000, Susan and Libby teamed up to create Sister Parish Design, which offers fabric and wallpapers from Mrs. Parish’s archives and that of her venerable design firm Parish-Hadley. Susan and Libby’s goal was to resurrect the prints and colors that Sister loved. The resulting collection embodies the charm, warmth and flair of her signature style. From a tidy pattern of dots to a star spangled trellis design, Sister Parish Design fabrics and wallpapers carry on a tradition of the “Parish Hadley” style, of timeless patterns that represent an eclectic mix of materials-both traditional and modern.

ABOUT PROUST ON DESIGN | Answered by our design icons, these must-ask questions come from a 19th century parlor game made popular by Marcel Proust, the French novelist, essayist & critic. Proust believed the direct questions and honest responses that they elicited revealed the true nature of the individual. For this specific column, we have put a design related spin on the traditional questions. While this method of questioning has been used by many journalists throughout the years, we were primarily inspired by The Proust Questionnaire, which appears monthly on the back page of one of our all time favorite magazines, Vanity Fair (also Krista's alma mater).

Proust on Design alumni include Anne Maxwell Foster & Suysel dePedro Cunningham of Tilton Fenwick | Madeline Weinrib | Todd Nickey & Amy Kehoe of Nickey Kehoe | Michelle Nussbaumer | Serena Dugan of Serena & Lily | John Robshaw | Mally Skok | Katie Leede | Peter Dunham | Seema Krish | Zak Profera | ZAK+FOX