1. Jonathan Adler
I heart Jonathan Adler. That is exactly what happily runs through my mind every time I pass one of his shops or catch a glimpse of one of his fabulous decor pieces in a magazine. The Brooklyn-based designer just simply makes my heart skip a beat because his designs are fresh, funny, fabulous and, all at the same time, totally classy and chic!
Having originally started as a potter, Adler kept at his craft with little encouragement from the outside world. Good thing he did because today he has 12 shops, a booming interior design business, and a stint on a reality show for his expert design sense, all spun (pun intended) from pottery orders from Barney's back in 1994. What definitely makes his designs so appealing is its evident he is having fun and doesn't take the business of interiors so dead-pan serious, and, at the same time, he knows quality is key. Adler's interiors are always at the same time, warm and welcoming while also remaining to be decadent and achingly beautiful.
Shown above is a living room designed by Adler that features one of his most popular pottery designs.
Sommers is a risk taker and often marries modern-day décor with vintage steals. She is not afraid of color, texture, or making a serious statement with a little fun as evidenced with the zebra rug shown here. A Sommers designed space is completely livable and, with pops of color, can easily change any mood into that is just simply being happy and relaxed.
I love Dransfield & Ross because it simply makes a girl swoon and dream, but yet the beautiful pieces and styles aren’t so far off from reality; it's the ideal combo of luxury and modern elegance. Also, aside from simply wanting to climb in bed and fall asleep on a bedding of luxury, what makes their designs so appealing as well as are the sweet little details. Adorable designs and touches of whimsy rest amongst the designs of the company and such details aren’t fully noticed until the piece is thoroughly studied. So a bit of playfulness is included on a piece that overall is quite adult and ladylike.
One cannot speak of American influences in interior design without speaking of Frank Lloyd Wright. Wright revolutionized America design and the American home from the latter part of the 19th Century throughout the 20th Century to his death in 1959. And, thereafter, his aesthetics and visions can be seen in most all American architecture from 1960 to today. Wright gave Americans homes for which they could breath in as they were designed to offer space and an easy flow from room to room as opposed to the Victorian homes of the 19th century.
I love Frank Lloyd Wright for many reasons, but probably mostly because he was a pioneer in organic design. When designing he thought of a home’s inhabitants, as well as the land and environment where the home would rest. His homes were built with an appeal toward nature and were built by using materials native to the land. Woods were often stained, as opposed to painted, to show their true beauty and so forth. Wright is a Midwestern and so am I, so I feel a genuine connection to him and especially to his most popular designs, the Prairie Houses that originated in Midwest soil.
Wright was a visionary in all facets; he wasn't just the architect but his hand was in everything. He designed the interiors and all pieces including the furniture, glass, fabric, dinnerware, and beyond—all of this was done to ultimately create an overall design that would allow for a pleasing flow and energy for the inhabitants and environment. In total, Wright designed 1141 works, including not just homes, but also churches, libraries, schools, offices, and most notably, the Guggenheim Museum.
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