Ralph - Let's talk about him

When I was faced with the task of choosing a designer who truly inspires me, the first name that came to mind was “RALPH”…as in Mr. Ralph Lauren. I don’t think home décor is the first thing that comes to mind when people hear that name; it’s usually his fantastic clothing lines, images of men playing polo, or his slew of fragrances.

“ When I create a collection, I approach it with a cinematic point of view- I am not designing clothes, I’m creating a world.”

I just admire the aesthetic and his approach to design, the true thoughtfulness that happens through his choices and how he paints a picture that evokes the sense of self.

Lauren’s approach to creating his home division (started in 1983) was to create interiors like he was setting a scene in a movie. You can even see this in the way in which he separates his collections, by names like “Elizabeth Street” and “The Heiress”. Each collection carefully is curated: down to the mixture of textiles, the choices of finishes for all the hard goods, even the shapes and sizes of all the accessories.

Lauren is planning what the setting will look like, helping the customer to envision the person who lives in this place, what they like, the things they are interested in…and the best part of it all is at the end he makes them believe that it’s them. That to me is the epitome of creating a space.

I suppose my love for Ralph Lauren started when I visited his Madison Avenue flagship store, the Rhinelander Mansion. When I entered the store going from level to level, I literally felt as though I was visiting different peoples rooms, but all these “people” were joined by a shared vision. Looking through all the details of the mansion, I was blown away: the raised wood paneling, the colors of the walls, the lamps, the fixtures. You can tell every moment was a thoughtful choice. I adore the way he has no issue mixing any component. He is willing to take a traditional wing back chair, and upholster it in a zebra pony hair, and then throw a chartreuse silk pillow on for good measure.

I truly believe he was the creator of the “TRANSITIONAL DESIGN MOVEMENT”. The idea of transitional design is to combine something contemporary and modern, and to add traditional elements. I identify completely with this aesthetic; it’s the medium I prefer to design in. I love being free to mix a Louis XV settee upholstered in a bold modern stripe. I feel like transitional design is organic; it has the feeling of a collection…a life. It tells a true story.