January 27, 2012
an afternoon with... yoshiaki takao
For you long time readers, it's not the first time you read about multi-talented designer Yoshiaki Takao over here. I have featured his work numerous times (including this recently) and I couldn't be more excited to share with you his living space today!
From the creative flow of his basement workspace {bunny bunny hole design - link soon to come} to his studio apartment, Yoshi's décor is simple but imprinted with character, imagination and humour.
The low and understated layout was such a great feature i thought, the way i have always imagined the comfort of traditional Japanese homes.
On this rainy november day, we decided to cozy-up at a local bistro and shared {as always} laughter, creative ideas and stories; our favorite thing to do!
I feel very fortunate to have him as a friend.
©2012 Anne-Claire Rohé - All Rights Reserved
Tell us where you live, since when and where you are from originally
I live in Brooklyn NY, I came from Japan 11 years ago.
What are the 3 core elements that shape your life?
Being innocent, being original and being emotional.
Tell us how you began working in the field you are now
I was quite handy when i was a child. My father was a carpenter, he had many tools and i just naturally loved making things. Especially in the town I was born which is surrounded by natural elements. I often went to the forest and sea side with my father's tools, cutting branches, finding driftwood and making toys (ships, weapons, etc...). I think i started my career as a designer at that age!
What was the best lesson you have learned in the process?
Being original is being strong.
What is your favorite occupation at home?
Eating ice cream in bed!
What detail do you recall most about the home you grew up in?
The house i grew up was so messy, my mum didn't care for it so much, i had a small room that was mine and that was totally my microcosm.
My first attempt at decorating my room was to paint the light bulb in red with watercolors and it looked really psychedelic, matching perfectly the Beatles poster pined up on the wall, i was 10 years old.
What natural ability are you most proud to possess?
Being indvidual.
Finish the sentence, "you can not fail when you..."
Smile!
January 26, 2012
so pleased!
This morning, the New York Times posted a beautifully styled home by the super talented duo Nightwood and oh surprise! a tryptich of my artwork is hanging in one of the pictures! (seen on the wall in the kitchen area - click on picture to enlarge).
What a warming & satisfying feeling to be associated with such a tasteful & sun-filled home.
Thank you to the designers and to the soulful owner of this gorgeous townhouse!
Un superbe appartement publié aujourd'hui dans la rubrique "Great homes and destinations" du New York Times et la douce surprise d'y trouver dans l'une de ces photos trois de mes aquarelles! (sur le mur dans la cuisine- cliquer sur l'image pour l'agrandir).
Les stylistes de Nightwood on sû trouver le parfait décor pour mon art! Je les en remercie et félicite la propriétaire de cette superbe maison qui respire paix et bien-être.
January 23, 2012
January 20, 2012
on set
This month i was fortunate enough to land a job that gave me almost 100% creative freedom. I created still life images for the Canadian based brand Lillie & Cohoe.
The catalog is currently being edited so before i can give you a glimpse of it i'll let you imagine what my day was like. You can see how bare of a set it was though... this was as minimal as it gets = my attempt to create an organic, and warm look for their winter collection.
Voici quelques clichés pris le jour de mon photoshoot pour le prochain catalogue the la marque Lillie & Cohoe. Super experience pour moi car ce job m'a donné carte blanche coté création.
Les images seront disponibles lorsque le catalogue sera publié. Je vous tiens au courant!
January 18, 2012
braid
The hair styling i have always wanted to master... I 'm just not really blessed with the skill. I would love to take a real professional class or a worksop on braiding techniques. Does that exist in new York?
Les cheveux nattés. C'est sans doute le style que je préfère. Maintenant j'ai jamais réussi à le faire sur moi. Assez maladroite en fait quand j'essaye de me coiffer comme une pro...
J'adore ces 3 styles. Simples et intemporels.
January 13, 2012
January 10, 2012
an afternoon with... wesley fuller
What i like most about this project of introducing people's home is the variety of people i meet in the process. Today, we are peeking into what i would call the quintessential downtown life of the busy new yorker.
Wes is a young investor living in a fairly new building. But his apartment somehow reflects the feel of a classic New York interior. He really used the space cleverly and created a home that is uncluttered, comfortable and simple. The stark winter light outside made the place extra cozy that morning.
As the nature of his profession always calls, Wesley had to work that day and i swifted out as fast as i had swifted in, leaving behind a sense of wonder on how it would be for me to live his kind of life.
©2012 Anne-Claire Rohé - All Rights Reserved
Tell us where you live, since when and where you are from originally
I live at the corner of Henry street and Rutgers, where the eastern edge of Chinatown bleeds over into the southernmost section of the Lower East Side. I've been in NYC for eight years, the lower east side for five, and this apartment for three. I'm originally from Austin, TX and other than short stints in Dallas and London I have called New York "home" for all of my adult life.
What are the 3 fundamental elements in your daily / weekly routine?
What are the 3 fundamental elements in your daily / weekly routine?
I travel quite a bit for both work and fun, so i'm constantly in a state of packing and/or unpacking. The apartment is actually laid out to facilitate that which is something i got some help putting into place last year. When i'm in town i try to get out to Brooklyn at least once a week. I rent a workspace in a converted industrial building near the Brooklyn navy yards which is super convenient to bike to from here.
Another constant is eating out. I'm not a cook and i love trying new restaurants so the kitchen doesn't see too much action. The neighborhood has some great restaurants like Fat Radish, Barrio Chino and Cafe Petisco so i have some terrific standbys if i'm not checking out something new downtown or in Brooklyn.
Tell us about your current project
I'm on the board of a great local non profit called Hester Street Collaborative. the group does incredible programing at the intersection of community design, education and public spaces. I'm working with them to develop a marketing plan to get the word out about HSC's mission to the nyc design community. My background is in finance so we're all learning together.
What's the best lesson you have learned so far?
Change is a constant, whether in your personal life, your neighborhood or the world. There's no way to resist it so it's best to embrace it, enjoy it, and to harness that momentum instead of expending energy trying to slow things down.
What is your favorite occupation at home?
What is your favorite occupation at home?
Flopping onto my couch or my chair and watching a program on Roku or Apple tv. Usually i'll peck away at some emails as i'm unwinding with some entertainment.
Your most cherished object?
Your most cherished object?
My vintage Chesterfield chair. I picked it up off of a friend when she was downsizing apartments. I feel a bit bad about it because it's the greatest chair i've ever sat in and she must miss it terribly, but not so much that i'm willing to sell it back. I guess a good chair is worth the guilt.
What is your present state of mind?
What is your present state of mind?
Optimistic about the year ahead. Last year i invested a lot of energy pushing a number of moving pieces in my personal and professional life into place, so i'm excited about enjoying the benefits and opportunities provided by those efforts.
If you could live anywhere else in the world, what would be your place of choice?
If you could live anywhere else in the world, what would be your place of choice?
Does Fort Greene count? (a neighborhood in Brooklyn)
I would love to spend a year hiding in Havana. I recently ran across some Andrew Moore images of Cuba at the Queens museum that really captured my imagination. I also have this Hemingway inspired idealized version in my mind. Those romantic notions and its unattainability make it the perfect place i'll never live.
January 08, 2012
wyeth
The somehow theatrical styling choices in these pictures really caught my attention. Found in the Wyeth lookbook. Apparently the designer has not produced a collection since 2006. But what i am interested in here is the decor. I want to make a mural like the one the third picture!
Me donne des idées de décors... j'aime beaucoup le choix des couleurs et le petit coté "pièce de théâtre" de ces compositions. Ligne de vêtements Wyeth.
January 02, 2012
liquid bench
The work of artist Tokujin Yoshioka.
Absolutely in love with his whole aesthetic, especially the clever contrast between the water-emulating benches currently complimenting the rather austere look of the Musée d'Orsay. Makes me wish i was in Paris today.
Bouche bée devant le travail de l'artiste Tokujin Yoshioka.
Me donne envie d'aller me perdre au Musée d'Orsay entre autres, et m'allonger sur ce banc...
December 30, 2011
December 27, 2011
imagine
Alright, i am breaking my time-off-the-blog vow for a second because I HAVE to post about this. It was freshly posted on marie-claire maison this morning and my heart almost ached when i saw it.
It is going to stay at the top of my dream home inspiration folder. Hands down.
This is pretty much my vision of the ideal home.
The light, the light...
J'avais promis de ne pas vous revoir avant Janvier, mais ce matin, j'ai eu un tel coup de foudre que je n'ai pas eu d'autre choix que de vous présenter... la maison de MES RÊVES.
Elle existe, en concrêt et elle est publiée ce matin sur le site de marie-claire maison.
Je n'ai d'yeux que pour elle: sa lumière, son âme, son espace ouvert et ses couleurs passées.
Son âme...
December 20, 2011
I took this picture last spring in the beautiful and mystical Black Forest. I can now imagine the same landscape covered in snow and gingerbread-like houses nestled in the valley warming up with smokey chimneys...
The highlight of my year was without a doubt my trip to Europe.
I will now take a little break from writing here but will be back really soon in January and share again all the new stories i have in tow.
~ Best wishes to all of you ~
Meilleurs voeux à tous mes lecteurs francophones! Quelle année!
je prends quelques jours de vacances mais reviens en force en Janvier.
A très bientôt!
~
December 16, 2011
that time of the year...
I apologize in advance if i did not find the time to feature another home + interview this month.
You know how quickly things can slide off of your hands and time just starts running against you...? well this is my perception of life at this time of the year.
But i promise, there will be a lot of exciting original features in the new year.
This week I shot the always inspiring window display at Commune Salon & Gift, a place i never tire to photograph. A must see if you -out of town readers- ever come hang out in Brooklyn.
©2011 Anne-Claire Rohé - All Rights Reserved
Encore quelques semaines de douce folie et nous serons en janvier!
Un mois où je promet de reprendre mes projets, mes interviews et mes portraits d'intérieurs... ce mois-ci, la pendule tourne un peu a contre sens!
Voici quelques photos de la dernière vitrine de Commune, dont je ne me lasse jamais de photographier.
December 13, 2011
frost
Beautiful, calming winter light.
Images sourced on the inspiring Hege Greenall-Sholtz blog.
Douceur calmante de la lumière hivernale. Des couleurs qui m'inspirent pour des projets futurs.
images via Hege Greenall-Sholtz.
