Jan Showers
photo by Jeff McNamara
If you could have a second home anywhere, where would you live? I already have the one I want - our country house outside Dallas - my favorite place.
What are three words to describe your style? 1. Comfortable 2. Unexpected 3. Relaxed
Tell us about your childhood bedroom? Very modern, much to my mother’s dismay. She let me select the furniture and I chose cerused oak that was pretty mod for the times and certainly for the rest of our house. I still marvel at her for allowing it!
What’s the first investment piece you ever bought for your house? An 18th c. English burled walnut commode with original brasses—I still have it in a guest room in our country house.
In the history of design, if you could hire any designer other than yourself, who would it be? Hard to choose—a tie between Frances Elkins and Mark Hampton (not saying that because of you, Alexa! I loved his lived-in look)
No room is complete without: antiques and vintage pieces.
People think of me as I have no idea, but I am really: warm and fuzzy—if I were a dog, I would be a terrier.
Things you omit from:
A flower arrangement: red flowers
An hors d’oeuvre platter: mushrooms of any kind
A bar cabinet: nothing! I like to be prepared for my guests
A song for:
Dinner at home: Have a crush on Billie Eilish—Lovely and Ocean Eyes
Working at your desk: Billie Holiday
Going for a run: don’t run or jog—when I walk with my husband we have great talks. Indoors on my treadmill I watch tv.
Biggest Vice? Lays Potato Chips and Martinis
If you were on an Ambien high and internet shopping, what would you buy? I might get on a vintage watch site and go crazy.
Do your clothes reflect your design sensibility, if so, how? Probably—classic and timeless with an edge.
Who is your star crush? Brad Pitt - hands down.
What is the thing you would never do on a project, but don’t detest when you see others do it? If I detest them, I would never do them. I have strong feelings.
If there were a fire, and you could only keep one design book, what would it be? Honestly, the first copy of Glamorous Rooms because of sentimental value---I’ll never forget how proud I was of it—a dream come true.
For posterity, what would you like your work to be known for? Having a point of view while being unique to each client.
photo by Stephen Karlisch
A Few Favorites:
Movie: Tie--Talented Mr. Ripley/The English Patient
Book: The Goldfinch
Scent: l’Bleu by Guerlain
The fabric you always come back to: Wonderful prints by Brunschwig and a great mohair because they last forever.
Dream project: I’m doing it right now--a wonderful estate in Lake Forest designed by Harrie Lindeberg in 1924. Rooms are perfectly proportioned and because the house was so well designed, it has stood the test of time.
Meal: Real Tex Mex or very crispy fried chicken or almost any Asian (cannot chose one cuisine)
Drink: Dry Chopin Vodka martini extra dry and highly bruised
Hotel: Hotel du Cap, Antibes
Travel Destination: Lake Como for a month with Switzerland for one week and Milan for a weekend
Artist: Tie—Matisse and Bonnard
Thing to collect obsessively: Where to start? Art, fine Murano glass, barware, French ‘40’s desk clocks, vintage cigarette lighters, books.
Era in the history of design: I love everything from the ‘40’s and early ‘50’s
Museum: Guggenheim in Venice and NY
Paint Color that always looks great: Farrow & Ball blues---all of them
Favorite person to follow on Instagram: All my friends, many of whom are designers
Dogs, Cats, or No Pets? Dogs, I would have a dozen if I didn’t travel so much.
