Emily Eerdmans
Photo Courtesy of Eerdmans New York
If you could have a second home anywhere, where would you live? Yorkshire Dales
What are three words to describe your style?
1. Colorful
2. Collected
3. Classical
Tell us about your childhood bedroom?
Not terribly memorable - a four poster bed, lavender and grey painted floor boards.
What’s the first investment piece you ever bought for your house?
A Chinese black lacquer screen at auction that previously belonged to Elizabeth Arden. It was for a studio apartment to divide the room - I’ve later used it as a headboard in the bedroom.
In the history of design, if you could hire any designer other than yourself, who would it be? It depends on the house… John Fowler, Henri Samuel, Mongiardino.
No room is complete without books.
People think of me as, but I am really…. Who said it’s none of my business what people think of me?
Things you omit from:
A flower arrangement: Baby’s breath - I don’t care what people say, it’s not coming back.
An hors d’oeuvre platter: Cheese
A bar cabinet: Nothing
A song for:
Dinner at home: So Danco Samba
Working at your desk: a Chopin etude
Going for a run: Do Ya Wanna Funk by Sylvester
Biggest Vice? Television
If you were on an Ambien high and internet shopping, what would you buy? Gawd, what wouldn’t I buy?! A cabochon emerald ring to start with…
Do your clothes reflect your design sensibility, if so, how? These days my wardrobe is mostly about being able to work a long day while being comfortable. Zuri dresses are a bit of a uniform - made of African colorful printed cotton - sometimes slightly hideous in a humorous way, they make only one style of dress which is super comfortable and with the all important pockets.
Who is your star crush? Monty Don for the moment.
What is the thing you would never do on a project, but don’t detest when you see others do it?
Open concept living.
If there were a fire, and you could only keep one design book, what would it be?
Chester Jones’ book on Colefax and Fowler.
For posterity, what would you like your work to be known for?
Educational and inspiring.
Photo Courtesy of Eerdmans New York
A Few Favorites:
Movie: Funny Face
Book: This is a terrible question
Scent: Eau d’hadrien or Le Labo Santal 33
The fabric you always come back to: Le Manach Batik (aka Brunschwig Verrieres)
Dream project: Helping a client furnish a Neoclassical Georgian country house (in England which is redundant to say)
Meal: Steak au poivre
Drink: Aperol spritz
Hotel: Carlyle
Travel Destination: Harbor Island
Artist: Argh…I guess if I could own any painting at all it would be a Rothko colorfield work
A cause near and dear to me: No child hungry
Thing to collect obsessively: Ceramic vegetables
Era in the history of design: Late 18th century Neoclassicism
Museum: Sir John Soane House
Paint Color that always looks great: Benjamin Moore Chic Lime
Favorite person to follow on Instagram: Plantsman @alexander.hoyle and other gardeners
Dogs, Cats, or No Pets? Two cats, Fred and Hugo
