Nina Farmer
photo by jared kuzia
If you could have a second home anywhere, where would you live? Tangier in the winter, Marthas Vineyard in the summer
What are three words to describe your style?
1. Timeless
2. Worldly
3. Collected
Tell us about your childhood bedroom? I grew up in a contemporary house in Connecticut that my parents designed and built when I was three. I wanted to live in a quintessential old New England Colonial home so I tried to channel that into my bedroom. It had pink walls and matching floral Laura Ashley bedding and drapes.
What’s the first investment piece you ever bought for your house? I purchased a large format Lynn Geesman photograph from the Yancey Richardson Gallery that sits in the entryway of my home.
In the history of design, if you could hire any designer other than yourself, who would it be? Ooh so many greats here….Madeleine Castaing, Renzo Mongiardino, with Sir John Soane as my architect. For someone present day I would say Veere Greeney. I had the great pleasure of dining with him at his home and Tangier and it was magical!
No room is complete without books and art.
People think of me as a foodie, but I’m just really good at ordering in.
Things you omit from:
A flower arrangement: Too many varieties
An hors d’oeuvre platter: Anything with aioli
A bar cabinet: Anything goes, as long as it’s styled well
A song for:
Dinner at home: “To love somebody” by Nina Simone
Working at your desk: “Song for Zula” by Phosphorescent
Going for a run: “Bury It” by Chvrches
Biggest Vice? Bendicks Bittermints and a hot bath at the end of the day.
If you were on an Ambien high and internet shopping, what would you buy? Everything from Gem Palace in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
Do your clothes reflect your design sensibility, if so, how? Yes, absolutely! I appreciate so many different aesthetics. I gravitate towards things that are intrinsically chic and shy away from trends. I like trying to tell a story and channeling the time and place that I’m in. Design, fashion and travel are tightly interwoven for me. So much so that on a punch list for a project with a client and good friend of mine she asked me to curate her wardrobe for her. It’s been so much fun updating it every season thereafter.
Who is your star crush? Jude Law circa late 1990’s. The Talented Mr. Ripley.
What is the thing you would never do on a project, but don’t detest when you see others do it?
Using the same fabric on the windows, walls and upholstery.
If there were a fire, and you could only keep one design book, what would it be?
My copy of The Grammar of Ornament from design school.
For posterity, what would you like your work to be known for? For being chic, timeless and always on point.
photo by eric piasecki
A Few Favorites:
Movie: The Darjeeling Limited
Book: Circling the Sun by Paula McLain
Scent: For a fragrance - Fueguia Ett Hem or Rgime des Fleurs La-Bas and Candle- Cire Trudon Pondicherry
The fabric you always come back to: Loro Piana Bukhara Plain Palomino
Dream project: A Grade I property in the English countryside
Meal: Eggs Meurette from Balthazar
Drink: Morning - Mariage Frères Earl Grey Evening - Cap Corse on the rocks with a twist of orange
Hotel: This is a hard one to narrow down- Aman Venice, Domaine du Murtoli Corsica, Round Hill, Jamaica
Travel Destination: Up next is a trip sailing the Nile on the Nour el Nil, but my all-time favorites are Rajasthan, India and tea country in Sri Lanka.
Artist: Claudio Bravo
A cause near and dear to me: Heart health—My husband is a cardiologist and the first time I when to India was on charitable trip with him to perform heart surgery outside of Delhi.
Thing to collect obsessively: Books and I have a soft spot for Art Deco tea service
Era in the history of design: The 1930’s
Museum: Isabella Stewart Gardner and Sir John Soane Museum
Paint Color that always looks great: Farrow & Ball Slipper Satin No.2004
Favorite person to follow on Instagram: @mimithor , @mariadelaorden, @michaeltrappinc
Dogs, Cats, or No Pets? Absolutely dogs! We currently have a Shishon named Leopold
