San Francisco - Principal, Jonathan Rachman Design
What first sparked your interest in design? As a child growing up in Indonesia, I was exposed to so many arts, artisans, architecture, textiles and sculptures. In my youth, studying and living in Switzerland and Paris exposed me to a similar environment, plus fashion in the classical Western setting. These visual memories sparked my interest.
How would you describe your aesthetic? Definitively timeless with the best elements of East and West; classical, old-school, yet current and highly customized and tailored; hushed luxury.
What design trend are you loving at the moment? While I don’t follow any trend (I find it contrived and limiting), I am absolutely in love with how de Gournay’s bespoke custom hand-painted wallpaper is adapting to more modern approaches: bold, unforgettable and always bespoke. Their embroidered velvet cushions are also divinely scrumptious!
What design trend are you so over? The over-counter mount sink: unsavory, unhygienic and impractical
How do you weave your sense of style into everything you do? It’s like everything in my life: having a principle, and I constantly insist on staying true to myself in what I do and how I behave or dress or shop as well as design. I can only be me.
What is a timeless design moment you think will never go out of style? Anything Hubert de Givenchy created and designed, be it fashion or interiors.
What is the best bang for the buck when it comes to making a big impact on a project? A lavish decorative light fixture: It’s like your Taffin brooch. jonathanrachman.com
