Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1162040
Muse. My biggest inspiration is Turkish-born California decorator Kalef Alaton, who died in the '80s. Every interior he did was inspiring. I have the phrase "What would Kalef do?" framed in my office. My whole approach is based on Kalef's work — he edited and curated interiors like art. Page turners. One of my favorite books is A Private House, by Rose Tarlow. Her personal house is one of the most inspiring of all time, especially for its lack of pretension. Another favorite is New York Trends and Traditions by Roberto Schezen and Chessy Rayner. It has every good New York City interior from the 20th century. Keep it real. I come home at night, put my feet on the coffee table, sit on the sofa with my dog, and don't worry about it. I live with beautiful things — I don't live in a museum. True hues. I'm into oyster-white fabrics right now. It's the perfect white, with a lot of gray in it, but no yellow. My favorite color to pair with that is bourbon — a deep, rich brown. I use a lot of Pieree Frey fabrics, but my favorites are Holland & Sherry velvets and wools, because they're not too feminine and look good in any room. East Coast shopping, NYC. The 1stdibs Gallery floor of shops, Gerald Bland, Mantiques M o d e r n . F o r c l o t h e s : P e t e r Elliot, Belgian Shoes, Bergdorf Goodman (they make my shirts). When in L.A. JF Chen, Antonio's Bella Casa, Rose Tarlow for antiques. Your second home. It's in Woodstock, Vermont: a 1799 gambrel Cape that sits on the Ottauquechee River in the heart of town. It's as Yankee WASP as it gets. Tattered chintz, pine paneling, painted floors and shelves of old books. It's my happy place, and every summer it's my change of address. When you knew you were destined to design. I think I've always had a deep love of interiors. It's second nature for me. But my earliest memories of "moving furniture" started at the age of 6. Mind-bending project. I've had a roller-coaster ride the past 16 months with one client — one of my favorites. He's purchased three homes in this short period of time and has given cart blanche to gut the spaces and deck them out, as he says, "the way you would want to live in them." And I live pretty big, LOL. On the horizon. We have new lighting coming out for Visual Comfort as we speak. And a book? Well, yes. There is definitely going to be a book. Stay turned for more details on that one. Top TV watching. Schitt's Creek — I binge-watch it. The Duchess, Treasure Houses of Britain. One last thing. I'm never afraid of something gilded. My business partner, Christopher Alexander, calls me J. Louis. A title I wear with pride. The lounge inside Powers' offices includes a recently acquired Dorothy Hood painting. Powers' master bedroom, as featured in Architectural Digest. ANA HOP ERIC PIASECKI 103