一个nytimeJake Arnoldposts a room on Instagram, his many followers (314K and counting) have questions. What’s that paint color? What kind of wood is that bookshelf? Where’s that coffee
table from? So when Sebastian Brauer, the senior vice president of product design at Crate & Barrel, slid into the AD100 designer’s DMs with a proposal to collaborate, it sounded like the perfect opportunity to give the people the look they love. “Finishes, materials, proportion, scale,” says Arnold, describing the building blocks of the new 50-piece collection, which spans lighting and furniture.
Inspiration came loosely from 1940s and ’50s France—savvy eyes will spot a handful of Jean Royère references—but the idea was to create timeless pieces in refined materials that would
fit seamlessly into a home of any size or style. (Think sumptuous velvet chairs, a sofa skirted with crisp box pleats, or a sturdy wood nightstand.) “It was important to me that the pieces would sit as well with a $20,000 piece of furniture as they would in someone’s studio apartment.”
Many items are the kinds of things Arnold is always after for who’s-who clients such asJohn LegendandChrissy Teigen,Katy Perryand Orlando Bloom, and Rashida Jones. The seagrass-back Forge counter stool is attractive from all angles. Vintage-style Allegra lighting looks timeworn but can be ordered en masse. And finishing touches—baskets, ceramics,
and candlesticks—promise to lend a space that homey, lived-in feeling. But there are also statement pieces like the undulating Winslow bar or the inlaid Foliate cabinet that might take the place of costly antiques.
一个t the end of the day,一个rnold’s goal was to make quality craftsmanship more accessible. The designer is already earmarking favorites for clients, as well as his own LA home. “As you can see, I have nothing in my new place,” he says over Zoom, gesturing to bare walls behind him. “I’ll take the whole collection.”crateandbarrel.com
