Approachable Serenity: James Rixner
3 comments Posted on Mar 31, 2009 by Decorati
Decorati conducted an exclusive interview with New York based designer James Rixner to find out what in, whats out, and what the future holds for interior design.
What prompted you to become a designer and how did you get your business started?
I was prompted to become a designer in my teens when I visited Viscaya in Miami and was completely overtaken by the overall beauty of that magnificent home. I started my own firm after working with Bloomingdale’s Interior Design Department and HLW Architects. I decided that I wanted to exercise my creativity more fully with my own clientele.
Photograph by Nick Johnson
Now that you know what it’s like to be a designer, would you choose this profession again?
Definitely YES. There is nothing else I could imagine doing.
Photograph by Jay Rosenblatt
What inspires or influences you?
The architecture and feeling of a space is generally my first inspiration. I’m also influenced by the quality of light in a room and color.
Describe your dream project.
A large open loft in Manhattan, where I would do the space planning and interior design with architectural elements.
If you could have anyone (living, dead, or imaginary) decorate your home who would it be? Why?
Émile-Jacques Ruhlmann, because he was quite a visionary and way ahead of his time.
How will the design industry be different in ten years?
In ten years, people will have better and more information about the products they are selecting.
Photograph by Jay Rosenblatt
What is your favorite color or materials combination these days?
My favorite colors are graphite or silver gray, mossy citrus tone and white.
Do you have a signature look or solution? If so, please describe it.
My signature look is elegant, serene with approachable warmth and comfort. I tend to use design elements from the period between the 30’s and the 50’s.
Photograph by Jay Rosenblatt
What has been your favorite part of your career thus far?
Being invited to participate in the 25th anniversary of the Kips Bay Show House.
How has the web changed your business?
We can communicate with clients in an instant, and it has allowed us to reach a new clientele base as well.
Name a type or style of product you avoid.
I avoid any obvious or poor reproductions of any period at all times.
Photograph by Nick Johnson
License to brag: What was your most recent stroke of “Designer Genius”?
The most recent stroke of designer genius was the 2007 Kips Bay Show House entitled Mid-Century Manhattan. It was a quintessential New York room with fabulous colors, chic details and above all the Metropolitan Opera Chandelier by Lobmeyer.
Wow, beautiful work!...
I saw Mr. Rixner’s work at the Holiday Show house in NY.
I am in the industry but was visibly stunned by the work.
It was what i thought a perfect room.
Everything from the selection of fabric to the placement of the furniture was done with great thought.
Many times show house rooms by designer’s of Mr. Rixner’s caliber are “mailed in”
This though , you could tell, was designed with great thought and I’m sure a personal excitement by Mr. Rixner.
Thank you for that very pleasant experience.
I saw the room James Rixner designed for the Holiday Showhouse this past November (it is the first picture shown) and was instantly impressed. The room looked sleek and clean with accents of colors that prevented the white from being washed out. The black was a nice contrast but I loved that he used green as well. It was a bold choice that paid off.
Simply jaw drop stunning. James Rixner’s work is absolutely beautiful .