I Heart John Derian – Part Deux
by habituallychic
04 . 08 . 08
It’s interesting to see how John Derian incorporates his love of vintage into his own home and the new Spring/Summer 2008 Vogue Living (above and below) gives us a glimpse into his new Provincetown, Massachusetts Greek Revival House in which only three families had lived in since 1789.
Each room has beautiful old wallpaper that creates a beautiful backdrop to John Derian’s new line of furniture.
When Elle Decor featured John Derian’s New York apartment in their March 2006 issue, they received quite a varied response. Not everyone thought that a deeply personal collection of vintage treasures in a not so perfectly plastered space should have been featured in the magazine but I think they were missing the point. Even if a style isn’t exactly how you would decorate your own home, it’s always nice to appreciate a different style. To each is own.
In the living room a vintage boat fender is used as an ottoman. A great take away idea.
American folk art seems like the perfect collectible for John Derian, who mixes it here with a 1907 folding metal camp chair, an antique Dutch burlap covered chair and a 1930’s French park chair.
The bedroom features a vintage ticking pillow from Paula Rubenstein in Soho and Elsa C. quilt from the John Derian shop.
A desk vignette from John’s design studio include wooden houses and vintage flash cards and an inspiration wall (below), as seen in August 2007 issue of Domino.
I hope John Derian will inspire you to visit a flea market soon and incorporate some vintage treasures into your life and home. If you don’t feel comfortable going all out, you can certainly add a few little pieces. They really do add character and soul but then again, I’ve never met an antique I didn’t love. 
26 Comments
I *flipped* when I saw his place in Elle Decor. So tattered, worn, and warm. I adored it. The next month, they published a fire-breathing letter from someone in a snit who said she was canceling her subscription. Too bad for her. Every issue since has been glorious.
So glad you posted these photos.
Decorno, glad you enjoyed it too. I hope no one has a snit over them this time! I can’t take the negative Anonymous waves. Why can’t we all just get along?!
i cut this out of elle decor and put it in my file of “likes”. it was one of the few stories i’ve ever seen in the magazine that spoke to me. his rooms have soul.
Thanks for sharing these images, I’m still trying to track down a copy of Vogue Living here…
Maybe that person would be happier with Arch. Digest. Elle Decor is so great because they show the unique, personal and even quirky interiors that are interesting and artful. To me these rooms have more of a European sensibility and some people just don’t get it.
I can’t wait to see his shop in Provincetown when I’m there this summer!!!
Enjoyed the follow up post as much as the first! Interesting tidbit about the reader in a snit. I’m actually more likely to buy Elle Decor because of features like this.
Suzy, If you want me to send you a copy, I would be happy to!
Anonymous, I agree. They definitely have soul.
Be the Change, you will have to report back! I know it’s a small space in the house but I wonder if the stock will be more beachy.
Topsy Turvy, I prefer interesting and personal interiors to those that look like they were “designed.” They are always so much more interesting to look at.
London Calling, I hope the upset Elle Decor reader has loosened up a bit since this was first published.
What a beautiful blog you have!
This is awesome. I love it.
More and more I am really enjoying the way people arrange different art pieces in one ‘spot’, mixing mediums, frames, colours. I think perhaps I am too rigid in my displays at home and need to have more fun! These are beautiful. Especially love the yellow in the first photo – simply gorgeous.
I decided 5 years ago that it was time I got apartment published. Last May, finally, I was contacted by an editor who wanted to do a piece. I sent off a bunch of pictures & they said they’d get back to me. In November, he called back: he wanted to send a photo scout. She came in January. In February, they called & said they loved my place, & that it was a go. A shoot was scheduled for mid-March. I spent the last week getting the place ready for its closeup. I went through three jars of silver cream.
Two days before they were supposed to arrive, a chunk of my living room ceiling collapsed onto my grandmother’s antique desk. A combination of a heavy, wet snow, an ancient tar roof & an inattentive landlord is not a good one. I knocked down the loose chunks but with no time to do any real repairs before the magazine crew arrived, I just gave the exposed iron lath a coat of paint & left it at that. I had no other choice.
As it turns out, they loved my crumbling ceiling for the sort of “Death in Venice” vibe it provided. It’s just a good thing that most of my stuff has that same sort of time-worn look, so that a falling ceiling fits right in.
At any rate, I love the faded feel of John Derain’s new old house. I’ve never picked up copy of Vogue Living but I guess it’s time to give it a try.
Making it Lovely and Stacey, Thanks!
Alice Olive, I call it a gallery wall and it’s one of my favorite decorating ideas. It’s easy to make inexpensive art look great too.
Magnaverde, What a crazy but fabulous story! Has your home been published yet? I’d love to see it!
I think that John Derian and my mother share some of the same genetic code. All of the places she has lived share some of these great personal qualities. She even owns some of the lucite spheres from your last post. My daughters had so much fun finding pictures to put in them. I hope I have gleened some of her quirky yet sophisticated bent. I love John Derian too, and a thousand snaps to Elle Decor and Vogue for recognizing his poetry.
What an awesome home. Enjoyed your site.
John Derian is one of my favorite creative types. Not long ago I spotted him on a street corner in the Lower East Side chatting with Taavo Somer.
Wouldn’t it be great if they were collaborating on something?
Katiedid, What a fabulous mom it sounds like you have! You’ll have to post some of her creations!
Thanks A Reminder!
Jonathan, seeing John Derian and Taavo Somer together would be like looking at the sun! They are both so amazingly creative. I hope they are collaborating on something super fabulous!
I am also a huge fan of John Derain! He’s so talented!