I'm so excited to introduce the latest designer in this series - the incredibly talented Adrienne Neff. Known for her calm, uncluttered designs and integration of colour photography, Adrienne's appreciation for decorative arts also led to the debut of her gorgeous Uzu wallpaper collection in 2009! Her work and wallpaper line have graced the pages of Interior Design magazine, Domino and Hamptons Cottages and Gardens (to name a few) and she continues to make her mark in New York City with her namesake design firm.
Not long before the devastation began unfolding in Japan, Adrienne had returned from a wonderful trip to Kyoto and Tokyo and completed this interview. Her admiration for the Japanese culture and its influence on her organic and geometric Uzu wallpaper collection make this interview very timely. I hope that releasing this today will not appear to lessen our concern for Japan by discussing it in a design capacity, but instead bring further awareness to a country so in need. A huge thank you to Adrienne for participating in this series!
Jenna: What was your first job in the design field?
Adrienne: Working for the very successful interior designer Thomas O'Brien.
Adrienne: Working for the very successful interior designer Thomas O'Brien.
Jenna: What is inspiring you right now?
Adrienne: I just returned from a terrific trip to Japan, to Kyoto and Tokyo. The Japanese are inspired by nature. A 450 year old Plum Tree in bloom was very inspiring in particular.
Adrienne: I just returned from a terrific trip to Japan, to Kyoto and Tokyo. The Japanese are inspired by nature. A 450 year old Plum Tree in bloom was very inspiring in particular.
Jenna: What is your favorite hotel?
Adrienne: In Kyoto I stayed at a traditional Japanese inn called Kinmata. Guests sleep on futons on the floor with tatami mats. There is a wonderful wood soaking tub. The cuisine is fantastic (the owner is a reknown seafood chef), and the rooms are full of Japanese antiques. It's a trip back in time. Highly recommended!
Jenna: What are your best practices for accessorizing a room?
Adrienne: I collect large scale color photography, and so do many of my clients. I love to encourage my clients to invest in it. It packs a powerful visual punch. This image of a Home Office features a fantastic photo center stage, it's Grace Kelly's face constructed of thousands of diamonds mounted on a piece of black velvet. The artist is Vic Muniz.
Jenna: What's next for you and your design career?
Adrienne: I recently designed a line of hand block printed wallpapers called the Uzu Collection. They are very much inspired by Japanese decorative arts. For this photo, we wrapped the papers around books to better show the scale and proportion of the patterns. They are sold To the Trade through the Holland & Sherry showrooms in New York, Paris, and London. For more information, please contact our website.
I highly recommend visiting Adrienne's website to see more of her portfolio, and a quick reminder to send thoughts and any assistance to Japan. Thank you again Adrienne!
