Thursday, March 11

Profile: Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller

In the past few years Jesse Carrier and Mara Miller, the husband and wife team behind Carrier and Company, have cultivated an enviable A-list of clients. A few include Anna Wintour, Vogue, Bob Pittman, Jane Rosenthal and Jason Wu. Named Top 20 Young Designers by Traditional Home, their work has graced the pages of The World of Interiors, Vogue and Elle Decor.

As the design principals of Carrier and Company, both bring a high level of refinement and a keen sensibility to all their projects. And, most importantly, they bring experience. Both have worked with some of New York's premier designers. Jesse worked with Jeffrey Bilhuber and Mara worked with Sills Huniford before opening their doors in 2005.

On their own they are both great designers with a well-educated eye, but as a team they are unstoppable. Whether fashioning traditional or modern spaces, their interiors are undeniably chic, with an air of effortless sophistication. A look and feeling that is not always easy to pull off.

As evidenced by their thoughtful answers, Jesse and Mara are grounded and in tune with both their clients and one another.

How would you describe your personal style?
Understated elegance, edited, tailored and timeless 


What inspires your creativity and designs?
We’re most inspired by people and place. Each project presents a unique set of circumstances, based upon client’s needs and sensibilities combined with the physical attributes of the space and setting of the project. It’s inspiring (and often challenging) to figure out creative solutions that marry our client’s needs with the inherent details of the space while maintaining a cohesive and stylish design.

Any specific examples of combining a client’s needs and sensibilities?
We recently worked with a client who was taking a temporary apartment in a 1970’s contemporary building while they planned for the renovation and decoration of a townhouse. It was not their ideal, but offered an interim space to live that was near the job sight, and offered spectacular views of Central Park. However, the client found the architecture “depressing” and bland, and at odds with their collection of Art Deco furniture they were bringing with them.

In addition to being a short term living arrangement, it was also a rented apartment, so there were limitations on what we could do to transform the space. Taking cues from what the client was bringing to the space (a collection of furniture and artwork) we selected wall treatments, floor coverings, light fixtures and window treatments that complimented our client’s collection, but remained true to the bones of the building. The results were truly handsome and our client was amazed how it all came together.


What is your most prized possession or the one thing in life you cannot live without?
By way of “occupational hazard” we’ve come to possess many, many things. However, I can’t say that there’s one we prize most, or couldn’t live without. However, if a house constitutes a prized possession, our country house in Dutchess County (upstate NY), is one we couldn’t live without. The ability to escape from NYC to our little blue farm house is truly a revitalizing luxury.

Who are your style icons?
Frances Elkins, Jacques Grange, Billy Baldwin

What books are currently on your bedside table
?
Blink: The Power of Thinking Without Thinking by Malcolm Gladwell
I’m Down a Memoir by Mishna Wolff
Busy Town by Richard Scarry


What is your idea of earthly happiness?
Those first few quiet minutes of the day, before the phone starts vibrating, when you can enjoy a cup of coffee and morning cartoons with your kid before you head to work.

What is your favorite luxury in life
?
Creature comforts. Everyday things that make life enjoyable.

Past or present who has most influenced your direction in life?
We were both deeply influenced by European friends in early adulthood. We both learned about quality of life and graceful living by their examples. More importantly, the tenants of simplicity and quality we witnessed had nothing to do with wealth - which is perhaps the most important lesson.

Profile by Ronda Carman

18 comments:

Shani said...

What a great couple! I'm so impressed by their great style AND by the fact that they can work in business together as husband and wife. They obviously make a fantastic team.

Erik Perez said...

I love their aestethic - very clean, simple, relaxed and VERY elegant. I first came across their work while looking into Web sites for a client...

Erik Perez said...

I love their aestethic - very clean, simple, relaxed and VERY elegant. I first came across their work while looking into Web sites for a client...

MEADE DESIGN GROUP said...

Love their work - Understated Elegance!

Karena said...

Great interview, great design team. I can see why they have such a clientele!!

Karena
Art by Karena

Thank You For Asking said...

Beautiful design!

red road studio said...

stunning interiors! lovely mix of cultures in their choices and I think carefully considered - what a happy find your blog is!

honeybeeandme said...

LIKE THE LOOK THEY CULTIVATE......
STRANGE I THOUGHT THEY WERE BROTHER AND SISTER OR JUST BUSINESS PARTNERS UNTIL I WENT BACK AND READ THE STORY...
THE ENERGY WAS SO DIFFERENT....


XXOO
MELISSA

DesignTherapy said...

Ronda-I adore this dynamic duo! In fact...Jesse and I were roommates in college!

Laura Trevey said...

I enjoyed this interview.... and love their style!!

mary said...

A wonderful personal and professional aesthetic-grounded in what is important. Thanks for highlighting this design duo.

Jaime Rogers said...

LOVE their work...thank so much for interviewing them! How crazy is it that Brad Ford was roomies with Jesse?? It's becoming a small, small world;)

Merci,
Jaime

Unknown said...

What's not to love! Effortless style and a wonderful feeling for proportions and settings!
Love it!
Thanks for a great interview!

XX
Victoria

Kourtney Pulitzer Style Blog said...

simply amazing! thank you for sharing this top of the line talent!!
KP
www.kourtneypulitzerstyle.blogspot.com

ashlina {the decorista} said...

this is interview awesomness! i love those photos + the styling. super fun read!

xoxo
ashlina
secretsofdomesticbliss.blogspot.com

Gwen Driscoll said...

Love their work. Great interview. Hope you are well. Happy Weekend.

G

Amanda Teal said...

Their work truly is timeless. As a young designer just getting started in the business, I find their thoughtful answers to your questions very inspirational. Great post!

MerMerMer said...

BEAUTIFUL - absolutely stunning! Fantastic post.
Where do you get a round, navajo ottoman like the one featured in the den?