Connected to the Past

I travel to connect with the past, with history, culture, and always with people. At their core, these “quests,” are searches for the meaning of what it means to be human, and they always lead me to the same conclusion: We are human through our unique ability to create beautiful things. From fabrics, furniture, and jewelry, to spices, rugs, and tea, I have had the privilege to meet with makers who continue the traditions passed down through generations. Watching them use ancient techniques to create modern day objects of beauty, moves me, and I want to know more, to hear their stories, to understand what matters to them and has influenced them. I know I will bring their work to my clients, telling them stories of the beauty within their home. And I know I will do it with the intention of forming a connection between them and the gifted craftsperson, the artisan, whose soulful creation they engage with each day. In Brianza, Italy, I went to Bonacina, the rattan furniture company that has been handcrafting gorgeous, curved cane furnishings since the 1880s. I wasn’t simply struck by the beauty of the furniture, but also by the way the company ethos supports and takes care of everyone creating the furniture.

In India, I sought to learn about the long history of the textiles, and my focus was on the beautiful saris that women have collected. Studying textiles led to me to pursue a deeper understanding of patterns, colors, architecture, and design. I visited textile weavers in India and Guatemala, where I watched weavers’ hands weave textiles on looms that were complex in pattern and rich in symbolism and stories. Leaving, I understood why no two could possibly be alike.

In Hong Kong, I traveled to study tearooms. I sat down to learn and came away feeling seen, honored and valued by the tea “maestro.” From a beautiful teapot, he poured tea into my tiny teacup, while taking enormous joy and pride, in explaining the ritual unfolding before me.

Quests allow me to experience something that existed in the past, through makers in the present; they let me design more authentically, and with great appreciation of the many things that connect us. But always, to me, nothing is greater than being connected through beauty. To weave, to carve, to build, to create objects of beauty throughout our evolution as a species, is to me, the best of what we do. It is my driving force, my essence, and it brings the most meaning and purpose to my life.

When I first met the client, his passion for tea quickly became apparent. Not only was I shown a remarkable collection, but I heard about the many different teas comprising it where they were grown, who were the growers, how they were boxed, wrapped, and stamped. I learned about the design of teacups and the materiality of teapots, as well as other tea ceremony accoutrements within this singular collection. When the meeting ended, I knew there had to be a room to honor such passion. I knew it would be designed with careful consideration to allow the tea to be properly stored. I knew that everything needed its own particular place to be seen, celebrated, and enjoyed. Most importantly, I knew it would be a place where all the teas, their stories, and the ritual behind them, could take flight. The ancient tea ceremony, so full of integrity and immense beauty, asks us to slow down, sip, and refill a tiny cup multiple times. It understands that in this slowing down, we are traveling back in time and connecting to all the communities who have been engaging in this same ritual for thousands of years. Yet, it also understands that we are sharing an experience of connection with this specific community right here in this present moment.