Jonathan Barnett Interiors was established over 20 years ago in Los Angeles. His approach to design reflects his clients’ personalities, maintains the integrity of the architecture and respects the space. It is a winning modus operandi, one that has led this Jozi-born interior designer to work on the homes of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne, Sally Field, Rob Lowe, Jane Seymour, Kirk Douglas, Red Hot Chili Peppers’ Flea, and Dr Dre, to name a few. Jonathan’s current projects include a home in Bantry Bay in Cape Town, and a commercial development in Jo’burg. But the project that really makes his eyes light up is a wine estate in Santa Ynez, southern California, owned by billionaire Tom Barrack, number 347 on the Forbes 2009 list of the 400 Richest Americans.
The Property Magazine gets the creative low-down on Jonathan Barnett.
What do you enjoy most about SA now that you’ve returned?
Jonathan Barnett: The warmth of the people and positive response from those in the industry upon my return. Gail Behr, owner of The Grand Café & Rooms in Plettenberg Bay, has been particularly good to me. Oh, and the climate, of course. You can’t beat a Cape Town summer.
What are some of the interior trends you currently identify with?
JB: At the moment my design preferences are in a state of flux. For the last 10 years I’ve been a fan and proponent of a clean, contemporary design aesthetic, but recently I’ve been very drawn to the concept of eclecticism. I enjoy the dialogue between antique furnishings in contemporary spaces, for example.
I also have a fondness for Oriental interior pieces and try to incorporate them in many of my projects, where appropriate. There is something about Eastern philosophy that resonates with me. I’m a feng shui enthusiast and have been consulting with a specialist in the field, David Cho, for the last couple of years. I like the idea of approaching space from an energy point of view, that you can transform people’s moods and lives when creating the spaces they live in.
What has been your most challenging project to date?
JB: Having to complete and fully furnish six large homes in a gated community in Bel Air within four weeks. The time-frame was tight, considering that every piece of furniture for each house was custom-made; nothing was purchased from a shop floor. It was nerve-wracking!
Which piece of furniture do you regard as iconic?
JB: To choose only one is difficult, but the first
that comes to mind is the Breuer chair, designed by the legendary Marcel
Breuer over 50 years ago. It has been described as ‘the world’s most
popular chair’, which is probably due to its simple design, which hasn’t
dated.
Whose work do you most admire?
JB: There are so many, but if I had to choose one I’d say American architect I.M. Pei for the clean spaces he created. He is also the man responsible for one of my favourite buildings in the world, the Louvre Pyramid in Paris.
Where do you stay when abroad?
JB: When I stay in New York I always check into the Gramercy Park Hotel. Conceptualised by Ian Schrager, it is a throwback to the city’s renowned Studio 54 nightclub. That’s exactly how it feels walking through the corridors – like you’re in a nightclub.
In Paris, I love to stay at Hôtel Costes. With its design maxim of,
‘All things in excess’, it really is an indulgent place to reside.
When I’m in London I stay at Covent Garden Hotel in Soho, as the West
End theatre district is on its doorstep.
Your design motto?
JB: ‘Style without noise.’ The props that I use to enliven an interior should never overpower the space. Whoever lives there should be the dominant energy.
What do you consider to be the most essential extravagances?
JB: Delectable soaps and bath products from French
brand Côté Bastide, clothes by Marc Jacobs and American Apparel, and
some of my favourite reads are by Isabel Allende.
When it comes to cars, I’m a sucker for Land Rover 4x4s, but my alter
‘eco’ ego loves the Toyota Prius. Before I left LA I had one of
those. +27 (0)72 845 3427,
www.barnettinteriors.com
Words Genevieve Fisher
Photographs Joanne Markland
Source: The Property Mag
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