IDS 2012 Profile: Brad Ford
ids profile: brad fordcanada
(Jan.26.12)
There's a fine line between stuffy and refined, comfortable and déclassé. But New York-based designer Brad Ford knows just how to tread space between the divide.
Each of his singular looks are beautiful paradoxes,a compelling mesh of textures and natural materials that manage to be inviting — yet also totally elegant.
We talked with Ford on his recent trip to IDS 2012 for a behind-the-scenes peek at what inspires his work.
Are there any new materials or looks you're incorporating into your spaces lately?
I've always loved wood, leather and metal. I'm always on the lookout for these materials being used in new ways on new forms.
How would you describe your design style?
Modern with a warm soul...sophisticated yet casual.
Your designs often feel restrained, but whimsical; relaxed, yet pulled together. How do you achieve that balance?
I think it's a matter of carefully selecting unique pieces that don't compete with but complement each other. I think long and hard about each individual piece that goes into a room and how it will work in the context of space. That doesn't mean that each item has to be a showstopper. I always say you can get someone's attention just as easily by whispering as you can by shouting. I like things that are unusual but in an understated way. For me, this idea combined with the use of natural materials and a waarm color palette creates a serene space that has just the right amount of charm and intrigue.
What are you most excited for at IDS?
This is my first time to Toronto so I'm most excited about seeing the city itself. I'm also eager to visit the IDS show because I've always heard such amazing things about it. Specifically, I'll definitely be sitting in on the talk by architect Bjarke Ingels. I heard him speak last year in Copenhagen and he's truly inspiring. I highly recommend your readers check it out.
Are there any big projects you're working on right now?
I've got several projects right now that I'm excited about both in New York and outside the city. I'm fortunate to be working with some great architects on a number of very modern spaces including a duplex penthouse in the West Village and a glass and steel house outside the city. I'm also just finishing up a cool house out in the Hamptons that I really like.
Catch Brad Ford presented by GlobeStyle at IDS 2012 at 2pm on Saturday, January 27.
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