OBJET D’ A R T Luxury lifestyle doyenne Kelly Wearstler takes us on the journey of crafting her masterpiece for the La Mer Genaissance de la Mer. By Li Ying Lim.
Pom pom red algae, found in the La Mer Genaissance, help
boost collagen You are well-known as a designer for seamlessly melding different kinds of modern and classic materials. How did that come into play here? My design incorporates rich textures inspired by the raw beauty of nature. A cornerstone of my aesthetic is my collection of mineral crystals and stones that I use in my jewellery, home décor, and furniture collections. They add a special energy to the designs and I love the tension that comes from playing with a range of textural materials. I wanted to bring that energy to this collaboration with La Mer, so I incorporated my crystals into the design, which worked beautifully with the nature of Genaissance. What excited you most about this collaboration with La Mer? I personally love La Mer so I was very excited when the brand approached me to design a box that embodied their newest launch – Genaissance de la Mer. Inspired by Genaissance and the Crystal Miracle Broth, I incorporated the beauty of crystals into a unique and decorative box that would embody my aesthetic and represent the essential qualities of Genaissance de la Mer. How has your usage of crystals inspire this vanity box design? Crystals are inherently alluring, and when this partnership was founded, I was inspired to create a design that gives the gift of distinctive, natural beauty. Each box is handcrafted from the finest quality materials – gems, metal, and wood. How did the aesthetic of the La Mer Genaissance influence your design for the vanity box? I infused gradients of dark to light to reflect the Genaissance bottle, and the beautifully cut crystal to represent the Crystal Miracle Broth used in the Genaissance formula. Each box is custom and completely unique with hand-selected crystals. The box base is crafted with heirloom European quarter sawn walnut, a hand-applied ebonised stain, and a waxed finish. The design works in beautiful harmony with this stunning new product. There are so many elements when it comes to designing curios, furniture, jewellery, and more. How do you keep it statement-making yet classic at the same time? There will always be trends in design, just as in fashion. Design is a constant exploration. It’s about finding your voice. For me, design means curating an individual personality with a balance of high and low, masculine and feminine, size, colour, pattern, and texture. The goal should be to curate a cohesive dialogue while still allowing statement pieces to shine.