For many of us right now, we find ourselves still in the midst of the summer hiatus;
the weather is warm, the beach still calls and holidays aren’t quite over. Yet here at ELLE Decoration, we’re already getting ready for, and excited about, what the French call la rentrée – that heady moment at the start of September when things restart, post-break. It’s then, hopefully feeling relaxed and refreshed, that we can tackle life with a renewed energy and enthusiasm, embrace new projects and focus on what the rest of the year has in store.
This seems the perfect opportunity to celebrate what we’re calling ‘daredevil design’, the work of the world’s most exciting creatives and collaborators who refuse to stay in their lane, constantly pushing boundaries and innovating as they go.
Earlier this year, I was lucky enough to be one of the first journalists to meet with US fashion designer Christopher John Rogers to discuss his latest project. The acclaimed and accomplished maverick, who has shaken up the prim and preppy world of American style with his rainbow-coloured creations and bold patterns and shapes, is bringing his bright aesthetic to interiors thanks to a cleverly conceived collaboration with decorating brand Farrow & Ball. As he told me when we met, the idea of creativity giving you a sense of freedom is so powerful: ‘Colour was always a way for me to express myself when I didn’t feel I necessarily could in reality. I put it on a canvas or used it in an illustration, and somehow it was okay.’
Such a convention-breaking, brave approach seems to be fast becoming the defining impetus of our times. Increasingly, there is a real sense of urgency, modernity and powerful energy to the people and projects we are seeing. Take the work of Uchronia, the French design studio whose Paris project appears in this month’s issue and on the cover. Featuring jewel tones and a mash-up of materials, eras and influences, this is interior design as it’s never been tackled before, and at ELLE Decoration we are very much here for it!
Whatever is exciting you as you head into the autumn, embrace the wave of change and a new reframing of the future. Trust us, it’s bright, bold and, in the months to come, it’s going to make the world a very interesting place to be. I, for one, cannot wait!