INSIDE THE BOX
Celebrity designer Ross Cassidy breathes new life into beach interiors via functional minimalism.
Celebrity designer Ross Cassidy— whose client roster includes Sia, Jeff Probst, and Amber Valletta—has found that refined and purposeful environments begin with great architecture. “This is a crazy thing to say as a decorator, but it’s not about the furniture,” Cassidy explains. “It’s about the box.”
This sentiment may seem particularly ironic considering that the former Million Dollar Decorators star recently launched an exclusive new furniture collection with CB2. However, he believes that resources are better spent on structural details when reasonably priced, high-quality design is obtainable from retailers.
With a background in graphic design, the self-described antidecorator’s CB2 collaboration features primarily warm, earthy materials and Japanese-inspired pieces that are functional and scaled for comfort. They have personality but they’re also quiet and versatile. Cassidy’s sheesham-wood Obaru dining table, or any of his chairs, for example, would feel equally appropriate in a Hamptons beach house and a city apartment.
Ultimately, for Cassidy, it’s all about his client’s lifestyle. If you love cooking while being surrounded by family and friends, build a monumental kitchen island. If you’ve never even opened a can, consider placing your kitchen behind closed doors. “For most people, design is a visual thing,” Cassidy says. “I think of design as experiential. It’s how you live in a space.” cb2.com/ ross-cassidy; rosscassidy.com
“THIS IS A CRAZY THING TO SAY AS A DECORATOR, BUT IT’S NOT ABOUT THE FURNITURE. IT’S ABOUT THE BOX.”— ROSS CASSIDY