Textile designer Bonnee Sharp is notorious for the graphic fabrics she creates for her line, Studio Bon. But she also has a bit of a reputation for her home.
The oft-photographed space (we featured it in a 2009 issue of D Home, and it made an appearance in last year’s Design Sponge at Home) is cozy yet highly curated — an ideal lab to test drive her new designs.
Bonnee’s latest collection for Studio Bon features the bold geometrics that’s she’s known for, but with a more global bent. The result is a cache of patterns boasting serious punch in poppy color ways.
To help celebrate the her new designs and the relaunch of her website, we checked in with Bonnee to find out what’s been influencing her of late.
Here’s what’s on her mind. Enjoy!
(Image of Bonnee by Steve Wrubel.)
1. Sculptural Children’s Toys — ‘Hanno the Guerilla’ by furniture designer David Weeks is a favorite. He sits in my sons room, above his bed. It is a great functional toy, but is hand-crafted and so beautiful.
2. Geometric Motifs — Our just-released fabric collection was inspired largely by geometric motifs borrowed from other cultures; from morrocan to Native American to Greek.
3. Wood Grained Tiles — They are a fresh take on faux bois.
4. The Flora at Northpark Center — I’m always taking pictures of the fabulously disciplined yet warm plantings all around Northpark, as they inspire the pattern-seeker in me.
5. My iPad — It’s portable functional design at its best.
6. Coco Mademoiselle Chanel — My favorite scent going on 10 years. Love the color, love the perfect notes, love the memories. First bought it in Paris.
7. Fiery Orange — This color was a highlight in both of my grandparent’s homes in the 70’s. Very chic. Makes me think of enamel dragons and plush velvet upholstery and a floor length silk embroidered NM robe my grandmother wore…breathtaking. (I use this hue, we call ‘fire’ as often as I can in my fabric collections.)
8. My Children — They inspire me to keep going, keep looking for inspiration, and keep designing.
9. French antiques — I have a soft spot for a great bergere. Dress it up in a fabulous print or a plush velvet. (Whether found in a stall at the Paris Flea market or handed down through generations, I’m always game for a good French makeover!)
10. Kate Spade’s bangle bracelets — I particularly love the Idiom collection with its enameled black and whites tempered with a single punch of color.
