CHAT IN A CHAIR: DOMINIQUE BRAMMAH
Chat in a Chair is as much about the person as it is about the chair. The joy is in the story behind the chair, the treasured chairs of old and the lustful wishlists for the future. So often the story behind the chair tells us something really special. It tells us about sentimental moments and collected memories, of big life decisions and salvaged (or monumental) investments. Or it tells us about of the importance of collecting objects and enlightens why this is so for each and every one of us. Today we would like this Chat in a Chair to be as much an introduction as it is a chat.
This is our Senior Designer, Dominique Brammah. Now an accomplished interior designer or ‘lapsed architect’ (as she likes to call it), Dom made the jump to interiors to join us in early 2012. Immediately we knew she was meant to be a part of the Arent&Pyke family. She shares an aesthetic and an energy much like our own. She is a clever designer, a notable colour freak with a sharp eye and a whimsical mind. Most importantly, for the readers of In/Out, Dominique is the eyes and ears of our blog, bringing all these beautiful artists and creations to your attention.
Her favourite chair today is the embodiment of the girl herself – bold, colourful geometric details wrapped around a classic frame. The Tropicalia chair by Patricia Urquiola for Moroso, shows a tubular steel structure with complex geometrical shapes, embellished with a clever weft of intenstely coloured threads that alternates solids and voids. The Tropicalia chair is an interplay of pattern, colour & optical illusion executed with the meticulous attention to detail spiked with a sense of playfulness so loved by Dominique and so characteristic of Urquiola’s work. Dominique’s true wish is to own ‘The Cocoon’, a hanging version of the chair she sits in – gusty, bold and whimsical chairs – much like our Dom.
Favourite chair – and why? Draw it.
The Tropicalia chair by Patricia Urquiola is my pick. It really represents a professional lightbulb moment in life for me. I saw the hanging version of the Tropicalia in a house in Fire Island designed by LA & NYC based interior designer Alexandra Angle when I was working as a graduate architect. The image of the chair represents such a moment of realisation – I knew there and then I needed to ditch the black skivvy. I jumped and happily landed myself in the wonderful world of Arent&Pyke. It’s been a sparkling sequin of a colour-popping year of such happiness. But seriously, this chair represents the most profound sense of professional fulfilment for little old me. One day I’ll own it (the hanging version) and I’ll swing on it every day with hair in the wind and joy in the heart. For the moment i’ll nick this version from Hub Furniture if you please.
If your world were only one colour – what would it be?
Pink. Red. Orangey red. Pinky orange. Redy pink. I am trying to escape it’s grip but it is proving near impossible. I pity the chap who has to deal with it in his life forever. Diversify? With what? Maybe seriously bright blue?
Pants or skirt?
I don’t do pants. I do jeans. And I do occasionally do a skirt but I do prefer a dress. I’m not sure if it’s lazy but the standard outfit is dress and boots.
Dinner or dessert?
Dinner then dessert but I insist on sharing dessert. I don’t do one to myself because I get cranky if the other person’s dessert is better than mine. And it’s DESSERT everyone. Not DESERT (that is in Africa).
Matching – yes or no?
Matching sheets and pillowcases – yes. Matching fingers & toes – yes. Matching socks – never.
Marimekko or Mulberry?
Oh tough one. To upholster my sofa in – Marimekko makes my heart flutter and my eye goggles fly off my face with excitement. To drape over my arm – Mulberry. GIMME AN ALEXA in floppy brown leather. Not the weird tiny one. And not the giant one that I would fill with my whole world of crap. The perfectly brilliant middle sized beauty please sir.
Diary or digital?
Diary. Diary. Diary. If it’s not in there consider me absent. I am notoriously terrible at life administration. If I was rich I would have a man servant just to pay my bills on time for me. I would also have another one to drive me around in my bashed up Toyota Echo so I would never have to look for a park again.
Hair up or hair down – literally and figuratively?
Hair down wash day one. Hair up with dry shampoo the next day. Hair down for grunge. Hair up for priss. Figuratively speaking – I’m a half up half down. I think i’m a feather in the breeze but then I realise I’m actually more conservo than I think.
Music – male or female vocalist?
Female generally. I have naturally daggy DAGGY taste in music. I rely on friend Jo who I rather brilliantly named ‘The Gig Guide’ to keep me savvy. That said, when I hear a warm honey golden syrupy man-voice I go to mush and listen to it constantly – I am currently doing this with the song on the Pure Blond ad, a re-do of Steve Winwood’s ‘Higher Love’ by James Vincent McMorrow. LISTEN TO IT. THEN LISTEN TO IT AGAIN. Damn ads stealing my cool. Same thing happened with the Schweppes ad with The Cinematic Orchestra and the Sony ad in San Francisco (with all the coloured balls rolling down the hill) with Jose Gonzalez. I did know the Cello Song by Nick Drake on the Vittoria coffee ad before I saw it on the tele (still got it).
Credits:
Photography by Luisa Brimble
