Jamie Drake began his design career in 1978--three days after graduating from Parsons (he was a determined young man). He quickly became known for his bold use of color and a fearless use of contemporary furnishings. He is also known for helping to reintroduce classic mid-century modern designs back into the American home. His clients have run the gamut from Madonna to Michael Bloomberg (he refurbished the NYC Mayor's house, Gracie Mansion, back in 2002).
Caleb Anderson, a Texan by birth, had worked three years as an intern to Jamie Drake and in 2013 launched his own design firm. Caleb's love for historical design shows in his eclectic mix of periods. He likes to give rooms a sense of surprise, or as he says,"wonder."
Two years ago Jamie Drake merged his company with that of one-time protégé Caleb Anderson to form a new powerhouse firm: Drake/Anderson. As you can see from the following photos, the two compliment each other.
I like to call this Upper East Side Apartment "the happy house." It just seems like a happy place:
Trying to figure out what makes a Drake/Anderson design so appealing, it occurred to me that so much of high-end design has a sameness about it. You could be staying at any number of luxury hotels around the world; beautiful with expensive furnishings, correct, comfortable, and every surface is immaculate, and yet with all the charm and personality of a Home Depot doorknob (the ugly ones). On the other hand, the work of the boys oozes personality; you know that somebody actually lives here. The mix of art, and the mix of furniture makes each project individual. And of course, I am a big proponent of mixing antiques with modern.
Jamie Drake's own Chelsea apartment:
A signature Caleb Anderson touch, a Mackintosh chair with a Louis XVI desk:
An Upper West Side apartment:
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| Jamie Drake and Caleb Anderson |
Delightful, surprising and practical! Loving the pedestal solution. It creates such a difference. What material did you use? Will be doing that immediately.
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