It seems that designing was an inevitable career path for Eric Cohler, whose mother was an interior designer in the 1960-70s. From very early age, he marveled at his grandmother’s taste as far as decorating her house was concerned. She used to remodel her place of living a number of times, and as he remembers – she was second to none in it.
‘Design is in my blood’
Eric Cohler
It seems that designing was an inevitable career path for Eric Cohler, whose mother was an interior designer in the 1960-70s. From very early age, he marveled at his grandmother’s taste as far as decorating her house was concerned. She used to remodel her place of living a number of times, and as he remembers – she was second to none in it.
A graduate of Columbia University with a master’s degree in historic preservation, Cohler also received bachelor’s degree in art history. Additionally, he has a certificate from the Harvard Graduate School of Design. It was in 1991, when his own business, Eric Cohler Design, Inc. was opened. Since then, plenty of important events took place and after all these years of gaining experience his position in the world of designing is now well-established. Being on Elle Decor’s A-List, he is published in various magazines, such as Traditional Home, House Beautiful, Architectural Digest and Elle Decor. We can find his name in House Beautiful ‘Top 100′ designers’ list as well. What is more, Cohler appears on television and writes for the New York Times. What is worth mentioning is the fact that his design and fabric were chosen by President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama for the dining room in the White House.
His firm Eric Cohler Design, Inc. is best known for interior design and restoration. Apart from designing, they produce their own products as well, including furniture, lighting and fabrics. While asked about the most crucial things in his job, Cohler mentions quality and attention to detail. His respectful attitude towards the past results in plenty of inspirations from that time: ‘The past is prologue. I like looking at art and objects from past centuries as inspiration for the way we live today’. Acclaimed a ‘mixmaster’, Cohler mingles different styles and epochs very artfully. His projects are comprised of both traditional and contemporary elements. The 18th and 19th century furniture goes hand in hand with modern-day decorations. According to Cohler, the interiors should be thrilling and habitable simultaneously. He is an enthusiast of colorful rooms and individual objects that fill the space. If we are surrounded with our favorite books, pieces of art and other things that have value for us, we feel more optimistic and joyful in such a place. That’s our personal property, thus while designing the house, Cohler always bears in mind what clients tell him about themselves.
The Mixmaster of designing was inspired by some notable interior designers and architects, especially Andrea Palladio, Robert Adam, Thomas Jefferson, John Soane and Frank Lloyd Wright. Nonetheless, he never forgets to mention his grandmother in the first place, saying that she was unrivaled in her craft at decorating, regardless of the fact that she wasn’t a professional designer. New ideas appear in his mind when he observes the world around him.
The book Cohler on design written by him contains numerous tips and advice, as well as illustrations of his own work. For instance, he suggests repeating materials, colors and motifs to gain the effect of fluency, not being afraid of dark surfaces – they create dramatic, thus fascinating background, mixing – both styles and textures: ‘Rough concrete, rustic brick, smooth woods, and luxe leathers make a striking mix of textures’. Cohler is known for his combining metal finishes – copper, brass and bronze all go together. That’s one of his strategies while creating. It results in the space that is far from being dull, in fact it is fresh and inspiring with its bold patterns or unexpected graphic accents.
Cohler’s advice for young designer is not to allow others to classify them. Exploring and mixing – that’s what counts.
Sources:
http://ericcohler.com/pdf/embark%20AprMay2015-Eric_Cohler%20Design.pdf
